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Allentown, PA - Orthodox Rabbi: Another Casualty of Berni 'Der Ganef'; The Definition of 'Jew' |
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Orthodox Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner: Congregation Sons of Israel, Allentown, PA
In school and synagogue and home, rabbis and parents inculcated in my peers and in me the biblical lesson (Deuteronomy 16:20), ''Justice, justice shall you pursue.'' The Talmud (Shabbat 31a) warned us that the first question a Jew will be asked in the afterworld is, ''Did you engage in commerce honestly.''
Jewish law (Tosefta, Chullin 2:24) demanded of us, ''Distance yourself from ugly behavior, and from anything that might resemble ugly behavior.''
Ethical behavior was inseparable from the laws of kosher, Shabbat and family purity.
As I entered adolescence, though, I saw people throw pennies at Jews to insult their supposed greed. I studied ''The Merchant of Venice'' and heard the Christian tale of the betrayal of Jesus, read the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and saw copies of vicious Nazi and Muslim propaganda cartoons.
I was accosted by a group of teens in a Long Island Rail Road car; they informed me that ''Jews buy Sprite because it's cheap.''
Even some Jews displayed this malignant view of their own ethnicity and religion; seven years ago, then- Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Ed Rendell, a Jew, quoted his father's observation that ''the guys who spend the longest time in synagogues on Saturdays are the biggest crooks Monday through Friday.'' And so I learned that, indeed, much of the world didn't translate ''Jew'' as I did.
Many Jews fight this malicious rendering of ''Jew'' by promoting the Torah's ethical instructions. From The Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem to the Center for Ethics at Yeshiva University in New York to Bais haVaad l'Inyonei Mishpat in Lakewood, N.J., to many similar efforts, Jews devote significant time, effort and, yes, money, to sustaining righteous behavior among Jews.
Particular Jewish individuals stand out for their achievements in this area as well; from philanthropists to political leaders to jurists to unheralded businessmen, there are many positive ethical role models within in the Jewish community.
But despite these efforts, every new Jew-related scandal reinforces the negative stereotype and negates the positive work of all of those institutions and individuals. Whether a Michael Milken or an Ivan Boesky, a Sholom Rubashkin or a Bernard Madoff, it seems that, every year, one or two Jews gain notoriety for their criminality and thereby reinforce in the mind of many the old message that the Jew is unethical, the Jew is self-serving, the Jew is greedy.
Never mind that the behavior of one man or even a handful of people cannot possibly be brought as proof of the character of millions. Never mind that Madoff has single-handedly destroyed many, many charities which served Jewish causes. The image that remains in the eyes of the world is that this Jew bilked people out of billions of dollars.
This wound is, to me, Madoff's deepest crime and most lasting legacy. I fear that years after the people who lost their money are gone, generations after the charitable foundations and the people they served are gone, this scandalous rendering of ''Jew'' will remain in the popular lexicon -- and Bernard Madoff will be cited as proof.
By nature and training, I try to look for some positive result even in the midst of devastation.
It's hard to find any upbeat note in this cacophany of destruction, but, perhaps, there will be one, small, positive result: I and others will feel all the more compelled to preach to our communities, and to teach to our children, that most basic of Jewish lessons (Leviticus 20:7): ''You shall sanctify yourselves, and you shall be sanctified, for I am the Lord your God.
Mordechai Torczyner is rabbi at Congregation Sons of Israel 
, Allentown.
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Read Comments (39) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 04, 2009 at 02:59 PM Anonymous Says:
how holy some people are.
the only good thing this man will see is how holy he is
GIVE ME A BREAK
2
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:08 PM Anonymous Says:
What happened to his face? refuah sheleima.lol.
3
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:16 PM Anonymous Says:
He looks like the Jewish Andrea Bocelli.Like the Jewish David Patterson.
4
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:17 PM Anonymous Says:
“ how holy some people are.
the only good thing this man will see is how holy he is
GIVE ME A BREAK ”
did he say something wrong. He was moiche and kol hakovod to him for doing that. sorry if he made uncomfortable over your cheating and abusing your workers who arent mesheluni.
5
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:28 PM Anonymous Says:
all of sudden every SO CALLED RABBI is giving mussar on ethicts in business
the should start with the RCA BETH DIN in regarding there ethicts in din torah
when it comes to one of there sponsors and big money suporters
if the beth din and rabbi would be not so corrupt and have some GUTS to throw out from there SCHULS if someone is a ganew
people would think twice before they do bad things and steal
the more you steal and even you go to jail when you come out that person is the rachmones and the victim not the people who he hurt
6
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:25 PM robroy560 Says:
I met this Rabbi a few years ago when I was passing through. Members of my family were members of this shul decades ago. My grandfather donated funds to the mikvah. Another relative graduated from their day school.
He does have apoint about the term 'Jew.' We are always reminded of Ponzi's Italian heritage, and the scheme, which has been around for centuries, gets attributed to him. But Americans with Italian heritage are not sterotyped with the crooked business mantra. Sure some will think they have mob ties, but for the most part the it is the yid who gets tagged with greed.
Interestingly, a non-religious Jew in my network group brought up this same issue. This is very serious.
7
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:35 PM Anonymous Says:
#1-3 comments are just plain dumb. Have you ever been mekarev anybody to Torah observance?
8
Jan 04, 2009 at 03:54 PM Anonymous Says:
Wow well said! We need more rabonim out there just like him.
9
Jan 04, 2009 at 04:18 PM Anonymous Says:
What an idiot! Why would any Rabbi in a pulpit positions want to bad mouth another Jew regardless of their wrongdoing. That is not ur job!
10
Jan 04, 2009 at 04:45 PM Rippin Pinchas Says:
This is similar to bloggers in this site that write shmaltzy things like "we must do teshuva now" to make themselves feel better. What the Rabbi wrote gave me no insipiration and does not make any important point. In addition, publicly bad mouthing another Jew from his position, in a public forum, is not "ethical" either. I have a suggestion, learn mussar everyday and learn choshen mishpat. If the shul in Allentown starts with that then they will learn a lesson from Madoff. The Rabbi's fanatical diatribe is basically worthless.
11
Jan 04, 2009 at 04:30 PM Torczyner Says:
“ He looks like the Jewish Andrea Bocelli.Like the Jewish David Patterson. ”
I would say thank you, if I knew what you mean. (Unless you are just being mean).
12
Jan 04, 2009 at 04:28 PM Anonymous Says:
#1,#2, #3 - Feel better now?
#9 - Tell tell anyone, but it is certainly a rov's job to admonish bad behaivour.
13
Jan 04, 2009 at 05:23 PM Anonymous Says:
“ all of sudden every SO CALLED RABBI is giving mussar on ethicts in business
the should start with the RCA BETH DIN in regarding there ethicts in din torah
when it comes to one of there sponsors and big money suporters
if the beth din and rabbi would be not so corrupt and have some GUTS to throw out from there SCHULS if someone is a ganew
people would think twice before they do bad things and steal
the more you steal and even you go to jail when you come out that person is the rachmones and the victim not the people who he hurt
”
I have never seen so many people filled with such hatred, Maybe you should look into the mirror. The RCA , YU or any other Modern orthodox venue have never allowed geneiva as a policy. You cant say the same for the chareidi world, who will explain beshita hy you can steal on taxes and PEL grants etc. GROW UP
14
Jan 04, 2009 at 05:20 PM Anonymous Says:
“ all of sudden every SO CALLED RABBI is giving mussar on ethicts in business
the should start with the RCA BETH DIN in regarding there ethicts in din torah
when it comes to one of there sponsors and big money suporters
if the beth din and rabbi would be not so corrupt and have some GUTS to throw out from there SCHULS if someone is a ganew
people would think twice before they do bad things and steal
the more you steal and even you go to jail when you come out that person is the rachmones and the victim not the people who he hurt
”
you are just off the wall and sick
15
Jan 04, 2009 at 05:52 PM Freedom Fighter Says:
Silly rabbi. He takes one exceptional case to tarnish all Jews with the same dirty brush.
Tell me, does being black=rape or murder? 25% of all these offenders are black in the USA.
This rabbi is playing into his insecurities about his own heritage when he says this. It seems that he is justifying the those who use 'Jew' as a verb.
Rabbi, Jews also contribute disproportionately to medicine, art and science, why does the verb 'Jew' not apply to that?
Please, rabbi, we don't need another person to get up and make excuses for anti-semites, or to serve as prosecutors for the Jewish people.
Negative behaviors such are wrong, and should never be justified, but is it your job to tar our entire people?
Some of us may need to change our ways, but how did we get here?
This behavior is borne out of a millenia of persecution, where trickery helped one survive. Jews always feel financially insecure, even when they have a lot, because of our difficult history.
It will take more than one generation to get that out of the blood of every last Jew.
As a people, we are slowly reprogramming ourselves to understand that we finally, after one thousand years, we live in a gracious and benevolent country. A country where a law-abiding Jew can succeed without resorting to methods of the olden days.
We will get there, with encouragement and trust. Please rabbi, show the same patience and understanding that you would to any other oppressed group.
And stop being mekatreg on your own people.
. .
16
Jan 04, 2009 at 05:59 PM Anonymous Says:
This Rabbi visited my son when he unfortunately in a very bad situation and had to spend a year at Kidspeace in Allentown. He went to see him and learn with him every week (unpaid). He made him feel wanted and a part of the Jewish people. He inspired him with goodness. He offered to arrange Kosher food, but at the time my son was not interested. He was a major reason that my son, B"H, eventually came back to Yiddishkeit and is in his second year of Yeshiva in Israel.
17
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:24 PM Anonymous Says:
Please don't put Sholom Rubashkin in the same sentence as Michael Milken or Ivan Boesky, and Bernard Madoff. - As a 'Rabbi' you should know better. Its called slander.
18
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:42 PM Eli Says:
“ Please don't put Sholom Rubashkin in the same sentence as Michael Milken or Ivan Boesky, and Bernard Madoff. - As a 'Rabbi' you should know better. Its called slander. ”
Sholom Rubashkin, Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, and Bernard Madoff. See I did it as well. They are all the same. People whose greed covered thier eyes to the danger thier business practices were creating for Klal Yisroel. We are living in a time of economic struggles. Historically, this is when racism and anti-semitism increase drammatically. The war in Israel and the perception of some that terrorism against America is due to its support of Israel increases hatred as well. This does not mean that America should not support Israel. Nor does it mean that we should not walk around with our head high and expect to be treated like any other citizen of this country. What it does mean, however, is that any jew who engages in unethical behavior that can reasonably be expected to affect many people and forment anti-semitism is acting like a Rasha and is putting his fellow Jews in danger. Stop supporting these people just because they are frum!
19
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:34 PM Eli Says:
“ What an idiot! Why would any Rabbi in a pulpit positions want to bad mouth another Jew regardless of their wrongdoing. That is not ur job! ”
Are you serious? Giving mussar is exactly the job of Rabbis. There used to exist Rabbis (maggidim) who would go from one community to another and exhort people to cease their wrongdoings and do Teshuva. I read this article in its entirety and saw nothing wrong with it. He did not imply that all Jews are bad. Rather, he noted that we have to be extra careful no to make a chillul hashem in business both because of the inherent sin of doing so, and because it contributes to anti-semitism. I have met jews like you before. You can not stand to hear any bad things about klal Yisroel and claim that this is because of Lashon Hara. In reality, it is because you lack the emunah to love your religion even with its weaknesses. To have pride, you need to deny any wrongdoing among fum jews while simultaneously beleiving and exaggerating any wrongdoing among the non-fum or non-Jewish. You read papers (hamodia, yated) that edit out any negative news in klal yisroel (e.g., molestations) and then pretend it is not a problem and that the Rebbes can solve everything. People like that are fools and blind to the realities of this world. Your faith is blind and based on lies and ignorance rather than deliberation and a willingness to believe despite opening ones eyes to the realities of this world.
20
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:34 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ This is similar to bloggers in this site that write shmaltzy things like "we must do teshuva now" to make themselves feel better. What the Rabbi wrote gave me no insipiration and does not make any important point. In addition, publicly bad mouthing another Jew from his position, in a public forum, is not "ethical" either. I have a suggestion, learn mussar everyday and learn choshen mishpat. If the shul in Allentown starts with that then they will learn a lesson from Madoff. The Rabbi's fanatical diatribe is basically worthless. ”
The Rabbi's sermon is, indeed, very much to the point. Only he left out the other --positive-- part of it. It should have read as follows... Since we are such wonderful followers of the Torah and its Great Mitzvos (Commandments), we need to behave accordingly, in all aspects of our lives!! It's hard to fathom that the Rabbi did not find any redeeming values in any of his Jewish brothers (and sisters)!!!
21
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:28 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ I met this Rabbi a few years ago when I was passing through. Members of my family were members of this shul decades ago. My grandfather donated funds to the mikvah. Another relative graduated from their day school.
He does have apoint about the term 'Jew.' We are always reminded of Ponzi's Italian heritage, and the scheme, which has been around for centuries, gets attributed to him. But Americans with Italian heritage are not sterotyped with the crooked business mantra. Sure some will think they have mob ties, but for the most part the it is the yid who gets tagged with greed.
Interestingly, a non-religious Jew in my network group brought up this same issue. This is very serious. ”
We can look at this situation from two [different] perspectives. From the inside. (some form of introspection). Or from the outside (The Goyishe perspective. (Yes. the "Goyishe"! I'm not afraid to use that word, because there is nothing to it other than a description (proper Noun). That itself, the diversion --or perversion-- of the term, bears to be researched). Let's see, from the first perspective. Why, when some person with a Jewish-sounding name perpetrates a Misdemeanor, or Felony, we [all] feel a twinge in our hearts! It's because we are family! Yes, you sort of feel [indirectly], partially responsible for the [mis]-deeds of your relative/s! To reinforce this feeling, Hashem made us all responsible for the [good] behavior of each other, (and of society in general. "Our Brother's Keeper", sort of.. That's why Jews, even if they're not practicing the Religion on a daily basis, will tend to pick up and endorse causes of Social Justice; i.e; The struggle for Civil Rights in The USA! and the fight for Justice in Darfour!
The Second, outside --or Goyishe-- perspective. How we are viewed by the "Goyishe" world, in general. i.e. Stereotypes. (The Unabridged Edition of the Noah Webster Dictionary had/has a full page on the word JEW) This (stereotyping) has been going on for Centuries. The "Merchant of Venice", by Shakespeare has been a major contributor, but not the first to stereotype Jews!!
This has been imbued in the minds of the masses. Every time another Jewish-sounding name pops up in reference to a crime committed, we're afraid that it reflects on everyone, personally!!!
22
Jan 04, 2009 at 06:26 PM Zac Says:
“ This is similar to bloggers in this site that write shmaltzy things like "we must do teshuva now" to make themselves feel better. What the Rabbi wrote gave me no insipiration and does not make any important point. In addition, publicly bad mouthing another Jew from his position, in a public forum, is not "ethical" either. I have a suggestion, learn mussar everyday and learn choshen mishpat. If the shul in Allentown starts with that then they will learn a lesson from Madoff. The Rabbi's fanatical diatribe is basically worthless. ”
Pinchas,
I disagree with your opinion that what Rabbi Torczyner writes is basically worthless. The point of the article (as I understand it) illustrates that since most of the world is NOT Jewish - Jews have been systematically been targeted, scorned, maligned and libeled by the non-Jews (Goyim) throughout the ages and will continue to be. Any indiscretion by a Jew (distinctly those of prominent positions, authority or wealth) therefore vindicates this wrongful view, and helps perpetuate wretched Antisemitism. I also disagree with your view that Rabbi Torczyner badmouthed another Jew, as his description of Madoff did not have unfair, spiteful or disparaging connotations. I believe Madoff was described in his article to illustrate the aforementioned point.
23
Jan 04, 2009 at 08:36 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Please don't put Sholom Rubashkin in the same sentence as Michael Milken or Ivan Boesky, and Bernard Madoff. - As a 'Rabbi' you should know better. Its called slander. ”
+613. Rubashkin in the same geder as these ganefs? shame. Hashem should release him in the merit of the brucha we say every morning, burich...matir asirim!
24
Jan 04, 2009 at 09:11 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I have never seen so many people filled with such hatred, Maybe you should look into the mirror. The RCA , YU or any other Modern orthodox venue have never allowed geneiva as a policy. You cant say the same for the chareidi world, who will explain beshita hy you can steal on taxes and PEL grants etc. GROW UP ”
Just the opposite! charedi mosdos do not support genaiva or cheating, and are strict about it, and would never keep a board member a ganev and swindler, versus the YU that had the honor to have an active board member actually the biggest ponzi scammer in history!!
Face the sad facts! and eat it up quitely, don't try to calm your guilty shame by just bad mouthing charedim, because the facts now are not in your favor.
25
Jan 04, 2009 at 09:10 PM Anonymous Says:
Is it aceptable to speak dispicable lashon hara about someone simply because he is a modern orthodox. Do you really want the bes din shel maylah to show you the filth you write towards this rabbi? Absolute lack of yiras shamayim and indifference to halacha and human feelings.
26
Jan 04, 2009 at 07:44 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ I have never seen so many people filled with such hatred, Maybe you should look into the mirror. The RCA , YU or any other Modern orthodox venue have never allowed geneiva as a policy. You cant say the same for the chareidi world, who will explain beshita hy you can steal on taxes and PEL grants etc. GROW UP ”
This is [pure] stereotyping on your part. (#13)! You have a right to emphasize --and be proud of-- the organizations close to your heart, that weren't involved in any [apparently] "underhanded" methods [of operation], (even though I DO think, it's purely coincidental) . But you have no right to attach a "De Jure" label to the Chareidi institutions where such "De Facto" MOs were [unfortunately] uncovered!!!
27
Jan 04, 2009 at 09:38 PM Anonymous Says:
We davened mincha in his shul many times and was very impressed with him and his eidelkeit.he's a mench;yes there is yiddeshkeit in allentown (but no kosher food).
28
Jan 05, 2009 at 12:59 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Please don't put Sholom Rubashkin in the same sentence as Michael Milken or Ivan Boesky, and Bernard Madoff. - As a 'Rabbi' you should know better. Its called slander. ”
your right on, definitely, Rubashkin can not be put on the same line. No No he really did not do this out of greed. He got bigger and bigger because the demand was there. He did not live luxuriously at all! He gave people jobs. They were able to do these jobs that no one else could. That is exactly why he had to close. The replacements could not do the job. His expenses grew because these replacements were not capable. The justice system sent them home without caring if they can sustain themselves. He did not take money from anyone!
Yes, shame, shame to anyone who can compare him to Madoff. An apology is in order!
29
Jan 05, 2009 at 12:22 AM Anonymous Says:
Bravo Rabbi, way to go !
We have to exxpose and expel phonies who damage the name and reputation of the Jew.
30
Jan 05, 2009 at 09:01 AM whatever Says:
“ What an idiot! Why would any Rabbi in a pulpit positions want to bad mouth another Jew regardless of their wrongdoing. That is not ur job! ”
Your words are completely contradicting each other. Two wrongs do not make a right buddy.
And calling a RABBI an idiot is disgusting. I suggest you pray a little harder this morning, and ask forgiveness from your disrespectful post towards a Rabbi you don't even know.
31
Jan 05, 2009 at 08:51 AM boroparkyenta Says:
We grew up learning that money that is earned in an ehrlich manner can "never get lost" and I fully believe that. Millions and billions are earned and lost and it means nothing.......and millions and billions are wasted by so called "charities" that never allow anyone to see what comes in and what goes out.
I would like to know why.... if there is money raised, say for the orphans of the recent tragedies, why is there not a website telling us to the penny how much has been raised, and the families telling us that the entire sum has indeed been placed in their accounts.....and give me the option that if I see that a few million was already raised then I dont have to send any more, but if the amount raised was too little, then let me use the option of knowing to be able to help out more.
Why is there no accounting? WHY ARE WE NOT INFORMED?
When organizations cry about the lack of funding, why are they not being more straightforward about what comes in, where it goes out, and where money can be saved? To sum up, money that is earned in an honest manner, will always be returned in one way or another. I have full faith in that.
32
Jan 05, 2009 at 08:45 AM Charlie Hall Says:
“ Sholom Rubashkin, Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, and Bernard Madoff. See I did it as well. They are all the same. People whose greed covered thier eyes to the danger thier business practices were creating for Klal Yisroel. We are living in a time of economic struggles. Historically, this is when racism and anti-semitism increase drammatically. The war in Israel and the perception of some that terrorism against America is due to its support of Israel increases hatred as well. This does not mean that America should not support Israel. Nor does it mean that we should not walk around with our head high and expect to be treated like any other citizen of this country. What it does mean, however, is that any jew who engages in unethical behavior that can reasonably be expected to affect many people and forment anti-semitism is acting like a Rasha and is putting his fellow Jews in danger. Stop supporting these people just because they are frum! ”
I agree 100% that Rubashkin does not belong in the same sentence as the other three. Rubashkin broke the law by hiring illegal immigrants mainly to benefit his own business, but any damage he did was limited to the kosher food industry. (If Rubashkin was able to reduce costs by using illegal immigrants, he may have driven other kosher food suppliers out of business. And that is wrong.) But the actions of the other three affected the confidence in the entire financial system!
It should be noted that since his release from prison, Milken has devoted his life to philanthropy and has supported important advances in medical research. When an evildoer does tshuvah we must always give credit for that for it can even change the sins into positives, and that may well be the case with Michael Milken! So it would also seem that Milken does not belong in this list, either.
33
Jan 05, 2009 at 09:34 AM Mordechai Torczyner Says:
In answer to #2 - It's called vitiligo, lo alecha. Baruch HaShem, my case is not too severe, but yes, it's visible.
I'm not going to take issue with those who have chosen anonymity for themselves; I think their cowardice speaks for itself.
I will say, though, that the reason I didn't include cases of specific Jews who have done good things was that I had limited space - the newspaper would only print 650 words, and I wrote 647. I chose to use my limited space to praise the Torah, and the mosdos which are supporting Torah behavior.
34
Jan 05, 2009 at 10:02 AM Bigwheeel is wrong Says:
“ The Rabbi's sermon is, indeed, very much to the point. Only he left out the other --positive-- part of it. It should have read as follows... Since we are such wonderful followers of the Torah and its Great Mitzvos (Commandments), we need to behave accordingly, in all aspects of our lives!! It's hard to fathom that the Rabbi did not find any redeeming values in any of his Jewish brothers (and sisters)!!! ”
Actually, he wrote, "Particular Jewish individuals stand out for their achievements in this area as well; from philanthropists to political leaders to jurists to unheralded businessmen, there are many positive ethical role models within in the Jewish community."
35
Jan 05, 2009 at 01:33 PM Anonymous Says:
All he said was,that when we behave badly- even one of us- the world condemns us all. The world forgets that we have contributed more to medicine, science, tzedakah and justice then any other group. That's all he said. He suggested that we emphasize mitvos bein adam l'chaveiro more,in our schools so we can minimize this sort of egregious behavior. He has a very good point.
36
Jan 05, 2009 at 04:39 PM Anonymous Says:
I support the rabbi, as it is said "It's not who I am underneath, but what I *do* that defines me."
37
Jan 06, 2009 at 01:11 AM Anonymous Says:
Michael Milken and Ivan Boesky, were convicted. Bernard Madoff admitted he ran a Ponzi scheme. Sholom Rubashkin has not stood trial, has not pled guilty, and has not admitted guilt. He has been charged with knowingly hiring illegals to work. If Torczyner had bothered to read the complaint, he would note that the main informant (#7)was denied work several times because he could not produce a valid SSN. He was employed after ICE provided him with an ICE issued SSN. There is a strong case for entrapment. The claims of drugs and weapons on the premises, mentioned in the complaint, have never again been mentioned in the 8 months following the raid. Complaints of abuse by two workers out of a thousand who every reason to lie to remain in the country as state's evidence have not been substantiated. The government must prove that Rubashkin knowingly hired minors and illegals. Rubashkin does not need to prove he did not know. In a worst case scenario Rubashkin hired illegals and paid them. He hired minors that provided him with false ID and paid them. and he made false statements on a loan application after being in business for 20 years, having donw millions of dollars in business on a hand shake and never having anyone complain of his business dealings. You should be EXTREMELY concerned because the law is being applied to the Jew SMR differently than it gets applied to other people. Facts: Rubashkin was not charged with weapons, drug, or abuse charges that were alleged in the original complaint. He is charged with knowingly hiring illegals, knowingly hiring minors. and a white collar crime of making false statements for a bank loan. No-one is denied bail for those offenses. The proof in the pudding is that Madoff is walking free. The gov't set out to sieze the cash value of a life insurance policy paid for by Rubashkin claiming it was paid with ill gotton gains. The problem is, such an action is 1) way premature without any court having made a determination that Rubashkin broke the law. Even had the court made such a determination, Rubashkin ran a legal slaughter haouse and meat packing business. The illegal laborers being a seperate issue. The law of such seizures has traditional been applied to businesses that are illegal in principle such as drug dealing, money laundering, prostitution, or, at best a legal business that did not withhold FICA and SSN taxes and used that money themselves. Then they are profiting from illegal money. The seizure law has never been applied to hiring illegal aliens and therefore the entire business is illegal. That is most troubling. In the Interim pray for your brother in Jail. He is being treated much more harsh than people that have done far worse and he is still innocent until proven guilty.
From the ICE.GOV website:
IFCO systems agreed to backpay of 2.6 million in overtime to it's 1700 workers , 1182 of whom were detained as illegal aliens. That, in addition to a civil fine and the Gov't agreed not to press any corporate criminal charges!!!! Three times as many illegals, backpay owed to 1700 workers at 40 sites in 26 states after 9 managers pled guilty to knowingly hiring aliens. But in Rubashkins case the government seeks seizure of the plant and corporate criminal charges. That is very very disturbing. Additionally, all the information about "Operation wagon train", the December 12, 2006 raid on Swift beef and pork facilities by ICE, netting almost 1300 illegals in the government's largest raid on a meat packing company has recently been deleted from the ICE.GOV website. The information is still available on swiftraid.org. This is very disconcerting.
38
Jan 06, 2009 at 07:43 AM Mordechai Torczyner Says:
Just to wrap up a few points:
#9 - Actually, mechaah is a chiyyuv for all of us. In fact, you are being mocheh right now.
#10-The article wasn't written for Vos Iz Neias. It was written for the Allentown Morning Call, whose readers had been blasting Jews over Madoff. I didn't write it as mussar for us, I wrote it to let the world know that Torah, and most Jews, aren't like Madoff.
#11- Who are you?
#15-Please read more carefully. I wrote specifically that Madoff doesn't represent Torah, or Jews.
#16 - Thanks for your comment. Please be in touch to let me know how he is doing.
#32, 37 - I agree that Rubashkin is not like the others in that list. He didn't do it for greed, as I understand the case. However, I included him because he created a huge chillul HaShem by knowingly breaking the law - both ours as well as theirs - in the public eye, over a period of years.
#37 - I am very concerned about the application of law equally - both on our side and on theirs. If we want vouchers for yeshiva education and all of the other benefits of government, we also need to follow the law (per Ran in Nedarim and many other mekoros I will gladly furnish if you email me).
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Jan 06, 2009 at 08:17 PM mazal Says:
“ Are you serious? Giving mussar is exactly the job of Rabbis. There used to exist Rabbis (maggidim) who would go from one community to another and exhort people to cease their wrongdoings and do Teshuva. I read this article in its entirety and saw nothing wrong with it. He did not imply that all Jews are bad. Rather, he noted that we have to be extra careful no to make a chillul hashem in business both because of the inherent sin of doing so, and because it contributes to anti-semitism. I have met jews like you before. You can not stand to hear any bad things about klal Yisroel and claim that this is because of Lashon Hara. In reality, it is because you lack the emunah to love your religion even with its weaknesses. To have pride, you need to deny any wrongdoing among fum jews while simultaneously beleiving and exaggerating any wrongdoing among the non-fum or non-Jewish. You read papers (hamodia, yated) that edit out any negative news in klal yisroel (e.g., molestations) and then pretend it is not a problem and that the Rebbes can solve everything. People like that are fools and blind to the realities of this world. Your faith is blind and based on lies and ignorance rather than deliberation and a willingness to believe despite opening ones eyes to the realities of this world. ”
well said, and this Rabbi is an amazing Rabbi, and everyone should be at least 1% of what he is and maybe this world would be a better place.