Brooklyn, NY – After Outrage Hasidic Newspaper Issues Statement On Altered White House Photo

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    A photograph of President Barack Obama and his staff watching the operation that killed Osama bin Laden that was digitally altered to remove Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Counterterrorism Director Audrey Tomason is shown in last week's edition of the Brooklyn weekly Di Tzeitung, Monday May 9, 2011. The Orthodox Jewish newspaper has apologized for digitally altering the photo, saying that its photo editor had not read the "fine print" accompanying the White House photo that forbade any changes. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Brooklyn, NY – Much has been written about a controversial altered photograph of the White House situation room published by Der Tzeitung, a Chareidi newspaper, based out of Brooklyn. The photo, which was taken live as senior officials were watching the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, showed neither Secretary of State Hillary Clinton nor Director of Counterterrorism Audrey Tomason, both of whom were present but were removed from the photo in keeping with Chareidi standards of modesty.

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    News of this photo spread quickly, with major news services worldwide lambasting Der Tzeitung for removing the two women from the photo, something that was deemed both an insult to Clinton, Tomason and women worldwide, in addition to violating specific White House instructions that the photo not be altered in any way.

    Der Tzeitung released the following statement today in response to the furor that has erupted regarding the altered photo:

    The White House released a picture showing the President following “live” the events in the apprehension of Osama Bin Laden, last week Sunday. Also present in the Situation Room were various high-ranking government and military officials. Our photo editor realized the significance of this historic moment, and published the picture, but in his haste he did not read the “fine print” that accompanied the picture, forbidding any changes. We should not have published the altered picture, and we have conveyed our regrets and apologies to the White House and to the State Department.

    The allegations that religious Jews denigrate women or do not respect women in public office, is a malicious slander and libel. The current Secretary of State, the Honorable Hillary R. Clinton, was a Senator representing New York State with great distinction 8 years. She won overwhelming majorities in the Orthodox Jewish communities in her initial campaign in ’00, and when she was re-elected in ’06, because the religious community appreciated her unique capabilities and compassion to all communities. The Jewish religion does not allow for discrimination based on gender, race, etc.

    We respect all government officials. We even have special prayers for the welfare of our Government and the government leaders, and there is no mention of gender in such prayers.

    All Government employees are sworn into office, promising adherence to the Constitution, and our Constitution attests to our greatness as a nation that is a light beacon to the entire world. The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. That has precedence even to our cherished freedom of the press! In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status. Publishing a newspaper is a big responsibility, and our policies are guided by a Rabbinical Board. Because of laws of modesty, we are not allowed to publish pictures of women, and we regret if this gives an impression of disparaging to women, which is certainly never our intention. We apologize if this was seen as offensive.

    We are proud Americans of the Jewish faith, and there is no conflict in that, and we will with the help of the Almighty continue as law-abiding citizens, in this great country of our’s, until the ultimate redemption.


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    95 Comments
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    DB_from_LI
    DB_from_LI
    12 years ago

    OUCH!

    JG123
    JG123
    12 years ago

    “We even have special prayers for the welfare of our Government and the government leaders”
    When is the last time a non-Modern Orthodox shul said this tefila? I highly doubt anyone reading your newspaper has even heard the tefila.

    12 years ago

    It was a staged photo anyway

    12 years ago

    This is insanity. Anyone that would get turned on by the original picture needs to be in therapy.

    sugnur
    sugnur
    12 years ago

    Credit Failedmessiah.com – shame on you VIN you are taking info from this site

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    The whole picture was changed before being released. The papers in front of Hillary Clinton was blocked out so no one can see what is there. What’s the whole stink about?

    TannaKamma
    TannaKamma
    12 years ago

    Stupid how this triviality was blown out of proportion, some people really have nothing better to do than look for imagined problems with a magnifying glass…

    ComeOn
    ComeOn
    12 years ago

    The reason why the White House said not to alter the photo was because they were afraid someone might put bin Laden in the room planning his own “death”!!!

    ComeOn
    ComeOn
    12 years ago

    Or…
    Take useless Obama out so he can get back to his golf game.

    Babishka
    Member
    Babishka
    12 years ago

    What a lame, fake “apology.” This was a major fail and Chillul Hashem. Anyway, all noozpeppers are treyf possul.

    Swiss
    Swiss
    12 years ago

    Kudos for the statement.
    Well written, attention to detail and to the point.
    “milah b’selah……”

    12 years ago

    The statement reads:

    our greatness as a nation that is a light beacon to the entire world.

    This refers to klal yisrael (ohr lagoyim) NOT the USA

    And

    Americans of the Jewish faith

    We are jews that are presently living in USA

    Both of the above statements are scandalous, shameful and a Chilul Hashem !!

    MoeMoe613
    Member
    MoeMoe613
    12 years ago

    I’m happy they issued a statement. It always surprises me to see how many people rush to assumptions. I guess it shows us the miles of difference between our culture and theirs. It’s good that we’re able to preserve our treasured community by remaining mostly separate, but it does put us at high risk of miscommunication.

    I personally think that the paper should not have run the picture even if the White House did not include the warning about altering the photo. They simply should not have published the photo. Misrepresenting history is dishonest and the Jews who taught the world about honesty should keep to a code of absolute honesty, especially in a publication.

    At the same time I understand how this happened. The paper wanted their readers to see this historic photo and, for reasons I completely understand, has a policy not to publish pictures of women, so they fell to the temptation of publishing a doctored photo, glossing over their standards of honesty. It was wrong, it was a mistake, but understandable.

    We should draw a lesson from here that G-d holds us to a higher standard and He knows we can achieve absolute levels of honesty.

    speakup
    speakup
    12 years ago

    Sorry, but you can’t truly respect women if you’re busy erasing every vestige of femininity from your publications. It’s like you’re talking the talk, but not walking the walk. And the stuff about “tznius?” I just don’t buy it. The message to women is, “Don’t attract one iota of attention to yourself. Just make sure you cook and clean and wash your kids’ clothes and….” But don’t ever do anything to c”v allow our sacred, pure men to even momentarily glance at you. If you do, we’ll simply erase you. Make like it never happened. How insulting!

    Internet-Assur
    Internet-Assur
    12 years ago

    oh please, that is a load of bull. there are many brooklyn publications that do publish pictures of women and the fact that they dont doesnt mean they are any more “modest”.

    12 years ago

    Stupid

    grandpajoe
    grandpajoe
    12 years ago

    It would have been better to have left out the picture – I was listening to a local talk radio show this morning – and found it quite disturbing that they brought this issue to the listeing public.
    Lifa as a frum jew in the goyish community is difficult enough and now to have to respond to indiviuals about this is absurd.
    Think Before you PRINT!

    shredready
    shredready
    12 years ago

    please their statement is full of nonsense.

    1. Did they have a disclaimer on the photo or in the article and say that Hilliary Clinton was part of the photo but because of Halacha (dubious) reason they edited her out. If they did that then maybe if not their excuse is BS.
    2. I wonder how many of the readers and editors of that newspaper say a prayer for the US government and their officials
    3. “The allegations that religious Jews denigrate women or do not respect women in public office, is a malicious slander and libel.” Lets see a frum lady run for office and see what happens.
    4. did not mention that they voted for her at 98% rate and then her husband pardoned some yiddin.
    5 We do have a bracha about not being a woman.

    Why don’t they just say the truth and stick up for their believes and say it is based on the torah and stop lying

    I would think they are wrong but at least have some respect for them

    Trachtglat
    Trachtglat
    12 years ago

    Der Tzeitung mentioned in their press release that “We even have special prayers for the welfare of our Government and the government leaders..”

    My questions are; where are those prayers found in their siddurim and when do they actually say them??

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    12 years ago

    From what we see of Mrs Clinton in the photo she is dressed 100% tznius, assuming that a non Jewish woman is not obligated to cover her hair.

    12 years ago

    They never explained why they removed the women from the photo.

    josephf
    josephf
    12 years ago

    The U.S. Government by law cannot hold any copyrights. Any photo (non-classified) is, by law, in the public domain and may be altered in any way by anyone (notwithstanding the disclaimer the White House attached, which has no legal effect.)

    DRSLZ
    DRSLZ
    12 years ago

    Correct me if I am wrong, but as I recall with the exception of AMI magazine, no magazine or newspaper catering to the ‘ultra’ orthodox community published a picture of Rebbetzin Fogel, HaShem inkom damah, who was viciously murdered by Arab terrorists in Itamar weeks ago. (Other media did publish her photo; she completely covered her hair, for those who “need” to know.)

    Sefarim about Gedolim used to include photographs of their rebbetzins and family members (who by now had passed away).

    I find the unwillingness of haredi media to publish photographs of women troubling,

    That said, I’m saddened if reports that a Jewish website publicized this.

    12 years ago

    They should have just explained that they are extremist Charedim and all would be understood.

    12 years ago

    The statement is well intended but missed the point – excluding pictures of women from a publication is demeaning and denigrating by its very nature. I do understand why a religous publication would want to require that women (and men as well) be pictured in modest dress (as the women in the White House picture were). This exclusion of women is not Hallacha. It is, I believe, a misguided and fearful reaction to a secular culture that is highly immodest and truly degrading of both genders.
    However, I do feel that there are better ways to react – requiring, as I said, only pictures of both genders in very modest dress. Finally, it is very sad and even tragic that the Failed Messiah Blog – such negative,hostile and harmful force – bring this to public awareness. It is only the unaccountable internet blogging system that allows such a destructive Failed Messiah outlet to operate and influence so many unsuspecting and disaffected people.

    enlightened-yid
    enlightened-yid
    12 years ago

    If a woman’s face is issue of modesty, why don’t they start putting their women in burkas already like their Arab cousins? Or is the fact that Hillary is not wearing an Indian hair wig is the issue of “modesty”?
    This Chassidic “news paper” has the gall to even come up with any excuse for something very obvious to the world? It’s like watching Libyan foreign minister lecture journalists that Kadaffi forces are not attacking their own civilians despite all the evidence the world was seeing live.

    As for Orthodoxy and role of women, there is “respect” for women but it’s built around misogynistic understanding of what women are allowed and not allowed to be in society. And their roles are dictated by male-dominated religious institutions.

    “There is no discrimination against race or gender in Jewish religion” Really? Did they forget the endless discrimination against “brown Jews” in yeshiva systems or the fact that women in religious world are born as second class? We don’t even allow them to learn Gemorah or trust a single woman as a witness in court becuase their brains are “different” from a male, but ye women in Judaism are “equal” to men. I love their spin….

    newtransplant
    newtransplant
    12 years ago

    I still have trouble withe non recognition of the female gender. I am frum, chassidish, married with children to a husband who disagrees with me over this. I feel, very strongly, that women are a lower class Jew than men. I have yet to find someone who offers me a good explanation. One person told me it is a rachmonus on those men who don’t look at women at all because they obviously cannot control their taivos, my husband pooh poohed this idea……

    stamanaar
    stamanaar
    12 years ago

    To # 9 I agree with u 100%. To take information from a website that only knows how to make choizek from our frum chareidi leaders is an insult. Even more so that a website like yours which is respected in the chareidi community should be doing it.Even if what they say is correct! The mere fact that it comes from them puts it the category of sefer shekosvo min….

    seagul47
    seagul47
    12 years ago

    a long time since I’ve agreed with Anonymous.

    It’s stupid.

    Have you ever gone into a girls’ school and all you see are pictures of Rabbonim. No women for the girls to emulate?

    And when they refer to the tfilo for the malchus–how many chassidishe (or for that matter Litvishe) shuls actually say the tfilo. So whom are they kidding!

    What would they have done if Mrs. Clinton had been elected president? They would have all stood in line to have their pictures taken with her.

    12 years ago

    It boiles down to one issue, they think fine print is only “fine print”. Any profesinal law abiding company with standards to listen to the law would never have alterd this photo or any photo with restrictions. its a mentality that they feel above the law.

    Alteh-Bucher
    Alteh-Bucher
    12 years ago

    Much ado over nothing.

    Since when does anyone care about “Der Tzitung ” anyways?

    InformedConsent
    InformedConsent
    12 years ago

    I have yet to see one comment in this thread which combines objectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, truth while addressing the heart of the matter. I don’t claim to do much better.

    The negative reputation of those who read Der Tzeitung often blinds those who feel degraded, by unpopular, poorly articulated ideals concerning the female gender. from truly understanding their subjective opposition.

    Emotion skews logic.

    Is it possible, that we as human beings, have strayed so far from understanding our inborn splendor, that simply not publishing pictures of women is considered degrading?

    The answer, of course, is yes. We have become a fragile and out of touch race. Der Tseitung, due to the obvious social climate, should refrain from publishing any pictures at all.

    To have predicted this reaction to this specific picture would have been impossible. Yet, to have predicted that one day, one picture, would provoke such a response – would not have been far-fetched.

    What lessons can we take?

    ProminantLawyer
    ProminantLawyer
    12 years ago

    So, if clinton or ms. alaska were president, they would wnot put there picture in the rag?

    12 years ago

    I think their apology was well written. Oh, well, now everyone will know about their newspaper. Watch subscriptions go up for a while! Hey, advertisers, now may be the time!

    12 years ago

    Can you imagine if we had a woman president? They will never be able to show a picture of the President – and with anyone!

    k9hara
    k9hara
    12 years ago

    Here is my humble take.

    We should all admit that we are all somewhat hypocritical. Let me explain. In the frum world we all understand that pics of women in newpapers is basically a no-no. Whether we agree with it or not, we basically accept it. Why? because of tznius issues, of course! But we all allow our wives and daughters to walk through the streets. Sometimes dressed even more “dressed-up” than Hillary was in the picture? And I assume that it is not only me, but the editors of this very newspaper (and all the Yateds, HaModias, Binahs, Mishpachas, Zman, etc, etc) editors wives and daughters are also in the street at some point in the day. But for some reason, for the ladies to walk in the streets, work in the stores, be our secretaeries and accountants it’s okay, but once their picture is taken then it becomes problamatic??

    While I understand the newspapers policy, how do we explain it to the world, when many of own do not/ cannot keep to the standard??

    shredready
    shredready
    12 years ago

    give the media some credit most that I saw are revising the story with the apology from the paper

    festayid
    festayid
    12 years ago

    this story is all over the news, bottom line has become a major chillul hashem, i shudder when I think about the din vcheshbon of the editors of this paper

    12 years ago

    Sorry, but no. You do not doctor a photo and say it’s for religious reasons — that’s dishonest. Erasing a woman from a picture is denigrating women, no matter how you look at it. The ‘apology’ is disingenuous — it’s the same as “I’m sorry if you were offended,” which is NOT an apology for the action itself, only a half-hearted apology for your reaction. It still says your reaction is the problem, not the action that caused it.

    Erasing women from photos and history is disgusting. If a religion demands the erasing of women from photos, I cannot imagine a justification that makes it not a denigration of women.

    Babishka
    Member
    Babishka
    12 years ago

    Many years ago, someone showed the Lubavitcher Rebbe OB”M a new magazine for children and wanted his haskomah. The Rebbe looked through the magazine and said, “where are the pictures of the girls?” He said he would give a haskomah only if boys AND GIRLS were included in all the pictures. Look at any issue of the magazine for Tzivos Hashem or for that matter any Chabad publication, you will see photos of men and women, even together. Also, in most Chabad homes you will find portraits of the Rebbeztins along with the Rebbeim.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    It was on the local news tonight with a lead-in entitled “A Taliban Grows in Brooklyn” and it went downhill from there. This newspaper has done more to create a chilul hashem than all the pritzius they claim to be fighting against. Hopefully, even the Chareidi tzibur will show their disgust with this action and boycott the newspaper.

    JamesDean
    JamesDean
    12 years ago

    The name of this newspaper should be changed to Der Sheker V’Chazav.

    Photos document events that occurred.

    To publish an altered photo and not state that is has been altered is a lie.

    Their response is even more damaging. Jews like this cause Anti Semitism.

    Yiddl
    Yiddl
    12 years ago

    As a frum ultra-orthodox woman, I think you all have it all wrong. No other society in the world is as overprotective and caring for their women. These halachos and added gedarim are meant to protect us and I than Hashem I am part of this wonderful nation. The entire strength of a Jewish home rests n the woman. How can you say we are second class? We are behind the scenes, but oh so powerful. Can you imagine a show being performed and the technical directors not attending? Well we do a lot more than just the technical work and are proud of our roles. I am sure that there are plenty more women who feel this way, but they bh do not waste their precious time on the internet and ‘put down’ blogs. Yes, in our merit we will merit the redemption. May it come speedily in our days.

    Babishka
    Member
    Babishka
    12 years ago

    Seriously, how many people ever even heard of “Der Tzeitung” much less actually read it? Before this outrage, I mean.

    abk1981
    abk1981
    12 years ago

    Anyone calling this a Chilul Hashem please back your statement up with clear logic, not some emotional baggage. Whatever happened to freedom of religion ? Freedom of press ?, calling them the Taliban ?, do you have any clue as to the extent of the torture and intolerance of the Taliban ?

    Some of you need a lesson in respecting the ideas other then their own.

    Degrading to Woman, hmmm…..the newspaper wasn’t printed with the intention of erasing woman from history, rather it’s a modesty issue to them, while you and I might not live a similar life-style however we must respect those that do as long as it doesn’t infringe on our own.

    Haters will be haters!

    ExpatriateOwl
    ExpatriateOwl
    12 years ago

    josephf Says: “The U.S. Government by law cannot hold any copyrights. Any photo (non-classified) is, by law, in the public domain and may be altered in any way by anyone (notwithstanding the disclaimer the White House attached, which has no legal effect.)”

    NOT entirely true! The U.S. Government does hold copyrights and other intellectual properties, and does, in certain areas, enforce those intellectual property rights. (While in the employ of the U.S. Government some years back I had occasion to deal with the issue).

    In the particular instance at issue, it is most highly unlikely that any litigation, civil or criminal, will result. But Der Tzeitung had no right to alter the image, not even under halachic norms.

    Aron1
    Active Member
    Aron1
    12 years ago

    B”H, we live in a country filled with freedoms. Any newspaper is free to print whatever they want, as long as it’s not willful libel. Look at the National Enquirer or the New York Post, for example. The public is free to purchase or read that newspaper, or not.
    However, I do feel that full disclosure was in order in altering the photo and that the newspaper in question made an honest mistake in failing to provide that disclosure.

    shredready
    shredready
    12 years ago

    steven colbert did a funny skit on this

    shredready
    shredready
    12 years ago

    question

    did they state in the paper that the image was manipulated and that Hillary was omitted from the pic

    JohnJay60
    JohnJay60
    12 years ago

    Wow, this is bizarre. There is still no explanation of WHY they altered the photo. I am not interested in whether they had authority to do so.