Brooklyn, NY – Outrage In The Jewish Community Over NY Post Sunday Headline

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    Brooklyn, NY – A virtual avalanche of negative backlash is being heaped on the New York Post from an outraged Jewish community following its Sunday cover photo of murdered Hasidic real estate developer Menahcem Stark, accompanied by the caption “Who Didn’t Want Him Dead?”

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    Troughout its accompanying article, the NEW YORK POST (http://bit.ly/1cuszLS) refers to Stark as a “slumlord,” while citing a litany unconfirmed complaints against Stark—the vast majority from “unnamed” sources—and paints a picture of the deceased father of eight as a man who authorities hint “had so many enemies that investigators say they almost don’t know where to start looking.”

    Reaction to the Post’s decision to run the feature has been swift and harsh from an outraged Jewish community.

    Assemblyman Dov Hikind released statement condemning the piece, stating “I understand that the New York Post wants to sell papers and that they are willing to sacrifice the standards of propriety from time to time. But there is a difference between bad taste and just plain indecency.”

    Continuing, Hikind said, “The pain that this headline caused to not only a man’s family but to the entire Jewish community is indescribable and was so unnecessary. It was a heartless act that should never have been allowed. It was truly beneath contempt.”

    Councilman Stephen Levin has also responded in disgust, calling on the Post to pull the story and apologize.

    Levin’s statement reads, ““The New York Post’s unbelievably offensive headline this morning comes the day after Mr. Stark’s family and children, as well as an entire community, laid him to rest and are still mourning his death. For the New York Post to suggest that a person deserved to be murdered is sickening and reaches a new low. The entire community is outraged by such a vulgar headline that is so offensive and horrific. The New York Post should pull their story and issue an apology to the family and community that are still in mourning.”

    VIN News has also received a statement from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams’ office stating that, “Today at 3:00 PM, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will join Jewish community leaders and local elected officials to condemn the New York Post’s hateful coverage of the murder of Menachem “Max” Stark, a 39-year-old father of eight children from the Hasidic community of Williamsburg. Along with reporting that alleged him to be a crooked slumlord, the Post’s cover featured a picture of Stark next to the headline, “Who didn’t want him dead?”

    “Jewish community leaders will be announcing a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Stark, whose smoldering body was found in a dumpster in Long Island, following his abduction Thursday night outside his real estate office in Brooklyn,” Adams’ statement concludes.

    State Senator Simcha Felder add his voice of rage, releasing the following statement:

    “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the incredibly insensitive and crass cover of today’s New York Post which mocks the kidnapping and brutal murder of Menachem Stark,” said Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn). The Post must issue an immediate apology to the Stark family and to all New Yorkers for its egregious behavior and failure to exercise any judgment whatsoever in this matter.”

    THE ALGEMEINER (http://bit.ly/1hpiPqW) is also running a piece condemning the Post’s story, stating “Stooping to a new low, the New York Post reports this story with inappropriate levity and derision toward the victim. Gloating over Stark’s death, the front cover of Sunday’s New York Post rhetorically asks, “Who didn’t want him dead?” How about the eight children and widow wife mourning over him? How about the hundreds that showed up at his funereal to pay respect? How about any decent human that believes murder is the wrong way to settle disputes?”

    Along those lines, “Jew in the City” founder Allison Joseph has posted on her Facebook page, “The deceased did not seem to be someone who lived up to some major Torah ideals. However, there should be a certain basic respect for the dead.”

    TWITTER has been exploding, too, with negative responses from angry members of the Jewish community.

    Councilman David G. Greenfield Tweeted a short time ago, “I’m sickened by the @NYPost condoning the murder & kidnapping of chasidic businessman. I don’t subscribe. If I did, I would cancel subscription.”

    BUSINESS INSIDER (http://read.bi/19Ki1KW) is quoting numerous Tweets, including one that reads, “It’s heart-wrenching that this is leading the @nypost website today. ‘Who DIDN’T want him dead?’ SHAME ON YOU!”

    Yaacov Behrman Tweeted “I am deeply disturbed by the cover of the New York Post, “who didn’t want him dead.” How about this young boy?!”—referring to the young boy pictured at the start of Stark’s standing-room-only funeral last night who, visibly shaken, said in Yiddish, “You know they burned him and left him in the trash.”

    In a statement released to VIN News a short time ago, News Commentator and PR service provider in the Orthodox Jewish Community, Yossi Gestetner, said, “This is not your typical let’s-get-outraged-for-a-day drive. The Post needs to retract its front page headline and perhaps fire the Editors behind it.”

    Issac Abraham a community active and a former candidate for NYC council, add his out rage by releasing the following statement:

    Reading the NY Post cover headlines calling MR. Stark A”h a “slumlord” assassinating his character first then to lead you to further read the story of how brutally, viscous and violently he was murdered mob style, is to leave with the perception not to shed a tear for the wife and mother, eight children, siblings and friends because he was a “slumlord” quoting a former tenant and blogger is outrageous.

    The NY Post has crossed the line, if some one can be arrested for inciting a riot, yelling fire in a theater, if god forbid another property owner or landlord that is labeled by the NY Post as a “slumlord” is killed, the NY Post should be held libel for inciting the murder, accessory to the crime as well as providing the tools and defense for the crime.

    The only legal owner of multi dwelling that was declared as a “slumlord” as defined in the dictionary,is NYCHA, the perception that its chairman should be and/or deserves execution is mind boggling.


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    31 Comments
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    NarishGeret
    NarishGeret
    10 years ago

    The NY Toast

    misslydia128
    misslydia128
    10 years ago

    If the accusations by tenants and workers are true, then there are some in the Jewish community who don’t mind the headline. I have suffered under slumlords. They keep poor people freezing in the winter even though they get the rent on time. Oil always ran out in the dead of winter. Ditto for vermin and fire hazards, such as faulty wiring, etc. Some people are offended by tzedaka given on the backs of others. No, murder isn’t the way to settle disputes, but don’t cry over a vulgar headline . If you don’t give respect don’t expect to get any.

    birgas
    birgas
    10 years ago

    Not long ago the dirty NY Post ran an avalanche of nasty articles against a well-known respected Rabbi from Williamsburg, with the most vicious and biased hatred on its front pages, which led to the arrest of a big asken for thousands of Yidden in the jailes in NYC.

    We were all quiet then! Sadly this was a lesson for the Post that Jewish Blood and falsehoods in the Orthodox community is accepted.

    We ought not to let this shameful silence repeat itself!

    10 years ago

    Along those lines, “Jew in the City” founder Allison Joseph has posted on her Facebook page, “The deceased did not seem to be someone who lived up to some major Torah ideals. However, there should be a certain basic respect for the dead.”

    Although I am a huge fan of the work she does [I even donated money when she was collecting for her website], she crossed a line here. She choose to believe the negativity that she found online on the guy without due diligence. It is sad that she of all people had to comment like this and I hope she will apologize.

    10 years ago

    disagree with the message and wording, but there is never an excuse for abusing tenants

    bklynlady
    bklynlady
    10 years ago

    to Miss Judith: the city of NY happens to be the biggest slumlord – have you been in a city housing project lately in East New York or Coney Island, for example, lately? And the city is responsible for cracking down on slumlords so apparently, they are not performing their duties. This headline is offensive to all human beings and has nothing to do with giving or getting respect. You sound like a big DeBlasio supporter….

    YonahLevi
    YonahLevi
    10 years ago

    I strongly relieve that, with a concerted effort, we could turn this rag into the New York Toast and, subsequently, to the New York Ghost. United, there’s nothing we can’t do. I wouldn’t even use this as toilet paper.

    There were thousands at his levayas in willy and Monroe last night, on extremely short notice. None of them wanted him dead. I say we pay a visit to these scumbags masquerading as journalists and editors…

    coolaid
    coolaid
    10 years ago

    the same freedom of speech you have in posting this comment , give the satmers the right to practice their religion and their beliefs about Zionism

    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    10 years ago

    How does an average of 15 violations per building make one a Slumlord??? I have 1 tenant who has singlehandedly made over 400 violations by calling Housing every day, breaking things, and putting garbage in the hallways. 1 tenant 400 violations!!!

    10 years ago

    The Dodelson’s also used the post for their extended article that brought fame to all of their families.

    10 years ago

    Honestly, in light of the recent tragedy, this NY Post article seems like more of an affront to just the silence of the world. The Jewish community is not effected by yellow journalism in the years of heaven ahead. I do not think that this besqueaching of human direction should mar the feelings of mourning that we are experiencing right now. Its pretty disappointing at best and I hope that the Post has some editors fired. That’s about it.

    DoctoronCall
    DoctoronCall
    10 years ago

    The family should sue for libel and defamation of character.

    10 years ago

    I have one question for the Post: Would this story have been written the way it was if the victim was not a Hasidic Jew with a Streimel?

    Would you have quoted anonymous commentors on FailedMessiah.com as his “enemies” when in reality the author of that blog and the commentors with those screen names regularly spew hateful, vitriolic comments aimed at Orthodox Jews?

    Would you have posted those hateful comments if it were written against any other ethnic group?

    Would you have dispatched 10 reporters to dig up dirt on a (previously) unknown victim of a murder case? Would such a story interest you at all, let alone for the frontpage?

    Would you have posted such an insensitive headline in any murder case?

    Would you have quoted an unnamed source insinuating that a particular ethnic group has a likelihood of being scammers?

    hollo
    hollo
    10 years ago

    How low can one become?
    Unbeleivable from this we see “eisuv soneh lyakov”

    RamapoJew
    RamapoJew
    10 years ago

    Can we agree that the behavior that is described in the Post is despicable and deserved condemnation?

    If so, then the only question is whether its true or not. I have no clue one way or the other. Lest deal with the message rather than the messenger.

    Erlich
    Erlich
    10 years ago

    If the Satmars would not vilify Israel and Zionists, they would receive far more sympathy.

    10 years ago

    The ny post is a piece of garbage. It’s not a newspaper but a tabloid. I’m waiting for a headline from them ‘Bigfoot found!’ or ‘Aliens are invading!’
    They care a bout one thing:$$$$. They will do anything to sell papers. Whether it’s put a dying man about to get hit by a train in their headline. While the person taking the picture should’ve helped to try and save him instead of taking a picture he knows he can cash in for the post. Or this: blaming a landlord for being tough in order that people actually pay him!!! How disgusting!! How somehow it’s ok to kill a man bc you owe him money. Of course the ny post feels people in NYC should get their rent for free!!

    Pereles
    Pereles
    10 years ago

    Maybe start with this guy quoted in the NYToast:
    “I’ve had many conversations with him, and of course in many of those conversations I wanted to kill him,” joked Greg Hanlon, who lived in a Stark-owned building in Clinton Hill.

    That’s joke???

    yiddishkind
    yiddishkind
    10 years ago

    #30
    Did you confirm that story??
    Are you bnai avrhom yizchok vyakov?