Queens, NY – Masterful Coalition Building Of Specific Charedi Blocks Filled Citi Field

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    Rav Yechiel Meir Katz, Zibo Dayan of Montreal (Photos copyright to VIN News-Simcha Leiner)Queens, NY – Few of the Rabbonim attending the founding assembly of the Ichud Hakehillos L’Tohar Hamachaneh in Newark NJ back in September 2011 could have dreamt about the astounding success of their efforts by having such a huge gathering of Charedim at Citi Field.

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    It was Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah Gedolah of Philadelphia who captured the prevailing mood of the rabbis during the September gathering by declaring that “It might already be too late. But we must come together to confront these challenges.”

    And come together they did, by the bus load, by car even by chartered ferry, 10s of thousands mostly “black hat” men –with a small smattering of more modern hatless orthodox fought through unusual traffic to pack the stadium to the rafters.

    One security guy said: “This might be a record crowd for this new stadium, I haven’t seen this place that packed; it looks like the World Series”

    Below video: Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman – Pshevorsk Rebbe – Skverer Rebbe – Zibo Dayan at Citi Field

    Behind the scene at CitiFiled with Shimon Gifter for VIN News.

    But building a coalition of the willing was no small feat; organizers were severely criticized in many quarters within the Charedi world for gambling with the possibility of failure. But through the tireless work of the Sekulener Rebbe Rav Yisrael Portugal and Rav Matisyahu Salomon who attended countless meeting and visited important charedi leaders urging them to sign on to the idea of the Asifa, the full house gathering was a crowning achievement of the unlikely couple.

    It was a long and arduous journey with many twists and turns, though the months leading up to the event. Trying to broaden its base, organizers tried to modify their initial stiff opposition to any use of the internet. “The internet, you can’t live without it and you can’t live with it” was an initial slogan.

    To many Charedi groups, that message seemed too permissive, and the slogan quickly disappeared from use in posters and ads. In the end organizers focus their attention towards the hard core charedi tzibur consisting mostly of Chasidim by pursuing the leadership of most Chasidic courts and the bed rock yeshiva learners of the great Yeshivas including Beth Medrash Gevoha of Lakewood the base of the Rav Matisyahu Salomon.

    By the time of the event there was seemingly little sign of any significant contingent from the 5 towns or of the Syrian community who were courted in the beginning with rumors of having the leader of Syrian Charedi community Rav Yosef Harari-Raful speak. But the Rav who speaks in Hebrew turned out to be problematic for some Satmar Chasidim who are opposed to the use of modern Hebrew.
     Charedi lecture, Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman.(Photos copyright to VIN News-Simcha Leiner)
    Concentrating on core groups turned out to be a masterful approach in reaching critical mass, 10 days before the event, organizers announced that the event at Citi Field is sold out, creating a mad rush in many neighborhoods to get one of the coveted tickets, that for a week before seemed to go begging for takers.

    To many participant observers present, the crowd seemed –by typical attire- to be comprised of 65% Chasidim and 35% Yeshivish. “We have to thank the Chasidim” one Yeshivish man told me. “If it weren’t for you guys this would have been a disaster”.

    Many collectors for all kinds of tzedaka causes congregated at the entrance, noticible aboug them were a highly organized group of petition signature seekers for the cause of Jacob Ostreicher – an Orthodox Jew jailed in Boliva. Upon entering the stadium participants were greeted with pre packed bags containing; one chocolate Danish, binoculars, a laminated special prayer card and a bottle of spring water.

    At the scheduled time of 6:30 pm for Tehilim and Mincha, the stadium was far from packed and the proceedings did not commence. While waiting, many, especially yeshiva students eager not to waste any time, were observed engrossed in torah study with small ‘hand-held’ sefarim.

    Later at seven Rav Moshe Green the frail Rosh Yeshiva of Monsey led the reciting of several chosen chapters of tehilim [Psalms]. Followed by mincha. By the time mincha ended the stadium was almost fully packed. Rabbi Efarim Wachsman a gifted fiery orator MC’d reciting the words of Rabbi Akiva ‘ashreichem yisrael … u’mi metaher eschem’.

    All through the evening most speakers used Yiddish, even those who used English –or better, Yeshivish/English- apologized for their need to use a language that for some is the only language they understood.

    Leading up to the event the language issue turned out to be part of controversy between competing parties within the Satmar community, with One Satmar Rebbe – Reb Aaron ending up refusing to endorse the internet asifa and his younger rival the Satmar Rebbe – Reb Zalman endorsing and eventually attending the gathering. Leading up the event both sides published extensive defenses for their positions in widespread pamphlets which drew in other leading rabbis in both camps, pro and con.
    At CitiFiled. (Photos copyright to VIN News-Simcha Leiner)
    “There is a large tzibur of mevakshei Hashem – seekers of Hashem who only understand English” Rav Salomon seemingly pleaded for understanding from the Yiddish speaking crowd, But implicitly it also seemed that the Mashgiach of Lakewood was delivering a stinging response to those who criticize his use of English at such events . Behind home plate, a few tried to start a round of applause in response.

    The Dzibo Rav Rabbi Yechiel Meir Katz was a special speaker invited from Montreal. He spoke with emotion about the previous work of those orthodox leaders who came to America and planted Charedi life on these shores. “Under their leadership, especially the Satmar Rav television was banned from charedi homes, we must do the same with the internet. Rabbi Katz urged the gathering.

    The crowed also heard from Sekulener Rebbe Rav Yisrael Portugal who asserted that many terrible illnesses are a result of the use of the defiled internet and television. “Before hearing about a shiduch one should inquire if the family uses internet, we must put an end to the internet before it puts an end us” the Rebbe warned.

    Harav Shmuel Vozner, considered to be one of the most important halachic poskim of our generation, spoke via telephone hook-up from his home in Israel, reading out a list of strict rules regarding the use of the internet. Among them he ruled that it is strictly forbidden to have any sort of internet in the home even if filtered, unless one has a clear dispensation from a competent Rav. “It is halachically forbidden for anyone to even enter a house that has unrestricted internet” Rabbi Vozner declared.

    Rav Vozner also declared that it is forbidden for any charedi operated school to accept any boy or girl from a home that has internet. “The internet is like a germ, and could be easily transmitted from one child to another” the Rav warned.
    Stefano Giovannini for VosIzNeias.com
    The gathering attracted important charedi Rabbonim and Rebbes, among them Rav Don Segal, The Pshevorsk Rebbe Rav Leibish Leizer from Antwerp and the Rachmastrivka Rebbe from Yerushalayim. One local Grand Rebbe who almost never attends any sort of event due to his strict opposition to have his image taken in public –the Viznitzer Rebbe Rav Mordechai Hager from Monsey, reportedly felt it so important to attend this asifa, so he had himself transported by wheel chair up to the dais.

    The crowd was enthralled when the Vizhnitzer Rebbe recited the Shma during the “kabolas ol malchus shamayim” .

    One security guard who had the name “Frank” on his tag, asked permission to ask me a few questions about what was going on, and why so many elderly speakers seem to be crying?

    After some explaining he said: “I love the Jewish people; during the Met games we have so many ejections of drunken misbehaving fans, but with you guys everybody is so well behaved, you guys seem to have it right the way you educate your young ones” he quipped.

    His friend Tony from Bensonhurst agreed. “You guys never fight”

    Photos credit: Stefano Giovannini for VosIzNeias.com


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    89 Comments
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    Vasserman
    Vasserman
    11 years ago

    So is it ok to lie that your event is sold out to create demand for your tickets?

    Benjey
    Benjey
    11 years ago

    The Asifa was amazing but they could have done better without the zibo dayan from montreal he spoke boring and as if he was speaking to a spacific group

    LionofZion
    LionofZion
    11 years ago

    Never fight? Perhaps one of the Rabbonim from well represented Monsey could weigh in? Achdus as long as you go to the correct Minyan.

    Crazykanoiy
    Crazykanoiy
    11 years ago

    The Assifa promised solutions and advice. All that was delivered were bans and threats of eternal excommunication.

    It is imperative that a new organization be formed comprised primarily of principals, mechanchim and synagogue rabbonim from across the FULL spectrum of Orthodoxy who are capable of providing chinuch and proper advice on Internet usage to the masses of Orthodox Jews that do not reside in Lakewood and Monroe.

    Boochie
    Boochie
    11 years ago

    Rav Vozner also declared that it is forbidden for any charedi operated school to accept any boy or girl from a home that has internet. – Is this a joke half of the parent body in most of these yeshivas have internet, is this really the new plan?

    rationalman
    rationalman
    11 years ago

    What I find troubling is everyone is ready to accept the edicts from this gathering….however…doesn’t most people on here have a rav that they ask questions of..? shouldn’t you follow what your rav tells you….that is the mantra preached to everyone for all issues….eruv, etc secondly, there are three different messages preached..Rav Vosner – never have the internet, another opinion only internet at work however never at home, a third opinion you can have it at home but only with a filter. three different opinions, and yet who do you follow…?

    shredready
    shredready
    11 years ago

    But the Rav who speaks in Hebrew turned out to be problematic for some Satmar Chasidim who are opposed to the use of modern Hebrew.

    pure hate nothing else

    latka
    latka
    11 years ago

    A nice oppertunity wasted. We all have Internet and all our children will have. So they just strengtnth our guilty feelings about it, which brings us to sin and brings us down, which is the Internet problem to begin with. Since the danger of the Internet is so strong just for the fact that every thing is forbidden and people on the web just go over limit. Why was ther not one speech about the good things of the web, of used right? The list is endless. We are having a revelation and yesterday was part of it. People will wake up and small the coffee. This rabbis don’t know much, or they are controlled.

    zooog
    zooog
    11 years ago

    Where was BOBOV REBE (bentzion)?

    chaimme
    chaimme
    11 years ago

    who profited from the event? How many were coerced with threats to go to the event? More importantly are we now going to see one statement from the Rabbis on how we should respond. Is this website about to lose its readers or are we all now hypocrites.?

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    11 years ago

    The Sklene Rebbe said that no one should do a shiddich with a family that has internet with NO filter…I do respect the Rebbe with the highest respect but NO one knows as well as the Rebbe knows..How many hundreds of crying parents come to the Rebbe that they can not find a shiddich for their child…Now we going to add many more to the list.?

    11 years ago

    I found zibo to be the best one, so strong and articulate

    HadEnoughOfGolus
    HadEnoughOfGolus
    11 years ago

    Where was the “ichud” of the kehillos?
    If I separate the choshuva presence that graced us on the dais, I really am pained to admit (really, because this speaks to my dream of true achdus in klal yisroel) this was a total disaster. The yetzer horah won. He allowed politics and egos to dictate the agenda. It was a complete chasidisher event. Complete false advertising. For those of us who don’t speak yiddish, we gained nothing. Frankly, I wonder for those that do speak yiddish, whether they also gained. Of course there should have been yiddish speakers, but they should not have dominated, it should have been at least 50/50. I”m really sad. Really. I gave my nation more credit and I am disappointed. I feel terrible saying this. Rabbi Wachsman was truly amazing, he inspired. I appreciate the presence of gedolim, but we are mostly common plain simple people, that need to be spoken to on our level. Of course the gedolim should speak, but because they are on such a high level, kept it to a minimum, with divrei brocha, and then allowed those that can connect with the public to speak, such as rabbi wachsman. There should have been more practical presentations. We all know the internet has problems, we’re sitting there, we’re past that discussion, now please help us. Don’t repeat what we already know. Clearly, R’ Matisyahu was trying to save it at the end, by speaking in english to all the “mevakshei Hashem”. He understood….
    But then I tell myself, that maybe this internet, with the easy ability to speak one’s mind, has turned me into a critic, when I should simply accept what happened with the belief that greater people than I will ever begin to be, were there, some knew the program, agreed to it, and I have to shut up. I am a follower, and have no right to question. I”m really torn about this. Not only did this asifa not inspire me, it actually bought me down. I know of the countless children that will now hear of the criticism, which will undermine our gedolim, and further water down klal yisoroel. I”m sad.
    They had 40,000 people in one ‘room’, they squandered the opportunity.
    I really wanted to be proud of our nation. This was going to be our “Olympics”. I guess I’ll have to wait for that feeling at the siyum hashas. It can’t come soon enough…

    The_Truth
    Noble Member
    The_Truth
    11 years ago

    There is no “one solution fits all” answer for the internet. Different groups / people need different advice and different solutions. In Benei Berak, a total banning of internet may be appropriate; in some American charedi communities, maybe only a Kosher internet cafe/office maybe appropriate; while in other communities, home internet with a filter would be appropriate.
    Now that a general awareness has been publicized, each community / Rav must weigh in to their own chevra and say whats appropriate and what should / should not be done.

    11 years ago

    To understand on a teef level how ridiculous this article makes certain people look Ayin in the sefer By Hagaon Dr Seuss the story of the sneetches with the stars and the sneetches without the stars.

    wow-wee
    wow-wee
    11 years ago

    it’s very simple; at first serious Rabonim wanted to find a solution! then came satmer!
    in return of his endorsement, they changed the language and the idea, instead of a solution, they (did the same as satmer has always done) they came out with a issour and you’re a sheigets etc,

    He also took control of who should speak so we got boring speakers like the Dzibbower who thought he is by a “yom ha’atzmaos protest”. (“inz eengerisher yiden” “d rebbe zy”a” “tzeeyoinem” etc””

    btw. he proved that the agudah style is right instead of fighting from outside (satmer style) manipulate from within (kneset or kinus)

    if they accomplished anything, it’s that never ever will rabonim ever be able to make any similar kind of kinus, BECAUSE WE MAY BE FOOLED ONCE…

    ChareidiMan
    ChareidiMan
    11 years ago

    sadly they missed the point by not having a plan and ideas. They repeated the same thing on how bad the internet is. However, the crowd saying Amen after Kadish and repeating Shema was an overwhelmingly holy feeling

    11 years ago

    A few questions.
    1. Why was a new organization neccassary for this,Don’t we already have Aguda?
    2. Presuming that the answer to number 1 is because Aguda is treif to Satmer, does this mean tacit recognition of the Satmer position by all the rabbonim who supported the event and a rejection by these Rabbonim of the Aguda ideaology of having a working relationship with the zionist entity – State of Israel for you Goyim who don’t understand yiddish.
    3. Rabbi Ephraim Waxman waxed poetic about his Grandmother crying during Licht bentching that her children and Grandchildren should be holy people and seemed to imply that the internet is a shter to holiness. However one could argue that the internet is one of the most powerful tools HKBH ever gave us for Kedusha especially in the area of Arayos caused by molesters in our midst. For example male adults accused of Mishkav Zachor with minor boys can now be exposed and outed and we have a chance to actually remove these “unholy” people from out midst. Similarly Frum looking people who commit incest with their daughters( see Yom Kippur Torah reading for source of issur) can now be outed and exposed for the evil doers that they are and stopped .

    Shaul in Monsey
    Shaul in Monsey
    11 years ago

    If you went to be entertained, be a part of a crowd, daven with a huge minyan, see gedoilim – huge success. If you went to address real issues – epic failure.

    mutti
    mutti
    11 years ago

    the event was a total disaster. it promised to be an achdus event to deal with the internet. in actuality it turned out to be geared mainly to chasidim and offered no real solutions to the issue.
    In fact they didn’t even speak about the internet. They said the same thing which clearly hasnt worked before, that it is assur, and just repeated that for hours on end.
    If your idea of a nice time is seeing lots of jews gather to hear mussar for three hours in a language you barely understand, then yes it was very nice. for the rest it was a wasted opportunity.

    Aloofknaz
    Aloofknaz
    11 years ago

    Anyone else notice that young boy getting Brachos from most of the Gedolim? I was moved to tears-
    he should have a refuah Shlaima

    TorahTruth
    TorahTruth
    11 years ago

    Sounds to me like the Asifa was hijacked by the Chasidim with their own agenda. I think it would have been better for Rav Mattisyahu to have aligned with the “5 towns” crowed (whatever that means) and keep to the original program. I also find it interesting that you quote Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky who did not attend and was opposed to the way this rolled out. In any case I think the slogan should have been “Chassidim, you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them”, because this ended up just being a platform for everyone to cry about their pet peeve (Zionism etc.).

    11 years ago

    I don’t live in Monsey, Brooklyn, Lakewood or Monroe. I heard of this asifa from sites such as this. Most of our friends never heard of this gathering, and care even less. Our local yeshiva addressed the issues years ago. The problems confronting the above mentioned communities aren’t the same as ours are. When my kids were teens, they had HOMEWORK to do! They has tests to study for. They had very little free time. What free time they had was filled with sports activity, reading, and yes, t.v and other passive forms of recreation. The kids in these communities aren’t given outlets. They truly can fall prey to the pitfalls of the internet. Let a kid go to a ballgame, a library, a bookstore. Force him to spend time on secular studies, with its’ concomitant requirements. (you can skip the t.v. or movies if that’s what your society demands). Give people legitimate extraneous interests, and your internet problems will be minimized. Stick ’em in an airless room for twelve hours a day, and they will opt for the first opportunity to find excitement in the wrong places.

    11 years ago

    The organizers, and by affiliation, the rabbonim who participated in this “event” clearly lied to the tzibur when they promised practical guidance for how a frum family can adopt to the internet, recognizing that the majority of attendees were not there to be threatened with losing their chelek of olam haboh if the purchased an airline ticket online or helped their children do research for a school project. If you listened for more than a few minutes, you became numb from the shouting and screaming of these rabbonim at the asifah about priztus, tzinius etc., comparing the internet to the holocaust in terms of its effects on yidden, and other comment too bizzarre to repeat. It was clear that most, if not all of them were clueless, and seemed incabable of a coherent sentence that did not begin or end with “gevalt”. Instead of leaving the listeners with practical guidance to take home and discuss with their families, they shouted and cried like some distraught parents at a leviyah of their children. What a lost opportunity to shoe leadership for the klal.

    sndinc
    sndinc
    11 years ago

    another example of wasted efforts by the charedi community when there are so many other pressing issues they focus on such ridiculous issues . something is really wrong with our rabbonim . this time lubavitch got it right for a change by not paricipating!

    TheBillDoctor
    TheBillDoctor
    11 years ago

    Raboisai! There are many points that this article left out. A sarcastic comment was made by the MC that “Even someone w/a Blue Shirt and No Hat” can say no to the internet. What the H**L is that supposed to mean. This Asifa was all played up that it would geared towards the worker/earner/learner type of guy. Mr MC, I didnt spend 6 hours of my precious sunday evening time to listen to your sarcastic patronism, and besides I felt discriminated against by that comment and this only Yiddish business. Whats up w/that! What should an English speaking Ben Torah who wants to grow and strengnthen his yiddishkeit take away from this Agenda…oops… I mean Asifa!

    11 years ago

    There are a few issues that bother me about the asifa. First, the seemingly lack of achdus among the speakers; one says that its allowed if you have a filter, another speaker says its allowed ONLY at work for parnassah and others say that not only is it totally assur but children from this homes are not entitled to a Jewish education.

    Furthermore, I grew up in a Jewish community where EVERY JEWISH CHILD received a Jewish education. Since when is it the Roshei Yeshivos job to determine who gets a chinuch and who doesn’t. (there was a 19 year old boy who committed suicide in EY due to being kicked out of yeshiva and that rosh yeshiva making sure he didn’t get into another yeshiva.

    What’s going to happen now is any parent who has internet in their home for whatever reason will have 2 choices; lie to the yeshiva about having internet (thereby teaching our kids to lie) or sending to a more left wing yeshiva (thereby not getting a good shidduch because they went to the wrong yeshiva)- either way is not conducive to the Jewish religion thriving.

    Personally, I love reading that internet is assur ON THE INTERNET!!

    jlq3d3
    jlq3d3
    11 years ago

    So the Syrian Rav wasn’t allowed to speak because he speaks Hebrew? This is one of many examples of why this event was a chillul hashem and a waste of time and money.

    Knowsall
    Knowsall
    11 years ago

    Well the only breath of fresh air is that for once they are not blaming this on women and their tznius

    RebKlemson
    RebKlemson
    11 years ago

    are refunds available from the asifa for breach of contract? Services not rendered?

    myownopinion
    myownopinion
    11 years ago

    Note to Rebbes and askonim:
    We were there, ready to hear and be mekabel words of torah and hashkafa. but because of your self centered gaivah and kovod you took an amazing event and changed it to fit your style to the point of a complete failure. it hurts that such an amazing event went leibut. I don’t wanna hear the klal is not ready anymore, 60k+ prove we are. its time to look at yourselves and straighten out any machlokes amongst yourselves or get out and let us do our avodas hashem…
    I always knew rebbes are not taking ydishkeit forward, now I know they are actually taking it backwards.
    I thank the one above for Rabbi Waxman he is the only one that actually made it worth the trip.

    11 years ago

    The only thing that really matters is how the black sox “community organizer” from Boro Park ” got his father and brothers front row best seats at this show. B”H he plus others have a full time job “organizing” your life. He and his brothers have chosen to be your “Mashgiach” and be paid rather than getting a real job. It was an evening totally botched.

    Every godol was politically seated so that they would get the coverage and camera time the community organizer planned.

    Notice how the slogan “can’t live with it and…….” was completely dropped in the past 2 weeks.
    Two gedolai yisroel who really wanted to attend but didn’t because they asked many questions and saw thru this sham (the Satmar and Bobover Rebbes ).

    11 years ago

    As i look at the Dais–or the names of those in attendance it is plain to see those who are not unfamiliar names in the newspapers and TV News. While they “grace” the leadership of this event and concentrate on the “dangers” of the “Pritzus” of the internet. They need their own lecture on MANY, MANY other Inyanim of importance also mentioned in our Teachings. How about the Skverer Rebbe? Did anyone lecture him on the true meaning of a “Farbrenter Chosid”? Because his new version left normal people astonished. How about the Satmar Rebbe-the one who attended? Did anyone tell him about the Ahava and Reyus that brothers should have with one another? Or does always being in the media fighting over Summer camps and Real Estate now allow him to lecture others on the internet? I am running out of space. But the incosistency of the “bait and switch”. How and Why did Rabbi Solomon and Rabbi Kotler coddle the “Ahroni Rebbe”-to get him to come? Was it for the sole purpose of increeasing the audience? It couldn’t be for Kavod Shamayim. As he is always in some sort of public wrangling with his bro. The separate seating-no TV-no secular anything-crowd have MUCH to clean up in their own house!!

    chanief
    chanief
    11 years ago

    This event was a complete disgrace. The powers that be lied to, begged, and coerced people into attending; large segments of the frum community were missing; and they issued edicts which are completely impossible to impose or keep by the vast majority of the frum community. What a wasted opportunity and an embarrassment.

    brooklynjew
    brooklynjew
    11 years ago

    Its amazing to read all of these nasty comments, bad mouthing an event attended by thousands of holy neshumas of klal yisrael, all of you couch potatoes who didn’t attend should at least keep your twisted helanist thoughts to yourself, and beg G-D that he should shine a little light into your souls…
    Its one thing if one listened to his rebbe’s instructions not to attend, for they have their own way and me’sorah (bobov 48/chabad/satmar kj) but to sit home and constantly dropping opinions about everything and anything gedolei yisrael decide?
    What have you the bad mouthers done for klal yisrael lately aside from sitting with your i phones and stating opinions which contradict torah and the jewish nations history?
    When moshe rabeini called klal yisrael together and spoke to them that which they have already heard at mount sinai, would you go, or would comment on vin, saying why go, nothing would be accomplished, we already heard that?
    If you would know anything about Judaism you would understand that when klal yisrael is faced with a problem which does NOT have a solution, the first thing gedolei yisrael would do, since the times of moshe rabeini, neviem,mordchei hatzadik etc. They would gather klal yisrael and say divrei hisorerus and say tefilos just like they did last night, and that was always what had turned the tide for the better, do you know why? Because if you think for a moment that you can accomplish anything holy without all of klal yisrael pitching in in a form of k’ish achod b’lev achod, then you are all mistakin’…
    what are we going to accomplish by coming together and saying thilim, is the dumbest question in the universe, this is not to say that we should sit back now and do nothing b’poiel mamash, but one who ever asked such a question should first find out what it is being a jew! The jewish nation never accomplish anything before first tapping into the spiritual realm and connecting with g-d, the internet is a super KLIPA, therefore it needs a counter attack in the same measure, and that is what last nights event was….
    Unfortunately some are running around protesting and shouting that first we should fight child molesters, you know what? Our hearts go out to these people, some of them are clearly victims, as we can see they have left everything jewish behind, it is unfortunate, because every victim deserves compensation, and by running away from g-d they are running away from the light they so much deserve, the fact that their community hasn’t given it to them does not mean that must give up, if anybody has any consul to offer, then its Judaism the father of all religions, Judaism when properly connected to, is the greatest healing power that exists, but unfortunately it wasn’t introduced to them in the right way, but that does not mean that every issue klal yisrael takes on must be addressed in the manor they wish, internet filth is connected to everything immoral, that includes child molestation as well, and a fight for the filth of the internet is a fight for child molestation as well…
    Moreover, just as you don’t follow the president when he attends the G8 summit and protest that he must address first more important issues facing the nation such as child molesters, the same here, there is a time and place for everything….

    11 years ago

    Why did they bring gedolei YISROEL from overseas? The Americans aren’t respected or qualified? Rav Schiff chief RAV of Antwerp, Rav Padwa chief RAV of England , Rachmistrivka Rebbe, left sitting at Asifa not understanding half what was spoken. And couldn’t figure out why they were paid to come to the U.S.
    To speak 1 1/2 minutes why was the Pshevorsker Rebbe brought here before Shvuous.Bringing them is denigrating our american rabbonim that they aren’t at that statute.

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    11 years ago

    I dont think i enjoyed the Aseefa but for sure i will be back for at least a base ball.
    I believe a place that left behind so much kedishe in one night will ispire me throughout the summer….

    11 years ago

    Harav Wachsman, everyone admits, was the most dynamic and star if the evening.

    Was it worth the $5.6 million that this gathering cost so far.( With millions more to go.) Did they get the bang for the dollar?

    How much advertisement $ was paid for this. How much money was paid to the newspapers ( english and yiddish) and Kol Mevaser ( phone news) to write articles “that seem” like news but are truly paid for. We are taken as fools by some media.

    Grada4ever
    Grada4ever
    11 years ago

    Putting aside any other complaints i might have about this asifa ……: I learnt in lakewood for three years and one thing that always bothered me was the lack of feeling concerning that we are in golus ,we should not be sticking out yiddishkeit in the goyims face …and then lakewood comes and starts up this whole loud big brash asifa in citifield ,and you have goyish news outlets talking about it ,yidden being rediculed…now its on foxnews.com !!!! its a tremendous chillul Hashem ,however i wouldnt expect lakewood to see this because they are incapable of doing so .

    11 years ago

    Hey you forgot about me. How about an Asifa for me?

    TheBillDoctor
    TheBillDoctor
    11 years ago

    Did anyone hear my, oh so crass comment, that we have already lost the 20-25 year olds-let’s not lose the 0-20 yr olds?

    chayala
    chayala
    11 years ago

    Can u please stop bashing one another,last night’s asifa wasn’t meant so we should have MORE to argue about. It bought achdus to a new level and the kiddush hashem was a tremendous one. Can u atleast let our Father the Father of all enjoy the nachas.Maybe he. Will send moshiach!!!”

    11 years ago

    2/2 Bottom line, there are plenty molested kids out there which are perfectly fine and settled today, there are plenty kids out there brought up in homes with Internet or currently using the Internet and they are perfectly fine, but there are NO kids who grew up on the street with no School, Yeshiva etc and aren’t damaged to a great extend.

    yankey
    yankey
    11 years ago

    Well let me put in my 2 cents here why this asifa is so out of touch my blood is boiling when I saw some of the rosh yeshivas sitting up there who have a big part fault whats happening today in the indescribable yeshiva situaion where thousand of parents are shedding tears broken hearted as to the yeshiva crissis that everody would agree is at historic levels good erlich buchrim not being accepted or kicked out of yeshivas with no second chance and is a geurntee to become a dropout like a father tells me having this issues he says look the Internet at least a person has an option if he is real erlich he can hold back and filter himself we all agree it’s a problem but he says me with my buchir I got no options I am lost so isn’t the yeshiva crissos the most pressing crissos we have these days and again not drop outs ,ein bias she ien shum mes,! For the yeshiva crissos there should be an asifa gurntee

    basmelech
    basmelech
    11 years ago

    As far as not allowing children into school if they have internet at home is concerned – When VHS videos first came out, we had to sign a paper that stated that we do not have video at home, in order for our children to attend school. I think that now that would be a big joke, because so many people have videos for their kids (and even take non Jewish ones out of the library), the frum pediatrician’s office has them in the waiting room etc. I am not saying that children should be exposed to the internet, but, you shouldn’t have to sign that you don’t have it to get your kids into school. If you have it, it should be locked up from the children, and they shouldn’t even know that you have it in the home.

    curious
    curious
    11 years ago

    It was clear that there was no consensus among the speakers. That said, it is not a haskomas haposkim . Especially no consensus from the ones that chose not to show. It does not remove anyone’s olam haba if they don’t follow. Tfasta meruba lo tofasta. They tried to forbid all which will forbid nothing. What is clear is that all bnei torah should have a filter that they or their children can not manipulate. My wife has the code. i can’t manipulate it in a weak moment if I tried. K9 and many others are free!

    sndinc
    sndinc
    11 years ago

    what a waste of money and effort that went into this event

    OutThere
    OutThere
    11 years ago

    Does anyone know of any good filters to use?

    WBK11
    WBK11
    11 years ago

    From the multitude of photos and videos, as well as the comments of those who attended, it seems quite clear that the vast majority of the crowd was chassidish, not litvish. Which simply means that the whole event would have been a fiasco had the Skulener and MS not begged, borrowed and stolen the approval of Ger, Vizhnitz, Beltz, Bobov 45 and, last but not least, Zalman Leib’s Satmar. Does this mean that MS has no real traction with, and his ideas really don’t resonate with, the Yeshivisha olim, particularly the ballei battim in Flatbush and the Five Towns whose largesse Lakewood relies so heavily upon? Just wondering.

    11 years ago

    They had an opportunity to speak to a nation of Yiddin and inspire them..
    To make it an evening of enlightening and awareness.
    To deliver a message of what it means to be a Goi Kaddosh
    To feel the privilege of being this nation…

    There is so much to dwell upon and inspire, and mainly uplift a nation so broken and torn,
    So beaten and bruised.
    Do they not realize the brutal Nisyonos we live with every second of the day?
    Do they not realize who we are, with all this shmutz amongst us?
    Where else in the world do you find such a people as the bnei yisroel?

    When Rabbi Waxman tried to point out, imagine turning those thousands of hours surfing the web into a Masechta.
    Open our eyes and realize what we have, Ubucharta B’chaim!!!!
    When we see the two worlds in front of our eyes, do we need to tell someone which one to choose?

    Then at the end of an evening of inspiration there is no need for issurim..
    Then you announce, for those which want to hear the P’sak of our Poskim, after Maariv we will have a live hook up to Poisek Doreinu……

    Instead thousands of people felt betrayed.
    This is what I came for?
    This is what they coned us into?

    The Rabanim are once again forcing issurim on us?

    When The Ribbono shel oilum gave us his Torah.. He didn’t give it to us in Mitzrayim, b’ervas ha’aretz.
    He took us into the Midbar and cleansed us for 40 years, lifted us to a madreiga of malachei hashureis
    And only then did he ask us do you want my Torah..
    And of course we all SCREAMED Naaseh V’nishmah…

    This is why we make a Bracha every day, Habocheir Biamo Yisroel Biahavah..
    He showered us with love he opened our eyes and filled our hearts with Kedusha, of course we were willing to choose Naasah even before hearing what it is he wants..
    Whatever you want we will do..
    We LOVE you Hashem