Monday, May 5, 2014

Lev Tahor revisited Ami magazine editorial

Following the article on Lev Tahor in pesach issue of Ami Magazine, Rabbi Frankfurter wrote in his editorial that he stands by his assessment of lev Tahor in his original article. However he acknowledges the feedback both positive and negative as the matter touches upon issues that effect not only Lev Tahor but all of klal Yisroel and debate even when heated is therefore of the essence.
 here are some excerpts.

There have been few articles in the orthodox Jewish media in recent times that triggered as much attention and discussion as did the series on Lev Tahor that appeared in the Pesach issue. In response we received both effusive praise and biting criticism  many hailed us as saviors and heroes for defending Jewish mothers, fathers, and children under siege while others saw it as  positive coverage of a group they deem to be a cult...It should be noted that defending people's fundamental rights is by no means an endorsement of their way of life. For example one may be highly critical of some of Lev Tahor's teachings or dress code while at the same time insisting that they be treated humanely, pursuant to the dictates of both Torah and common law... Lev Tahor is certainly obligated to heed the directives of gedolei Yisrael with regard to dress and behaviorand it goes without saying anyone who has first hand information of child abuse in Lev Tahor. or for that matter in any other  community, is obligated to share that information not with reporters or a blog but with the authorities or local police department. and by the same token, we must also heed the directives of the Rambam and shulchan aruch as to how to offer rebuke without shaming or slandering the recipient, loving our fellow Jew as ourselves.
The article ends with proving how the approach taken by Canadian authorities where authorities call religious instruction, abuse, was used in a Belgian court of appeals against that country's orthodox community. To deem all Orthodox Jewish education in Antwerp as a form of child abuse. For that Ami was right on target.

2 comments:

  1. > Lev Tahor is certainly obligated to heed the directives of gedolei Yisrael with regard to dress and behavior

    But they don't. They follow a convicted criminal who demands stringencies of them he has conjured out of thin air.

    > and it goes without saying anyone who has first hand information of child abuse in Lev Tahor.

    But this is a circular argument. You won't accept a non-Jewish social worker's evidence but nobody Jewish will ever actually do a real investigation so they remain "innocent"

    > The article ends with proving how the approach taken by Canadian authorities where
    authorities call religious instruction, abuse,

    Yeah, that's at best inaccurate and at worst a lie. The Canadian authorities called denying the children a proper education in subjects such as English/French, math, science and history a concern. There was no criticism of the study of religious subjects and if Lev Tahor actually gave their kids a real education it wouldn't be an issue.

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  2. Read this and then please stop trying to judge the adults favourably:
    http://www.amotherinisrael.com/lev-tahor-canada-guatemala/

    ReplyDelete