Rabbi Moshe Heinemann Bans The Baltimore Jewish Times
rabbi Moshe Heinemann /rabbi Ephraim Shapiro /rabbi Yisroel Shapiro
4/18/2007 (11:30 pm) -- I was told by a reliable source that the sign posted was taken down this afternoon. I was also told that the ban against the Baltimore Jewish Times is still implemented.The following handwritten letter was posted in the Agudah Israel of Baltimore
I'm suggesting that everyone buy two copies of the Baltimore Jewish Times this week. It's one very loud and clear message to Rabbi Heinemann that this type of behavior is not going to work to silence survivors from speaking out. It's time to double the sales of the Baltimore Jewish Times.
"Based on last week's vicious article (regarding rabbi Ephraim Shapiro) in the Baltimore Jewish Times and other articles of the past, it is my opinion that it is totally inappropriate for this publication to be found in any Jewish home." -- Rabbi Moshe Heinemann
I guess rabbi Moshe Heinemann better warn his congregants to also ban the Baltimore Examiner, because they also published a story on the alleged serial child molester. According to both articles Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro is believed to have raped hundreds of children during his rein of alleged terror. Why should rabbi Heinemann care if one of his buddies allegedly committed more crimes against humanity then most?
The issue rav Heinemann has against the Baltimore Jewish Times is that "Hamon" (oops I mean rabbi Shapiro) died back in 1989. He doesn't feel one should publish a story against a dead man. What more harm can he do? It's obvious that rabbi Heinemann just doesn't get it. He's refuses to be educated on the long term ramifications that child molestation plays on it's victims.
If anyone has the opportunity to go into Agudath Israel and take a picture of the sign, please send it to me?
I guess rabbi Heinemann does not believe in the constitution of the United States that provides first amendment right in which there is freedom of the press. I also guess he doesn't believe his congregants should be educated consumers. Why should they be allowed to know what is really happening in their community?
I'm wondering if Moshe Heinemann also against the idea of allowing his congregation having the right to think for themselves?
One has to start to wonder what Moshe Heinemann is also trying to hide from his followers?
Is rabbi Heinemann really afraid for his congregants to learn the truth? Could this be why he frowns upon his shul's membership using the internet and also going on blogs (like they do in Lakewood, NJ)?
Last week the letter from the Vaad Harabbonim came out in which Rabbi Moshe Heinemann signed. Why would Heinemann sign the letter if he wasn't going to comply with it?
I wonder what HaRav Heinemann is going to do when it comes out that rabbi Shapiro's son, Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro is also an alleged child molester? I wonder what part he had in covering up this case too?
posted by Jewish Survivors at Wednesday, April 18, 2007
10 Comments:
What a big phony. He's obviously all talk. First he's signing a letter endorsing a position which exactly aligns with the Times'. Next when it's actually put into practice, another story.
GO TIMES!!!
I am not a regular reader, but very involved in this issue. You are both right. Heinemann, however, is not a phony. He is misguided and one of the older generation who continue to cover ups of rabbinic abuse. What a shame.
You miss the point.
despite the fact that the public must be educated and protected the laws of lashon hora and general decency must also be considered. In addition as much as we want our children to be educated do we really want the younger ones reading articles like that?
And Finally, I'd like to disabuse you of the notion that an Orthodox Rabbi controls anyone or polices anything. He is just expressing his opinion about healthy reading material in religious homes. DO you not respect his 1sst amedment rights?
have said that I would like to make one suggestion. Consider what the Rabbis plan on doing whne they need to publicize something do you think they will use the BJT? or let everyone know through their ouw communication?????
Boy you don't get it! Are we Jewish? Do we answer to the constitution of the U.S.? Or do we answer to a higher standard -
G-D's torah?
Stick and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me.
That's a famous saying isn't it? But it's not jewish! By jewish standards, words can do horrific harm.
You obviously have a very limited Torah education in haskafa and halacha. I have seen Rabbi H be extremely determined against people that have been "proven" offenders. The point here is Rabbi S has been accused, not proven. Your readers drink your accusations as fact. You are dangerous. If you believe in G-D and in ultimate reward/punishment you better stop and think about what you are doing. IF you are correct, I guess you might be ok. IF you are wrong - then you fill in the blank. The damage you have done and are doing is immeasurable. You just MIGHT be wrong!
...and what if YOU'RE wrong?
If I see one case where people err on the side of caution maybe we can talk about balancing the scale. Right now we are letting way too many people commit any crimes they want.
Again, the murder loose in the neighborhood analogy clears this up. It's too dangerous to wait for the kind of proof you fantasize about. And far too often, personal bias because of relationships between authorities and the offenders makes it even more clouded.
Start being part of the solution, people.
R Heineman has no business being vigilant against anybody. The letter he signed admits he's not an expert, yet he's deciding the value to survivors of releasing an article on abuse.
He puts up a letter, then takes it down, but the ban is still in place??
He's trying to play both sides of the fence.
He is a PHONY
Orthodox Rabbis don't control things?
What kind of idiots do you take us for who read this?
Sarah - I would urge you to exercise great caution when spreading lashon hora about a respected kashrus organization. Your attempts to organize a boycott against Star-K has little to no affect on Rabbi Heinemann personally, but casts aspersions on a kashrus agency and all of its consumers and patrons. Did you ask a shayla before starting this group?
Furthermore, you should really investigate the story more thorougly. Did you not know that practically every rabbi in Baltimore spoke about this abuse problem publically on Pesach? Did you not that every member of the Baltimore Vaad HaRabbonim who was not away for Pesach signed the most strongly-worded, unprecedented condemnation of this behavior? In this letter all of the Orthodox rabbis - from left to right - acknowledged that they had not dealt properly with the issue in the past, and that they would be revolutionizing their approach in the future. A letter like this has NEVER gone out in a community like Baltimore, and if you understand anything about community politics you will appreciate just how remarkable this is.
The problem with the Jewish Times is not that it reports the occasional important story, but that it often does so in a manner reminiscent of Yellow Journalism. It is difficult to take seriously a publication that aspires to serve as the paper of record in the Jewish community, and yet freely advertises treif restaurants, highlights intermarriage love stories and posts pictures deemed offensive by a large segment of the community (and that should be deemed such by all self-respecting women). That compounded by tastelessness in many other previous story selections - most of them cover stories - and they do not hold much credibility in a community that embraces traditional Jewish values. This particular issue may have merit, but there are numerous ways to accomplish meritorious goals. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
The abuse issue is a very complex one and rabbis are not idiots - they may have made mistakes (which they have admitted) but that doesn't mean any paper at any time has to come out with exposes' or whatever they feel like printing. That is how children react, not mature community-consciouss leaders who have to balance all of the numerous factors at play - such as broad-brushing of innocent people accused, destroying current school image, affecting children and/or (the majority of) people otherwise not connected to the story, the perpetrator's family...and of course, the many nuances of Jewish law that prescribe precisely how one may divulge information relevant to the community's welfare, just as it legislates the rules of Shabbos or Kosher.
Again, abuse is TERRIBLE, and everyone is recognizing this, but don't get sucked in to the tar'and-feather hysteria that sells alot of newspapers but rarely accesses the true story and its complex realities. It just obscures the issue, gets everyone mad at the wrong people for no reason, and ultimately undermines the very community you are portending to strengthen.
well said ari!!
ari, it's obvious you know very little about sexual abuse and what went into phil's story. I think it's time that we investigate your ignorance.
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