From the Borsch Belt to Broadway, Mel Brooks has spent a career spotting ‘the insane in the commonplace.’
The printer and photographer’s masterful light captures a bygone New York.
Learn the "Top 18" Kosher white, red and Israeli Wines, Read about the American kosher wine scene, Israeli wines and much more
Tourism booming in the Negev, that first teen roots journey, driving in Israel (really!), and more.
I would say you are wrong in mentioning that the Hareidi schools and yeshivas are not aware and do not want to report. All schools have their inner system and more physochologists and guidance counselors these days. It is known and proven that ACS - the child protective service available, would handle a case referred to police by doing more damage than good. Therefore reporting to Rabbis in the community is very effective. as well as the Jewish Board and to available organizations handling these situations. The Youth Rabbis and counselors that are reported by the abused, are followed and proved, and scheduled observation into these specific troubled episodes are collected.
The Modern Orthodox, Conservatives and even YU might not be aware of cases of abuse that are taken care of, as these cases are not publicized when not necessary.
In summarizing the above, Care in Haredi community is first and foremost, and you wont have that many happenings in abuse as you note in your article
Thank you for the article. As director of this play, I want to point out the importance of the character Gladys ( Harry's wife) and how much Donna Castellano brings life to the role. In addition, Donna heads Bravo Productions which has been instrumental in producing this play under the auspices of Actors Equity.
Hey anonymous...frack what the "rest of the world" acknowledges or doesn't acknowledge. And thanks for agreeing that ...it's certainly important".... There is no equality of competing claims as the only authoritative source clearly equates Jerusalem witn Jews. Swallow it and move on
And to add to the Shidduch; Sharon Beeberman Saias and Janice Lubin Kirschner grew up together in the co-ops called Valentine Gardens in Yonkers and have known each other for nearly 50 years. Out parents were friends!
Yes. It is "held to be" the political capital by the Israelis because the rest of the world strictly doesn't acknowledge it. Although I agree that it's certainly important to include that Jews and Christians hold legit religious claims over the city, just as Muslims do.
Are you the same James M. Price who taught Arabic?
While the notion that talented, productive CEOs should leave for the sake of meeting their time limit is not particularly palpable, I think a lot of these comments don't consider very well the unfortunate realities of what big honchos become over time.
Having worked/given/consulted/befriended/followed some of our top organizations for decades, I see insane salaries, completely inappropriate personal dealings with lay leaders, and demagogues all over the place. They fancy themslves the glue of community and purpose. They've risen or stayed at the top because they have managed to please (or to not displease) the most generous and vocal among us.
Mixed with the sad reality (and I do believe it is sad) that federations - the prime breeding ground for this problem - are fighting to remain relevant and something more than overhead, someone has got to challenge the old guard and old way of doing things if our institutions are going to remain strong, and if the important work they do is going to continue.
Mr. Charnedorff was brave in his assertion and lost his job, but I hope we can all recognize the valuable morsels in his argument.
I endorse Glass's remarks and wish to add one point:
* Standard local anesthetics, properly administered, can make bris painless. But they have yet to become a standard part of the brit milah protocol. For that matter, last century about 100 million baby boys were medically circumcised in Egnlish speaking countries, almost never with anesthesia. Even now, many perhaps most American hospital circumcisions are performed without anesthesia. This is barbaric and should be criminalised forthwith.
@Bob: I fully share your scepticism about the data underlying the CDC's recent claim that the secular circ rate in the USA declined in a mere 4 years from 56% to 33%. That said, leaving baby boys intact is definitely the norm in other medically advanced societies, and is on the march in the USA, especially west of the Rocky Mountains and when the mother has been influenced by the "crunchy" lifestyle. Internet forums reveal a growing distaste for circumcision among younger parents.
@Everyone: the African clinical trials are a scientific scandal waiting to explode. They were not conducted properly, and the data they produced was not analysed correctly. For starters, subjects were followed for only 6 months. Trials whose subjects were African young men tell us nothing about whether it is useful or appropriate to circumcise baby boys in North America. Most Africans do not have access to running water and have difficulty affording soap and condoms. Circumcision does not "prevent" AIDS; it is not akin in any way to a "vaccine." If the African clinical trials are correct, being circumcised merely delays the consequences of irresponsible sexual behaviour. Contracting HIV is NOT a consequence of having foreskin, but of bad sexual behaviour. Circumcision in Africa also encourages the vulgar misunderstanding that "circumcised men can't come down with AIDS and so can have all the uncommitted sex they want."
When a baby's penis is circumcised, his future adult penis enters a lottery. Most circumcised men are doing fine, but not all. I like the rule of thumb of the Australian medical society, namely that 1% of infant circs result in a damaged adult penis. We have no good idea of what the death rate from North American routine circumcision is, in good part because hospitals code such deaths in ways which conceal the fact that routine circumcision was ultimately at fault. I strongly suspect that all that circumcision accomplishes is to trade in one set of health problems for another of equal or greater severity.
American urological and sexual research has not been honest about possible connections between circumcision and ED and PE in adult men, about a gradual decline in penis sensation in middle age, and about possible adverse effects of circumcision on male and female pleasure and on sexual functionality. It is now clear that the moving bits circumcision removes are highly erogenous by virtue of being intensely ennervated. While the connection with female pleasure is less obvious, it is not hard for a young American woman to experience both styles before her marriage. (Recall here that many Jewish parents tend to accept that their young adult children will sow some wild oats before marriage.) All universities now have Latino and foreign students. A number of such women have testified on the internet that they prefer intact, confirming what Maimonides conjectured 8 centuries ago.
We moderns tend to forget that there is a long history of circumcision being promoted because it was believed to reduce male lechery and to make masturbation less exciting. We should never forget that Judaism, unlike the other Abrahamic religions, warmly embraces sexual pleasure. Jewish intellectuals have contributed much to the rising sophistication about human sexuality that began about 100 years ago. It does not surprise me at all that Freud and Dr Ruth are Jewish, and that many gay rights activists have Jewish surnames. This Jewish sexual sophistication, an important aspect of Jewish secular culture, is on a collision course with the tradition of brit milah.
Do you believe in a personal G-d?
Do you believe that this personal G-d has designated the Jews has his Chosen People?
Do you believe that there exists a Covenant linking this G-d and the Chosen People?
If you answer No to any of these questions, then to have your son undergo a bris is just a form of cattle branding done to humans. All it will do is reduce the likelihood that your son will be stared at in the locker room of the YMHA, and reduce his embarrassment the first time in bed with a frum Jewish woman. We intactivists are not opposed to bris per se, but to bris done to a minor incapable of informed consent and of understanding the existential and historical implications of bris.
Dear Gary,
I was quite disturbed by your recent article, "Young European Jews Asserting Identity, Against The Odds" (Aug. 18th). You seem to ignore some major facts and statistics about the European Jewish community in 2010:
--For several years already, France, with 500,000 Jews, has outgrown the Jewish communities of both Canada (380,000) and England (300,000).
(Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html)
--While several communities have flourished more since the Holocaust, such as Berlin, many others, such as Rome, date to at least the Second Temple Period, pre-dating the Christian majority, and still thrive to this day.
--If we look at an international phenomenon, such as Limmud, which has thrived in England for over 30 years, the number of Limmud conferences in Europe now number 15 and range in distance from Germany and France to Turkey, Hungary and Estonia, so the interest in Jewish life cannot be ignored.
If the American Jewish populace chooses to remain ignorant of our European brethren, then therein lies the seeds of a much greater problem. Perhaps we desperately need more organizations like the Jewish International Connection of New York (JICNY), which provides a “home away from home” for many international Jews temporarily here on business and provides opportunities for American Jews to connect on a deeper level with their European, Latin American, Australian, South African and Israeli brethren.
Perhaps I am unique, though I am privileged to count as close friends many Jews from across Europe—France, England, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and Ukraine. In fact, several of these friends were extremely instrumental in helping to provide Shabbat hospitality and general advice when I travelled to Paris last year, and I would have been much more lost without them.
The bottom line: If American Jews help grow these communities, then they will flourish. If not, then they won’t grow as quickly. But the future is in our hands. It is up to us.
Ketivah v’Chatimah Tovah,
Jennifer Gersch
This is absolutely correct. I have done Temple work for my Jewish family. Frankly, I've been tired of the infantile whinning and displays of anger that has been shown by ... just a handful... of neurotically sensitive Jews who have been fanning the fires of this issue. I also acknowledge the non-Jewish Mormon-haters who have been all to pleased to help fan these fires of divisiveness. Why do we cater to these people? I lived in a neighborhood of Holocaust victims and heard their crying and screaming at night caused by their memories. I'm fully aware of their pain. The leaders of the LDS Church cannot be patrolling all the actions of disobedient members who overstep the boundaries and do work for those not related to them. I, myself, just last week discovered work had been done for a famous family member of mine by someone not related to me. And such is life. Learn to let it go.
Just one more thought to add to the TIME anti-Jew articles.
While TIME continues to wring its hands at every Israeli action in defense of its people, the magazine published this headline when the Sri Lankan government was killing thousands of Tamil civilians during its battle with the Tamil Tigers two years ago.
"The Man Who Tamed the Tamil Tigers. By Jyoti Thottam / Colombo Monday, Jul. 13, 2009"
"How Sri Lanka Tamed Its Tigers, By Ishaan Tharoor Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2009"
Speaking of Rav Avigdor Miller, zt'l, the following is from his bio at http://www.torahcenter.com/bios/miller.htm about the time when his congregation moved, "It was decided to change the name of shul from Young Israel of Rugby Park to Beis Yisroel Torah Center".
Rav Avigdor Miller's shul left Young Israel. So how can National Council say its constitution bars synagogues from resigning?
You will find www.JewsOnFirst.org has some interesting thoughts on the issue of the Muslim cultural center in Manhattan, too.
Shanah Tovah
Haim
a klog tsu unzere yorn. Kolumbese's medineh! The Orthodox are not more concerned with the length of sleeves, color of tablecloths and having a hechsher on a plum than with the beauty of nusach, the poetry of the Tanach, and the masterpieces of Hebrew and Yiddish literature. Small minds occupy themselves with small things.
I think that everything appears just. ¨Mormon¨ Doctrine has not been compromised as some may be unled. With this decision, both religious groups have an oppurtunity to function according to the dictates of their own conscience and that of their leaders. The difference is clear that only direct family members of Jewish descent with aproval of family members present may do ¨the work of salvation on behalf of the dead¨. This does not change doctrinal theology of the ¨Mormon¨ Church nor choose to ignore the requests of some members of the Jewish community.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, and as a human being, I have my convictiones. I would like to share them with you. Just as it would interest me to hear your convictions and learn from them. I speak of ¨communication¨.
I believe .We should really ask to hear the best from everyone, ¨hear¨ their convictiones, and ask them what they like most of their religion, and how it has helped them, then start speaking about how our common bonds have helped us. This is something that has helped me with my friends many of whom differ in religious viewpoints. We have felt very good, we have felt strong feelings (a sensation that is difficult to describe, but that is invited in this form of respectful communication). This manner of communication has helped me feel a greater sattifaction inside, spiritual and those of my friends with whom I have talked with, and will help all of you I promise if you have enough character inside of you to share with friends not of your faith. This form of communication can help move religiones to work together. To make this world a better place, to fill it with guided leaders (political) (and religious) to replace those who seek to put their own understanding, wants before that of their ¨God¨. Everybody has their own beliefs, I invite everybody to understand them, so as to be their better friends.
Everybody believes they are correct, and that is fine. Thats a Godly characteristic (because my beliefs are that ¨we are made in the image and likeness of God¨). Another godly characteristic is to be humble and ¨listen¨.
I believe That this doctrinal theology will never change because it is in the divine design of Everyone who is in the earth who is progressing for the pursuit of happiness, to think they know everything, and to be humbled by our Creator for it, in order to learn and progress.
My peronal belief and study is that History shows this pattern and practice of ¨Baptisms for the dead¨. Today we believe that we must do the same things as have always been. We believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The times and seasons change, but God is a constant variable, and so are his ordinances of his kingdom.
May I share more of my convictions?
It is also my belief When the Messiah comes he will be received by those who have prepared for his coming. Those who have built temples in his name. Not to save us in our sins, but of our sins. To purify us of sicknesses, physical and emotional, of misunderstanding. To redeem his people, to govern the earth. To liberate us from the true enemy of all humanity. (the inability to communicate, to understand.)
To prepare for this time, I suggest that We ourselves must be made a pure temple, cleaned from influences that detract from our ability to understand from a genuine interest, one in the other.
@ Michael- As a Member of the "Mormon" Church i would absolutely welcome any member of any church to practice proxy work for my ancestors. My beliefs are not threatened by someone else's.
@ Sharon, you really don't understand how this church works. I have to agree with the previous posts that explain that it is the individual members that tend to be a bit zealous, not the leaders of the church lying!
Plus, has no one realized that family trees are enormous? Someone may be upset that a relative has been baptized and not realize that another descendant of that person is the one who requested the baptism!
Anyone in need of a positive outcome for life and health, peace, viable income, would spend all possible time and energy to successfully plead their cause in a human court of law. The rabbis gave us a script. It's up to us to deliver it convincingly to the court of Heaven. That takes effort, and preparation. It requires understanding and passion. If the style of synagogue music has developed over the centuries and across the globe, the function remains the same: to successfully plead our cause. This means the expenditure of intellectual understanding and a lot of sweat. A good davening makes the congregation sweat, not just the chazzan, and not just because of the time. I lose patience with the concept of economized time for davening because I feel that what is at stake is so important it's worth everything I have to give. A trained leader has the tools to deliver. If davening is real, and if it can deliver, give it everything and don't worry about lunch!
As to the remark by Mr. Mostofsky that “the [committee on Jewish law] does not allow us to take anyone to a secular court.”, then how does he explain how NCYI and the Young Israel of Las Vegas took me and several others to SECULAR court in Nevada. Not only did they sue me in SECULAR court, they used falsified documents as the basis of the lawsuit! See http://cleanupyoungisrael.blogspot.com/2010/05/more-details-and-can-be-found-on.html
For the record, President Mostofsky and Chairman Gewirtz have been summoned to a Din Torah that was originally scheduled to take place on Labor Day. It was delayed because NCYI requested at least one of the Dayanim be a pulpit rabbi. The Dayan in that capacity is not available until after Succos. The Din Torah is now tentatively scheduled for the first week of October.
Rabbi Avigdor Miller. zt'l, said that we must be Rodef Shalom, we must run after peace. But by the same token Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, zt'l, taught from Navi Zecharia 8:16 that we must have truth first in order that peace should be lasting. In many statements for the last decade NCYI has not been truthful. This has led to strife on 16th Street in NYC, in Richmond, VA and in Las Vegas, NV. It is time for NCYI to remove the crooked and deceitful elements that have degraded its legacy.
i myself a yeshiva student have seen much worse than this even from his own father, was very involved in fundraising till i saw where the money actually went!
It is a shame that people who wear a certain hat, like a rabbi, priest, doctor, lawyer,police or even president, do not act or live the role.
This has hurt me over the years since being an ex yeshivah girl i do kniw the difference between right and wrong or moral and immoral.
I hope there is more policing for people like this who are supposed to be role moderl to society.
WHAT A GREAT STORY !
National Council's goal is not unity, it is to maintain their lucrative existence at the expense of Torah-True shuls bearing the Young Israel name and legacy. NCYI claims to have standards yet the only time they are enforced (including rules they fabricate) is when it is to their financial advantage such as in Richmond, VA and Syracuse . Otherwise they either ignore their so-called standards (such as the Women's Prayer Group at the Young Israels of Scarsdale, NY and Sharon, MA) or they cover up blatant violations of Halacha as well as their own rules such as at the Young Israel of Las Vegas which has officers who blatantly violate Shabbat by driving, had a President for several years who openly smoked on Shabbat (even in front of the synagogue) and has a rabbi who is still excommunicated!
Why shouldn't the average Israeli be complacent? The Palestinians have no military and the rest of the Arab world doesn't really care about their problems. A few thugs shooting primitive rockets or blowing themselves up is hardly cause for concern for most. Israelis say that when visiting Israel, one is safer than on the streets of NY. So why should they worry? Why is Time inaccurate?
Congratulations to Mark for his many accomplishments at JFN; his departure certainly is a loss for the organization and for the cause it leads. Mark and JFN have been leaders in the post-meltdown/post-Madoff philanthropic/nonprofit soul-searching; this may be one more place where he and the organization can define and model good practice.
Unfortunately too many organizations do not have good governance in place, nor boards that genuinely are equipped to address core needs and goals -- and too many well-meaning boards and CEOs/EDs do make poor choices with few consequences. As the philanthropic & nonprofit sectors start to rebuild post-meltdown/post-Madoff, this conversation about leadership succession and leadership renewal -- which is the larger issue, rather than term limits per se -- is both timely and appropriate.
Term limits may make sense for executives, even if not always for legislators. More frequent rotation at the top would make career paths in Jewish nonprofit sector more appealing to promising new leaders as well as to accomplished executives whose experience outside the Jewish community would be a real asset. It also would give organizations more, rather than fewer, opportunities to benefit from the experience and skills of seasoned executive leaders.
To be sure, 8 to 10 years may be too short a tenure in some cases, where transformation & innovation are long-term projects that may not really get started for a few years (after a new CEO/ED builds her authority & alliances in an organization). There also may be cases where expertise is so specific that frequent turnover would be disadvantageous. Still, there is no reason not to think of 8-10 years as a standard to which there always would be exceptions.
Rest in peace, John Wallach.
-an Israeli Seed of Peace
BREAKING NEWS ----- The Jewish Funders Network has announced that after nine years as President and CEO of the organization, Mark Charendoff will be leaving the organization as of December 31, 2010. As of now, Mark has no plans post-JFN. The search process has already begun.