New York – Calling 311 And Its Halachic Ties

    108

    New York – It is known as the Citizen’s Service Center in the halls of New York City government. It is a quick and anonymous way to report anyone who is ostensibly doing something illegal. Is someone running an illegal business next door to you? No problem. Dial 311. The problem is that, from a Torah perspective dialing these three harmless-looking digits can also be an instant way in which to lose one’s Olam HaBah [See Shulchan Aruch Choshain Mishpat 388:9].

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    Indeed the Gemorah in Rosh HaShana describes the horrifying Gehenam-filled fate of someone who engages in Mesirah. The Shach (Yore Deah 388:53) cites a number of authorities (Tosfos and Hagaos
    Ashri) that someone who actually converted to another religion is better off than someone who engaged in Mesirah.

    Is it ever permitted to dial the three digits? Yes, but being that the repercussions are so fraught with danger, it is better not to make that judgment call oneself and only do so after consulting heavily with a qualified Posaik. So when is it permitted?

    The Shulchan Aruch (as amended by the Shach in 388:12 and 10) rules that if a person is causing significant distress to an individual it is, nonetheless, completely forbidden to perform a Mesirah. If, however, the entire community is suffering then, after the person is warned (see Vilna Gaon and Sanhedrin 72b), they may report the offender.

    There are a number of questions. What is to be considered “significant distress?” The example cited by the Ramah is that the person is engaging in counterfeiting and will thus endanger the community.

    It would seem that the “significant distress” should be similarly significant. Issues of violence and sexual abuse, of course, are significant. Indeed, even if it is just to one individual, the issue of Pikuach Nefesh may be involved and a call would be required under such circumstances.

    What about threatening Mesirah? There is a story going around (we all certainly hope that it is not true) that a woman wanted a day care center to take in her child and was told that there was no more room.

    She then told the operator that if they did not take in her child, she would promptly report them to the authorities. Rav Dovid Morgenstern Shlita, a Rav and Posaik in Yerushalayim and the right-hand man of Rav Elyashiv Shlita ruled that there is absolutely no heter to cause someone such an anxiety even by threatening to do a Mesirah. Indeed, the Maharik (Shoresh 126) rules that someone important who threatens to do a Mesirah is forbidden to give testimony and is considered Pasul Le’Aidus.

    How about jailing an ex-spouse who has not kept her agreement for visitations? Or how about jailing a non-paying ex who is behind in alimony or child support? It is difficult to see how any of these can
    be justified halachically and it is also difficult to imagine if either of them will see any Olam HaBah.

    Can these people do Teshuvah? In the HaGaos Ashri (Chapter Zeh Borrer) there is an indication that if someone does the requisite Teshuvah and also obtains the forgiveness of the person who he or she
    informed upon, then their Olam HaBah can be restored. It seems clear, however, that one without the other would not be sufficient.

    In conclusion, the issue is one that is fraught with danger and if anyone values his or her portion in the world-to-come, such a drastic step should only be taken after consultation with leading Poskim, and after the person has been sufficiently warned. If there is no time for a warning, the leading Poskim should be consulted as to what to do.

    The Ramah rules that in such circumstances the report may, nonetheless, be made.


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    108 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    So if you report a child-molester you can expect to end up in Gehenom.

    bin8500
    bin8500
    15 years ago

    i am very interested to hear what the olem has to say regaeding this

    Use Your Head
    Use Your Head
    15 years ago

    This article appears to completely skip the issue of what kind of government the rules of mesirah apply to. I believe there are many reputable poskim who would consider the American (Federal and local) government to be law-abiding and not cruel, and therefore mesirah may not be applicable. Correct me if I’m wrong.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Hi time for someone to speak up about this terrible avirah of messirah which bcame nebech a norm in our sociaty

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    in other words, Don’t Be A Rat!

    YANKEL
    YANKEL
    15 years ago

    The real problem that we must face, is that there are illegal activities in our community which should exist at all. There should be none!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The issue of Mesirah became a serious problem in the Orthodox community, according to Halacha its the worst act a jew can do, and by doing it you lost your Chelek Beolom Habah & officialy declared as a “Meshumed” its mind boggling how some people allow themselves to give up everything by committing Mesirah. I think many of us never saw the Halachot in Chosen Mishpat Re Mesirah. There is nothing worse a yid can do, open a Shulchan Oruch and check it out!

    yossel
    yossel
    15 years ago

    wich is bigger aveira / messirah o chillul hashem?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Yankel, illegal activities is indeed an issue to be raised, some people don’t know these Haluchos as well, but Mesira is a terrible thing and this is the topic here, let’s not confuse the issues here.

    JoeFlix
    JoeFlix
    15 years ago

    A personal experince:

    In the last month I had two times when I was angry at Jewish developers that were bloicking too much parking space. I was tempted to call the city and shut them down with false complaints – but I decided to give diplomacy a try to do my halachic duty

    Im happy to report that in both cases the matters were resolved quickly, respectfully and without bad feelings.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    yossel, I think we shall stay away from both.. but I guess Mesira is much worse, Chilul Hashem is a terrible sin but I don’t think that it says somewhere that by causing Chilul Hashem you’re no more considered as a Yid like it says on a Moser, but again Chilul Hashem is also one of the most terrible sins that a jew can commit, but I know some people think that Chilul Hashem is only applicable when it involves non jews only, and the truth is that Chilul Hashem is even worse when anything bad is done before Yiden as all Seforim say

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Dear #4
    The author wrote it befairush! Can’t you read?? You owe him an apology.
    It would seem that the “significant distress” should be similarly significant. Issues of violence and sexual abuse, of course, are significant. Indeed, even if it is just to one individual, the issue of Pikuach Nefesh may be involved and a call would be required under such circumstances.

    I Don't Think So
    I Don't Think So
    15 years ago

    This article is a perfect example of “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

    In this Medinah shel Chessed, one has to consider the Halacha of Dina d’Malchusa Dina when examining the laws of Mesirah. Also, not massering could put an individual in danger of being arrested and convicted as an accessory after the fact.

    Study the halacha with a qualified posek, and don’t rely on this “psak”.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    hpw about instead of talking about how wrong mesirah is we nip the problem in the bud. why dont we make sure that yidden arent doing anything illegal, so we have nothing to worry about. if yidden didnt break the laws we wouldnt have a shayla of whether or not other yidden can tell on them.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Good Article! some people think that Mesirah is only applicable if you put someone in Jail Rachmana Litzlan! which we heard of that too in the last few years Nebach! but the truth is that Mesiras Mamon (Money) is also Mesirah, I think sometimes you get so mad & upset that you do something that you’re not aware what a big sin you’re comitting! I learned the Halachot lately with my Chavrusa and there is very scary stuff there… if we will learn the haluches we know to stay away from any kind of Mesira! it doesn’t pay! I was cheated by a real con artist with a nice amount of $$$ and had some damaging info against him, after discussing with a known Posek he asked me to learn firt Chosen Mishpat about mesira which I did, and I can truly say that I’m so thankful that I didn’t do what I was thinking of doing.. its not worth it no matter how much money is involved, especially that there was no way of getting my money back anyhow, it was rather a drive as result of seeking Revenge. Beware Stay Away!

    rav pam  was a moser  (c"vs) i guess
    rav pam was a moser (c"vs) i guess
    15 years ago

    rav pam called the police on 2 boys that broke into the candy machine in torah voddath. he said there was no problem of mesirah. i was in the yeshiva at the time.

    “How about jailing an ex-spouse who has not kept her agreement for visitations? Or how about jailing a non-paying ex who is behind in alimony or child support? It is difficult to see how any of these can be justified halachically and it is also difficult to imagine if either of them will see any Olam HaBah. ”
    sorry to tell you, but all divorces are done in a local court. end of story. no matter how religious one may be, family and civil court are in your future if you get divorced. now, when a judge sees that no payments have been made, since they monitor these things, that is when the man gets thrown in jail. you do not ask the judge to throw the man in jail. you ask the judge to get your money due to your CHILDREN! if the numskull decides to get stupid with the judge, and be belligerent, or refuses, then he winds up in jail, simply for being in contempt of a court order.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    This article is a perfect example of “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” ITS ACTUALLY A VERY INFORMATIVE ARTICLE THAT TELLS YOU TO SPEAK TO A POSAIK BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING

    In this Medinah shel Chessed, one has to consider the Halacha of Dina d’Malchusa Dina when examining the laws of Mesirah. ASK A POSEK BEFORE YOU DARSHAN Also, not massering could put an individual in danger of being arrested and convicted as an accessory after the fact. YOU DONT KNOW YOUR LAW, MY FRIEND

    Study the halacha with a qualified posek, and don’t rely on this “psak”. EXCEPT FOR THIS PSKA SAID TO ASK A POSAIK

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    #26 ! why talk like a real Am Haretz? open a Shulchan Oruch and you will see that to Maser even on a Rasha etc. you lost your Chelek Leolem Habba!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I went to the doctor for a check up and i reall never realized that i blocked someones illegal driveway. He flatted my 4 tires and pasted glue all over my windows causing me over $350.00 in repairs and 5 hours of aggravation. I called 311 and reported his house for illegal highway and i called Dept.of transportation and the Highway dept. I dont know how many fines he got but i see his driveway is GONE..will i go to gehenem for this? Does anyone really believe that by causing someone else Tzar and agmes nefesh and money loss he is not allowed to call 311.? Please answer me

    ShatzMatz
    ShatzMatz
    15 years ago

    My shul that just had an incident where a outwardly ‘frum’ and respected neighbor called 311 to complain about garbage in the shared driveway. The garbage was cleaned up immediately, but when the inspector showed up he saw that we built a succah in the backyard and issued a violation and stop order. The inspector also found that we were renovating the mikva without a permit. Now the shul will have to spend tens of thousands of dollars in fines and fighting the violations and removing the stop order in order to complete the mikva renovations. This shule has been there for 55 years, well before the neighbor purchased the next door house. If he doesnt like living next to a shul he shouldnt have moved there. How will he justify himself in olom haba for causing such financial and emotional damage to a poor struggling kehilla? Any idiot can dial 3 digits and cause enormous damage. The question is, how will you put the cat back in the bag once its out?

    seen enough
    seen enough
    15 years ago

    calling the authorities when lives are at stake, illegal day care centers that do not have enough personnal, they have too many children for the amount of space allocated, they do not have adequate fire safety measures, etc., or the same person constantly parking by a fire hydrant overnight – even after being spoken to – is p’kuach nefesh , not mesira.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am sorry to tell you all…..Try getting a fair din torah those days.!!!! The corruption from the begining to the end leaves us only with one outcome …MESIRAH…..
    I am sure there will be hundreds of critics but those never had a din torah…Its the rabunim and toyanim who will BURN in gehenem…Those innocent women who are paying their weely salaries to those corrupt rabunim or busnissmaen who have been cheated by their shul associates have a different story to tell…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Yes, being a mussar is the horriblest thing you can be. PERIOD.
    NO, one may not be tattle on ANYONE.
    Certainly, if a Jew were about to assassinate the president elect, and it would bring racial riots onto Jews nationwide, it would mean we MAY wish to go ask a shaila. But we could still not undertake this action alone, without rabbinical help.
    He may point out that the very fact that the world will come to know that a Jew was plotting to kill Obama would accomplish the same things, while if he did do it, there was a chance he would not get caught. Sure, we can all debate this, but it is not so poshut.

    Similarly with other revolting, disgusting, and horrific crimes. Our gut feelings, our emotions cause us to find all kinds of heterim, even telling us it is a mitzvah to be a mussar. I have seen people use the “rodaif” excuse/heter a few times. But you really need to speak to a QUALIFIED rov. Not, not necessarily the rov you ask about kashrus. You need to speak to a Dayan.

    Your local Orthodox rov got his smicha based upon Issur V’Heter, meaning on Melicha, Basav B’Chalav, and Taaruvos. Not issues to prepare him to answer these questions. Unfortunately, too many local rabbonim with only Yoreh Yoreh have butted into these areas where they have little or no qualifications.

    This is a real biggie.

    Yes it just may be correct to allow the rabbonim handle some of the very situations where we all have been so sure needs us to call the authorities.

    The mesira thing is so strong, such a major issur, that the rabbonim who ACTUALLY WORKING VERY HARD on these issues need to do it with tact and NO Publicity. They need to solve the problem without YOUR knowledge. Because is YOU know that they punished, or did something to stop a pervert’s actions, the police may come to know about it, and all would be for naught.

    They ARE working hard on all these issues.

    Call them, not the police.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Halacha desicions should not be decided on a website. Actually, I was told by a Beis Din that I could threaten to put my ex-husband in jail if he doesn’t pay child support. He owed thousands of dollars and the choice was his. He is deciding to go to jail if he doesn’t listen to what the beis din says, namely to pay up all the child support that he owed. This was paskened in Eretz Yisroel, where the whole beis din system is legally enforced. It doesn’t mean that this applies to everyone, but the halacha is definately not accross the board as simple as you said.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    What do you do when another yd engaged in identity theft Can you report him to the authorities where he may lose his license otr even go to jail? What if he does not even apologize and refuse to cooperate in discovering who in his firm did the actual identty theft?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    If anyone who says that they got a heter to put their spouse in jail where there was no violence or molestation on their spouses part can kindly please identify which Rav or Bais Din permitted it. Is there something in writing? I once heard a man say that he had a heter from a famous Rav to put his wife in jail and the Rav denied it completely. Then a year later I heard the exact same story the other way around with different people and again the Rav said that he never gave such a heter. It is not necessarily true that it happens automatically in the court system. More often than not the jailing is instigated by the other spouse. Boruch Hashem, I am happily married, but I saw my yeshiva mates kids go on drugs because their parents were so crazy. Neither the father or the mother will ever listen to anyone. They know better. This article is good becuase it shows the seriousness of it. Before anyone attacks this guy, they should ask their Rav if what he writes is true. One time a Reform judge gave mussar to a frum couple about killing each other like this. Can you imagine a bigger chilul hashem?

    chaim
    chaim
    15 years ago

    What if one masere3d on you and to defend yourself in cort you have to maser to show that his mesirah was concocted just yto hurt you. if you don’t maser it will affect the ability to disprove the mesirah against you. How will poskim decide such a conundrum?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    you are allowed to maser on a moser..

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Who are we to say what is right what is wrong.
    where do you draw the line what is right what is wrong.
    the same way you would not pasken for yourself Hilches T’ehareh you will run to the rav and ask him, who gives any one of us to pasken matters of pekuach nefushes.
    remember DAAS BAL HABAYIS HEPUCH DAAS HRAV
    so what ever you think is right may very well be wrong

    RobRoy560
    RobRoy560
    15 years ago

    Look I am far from a talmud chacham, and I hate rats. But you know what I hate more than rats? People who think they are above the law, especially those who appear outwardly frum. I don’t detest the frum community, after all I’m part of it. Let’s face it, without the community we would have nothing – no mikvahs, shuls, food, schools, etc. But just because you are so righteous, doesn’t mean the laws don’t apply to you.

    But I’m listening to all you ‘gedolim’ going back and worth saying when some one can or cannot report, but only a few posts pointed out the main problem – us! For instance, the story shul with the shared driveway. That would not have been an issue if we respected each other and if the shul applied for the permits. A shul may be off the tax roles or at a reduced tax rate, but that doesn’t mean it is free from filing for permits. While I don’t condone slashing one’s tires because they blocked a driveway (which later did turn out to be illegal), I’m a little suspect of not realizing a driveway was there. When I go to BP or Flatbush, I drive my wife crazy with the care I take for parking. Even if I’m “in the right” it’s not worth the hassle of what some have mentioned here

    But this nonsense has to come to an end from the top down. Until the rabanim and the community leaders put the kibosh on it, this problem will never change. Why? Because the community doesn’t have the courage to expose the hypocracy and cheating that we do to each other. If we cannot excommunicate the child molesters from our midst, how can we put an end to the fraud we are doing (social services abuse, illegal apartments, etc.)?

    My favorite rebbe in my day school days lived each day with Derech Eretz Kadma L’Torah. He was a very frum man, but said all of your learning is meaningless in the RSO’s eyes if you lack simple derech eretz. He lived by this when dealing with Jews and non-Jews. When he passed away, his non-Jewish neighbors came to his funeral because they respected him so much. We could all learn something from him.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Maybe the same rabbonim who gave Rahm Emanuel the heter to work on Rosh Hashana as long as he did not write.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I agree that you must learn the halachot properly, many comments posted here have no relation to our Halacha whatsoever, but it is very sad that Mesira which is such a terrible sin became no problem these days, and sometimes even ended up by putting away a Yid in jail!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I wish I could post here transcripts of a Grand Jury proceeding where a few so called heimishe jews testified, it consists a total of approx 200 pages and I promise you won’t sleep at night to see what this world has come to! unbelievable! what a Shame!

    WolfishMusings
    WolfishMusings
    15 years ago

    Overly dramatic, don’t you think?

    “Is it ever permitted to dial the three digits? Yes, but being that the repercussions are so fraught with danger, it is better not to make that judgment call oneself and only do so after consulting heavily with a qualified Posaik. So when is it permitted? “

    Gee, I dial 3-1-1 all the time without calling a rav first. I use it to find out if there is going to be garbage pickup on certain holidays. I also called them to find out if the city transit system was going to be running on a weekday or weekend schedule on Veteran’s Day. Oh yes, I also called them to find out how to dispose of a dead squirrel on my corner. Somehow, I doubt that in any of those cases, I should have been so “fraught with danger” and unable to decide whether or not to call without calling a Posek. Heck, had I called a Posek and asked “should I call 311 to check the transit status next Tuesday,” I probably would have been laughed at.

    This isn’t to minimize the need to ask before calling the authorities on someone. But the headline and article makes it sound like I should be trembling in my boots before calling to find out about alternate side of the street parking.

    IOW, how about changing the topic from “dialing 311” to “informing on a fellow Jew?”

    The Wolf

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    As a simple yid and a regular reader of VIN, I must ask myself: What did a lowly , simple person like me do to deserve reading the opinions of so many poskim red-hot off the presses?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Get with the times. These laws were written in a time when there was a very obvious perperual conflict between the Jews and their surrounding neighbours. Most governments were hostile to their Jewish communities and there was a need to create an insulated self governing community. Guess what, this is not the case anymore. Embrace the new world and stop acting like the persucuted communities of the middle ages. Thank G-d we have gotten to this point.

    chaim
    chaim
    15 years ago

    If Rav Pam could call the police for just minor vandalism to a yeshivah candy machine where some boys may have gotten some money stuck and were frustrated in getting it out we can rest assured that he knew the applicable halachos better than all the people posting herre.Nevertheless the important lesson to learn out from this is that the requirement of the times we live in requires extraordinary measures above and beyond the regular cases described in the Choshen Mishpot. Furthermore when a perpetrator who is frum abuses the halacha of mesira in his acts knowing that the victims will invariably hesitate to inform on him or her it means that halachically he surrenders the protection that the din of mesira gave him. Frum people that victimize others whether it is through monetary theft, credit card fraud or any other finacial hurt to his fellow Yidden surrendered the right to stand under the umbrela of Mesira.
    There was an incident where a “frum” guy took health insurance premiums from families who thought they had protection, meanwhile he kept all the premiums and never gave them over top the insurance company causing his victims to have no insurance. The Rabonnon among he victims disregarded your posts and promptly notified the authorities with the result that the perpetrator got to join the Otisville Daf Hayomi with a large captive audience of similar ” frum” people who did not care about halacha when outiside of Otisville. Hameivin Yuven

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    #67 , I have news for you, you don’t know what you’re talking about! if by acting like a Chuchem here makes you feel better then be my guest, but we have a Torah that is binding us forever. my torah didn’t change a bit, so I really don’t care to hear what’s on your silly mind..

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I guess according to anon67 a whole chapter in Choshen Mishpat should be ignored completely… do I have to ask him if he knows at all where hilchot mesira is discussed? what a Tipesh!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    if someone is knowingly taking advantage of the fact that you’re a yid and will not maser and therefore does things that are against the law and hurt you why should you be forced to swallow it. that is allowing a bully to get away with his bullying tactics. there is way too much mesiro when it comes to the building department but if we would not have people that try to take advantage of others ithere wouldn’t be the problem to begin with. people have seriosly lost track of whats important. we should all be forced to do community service with organizations such asChaiLIfeline and maybe we would be able to live with each other better.

    WHAT WOULD YOU DO
    WHAT WOULD YOU DO
    15 years ago

    we had a very sad story occur this year
    our neighbor moved out and a new young couple brought the house
    he made and illegal extention which took away
    our entire backyard! and drivewau we didn’t even have place for our succah
    bec he built in the place that we have been making it for the past 25 years
    he also put all the dirt from this illegal project on our back lawn and completely ruined
    it and not to mention the amount of rustly nails he left
    that we had to go pick up because we didnt want our kids to get hurt
    when we welcomed him onto the block we gently asked him what he was
    doing and if he had insurance because our garage was getting all knocked up
    this little yungerman said
    its none of your * business and dont even think of telling the authorities
    bec its mesirah !!!
    now we dont have a place to relax bec his kids are in our yard
    we barly have room to even get to our yard not to mention he has the driveway that i
    is leagally ours
    out garage is commplety ruined
    and our lawn that we woked hard on ,,, its uprooted and smashed
    bec his kids drive bike through it!!!!!!!!!!!
    now i ask you do you think it was worth it that i let them go?????????!?!?!!?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    well, the problem is that these days you can find a rav who has no problem with mesirah, I know of a rav that there were rumors that he gave a green light for someone to Masser on someone re: a divorce etc. and later admitted to another Rav that he was mislead and didn’t know most of the facts involved… and guess what the damage was long done.. I therefore was not surprised to hear myself from one of the big Poskim who after mentioning the name of that Rav added Yemach Shmoy! I was shocked to hear it from a Godol that I guess never cursed any yid not to mention a Rav! so I guess you must ask a rav not only a talmid chochom & yerei shumayim but also a rav that is really familiar with Choshen Mishpat and as well with the Court system & legalities. the bottom line is that Mesirah when not authorized is a gevaldige sin! and it is true that some people have no idea what it says in Shulchan Oruch Choshen Mishpat

    zeek
    zeek
    15 years ago

    Unfortunatly in these times you have little choice and must do things you ordinarily
    would not resort to.
    We sometimes are forced to make the hard choices .

    When you are dealing with people who have no respect for the law or their neighbors property, what else should you do to defend yourself?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think we should reframe here. Firstly, let’s try to keep our posts intelligent and bekavodik. Secondly, let’s not be so quick to pasul people, the author, fellow readers, etc. Thirdly, let’s try to raise the bar here and have some intelligent discourse.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    yes you can under these circumstances because this is a public tzaar- the article answers this

    john doe
    john doe
    15 years ago

    “when a Jew picks up the phone to masser another Jew his hand shakes and his mind does not let him form the words of messira, who are all these so called “Jews” who’s hands do not shake and minds do not falter that can masser and eat breakfast at the same time, are they Jewish?”

    spineless
    spineless
    15 years ago

    If hearing, reading and seeing all the Mesira thats going on doesn’t send a chill up your spine, you don’t have a spine.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    It wasnt a day care center it was a day camp and it happened this past summer

    Think, ask, & dial
    Think, ask, & dial
    15 years ago

    If you see a potential dangerous situation, and you can’t resolve it with the parties involved, by all means call 311, however, when in doubt, ask first & then call. because once you call & find out you were wrong, you can’t pull it back anymore, the damage has been done, unfortunately, people use this as a tool to get even with one another to vent their anger, in completely unrelated issues with an “I’ll show him attitude” that is not only definite mesireh but nekama as well… and I pity him when Hashem takes the same attitude (midah keneged midah) of “I’ll Show him” to punish this nokem umoser.

    chaim
    chaim
    15 years ago

    I have a few questions for the public: 1. What should one do when a yeshiva comes to community board to get a variance and promises to the board and the affected neighbors that no catering hall will be built. They then receive the conditional approval and build the catering hall illegaly to the chagrin and dismay of the impacted neigboors. Should the institution be allowed to get away with the lie they pulled over the community.
    2.A tenant does not pay rent. Should the landlord take him to a din torah? All the frum landlords take all their frum tenants to secular courts. 3.If a frum tenant does not get the required heat or services he is entitled under the lease’s habitabilty clause should he take the lanlord to bais din? In reality all frum tenants call HPD and complain about the lack of service.
    Now if the frum tzibur would be assured that bais din would adjudicate their grievance in a fair and expeditious manner and be willing to issue a Siruv against the recalcitrant party and the tzibur would enforce it then and only then will people turn to bais din. Until that happens the vast majority of tenants and lanlords will continue to fully maser on each other. No Posek has ever given an edict that landlords and tenants have to take their grievances to bais din as no one would listen because of the above stated reasons.