Why Israel?
Amid the recent scandals in the Jewish Community, word on the street about these people, again-not mentioning names-- but those involved in highly pulicized scandals have escaped to Israel to hide out.Why Israel?
Why not Texas?
I mean, the one time I was in Israel, it was for my cousins Bar Mitzvah. In 4 days there, I saw more people I know than I do on Avenue J. I mean, the whole Flatbush/Boro Park was there. The Plaza hotel? Might as well have been Cafe K. So why do they choose Israel of all places when they need to escape? It's kind of a public place, they'll probably meet a lot of people. Especially if they stay throughout the Holiday season.
Israel is obviously known for its spirituality, right? so they just screwed people over, or whatever the case may be, and now they're going to holiest place in the world? Maybe it's the guilt, so they feel like they have to do Teshuva, and that's the best place to do it. But so soon? And everyone says, "he ran" to Israel, "he's hiding" in Israel.
Where do they stay, anyway? Who pays for the hotel? Can't get an apartment on such short notice. I doubt family would want these "tainted names" in their presence.
Say they would have stayed in NY, or wherever they were from. What would happen? They're ostracized either way. You think they'd get beaten up? I mean, what about the planeride to Israel? I saw so many people I know on the El-Al flight, of course most of them went up the steps, which I thought led to the bathroom. (My mother informed that that was First Class. Before it was too late) I mean, even in coach, these people probably saw others they know. What about the person they sit next to?
Ironically, these are usually people who would avoid Goyim like the plague. Now, they'd probably prefer to sit next to Goyim. They know nothing of the scandal, he hopes.
posted by Michelle @ 2:50 PM
15 Comments:
FIRST!!!!!!!
may you have an awesome new year
u2 thanks
shana tova
Why Israel? Because people make aliyah all the time, while very few move to Texas, so the Texans will think he's a weirdo, but the folks in Israel will assume he's doing teshuvah.
One must understand the details of the story in order to answer this question. the man we are talking about is not someone who has been leading a total life of religious oblivion. he has raised a beuatiful family, and has lead a shomer torah umitzvot life for the most part. YES. He screwed up. BIG TIME. but that is something no one can understand. there was obviously something realy wrong with the wiring up there in his brain. this is not a man who sneaked out of yom kippur davening for a coffee, this is not a man who switched on the bathroom light on shabbos when no one was looking.(I know him personaly)this is a man that had serious issues and has to deal with them by himself without having the ultra-zealous frum community of monsey throwing dishes and eggs at his house and car. Israel, by the way, consists of a lot more than than the plaza hotel and maalot dafna. overall the people of israel, even the ultra-orthodox, are a lot more accepting and open-minded than their american counterparts,(in my humble jewish experiance). There are a lot of people in israel that would be willing and able to help this man put himself back together in all aspects. I prsonaly think that the word tshuva is a bit out of context. as i mentioned above there seems to be a problem way beyond the realms of yiras shomayim. R M Feinstien writes in response to a troubled guy wanting to do tshuvah for his homosexual activities, that tshuvah does not apply in that case because (in his opinion)homosexuality is not as much of an aveirah as it is a deep rooted disease, therefore one must seek help not tshuva.
sorry for rambling, but this story realy took a major emotional toll on me. Just the way that most people jumped at this gossip piece with such vengance without any sensativity towards the family of this person real disturbed me deeply.
Shana Tovah uBsurot Tovot!
May we all be zoche to a year of happiness and compassion from the one above and our fellow jews.
skeptic--that was no ramble. Informative and heartfelt. I hope I didn't sound like I was attacking him.
Shana Tova to y'all too.
michelle,
Thanx for your support. It feels good to know Im being understood at least by some people.
Again, Shana Tova
and don't ever forget,
Gut Yom Tov and Chag Sameach
(Yeah, Rosh Hashana is supposed to be a happy day)
Skeptic,
Is this about the chicken guy?
Isn't it far worse to lie to people for business profit than it is to do harmless things like turning on a light on Shabbos?
That's as true within the Halachic system as it on the moral spectrum.
When people are perfect in following the intricate ritual aspects but don't follow the basic ethical directives of Judaism then their practice is worthless. That was the message of the Neviim.
Ok, I personally know him, and many of his children.
He went off to israel to start a new life, why not texas?? Because he wants to do teshuva to be a good jew (not that its not possible in texas, though I'm sure texas is more warming even more then israel or monsey).
#1 michelle, let's say he would come to your house collecting under the name zalmen schwartz, a nebechdik yid, who claims his wife was niftar and has yesomim to feed, do u think your dad wouldn't help him?? The rabonim know his name, and I'm sure you do to. But only part of the monsey community know his face.. Not all of them.. Maybe hell grow a longer beard or even trim it off....
But yea, now that we are before rosh hashana maybe we all should learn that the rbsha gives ALL of us a chance to repent... Even the biggest michshal in our times, he'll take them back if they ask to be returned.. So too all of us, let the rbsha take us back... If we open our hearts like a needles thickness g-d will open the heavens up like the entrance to the bais hamikdash...
On a happier note, may this year be a year of only simchas and besuras tovas, a year that you and all those who need shiduchim, and yeshuas (only the rebono shel olam knows how many that is, and I bet its tons), bracha and hatzlacha and peace throughout the world...
This year was a rough year for the whole jewish community, not one community was speared.. From toronto to brooklyn to monsey to lakewood to baltimore to georgia, everyone was hit in some shape and form, let's all be mispalel that this should be the end to all the tzaros... Amen.
Quite simple to avoid the reach of the American Justice system.
You'd better believe you can be a good Jew in Texas...I'm leaving NY to go daven like a mentch on Rosh Hashana...in Texas, no joke.
But that's besides the point.
I agree with anon above me...its to run away from the US justice system since he broke the law (besides all the halachic issues)
Amen.
For some reason, when i wrote the post, i neglected the "legal" aspect of the issue. I guess the community aspect was more imoportant to me. But, yes, thanks for bringing it to my attention
Stupid to bring this up, but you cannot run to Israel to avoid legal prosecution in merica - theres something called extradition which Israel shares wiuth America - meaning that israel will send back an American wanted by the Amer legal system and vice versa.
That's asuming the legal action is criminal and not civil in nature.
Ksiva V'Chasima Tova, Michelle. May you be zoche to find your zivug in the coming year, and to finally gain a shred of credibility with your colleagues in your summer place.
And this year, you should win that JPost blog award!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home