Family issues...? (Strangely, the AJN overlooked to mention the fact that Rabbi Moshe G. happens to be Rabbi Yossi Feldman's uncle.)What made Rabbi Moshe Gutnick resign from the RCNSW? Staying there as a member shouldn't block his ORA aspirations?
And what about last week's flurry of 'media releases' re the Feldman v. AJN spat? Did the AJN apologise or not?
We offer our readers both versions. Hopefully they can make more sense of this than we could.
VERSION # 1
AJN apologises and Rabbi Yosef Feldman resumes RCNSW Presidency
In a stunning about-face, the Australian Jewish News publicly apologised today regarding a recent controversial story that called for Rabbi Yosef Feldman's resignation from a senior rabbinic position.
On 29 July 2011, the AJN ran a front page story about Rabbi Yosef Feldman entitled "Top Rabbi Must Quit". In a related Article and Editorial, reference was made to a leaked internal email discussion amongst Rabbis in which Rabbi Yosef Feldman put forward certain views in relation to the reporting of child abuse allegations to the Authorities. The AJN interpreted those views in a negative light, berating Rabbi Feldman for suggesting them and calling for his resignation as President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW.
In today's edition, the AJN admits that since the publication of their first article many Rabbis "have since contacted us to confirm they regarded the comments as Halachic conjecture in the context of an academic debate" and in a Statement from the Executive of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, also published in today's edition, the Rabbis go further and assert that "The Executive Members of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, alongside many rabbis across Australia, are of the opinion that the views propounded in those emails were simply conjecture within the context of Halachic discussion and did not necessarily reflect Rabbi Yosef Feldman's personal opinion on those matters." The Rabbis express dismay at the AJN's "interpreting in an unflattering way selected quotes from those emails."
In today's lengthy article, authored by AJN National Editor Zeddy Lawrence, the newspaper refers to its original negative coverage and says that "we recognise and fully appreciate that there are those who felt we could have been less forthright and more sensitive in the way we covered it, and we apologise for any unnecessary distress caused."
"Newspapers are perceived as ignoring ethical and sometimes legal boundaries, in their quest to enthral readers and boost sales. It would be churlish of those of us in the industry to ignore that sentiment. Likewise, it would be churlish of The AJN in particular to turn a blind eye to the feelings of many members of the community about the manner in which we handled the story regarding Rabbi Yosef Feldman."
"In this instance, if there are those who feel we have been sensationalist, then we must take that lesson on board as we move forwards."
The newspaper compares Rabbi Feldman to respected Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth Lord Jonathan Sacks, concluding that "we wish Rabbi Feldman well in all his endeavours and look forward to reporting on his positive impact on the community in the months and years ahead."
As a result of the AJN's initial onslaught, Rabbi Feldman had stepped aside temporarily from his role as President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, in order to clear his name. In today's Statement, the RCNSW Executive informs the community that he has resumed the Presidency, saying that "The RCNSW looks forward to the contribution that Rabbi Yosef Feldman will continue to make together with his Executive in his role as RCNSW President, which he has now resumed."
"It is a fact of human nature that 'sorry' is one of the hardest words to say. Bearing this in mind we warmly welcome the AJN's willingness to acknowledge that their coverage may have been sensational, as well as their apology for the unnecessary distress caused. In particular we laud its undertaking to thoroughly review the way matters of this nature are reported in the future as well as the acknowledgement of its Editor regarding the fine character of Rabbi Yosef Feldman and the significant contribution that he has made to the community."
Also published in today's AJN is a Letter to the Community by Rabbi Yosef Feldman in which he states that "I unreservedly and emphatically condemn all forms of abuse, particularly child abuse. Perpetrators must be brought to justice in the Australian legal system, and I condemn the suggestion that paedophiles deserve protection from that legal system. I believe, as asserted by the major Australian Beth Dins and reported in the AJN, that all credible allegations of abuse should immediately be reported to, and dealt with, by the appropriate Government Authorities."
Rabbi Feldman continues that "I believe that I was seriously misrepresented in material that was recently published by the AJN", nevertheless he concludes his Letter wishing the AJN well and thanking his "colleagues on the RCNSW Executive as well as many Rabbis in NSW and across Australia for their unstinting support in recent times."
"I am hopeful that we can all move forward in unity for the benefit of our community."
VERSION # 2
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE AJN AND RABBI YOSEF FELDMAN
AJN and top rabbi look ahead to a peaceful new year
The Australian Jewish News and Rabbi Yosef Feldman, President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, have this week come to a peaceful agreement in relation to the publication of remarks made by him on the subject of child abuse.
On 29 July 2011, the AJN ran a front page story about Rabbi Yosef Feldman entitled “Top Rabbi Must Quit”. In a related article and editorial, reference was made to a leaked internal email discussion amongst Rabbis in which Rabbi Yosef Feldman put forward certain suggestive views in relation to the reporting of child abuse allegations to the authorities.
The AJN today acknowledged that its coverage may have been considered sensational and apologised for any unnecessary distress this caused.
Rabbi Yosef Feldman acknowledged that while the reporter Joshua Levi did not misquote him in the article, he believes that the context of the email discussion was not clarified. However, he acknowledges that the views he expressed could have been misunderstood. He apologises for any distress caused to the community as a result.
In today’s edition of the newspaper, the AJN admits that since the publication of their first article, many rabbis “have since contacted us to confirm they regarded [Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s] comments as halachic conjecture in the context of an academic debate”.
In a Statement from the Executive of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, also published in today’s edition, the Rabbis go further and assert that “The Executive Members of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, alongside many rabbis across Australia, are of the opinion that the views propounded in those emails were simply conjecture within the context of Halachic discussion and did not necessarily reflect Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s personal opinion on those matters.”
In today’s lengthy article, authored by AJN National Editor Zeddy Lawrence, the newspaper refers to its original coverage and says that “we recognise and fully appreciate that there are those who felt we could have been less forthright and more sensitive in the way we covered it, and we apologise for any unnecessary distress caused.”
“In this instance, if there are those who feel we have been sensationalist, then we must take that lesson on board as we move forwards.”
For his part, Rabbi Feldman stated in today’s edition, “I do acknowledge that things I wrote in emails to rabbinic colleagues could have been taken out of context and indeed misunderstood.”
He went on to “apologise to my rabbinic colleagues as well as to the Jewish community as a whole for any embarrassment caused to them by the publication of material based on my emails”.
He added: “I unreservedly and emphatically condemn all forms of abuse, particularly child abuse. Perpetrators must be brought to justice in the Australian legal system, and I condemn the suggestion that paedophiles deserve protection from that legal system. I believe, as asserted by the major Australian Beth Dins and reported in The AJN, that all credible allegations of abuse should immediately be reported to, and dealt with, by the appropriate Government Authorities.”
Comparing Rabbi Feldman’s contribution to the community with that of Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth Lord Jonathan Sacks, The AJN concludes that “we wish Rabbi Feldman well in all his endeavours and look forward to reporting on his positive impact on the community in the months and years ahead.”
As a result of The AJN’s initial article, Rabbi Feldman had stepped aside temporarily from his role as President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW in order to clear his name. In today’s statement, the RCNSW Executive informs the community that he has resumed the Presidency, saying that “The RCNSW looks forward to the contribution that Rabbi Yosef Feldman will continue to make together with his Executive in his role as RCNSW President, which he has now resumed.”
“It is a fact of human nature that ‘sorry’ is one of the hardest words to say. Bearing this in mind we warmly welcome the AJN’s willingness to acknowledge that their coverage may have been sensational, as well as their apology for the unnecessary distress caused. In particular we laud its undertaking to thoroughly review the way matters of this nature are reported in the future as well as the acknowledgement of its Editor regarding the fine character of Rabbi Yosef Feldman and the significant contribution that he has made to the community.”
Rabbi Feldman concludes his Letter wishing the AJN well and thanking his “colleagues on the RCNSW Executive as well as many Rabbis in NSW and across Australia for their unstinting support in recent times.”
“I am hopeful that we can all move forward in unity for the benefit of our community.”
This Press Release has been approved by both parties. Please disregard a previous version which had not yet received the approval of all parties involved.
Footnote: If Rabbi Yosef Feldman is the "Top Rabbi" what does that make his father, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman?
Here is the article by Zeddy Lawrence. Though not quite sure if he is really comparing "Top Rabbi" Feldman with "Chief Rabbi" Sacks...
Reflections on our role as Reporters
By Zeddy Lawrence, National Editor of the AJN
IN recent days, my mind has drifted back to 2002 and the furore that surrounded the publication of The Dignity of Difference by the Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, Lord Jonathan Sacks.
Accused by ultra-Orthodox rabbis in Manchester of heresy for implying that Judaism did not have a monopoly on spiritual truth, Chief Rabbi Sacks eventually admitted some of his statements had been open to misinterpretation and may not have accurately conveyed his personal feelings on the matter. As well as rewriting the controversial passages in the book, he issued a statement saying “The problem lies in the use I make of words.”
It was not the first time the chief had cause to regret his terminology. A few weeks earlier he had been lambasted for claiming in an interview that events in Israel sometimes made him feel “uncomfortable as a Jew” and that Israel was forced into postures “incompatible …with our deepest ideals”.
For all the flak he received - and boy was there flak! - the chief was and is still held in the highest esteem, and it is a tribute to the man, rather than his ‘problematical words’ that he invariably pops up in almost every top 10 list of Britain’s most influential and respected public figures.
And so to the present day and the furore that greeted Rabbi Feldman’s comments on the matter of child abuse, as reported in The AJN. ‘Problematical words’ indeed. Taken from an email exchange with fellow rabbis, many of his peers have since contacted us to confirm they regarded the comments as halachic conjecture in the context of an academic debate.
Others in the community, however, read them another way and were understandably dismayed by the opinions expressed.
Which is where The AJN came in.
It is interesting to note the praise heaped on the paper when, in campaigning spirit, it lobbies for Gilad Shalit, it exposes anti-Zionist politicians or it forces online bookshops to remove anti-Semitic books from sale on their virtual shelves. Just last week, a Perth-based ticketing agency removed the option “Occupied Palestinian territories” from its drop-down address menu for overseas subscribers after The AJN alerted them to its presence.
As proud inheritors of the title ‘The Fourth Estate’, nothing fills journalists or newspapers with greater pride than effecting a change in society on behalf of its readers.
But turn that same campaigning zeal within the community and for those caught up in the spotlight, the paper goes from hero to zero.
As a newspaper, we have a duty to represent our readers and take up the baton on their behalf when they feel a grievance towards individuals or institutions that they sense are not acting in their best interests. Likewise, we have a duty to inform our readers of any perceived failings that their leaders may have. As a newspaper and as a journalists, it is our tradition to take a stand.
However, as a newspaper serving a specific community, we face additional responsibilities. One is to promote a sense of unity and pride within that community and in our communal institutions, another is to endeavour to best represent that community to the outside world.
Inevitably, these obligations will occasionally come into conflict, and when these circumstances arise we have to make tough decisions as to what side of this narrow editorial tightrope we should fall on.
Some will welcome our decision and applaud us for our strident stance. Others will feel we have overstepped the mark and condemn us for sensationalism.
We are not the first, nor will we be the last newspaper to stand accused of this charge. Indeed, in the wake of the allegations that have struck at the heart of the Murdoch media empire in recent weeks, the entire media industry is feeling the heat.
True or not in the current climate, newspapers are perceived as ignoring ethical and sometimes legal boundaries, in their quest to enthral readers and boost sales.
It would be churlish of those of us in the industry to ignore that sentiment. Likewise, it would be churlish of The AJN in particular to turn a blind eye to the feelings of many members of the community about the manner in which we handled the story regarding Rabbi Yosef Feldman. While we stand by the content of the story, we recognise and fully appreciate that there are those who felt we could have been less forthright and more sensitive in the way we covered it, and we apologise for any unnecessary distress caused.
With Rosh Hashanah fast approaching, it is timely for us all to take stock of our actions over the past few months. The AJN is no exception. Drawing on our experiences, we must consider our shortcomings, and resolve to do better, in the year ahead. In this instance, if there are those who feel we have been sensationalist, then we must take that lesson on board as we move forwards.
For a newspaper, as for rabbis, it is not always easy being all things to all people. But we do our best, just as they do their best.
Whatever was written in our story does nothing to detract from the tremendous contribution both Rabbi Yosef Feldman and his family have made to our community, or the esteem in which he and they are held.
And as with Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, it is Rabbi Feldman’s deeds and purpose that are ultimately the mark of the man, rather than some ill-chosen words.
That being the case, we wish Rabbi Feldman well in all his endeavours and look forward to reporting on his positive impact on the community in the months and years ahead.
Finally, we feel that had Rabbi Feldman continued with his threatened legal action against the AJN, it would have done far more towards ensuring that the newspaper rein in the types of attacks and reporting that it dished out both to him and to Adelaide's Rabbi Engel. Pity that. Additionally, a temporary reduction (or better still a total halt to) Chabad advertising Australia-wide, would have taught them an important lesson on respecting readers and advertisers.
