tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post6992715337313146142..comments2023-08-17T06:45:58.317-07:00Comments on "Yeshiva" of Brooklyn also Guilty of Child Abuse: The Mondrowitz Caseexposemolestershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02097300261898413798noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-55275610848137359742008-12-31T09:25:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:25:00.000-08:00Chabad committee formed to help Rubashkin defenseD...Chabad committee formed to help Rubashkin defense<BR/><BR/>December 30, 2008<BR/><BR/>NEW YORK (JTA) -- Chabad members formed a committee to support the legal defense of former Agriprocessors manager Sholom Rubashkin.<BR/><BR/>Rubashkin, who managed the now-shuttered kosher meat plant in Postville, Iowa, was arrested in late October on charges that he helped illegal immigrants secure fraudulent documentation that permitted them to be employed at Agriprocessors. While free on bond he was arrested a second time on bank fraud charges. Rubashkin is now being held in custody following a judge's determination that he poses a flight risk.<BR/><BR/>“We are a group of guys who, No. 1, are looking to help Rubashkin get out on bail,” committee member Rabbi Shea Hecht told JTA. “And No. 2, to voice our concern because we believe that much of this attack is not just an attack on the Rubashkin family and Agriprocessors, but it's really an attack on kosher food. And it's questionable if it's one step beyond that -- an attack on Jews.”<BR/><BR/>Prosecutors claimed that a travel bag with money, silver coins and passports were found in Rubashkin's home and that -- partly because Israel's Law of Return grants Jews automatic citizenship -- the former plant manager posed a risk of flight. Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles concurred and ordered Rubashkin detained until trial. A request to reconsider that decision was denied. Lawyers for Rubashkin are said to be considering an appeal.<BR/><BR/>The successful use of an argument based on Israel's Law of Return has sparked significant concernnot only among members of Chabad, but in the wider Jewish world, where it is feared such claims could be used to deny bail to Jews on the basis of religion alone.<BR/><BR/>Leading figures from several Orthodox organizations, including the National Council of Young Israel and Agudath Israel of America, reportedly are planning solidarity visits to the prison in Dubuque, Iowa, where Rubashkin is being held.<BR/><BR/>A leading figure in the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Hecht serves on the board of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education, which is supporting the Rubashkin effort through an existing fund for the redemption of Jewish captives -- a mitzvah known as pidyon shvuyim.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-88703037389572926062008-12-31T09:24:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:24:00.000-08:00Rav Belsky has instructed us to rough this husband...Rav Belsky has instructed us to rough this husband up.-----------<BR/><BR/>Divorce recalcitrant to pay NIS 700,000<BR/><BR/>Haredi couple lived together for three months before woman fled home pregnant due to domestic violence. Husband has refused to grant wife a divorce for more than 11 years<BR/><BR/>Vered Luvitch<BR/>Published: 12.19.08, 11:39 / Israel Jewish Scene<BR/><BR/>The Israeli Family Court on Wednesday ordered a man to pay his wife some NIS 700,000 (about $187,484) in damages for refusing to give her a divorce for 11 years.<BR/><BR/> <BR/>The woman filed a claim for punitive damages against her husband, demanding that he compensate her over his refusal to grant her a divorce. The two, an ultra-Orthodox couple, were wed in 1997 in a matchmaker marriage and lived together for only three months before the woman fled the house pregnant due to harsh domestic violence.<BR/><BR/> <BR/>Stubborn Spouse<BR/>Husband grants wife a divorce after being jailed / Yair Harush<BR/>Woman seeks divorce after her husband becomes religious. Husband refuses, but short visit to jail helps him change his mind<BR/>Full story<BR/>Since then, the husband has refused to grant her a divorce, despite 25 discussions of the matter at the Rabbinical Court between the years 1997 and 2005. The man did not show up for most hearings, and when he did, it was only after a habeas corpus was issued against him.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>The Rabbinical Court had ruled that there was no room for a joint life between the couple and that the husband must grant his wife a divorce.<BR/><BR/> <BR/>The woman claimed, however, that the husband was intentionally refusing to give her a divorce, knowing this caused her great agony as she is a haredi woman who, as an abandoned wife, cannot start a relationship with other men and give birth to additional children.<BR/><BR/>The woman told the Rabbinical Court the husband set new conditions for the divorce, like waiving child support and erasing national insurance debts, relinquishing custody of the child, and additional demands.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Attorney Susan Weiss, founder and executive director of The Center for Women’s Justice (CWJ), and Attorney Yifat Frankenburg appealed to the Family Court, claiming that denying the divorce subjected the woman to prolonged psychological abuse and prevented her from leading a reasonable and normal life, by forcibly and illegally using the defendant's right to abandon the woman and depriving the wife of her freedom, as well as negligence.<BR/><BR/> <BR/>After reviewing the circumstances of the case, Judge Tova Sivan ruled that there was no doubt the man was a divorce recalcitrant who has been deriving his wife of her freedom for more than 11 years.<BR/><BR/> <BR/>Thus, she ordered the man to pay his wife some NIS 60,000 ($16,040) a year in damages – a total of NIS 600,000 ($160,404) – as well as NIS 100,000 ($26,734) as increased compensation due to the severity of his acts.<BR/><BR/> <BR/> Advertisement <BR/> <BR/>Knesset Member Menachem Ben-Sasson (Kadima), chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, said in response to the court ruling, "On the one hand I hail the Family Court for taking into account the ongoing injustice suffered by abandoned women, and hope this new line answers the distress the Constitution Committee has been dealing with thoroughly.<BR/><BR/> <BR/>"On the other hand, I would like to warn the Rabbinical Courts not to view these verdicts as verdicts which should not be accepted for some reason."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-78011041712801633602008-12-31T09:16:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:16:00.000-08:00Interview on Sexuality in the Orthodox Jewish Comm...Interview on Sexuality in the Orthodox Jewish Community<BR/>By:<BR/>the Observer: <BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for making time for us! Could you explain exactly what it is that you do/ what position you hold?<BR/><BR/>Dr. David Ribner: I am the founder and director of the Sex-Therapy Training Program at Bar-Ilan University, the only program of its kind in Israel, probably in the Middle East. I am certified as a sex therapist in the United States and Israel, and I have a private practice in Jerusalem. I see primarily religious and Haredi couples. I write and lecture extensively about Judaism and sexuality.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: If you could provide some background information for my audience, that would be fantastic. When people come to you, what is it exactly they are seeking to find out?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: I'll use the model of the organization most prominent in America - the American Association of Sex Educators and Counselors. What they have created is a 3-tier structure in which there are sex educators as one particular group of professionals, there are sex therapists and in the middle are sexual counselors who deal with less difficult, less complicated situations. Sex therapists deal with a variety of issues that relate to an individual's sexual functioning - anything from unconsummated marriages to issues that are more complicated such as premature ejaculation in men or vaginismus in women and sometimes more subtle issues like the couple's attitude with regard to sexuality as individuals and with each other.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: I'm not exactly sure of the structure in Israel, but how would most religious couples/ people obtain their information about sex?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: The structure in Israel and America is roughly similar- the madrichim and madrichot - the chassan teachers and kallah teachers - evolved into the primary source of information in the community. Most sexual health professionals who are part of this community are concerned that the information is often insufficient, inappropriate or outright wrong. While there are programs to improve the situation, I think for most students who come from religious background, there is little sex information that is taught in high schools whether in Israel or the States. Unfortunately, most parents don't talk to their children about any aspect of intimacy and information tends to be transmitted through peer groups. We feel that this is something that should more of a community concern.<BR/><BR/>My own focus is that I would really hope that parents take a greater role in transmitting accurate sexual information to their children. It was once a parental role and I think it would be ideal if we could return it to that.model.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: At what age do you think parents ought to have that conversation with their children?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: Starting out with 7 or 8 so that children know this is a topic that can be talked about in their home. As they mature and topics become more subtle and sophisticated, so should parental responses. The greatest confusion and most difficult challenges come with adolescence, when our children are most in need of guidance. Adolescents will more likely feel comfortable raising issues and asking questions if this is a topic that has been discussed with them earlier in their lives. Parents can then talk to their children before marriage about physical and emotional intimacy, and not just one week before the wedding, so that this information can be weighed, questions can be asked. If parents need guidance on how to do this [talk to their children], that guidance is available from a variety of sources.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: Tzelem in the states had a program run through high schools. What are your thoughts on that?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: The fact that information ends up transmitted in high school underscores the idea that only a teacher can talk about sex rather than parents- it's better than nothing, but ideally parents should reclaim this role.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: The people who come to talk to you-what level of sexual knowledge do they generally already have?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: First of all, I'm rarely the first stop- if someone has a sexual difficultly, chances are they talk to a Rabbi, Madrich, and brother or sister- I would say that the overwhelming majority of people who come to me, whatever their background, come with insufficient information.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: For the people who are not in the know- who is it they should talk to in order to get this information? Or are there books they can read?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: There isn't really a great book that I could recommend now- there is a Sefer from Rav Elyashiv Knoll entitled Ish v"Isha which I think will be translated and published in English which is the best thing at this point, although in terms of actual sexual information it's still lacking. Currently I am working on writing a book with Dr. Jennie Rosenfeld, as I think that there is a definite need for information of this kind. Other than that, there is little available right now. If you can find a Madrich or Madricha who has a reputation of imparting clear, accurate, up to date sexual information, that is probably the best option for now.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: Would you say that talking about sexuality in the Orthodox Jewish world is a taboo topic, and if so, why do you think that is?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: I don't think it is necessarily taboo; it is a topic that makes people uncomfortable and consequently people don't discuss it. Classical Jewish sources have been very forthright about dealing with sexuality. A couple years ago there was an article published by R' Aharon Lichtenstein in Tradition which I think is an excellent survey of halakhic literature over the past centuries. My understanding of contemporary poskim is that couples should be able to experience sexual pleasure and enjoy themselves in this realm. Many people who refer to me are Chassidish Rabbeim, Roshei Yeshiva and Mashgichim - people whom you might be surprised to hear talking about sexual dysfunctions but who realize that unless a couple is able to resolve these issues, it can be problematic or destructive.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: You mentioned earlier that people often come to you with insufficient information; is that information regarding the technical aspects of the sexual act or the Jewish point of view on the matter?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: The truth is that I don't really deal with people in terms of halakhic issues- if they have a problem with halakha, I send them to their Rabbi. And if there is a need for the Rabbi to consult with me, I will ask that he call me. I have no problem working within the boundaries he sets.<BR/><BR/>The insufficient information is generally how bodies are built, how hormones affect behavior, the "how to" of sexual activity. Couples have come to me after two or three years and have not known how to consummate their marriage because they simply have not known what to do.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: How can people acquire accurate information about sex, their bodies and the like?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: A number of your questions ask for specific information regarding normative sexual functioning and dealing with various sexual dysfunctions. What follows is a list of Internet sites that provide reliable, updated information:<BR/><BR/>www.siecus.org<BR/>www.aasect.org<BR/>www.sexualhealth.com<BR/>www.kinseyinstitute.org/ccies<BR/>www.nurtureyournature.org<BR/>www.goaskalice.columbia.edu<BR/><BR/>The Observer: Have you encountered any prevalent myths within the Orthodox community about sexuality? What are they, and could you explain how they are flawed?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: I am not aware of prevalent myths within the Orthodox community about sexuality. Regarding how others see us, I would be happy to email an article on this topic to anyone interested.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: Could you give the name of some books/ manuals/ places parents can go to seek guidance about how to have conversations with their children about sexuality?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: Guidance for parents wishing to talk with their children about sex and intimacy can be found at www.siecus.com, including a list of resources. Currently, no such material exists written for Orthodox families.<BR/><BR/>The Observer: How do Kallah Teachers/ Chassan Teachers generally acquire their knowledge/ expertise in this area i.e. have they spoken with you or other doctors? What makes someone a reliable Kallah/ Chassan teacher?<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ribner: In recent years, Chassan and Kallah teachers have been afforded the opportunity to acquire reliable sexual information through courses given both in Israel and the U.S. in, for example, Bar-Ilan University and Yeshiva University. Unfortunately, there is no requirement that these teachers take such a course nor is there any way of knowing what information the young couple receives and the attitude with which it is presented. We have been lax in demanding communal quality control in this critical and sensitive area. We should not be proud of the fact that we expend significantly more energy ensuring the kashrut of our chickens than properly preparing our children for one of the most important aspects of their lives.<BR/><BR/>~<BR/><BR/>Other articles written by Dr. Ribner are available at Yeshiva University's Tzelem Resources webpage: http://www.yu.edu/cjf/tzelem/page_cjf.aspx?id=18098<BR/><BR/>Those interested in contacting Dr. Ribner may do so by emailing him at: matzeel@hotmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-7849440677836177372008-12-31T09:09:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:09:00.000-08:00I want to thank YOB and R' Shlomo Mandel, shlita, ...I want to thank YOB and R' Shlomo Mandel, shlita, for allowing me to proctor regents and donning me lekaf zechus. It's nice to know there are rabbonim who protect pedophiles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-72994991722132782802008-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00We act worse than the Roman Catholic Diocese and n...We act worse than the Roman Catholic Diocese and nobody can stop us. <BR/><BR/>newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--churchabuse1231dec31,0,515227.story<BR/>Newsday.com<BR/>Sex abuse lawsuit alleges racketeering by diocese<BR/><BR/>December 31, 2008<BR/><BR/>HARTFORD, Conn.<BR/>Click here to find out more!<BR/><BR/>A Connecticut woman has filed a racketeering lawsuit accusing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich of conspiring to cover up sexual abuse of children by priests.<BR/><BR/>The woman is known only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court in Hartford. She alleges she was sexually abused by the late Rev. Thomas W. Shea in 1976 when she was 13 and he was assigned to St. Joseph's Church in New London.<BR/><BR/>The lawsuit claims the alleged cover-up conspiracy involved diocese officials transferring Shea and several other priests to other parishes numerous times after they were accused of sexual abuse.<BR/><BR/>The woman's lawyer, Robert Reardon, said he believes the lawsuit is the first racketeering case brought against the Catholic Church in Connecticut. Similar lawsuits have been filed around the country, but nearly all have failed, in attempts to get around time limits for taking legal action.<BR/><BR/>"We tried to demonstrate through a number of different instances, and through a course of certain conduct, how this conspiracy went," Reardon said. "Whenever there was a complaint, the priest would be transferred."<BR/><BR/>Norwich diocese spokesman Michael Strammiello released a written statement Tuesday in response to questions from The Hartford Courant.<BR/><BR/>"We cannot comment on active litigation and risk jeopardizing the proceedings," he wrote. "Allegations of abuse from the past are always difficult for everyone involved. The church and our diocese have come a long way in preventing and assuring that these issues will not be part of our present or future."<BR/><BR/>Abuse complaints were first filed against Shea in the 1950s and he was transferred numerous times after being accused until he was placed on leave in 1983, according to the lawsuit and published reports.<BR/><BR/>The lawsuit says the diocese and current and former diocese officials should be held accountable under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. It accuses the defendants of concealing priests' criminal conduct, obstructing justice, bribing victims to keep criminal conduct secret and other crimes.<BR/><BR/>Racketeering carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 per count.<BR/><BR/>The lawsuit was first filed in New London Superior Court on Nov. 18, but was transferred recently to federal court at the request of the defendants.<BR/><BR/>The diocese and its insurance company have paid nearly $5 million to alleged victims of sexual abuse, according to the church.<BR/><BR/>___<BR/><BR/>Information from: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-24031038394471547502008-12-30T23:59:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:59:00.000-08:00Signs of Sexual Abuse There are various lists of ...Signs of Sexual Abuse<BR/> <BR/>There are various lists of possible physical and behavioral indicators of child sexual abuse, some of which are:<BR/><BR/> * Waking up during the night sweating, screaming or shaking with nightmares.<BR/><BR/> * Masturbating excessively.<BR/><BR/> * Showing unusually aggressive behavior toward family members, friends, toys, and pets.<BR/><BR/> * Complaining of pain while urinating or having a bowel movement, or exhibiting symptoms of genital infections such as offensive odors, or symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease.<BR/><BR/> * Having symptoms indicating evidence of physical traumas to the genital or anal area.<BR/><BR/> * Beginning wetting the bed.<BR/><BR/> * Experiencing a loss of appetite or other eating problems, including unexplained gagging.<BR/><BR/> * Showing unusual fear of a certain place or location.<BR/><BR/> * Developing frequent unexplained health problems.<BR/><BR/> * Engaging in persistent sexual play with friends, toys or pets.<BR/><BR/> * Having unexplained periods of panic, which may be flashbacks from the abuse.<BR/><BR/> * Regressing to behaviors too young for the stage of development they already achieved.<BR/><BR/> * Initiating sophisticated sexual behaviors.<BR/><BR/> * Indicating a sudden reluctance to be alone with a certain person.<BR/><BR/> * Engaging in self-mutilations, such as sticking themselves with pins or cutting themselves.<BR/><BR/> * Withdrawing from previously enjoyable activities, like school or school performance change.<BR/><BR/> * Asking an unusual amount of questions about human sexuality. <BR/><BR/>(By Kathy Smedley, Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist, and Program Director for the Northeast Texas Children's Advocacy Center.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-21727768190793791032008-12-30T23:56:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:56:00.000-08:00Mondrowitz Accusers Seen Ready To TestifyThe offic...Mondrowitz Accusers Seen Ready To Testify<BR/>The office of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, right, has indicated that the alleged victims of accused pedophile Avrohom Mondrowitz, left, will testify if Mondrowitz stands trial.<BR/><BR/> The office of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, right, has indicated that the alleged victims of accused pedophile Avrohom Mondrowitz, left, will testify if Mondrowitz stands trial. <BR/><BR/>by Hella Winston<BR/>Special To The Jewish Week<BR/>The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office has indicated to prosecutors in Israel that the alleged victims of an accused pedophile who fled to the Jewish state more than two decades ago will testify should he stand trial, The Jewish Week has learned.<BR/>An excerpt of the letter from the head of the sex crimes bureau was contained in a brief submitted to the Israeli Supreme Court by attorneys representing the State who have been arguing for the extradition of former Brooklyn youth counselor Avrohom Mondrowitz. He was arrested in Israel in late 2007 after a change in the Israeli-U.S. extradition treaty provided a basis for returning him to the U.S.<BR/>While a Jerusalem court ruled Mondrowitz extraditable earlier this year, he appealed that decision to the<BR/>URJ<BR/>Supreme Court, which heard his final appeal on Dec. 8.<BR/>At that hearing, the Justices asked the State’s attorneys to consider three issues: the propriety of retroactive application of extradition treaties; the prosecution’s decision to extradite Mondrowitz despite the many years that have passed since the commission of the alleged crimes; and whether Mondrowitz should be tried in Israel.<BR/>The excerpt from the letter from the sex crimes bureau chief, Rhonnie Jaus, was part of a larger brief responding to those questions and filed with the high court on Dec. 23.<BR/>“Over the last twenty-two years, these victims have had to live with this childhood trauma. Knowing that the efforts they made to testify against Mondrowitz [have] not brought them any justice [has] made living with this nightmare that much more difficult,” Jaus wrote. She was referring to testimony given by the victims to a Brooklyn grand jury, which indicted Mondrowitz in absentia in 1985 on four counts of sodomy and eight counts of sexual abuse in the first degree against four children in Brooklyn.<BR/>“Over the years when these victims, now grown men, have been contacted by our office, they have maintained their interest in the prosecution of Mondrowitz,” Jaus’ letter continued. “They are concerned for their own privacy and safety, but willing to pursue the case.”<BR/>A spokesman for the Brooklyn DA confirmed that the letter had been submitted and that the victims “have a continued interest in the case and have expressed a willingness to testify.” He also noted that Jaus’ letter communicated the fact that these victims were “in terror of Mondrowitz” in 1985.<BR/>Jaus’ letter is significant, according to Michael Lesher, a journalist and attorney who has been deeply involved in this case. Lesher says it is “the first direct statement in an official forum that specifically tells us that the original complainants are in contact with the DA’s office and [that they] are prepared and do want to proceed with prosecution. That’s an important and encouraging sign.”<BR/>Indeed, these victims’ identities have never been publicly revealed nor has any of them ever come forward to comment on the case. In fact, one of the many notable aspects of this case is the fact that the victims named in the original indictment are not from Jewish families. But comments over the years by those in law enforcement indicate that Mondrowitz may have had hundreds of Jewish victims, among them those sent to him for counseling, referred by the Brooklyn-based Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services, and other Orthodox communal institutions and individuals.<BR/>Several of Mondrowitz’s alleged Jewish victims have spoken to the media in recent years, though the statute of limitations bars them from being a part of any criminal or civil action.<BR/>Two of these men, Mark Weiss and Boruch Sandhaus, also wrote letters to the Israeli Supreme Court, as part of an amicus brief submitted to the Court by Survivors for Justice, an organization they helped to found which seeks to assist victims of sexual abuse in the Orthodox community obtain justice in the criminal and civil courts.<BR/>In the brief, submitted to the high court by SFJ’s pro bono Israeli counsel, the law firm Yigal Arnon & Co., Lonnie Soury, a spokesman for the group, writes that, “Returning Avrohom Mondrowitz to the United States to defend against the criminal charges will send a clear message to those who have been sexually abused in our community, and in the similarly insular haredi communities in Israel, that authorities from New York to Israel intend to do everything in their power to protect our children.”<BR/>Urging the Justices to uphold the lower court’s determination to extradite Mondrowitz, Sandhaus writes, “It is now over 20 years and Avrohom Mondrowitz has yet to face his victims in court and defend himself against the numerous horrific charges of abuse he committed against us when we were children. I live daily with the indescribable agony and torture of the memories Mondrowitz left permanently burned into my brain. Knowing that this monster is still out there amongst children just adds to the immeasurable agony I feel.”<BR/><BR/>Read here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a14422/News/New_York.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-89811279967117187612008-12-30T23:53:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:53:00.000-08:00By: Clara HershPosted: 12/30/08In the film "Narrow...By: Clara Hersh<BR/>Posted: 12/30/08<BR/>In the film "Narrow Bridge," writer and director Israel Moskovits confronts the controversial issue of sexual abuse in the Orthodox Jewish world. Moskovits plays the protagonist, Daniel Schneider, a philosophy major attending secular college. He meets Rachel Goldberg (Samantha Leshin) in a philosophy class. The pair quickly forges a bond discussing philosophy and religion, enhanced by the fact that they are seemingly the two Jews on campus. While Rachel has not grown up religious, she is interested in learning more about her heritage. Daniel helps Rachel learn about Judaism and both grow to admire each other over the process, during which they begin dating and eventually become engaged.<BR/><BR/>Their relationship has its complexities. Rachel is quick to open up to Daniel and divulge her past, but Daniel is very elusive about his life before college. Whenever Rachel asks about his past, Daniel evades her questions and hastily changes the subject. A flashback reveals that the reason for Daniel's elusiveness is because when he was young, Rabbi Kaufman, a teacher whom he trusted and who had helped him in his struggle with Judaism, had one day offered him a ride home, then took a detour and sexually abused him.<BR/><BR/>When Rachel goes home with Daniel to meet his parents, Daniel is once again confronted with his childhood trauma, as well as Rabbi Kaufman himself. This throws Daniel into a state of panic. He starts to fight with his mother and fiancé and draws away from them. His behavior is so erratic that Rachel begins to question whether or not she made a mistake accepting Daniel's marriage proposal.<BR/><BR/>The climax occurs when Rachel gives Daniel an ultimatum. She demands Daniel tell her what is bothering him, and threatens that she will go back to college and break off the engagement if he does not comply. In an emotional confession, Daniel tells Rachel about the rabbi who abused him, and she suggests that he bring the rabbi to justice. Before Daniel can have such closure, however, the rabbi is struck by a car and killed. Daniel is left to mend his emotional wounds without the resolution he needed. He ultimately finds solace in his relationship with G-d, his fiancée, and his supportive family.<BR/><BR/>"Narrow Bridge" confronts many contentious themes. First, Moskovits tries to tackle the quest of a Modern Orthodox boy in college. Daniel is the first one in his family to go to college. After a lifetime of Jewish education, he is thrust into a secular college where he must survive as the only Orthodox Jew on campus. This situation has a straining effect on Daniel and his family, and his mother is not entirely supportive of Daniel's engagement to a baalat teshuva [one who chooses to return to Judaism.] Daniel disagrees with his family on what it means to be an Orthodox Jew and this conflict manifests itself when he brings Rachel home to meet his parents.<BR/><BR/>The other main theme in "Narrow Bridge" is the presentation of sexual abuse in the Orthodox Jewish community. There is a false assumption in many religious communities that sexual abuse does not exist within their enclosed society, making it harder for victims to come out or call their abusers to justice. Although "Narrow Bridge" was amateur in its filmmaking technique, this particular message is presented with powerful force, showing the damage inflicted on the victim and the effects that appear later in life. Daniel's relationship with Rachel was strained because of his abuse, and it also affected his view of G-d and justice because in his view Rabbi Kaufman had not received proper retribution.<BR/><BR/>Sexual abuse occurs in all communities. What may cause it to be more damaging in a religious community is the denial of its existence, or worse, total awareness of the situation, followed by abrupt concealment. There have been cases where teachers were found to be sexual abusers, but rather than being publicized, were merely relocated to other schools, putting other children at risk. Many abusers are not strangers, but individuals that have a bond with their victims. Like the Catholic priests who abused children in their community, Rabbi Kaufman was a clergy member in power who had the respect and admiration of the child he damaged. Sexual abuse from a clergy member could be even more traumatizing because it has the power to cause disillusionment of the religion itself. One of Daniel's most admirable attributes in "Narrow Bridge" is his utter conviction to Judaism despite his abuse.<BR/><BR/>Israel Moskovits deserves commendations for confronting this important issue. In his film he exposes the reality of sexual abuse in the Jewish community, making it accessible not only to Jews, but to non-Jews, too, who are unaware of the effects. "Narrow Bridge" has been screened on campuses around the country and is continuing to open the dialogue in the Jewish community about this significant problem just beginning to break its surface.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-81027046683456337692008-12-30T23:49:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:49:00.000-08:00http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051236.htmlEl...http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051236.html<BR/><BR/>Elder child of Chabad Mumbai attack victims dies of long-term illnessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-4613017847177172052008-12-30T23:44:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:44:00.000-08:00w w w . h a a r e t z . c o mCriminal probe opened...w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m<BR/><BR/>Criminal probe opened against rabbis who signed anti-Arab labor ads<BR/>By Tomer Zarchin and Nadav Shragai, Haarez Correspondent<BR/><BR/>A criminal investigation for incitement to racism will be opened against 29 rabbis who signed two advertisements urging people not to hire Arabs, Deputy Attorney General Shai Nitzan decided Tuesday.<BR/><BR/>Both advertisements were issued following terror attacks in Jerusalem carried out by East Jerusalem residents: the shooting attack at Mercaz Harav Yeshiva last March and two rampages by bulldozer drivers in July.<BR/><BR/>"Again and again, it turns out that ostensibly cheap Arab labor exacts a price from us in blood, which is more dear than all," read the ad published after the bulldozer attacks, which appeared in the right-wing newspaper Kommemiyut and was also distributed as a flier. "The murderous tractors driven by Arabs from East Jerusalem are only the tip of the iceberg of a national problem that has long since become an existential danger that threatens the welfare of the nation that dwells in Zion: from taking over of sources of livelihood and pushing Jews out of every place, through a creeping takeover of Jewish neighborhoods, chutzpah and effrontery, growing verbal and physical violence and systematic and deliberate injury to the honor of the daughters of Israel, to mixed marriages with Jewish women who fall into their nets."<BR/><BR/>The ad then urged people to "stop employing the Arab enemy, at least in the spheres closest to us. We won't let enemies into our homes, we won't buy from enemies, we won't directly employ enemies."<BR/><BR/>Several of the signatories, who include Rabbis Shmuel Eliyahu (the chief rabbi of Safed), Yitzhak Ginzberg, Dov Lior (the chief rabbi of Hebron and Kiryat Arba), David Druckman (the chief rabbi of Kiryat Motzkin) and Yaakov Yosef, are state employees.<BR/><BR/>The other ad, published after the Mercaz Harav attack, urged people to "stop employing and supporting the Arab enemies and switch to Jewish labor and commerce with Jews."<BR/><BR/>Of the 29 rabbis, nine signed both ads, while the others signed only one.<BR/><BR/>One signatory, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, responded that the ad was aimed at saving lives, and "if someone thinks he needs to investigate and try me for that... It will be to my credit."<BR/><BR/>Nitzan also ordered an investigation against a group of ultra-Orthodox kashrut supervisors in Jerusalem who tried to get the businesses they supervised to stop employing Arabs.<BR/><BR/>They were relying on a religious ruling by Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky that Jewish businesses should not employ Arabs. Nevertheless, Nitzan did not order a probe of Kanievsky, due in part to his old age.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-6715831226450029782008-12-30T23:42:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:42:00.000-08:00'Rabbi' Pinchus Lipshits of the Yated is an honora...'Rabbi' Pinchus Lipshits of the Yated is an honorable Yevannite. His paper makes for some honorable toilet reading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-31363904592837126172008-12-30T23:38:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:38:00.000-08:00What a terrible time it is for Israel. It's war. I...What a terrible time it is for Israel. It's war. It entered my mind that so many orthodox Jews take this to heart and are real hurt at the prospect of lives being lost. At the same time I wondered would these same ones take it just as hard when their fellow brother suffer silently everyday from a crime that leaves no bloodied evidence, a crime called child molestation. I concluded that many of these same Jews wouldn't be as broken hearted with the latter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-36950555807920857442008-12-30T23:31:00.000-08:002008-12-30T23:31:00.000-08:00As Israel Defense Force air strikes against Hamas ...As Israel Defense Force air strikes against Hamas targets in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip extended into the fourth day of fighting, enemy rockets rained down on civilian centers, sending citizens scurrying and damaging homes, including that of Rabbi Chananel and Tzivia Pizem, Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries in the border town of Sderot.<BR/><BR/>The intermittent barrages throughout the morning – which wreaked havoc as far as Ashdod, almost 40 kilometers from Gaza – followed a day of some of the worst rocket attacks in the war. Three Israelis, one a Bedouin construction worker, were killed on Monday.<BR/><BR/>Tzivia Pizem said that it was because of Divine Providence that she and her whole family were not home at the time of the 11 a.m. barrage. She normally travels to the central Israeli village of Kfar Chabad every Tuesday for a full day of Torah learning, and this time decided to take her husband and children with her.<BR/><BR/>Reached as she and her husband made their way back to inspect the damage, Pizem was in tears.<BR/><BR/>“Thank G-d we’re fine,” she said. “We’re not home yet. We’re getting there. I’m thinking, ‘What now?’ I have no idea.”<BR/><BR/>Pizem’s 19-year-old nephew, Osher, was with a friend outside when the air raid siren went off.<BR/><BR/>“We saw the explosion,” said the man. “I said to my friend, ‘That looks like my uncle’s house.’ He said that it looked like his mother’s home.”<BR/><BR/>It took the pair about 20 seconds to reach the scene, where they found a crater in between the two structures. An old man was covered in blood, and was treated at the scene. Authorities later indicated he suffered minor injuries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-26649397686143614642008-12-29T22:51:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:51:00.000-08:00speaking of frauds, pinny lipshitz and his soggy s...speaking of frauds, pinny lipshitz and his soggy sorry tabloid tops them all-----<BR/><BR/>Annual Medicaid Fraud Report ReleasedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-79108823978944542342008-12-29T22:27:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:27:00.000-08:00In his speech, Ahmadinejad made a thinly veiled at...In his speech, Ahmadinejad made a thinly veiled attack on the U.S. and its allies: “If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers,” he said<BR/><BR/>http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997768.html?categoryId=1445&cs=1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-19962529363013063702008-12-29T22:19:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:19:00.000-08:00Another slaughter of Arab Palestinians. Jewish, sc...Another slaughter of Arab Palestinians. Jewish, scientists, philosophers, writers, artists, rabbis warned against the violent partition forced upon the Palestinians by Zionists and the colonial powers. Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, Erich Fromm, many thousands of Jewish intellectuals. Neturei Karta Orthodox Rabbis have been the most steadfast and articulate in their opposition to the existence of the present state of Israel!<BR/><BR/>::::::::<BR/><BR/>At the time of yet another mass slaughter of Arab Palestinians, it seems appropriate to remind ourselves of the multitude of Jewish scientists, philosophers, writers, artists, rabbis who were against the violent partition forced upon the Palestinians by the Zionist movement and the colonial powers.<BR/><BR/>Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, Erich Fromm stand out in our memory for their warnings, but they are just three among the many thousands of Jewish intellectuals from all over the world who spoke out, and the Neturei Karta Orthodox Rabbis, have been the most steadfast and articulate in their opposition to the existence of the present state of Israel,<BR/><BR/>Within Israel, which they refer to as occupied Palestine territory, and internationally, these well-spoken Neturei Karta rabbis are gentle, warm, kind, patient and gracious in appearance and demeanor, eloquent in describing their faith in the Torah, firm in their condemnation of Zionist crimes against humanity, but fiery in their repudiation of Zionist claims to represent Judaism.<BR/><BR/>On the Neturei Karta web site one can read of their representations, protests and loving support for all the peoples of Palestine in public statements, publications and see photos of the Rabbis at demonstrations, meetings and convocations, in Jerusalem, New York, London, Washington D.C., Montreal, Toronto, Tehran, various cities in Europe and elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>Neturei Karta - Orthodox Jews United Against Zionism<BR/>"Neturei Karta is an international organization of Orthodox Jews dedicated to the propagation and clarification of Torah Judaism."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-20879953590430744542008-12-29T16:38:00.000-08:002008-12-29T16:38:00.000-08:00Confucius, meet Dr. AtkinsPosted by Douglas LeBlan...Confucius, meet Dr. Atkins<BR/>Posted by Douglas LeBlanc<BR/><BR/>OUInspected.jpgOne of the pleasures of magazines is in an editor’s creative matching of writer and subject. When the matchmaking defies obvious choices, the results can be especially satisfying, as in Patricia Marx’s profile of two rabbis who inspect food factories in China for kosher compliance (abstract here; full article requires registration).<BR/><BR/>Stories about melamine poisonings from Chinese sources appear with a distressing frequency these days, and this report could have easily become a book-length analysis by John McPhee. Instead, Marx — a veteran comedy writer who also writes for The Huffington Post — deals with the melamine angle briskly, and toward the end of her report:<BR/><BR/> Like an I.R.S. auditor, a mashgiah [kosher inspector] is there to make sure that nobody is cheating. A mashgiah does not bless food. Nor is it his job to vet anything for hygiene or safety. But that may be changing. Apparently, there are only so many cartons of toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, pet foods, and milk products that can be poisoned before the big machers in kashruth decide that they ought to tinker with an ancient tradition. Kosher-certifying organizations, including the [Orthodox Union], issued a statement saying that they will soon issue another statement saying that any Chinese company seeking their approval must comply with certain safety guidelines, which have yet to be specified. In the meantime, as [Rabbi David] Moskowitz put it, “Food scandals are always good for the kosher business.”<BR/><BR/>The clearest moment of Judaism-meets-China is in this narrative by Rabbi Mordechai Grunberg:<BR/><BR/> “There are two religions in China,” he said. “One is food. The other is money.” He told a story about a time, a few years back, when he addressed a group of Chinese authorities whose approval he needed in order to continue working in China. Having been warned by a colleague not to bring up God during his presentation, he explained to his audience that a kosher-certified factory could potentially bring in an extra million dollars a year in revenue. “Their eyes lit up,” he said. “Then one of them asked the big question: ‘What is kosher law based on?’ I asked him if he had ever heard of the Atkins diet. I said that Atkins wrote a diet book that’s very popular in the United States. And that, similarly, Moses gave the Jews the kosher diet, with rules that are also codified. I said that, from the little I’d read about Confucius, he, too, would have done the same thing. The Chinese all smiled. And they said, ‘Rabbi, even if what you’re doing here is illegal, keep doing it! We’re going to try to get the laws modified so you can do lots of business in China.’”<BR/><BR/>Grunberg’s paraphrase of the Chinese officials’ response sounds a bit rich, but his explaining the concept of kosher in modern terms certainly is rewarding.<BR/><BR/>Image of the Orthodox Union’s kosher-certified logo used under a Wikimedia Commons license.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-38192507380589280712008-12-29T16:33:00.000-08:002008-12-29T16:33:00.000-08:00http://www.nypost.com/seven/12282008/news/regional...http://www.nypost.com/seven/12282008/news/regionalnews/mom_abused_dead_boy__10_146256.htm<BR/>-<BR/>MOM 'ABUSED' DEAD BOY, 10<BR/><BR/>By JAMIE SCHRAM, JOE MOLLICA and LEONARD GREENE<BR/><BR/>December 28, 2008 --<BR/><BR/>A Staten Island mother accused of killing her 10-year-old son abused him for years - stuffing him full of junk food and beating him with a belt buckle before finally ending his life by brutally slamming his head against a wall, officials said today.<BR/><BR/>Jaquan Porter didn't have much of a chance. While the steady diet of fatty sweets that blew him up to nearly 250 pounds didn't kill him, the constant physical abuse allegedly did.<BR/><BR/>Sources said the fatal blow came Friday, the day after Christmas, which happens to be his mother, Melissa Sekulski's birthday.<BR/><BR/>While other boys his age were playing with new toys and video games, Jaquan was being rushed to Richmond University hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.<BR/><BR/>Earlier, Sekulski, 30, hit him in the head so hard that his head struck a wall in the basement apartment where they lived at Grandview Avenue, authorities said.<BR/><BR/>Sources said Sekulski admitted to striking the fatal blow, and said she was responsible for the boy's prior injuries.<BR/><BR/>She was arraigned today on a first- degree manslaughter charge, and held without bail.<BR/><BR/>Sekulski has a previously scheduled Family Court hearing today, and a court date on the criminal charge Dec. 31.<BR/><BR/>A spokeswoman for the city's Administration for Children's Services said the agency is investigating to see if the family has a file with any of its caseworkers.<BR/><BR/>Authorities said Jaquan was home-schooled, and neighbors said they rarely saw him at all. Some didn't even know Sekulski had a child.<BR/><BR/>"Everyone knows everyone here, and I never saw that kid, never saw him go to school or nothing," said Rico Pedrazza, 24, a neighbor.<BR/><BR/>"But she was always in and out."<BR/><BR/>Those who did see Jaquan described a boy who was obviously obese, who breathed heavily after short sprints and who frequently gorged on junk food his mother provided.<BR/><BR/>Officials said Sekulski and the boy's father split up at least three years ago, and that she and Jaquan had previously lived in Brooklyn and The Bronx.<BR/><BR/>Sources said the boy and his mother lived in squalor in an apartment infested with bugs.<BR/><BR/>A boy who played with Jaquan occasionally said he saw signs of abuse, but said nothing because he didn't want to embarrass his friend.<BR/><BR/>"I would see him with marks - they looked like belt marks or hit marks - but he never said anything," the friend said.<BR/><BR/>Neighbor J.R. Moore, 50, said he saw Sekulski run out of the apartment on Friday screaming hysterically.<BR/><BR/>"She was screaming, 'My baby, my baby,' " said Moore, who followed her back inside to try to revive Jaquan, who was not breathing.<BR/><BR/>"He was just laid out on the floor, lifeless," said Moore, who said the boy was stretched out on a blanket and dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt. "I thought he was too overweight and needed to be on a diet. The way he was laying there I knew something was wrong."<BR/><BR/>jamie.schram@nypost.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-65944443962601347942008-12-29T16:29:00.000-08:002008-12-29T16:29:00.000-08:00Child sexual abuse a mishandled crimePublication d...Child sexual abuse a mishandled crime<BR/><BR/>Publication date: Monday, 29th December, 2008<BR/><BR/>By Jonas Mbabazi<BR/><BR/>THE crime of child abuse has taken an endless cycle. This year, children have been threatened more than ever before. The media has been awash with headlines of child sacrifices and murders.<BR/><BR/>During this festive season, parents should be mindful of the ill-minded people who will take advantage of any situation to abuse any unaccompanied or unprotected child.<BR/><BR/>I have been particularly frustrated at the handling of child abuse cases.<BR/>Many children have been abused sexually but the scenarios have been mishandled, and many perpetrators have gone scot-free and still pose a big threat to the children.<BR/><BR/>If it is suspected that a child has been sexually abused, the caretaker or parent should not wash or bathe the victim but immediately report the case to the nearby Police station and record a detailed statement including who the suspected perpetrator is.<BR/><BR/>Thereafter it is important that the child is taken to a clinic for examination and care for injuries. In examining, the medical practitioner should take into consideration the physical, emotional needs of the child. Screening for STDs and pregnancy in case of a girl child, should be done with care.<BR/><BR/>Physical injuries are the best proof of force and in collecting evidence it is important that they are photographed, described and documented in the examination report. But this should be done with the consent of the victim.<BR/><BR/>Ultimately, the parents and medical practitioners should note that the findings from the examination shall help to confirm recent sexual contact, show that force or coercion was involved, identify the perpetrator and corroborate the victim’s story.<BR/><BR/>During Christmas season, children are on holiday and parents should keep watch of them, always know where they are and do not trust anyone with a child given that relatives, family friends, neighbours or babysitters can also steal children.<BR/><BR/>To prevent being misunderstood, parents should try and understand their children because at times the “do not talk to strangers” restriction may not work.<BR/><BR/>In most cases parents have not openly talked about sexual issues with their children. Parents should teach children that no one should touch the “private” parts of their body.<BR/><BR/>Children need to know that sexual advances from adults are wrong and illegal. Their confidence should be built to assert themselves against any adult who attempts to abuse them.<BR/>Children should be taught that their bodies are not to be manipulated by anyone.<BR/><BR/>Children are trusting and dependent and will often do what is asked of them to gain approval and love. Parents should always use this as a tool to influence and protect them.<BR/><BR/>The writer is a social worker<BR/><BR/>This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/666324Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-89844737266753252012008-12-29T16:24:00.000-08:002008-12-29T16:24:00.000-08:00Sex-abuse cases may lead to law changesAs some deb...Sex-abuse cases may lead to law changes<BR/><BR/>As some debate the breadth of abuse in nursing homes, experts and victims' families plan to seek more safeguards for the elderly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-73553915431349396702008-12-29T16:19:00.000-08:002008-12-29T16:19:00.000-08:00The yated staff is pro sexual-abuse. Our photo sna...The yated staff is pro sexual-abuse. Our photo snappers are busy figuring out which abuser and/or enabler to feature in this coming Wednesday's edition. Should we put in reb shlomo mandel again? yaakov mandel? reb yisroel belsky? reb tzitis shinberg? reb shmuel kamanetzky? <BR/>-----------------------------------<BR/><BR/>Some 28 percent of girls and nine percent of boys under the age of 14 have been victims of sexual abuse, according to the most recent study on the issue, conducted in 2004.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-90684178519259312132008-12-29T13:00:00.000-08:002008-12-29T13:00:00.000-08:00http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c40_a1439...http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c40_a14396/News/Israel.html<BR/><BR/>New Rift Opens Up In Beit Shemesh <BR/><BR/>After about a year of quiet, the feud reared its head on a recent Friday night when a group of haredi youths allegedly threw eggs and kicked a 15-year- old Modern Orthodox girl traversing the religiously strict Beit Shemesh Bet neighborhood while walking a friend back home. The bone of contention? The girls weren’t dressed modestly enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-68753248692157484662008-12-29T12:57:00.000-08:002008-12-29T12:57:00.000-08:00Many yeshivos dissuade their students from this im...Many yeshivos dissuade their students from this important education. <BR/>*<BR/><BR/>Haredim want secular higher education, but are hampered by a lack of basic math and English skills, according to a new study.<BR/><BR/>Fifty-seven percent of 148 haredi men surveyed in a study conducted by researchers at the Jerusalem Institute of Israel Studies said that they had looked into attaining a college degree, and another 15% said they had received advice about the possibility of pursuing studies in a college or some other institute of higher education.<BR/><BR/>Three-quarters of the respondents were aged 20 to 30 and 84% married with children.<BR/><BR/>Dr. Dan Kaufmann, Asaf Malchi and Bezalel Cohen, the three researchers who performed the survey, recommended that the State of Israel and philanthropists use their findings to help haredim get higher education.<BR/><BR/>Their main recommendation was that haredim receive economic support for college education, as some 70% of the haredi men surveyed said that they would be willing to pursue a college degree if they received such support.<BR/><BR/>In a telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post, Kaufmann said that young haredi men were usually married with children, and that "for them to pursue a college degree, including the preparatory courses in English and math that are necessary before they can even begin, entails a major economic sacrifice. Many are simply unable to do it."<BR/><BR/>The researchers also polled haredi men and women already enrolled in institutions of higher education.<BR/><BR/>A total of 312 haredi students were surveyed, 193 men and 118 women.<BR/><BR/>The researchers found that while 29% of respondents mentioned rabbinic support as a factor in their decision to pursue higher education, 75% said that economic aid had been a factor.<BR/><BR/>But the single most important factor was knowledge of English and math and the level of exposure to information about educational options.<BR/><BR/>"There was a direct correlation between knowledge of English and math and motivation. The more respondents knew, the more they were motivated to pursue higher education. People who saw themselves as unprepared... were less motivated because they realized they would have to work hard to close the gap."<BR/><BR/>Another interesting finding was the high percentage of haredim already enrolled who said they had chosen their course of learning based on personal interest, proving that "in contrast to preconceptions, haredim see their secular studies as more than just parnassa [a job]," Kaufmann said.<BR/>This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1229868806378&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFullAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-22801033187151902712008-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:002008-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:00http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w3ipkL1Dd10/ST6atGBFW5I/...http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w3ipkL1Dd10/ST6atGBFW5I/AAAAAAAAAbI/jxMWmejSV70/s1600-h/09122008150335_76385371066212611.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28305689.post-48502241375878100232008-12-29T12:43:00.000-08:002008-12-29T12:43:00.000-08:00You see - I am just a normal dude. This guy knows ...You see - I am just a normal dude. This guy knows it. ejf is needed just like colon cleanser. <BR/><BR/>Anonymous said...<BR/><BR/> Dear Daas Torah,<BR/><BR/> Recently, I have been following your tirads against R. Tropper. It is difficult to judge based on your input. What is his crime? You claim that he wines and dines spouses (and children) who are in a mixed marriage. Please tell me the prohibition. Conversion is always a risk. Hillel converted people by using his intuition. He took a chance. Shamai did the right thing. No question. I realize that we require kabalos mitzvos. How do you know that he has not achieved it? His video shows success stories.<BR/><BR/> Surely, it is better that we violate a small issur (if there is one) and save families from annihilation.<BR/><BR/> There is proof that our sages went on expeditions to convert people. It was later happenings that made us gun shy. In the middle ages you could get killed. Look what happened to the Geroh. He went to jail. But, please spell out the issur. Maybe, R. Tropper is a brave man.<BR/><BR/> I am onborad late so please bring me up to speed. Letters from R. Sternbuch is not enough. I require reasons before I agree with anyone to attack my brother. Have you not gone overboard? Maybe, you did "convince" people. Reporters should "report" and not "make?!? news.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com