Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Rabbi Batzri to be probed for incitement
The state prosecution ordered an investigation into prominent kabbalist Rabbi David Batzri and his son, Rabbi Yitzhak Batzri, for suspected incitement to racism.
According to prosecution lawyer Shai Nitzan, the two used unacceptable means in attempt to convince residents of Jerusalem’s Pat neighborhood to protest a local bi-lingual school where Arab and Jewish children study together.
The Arabic-Hebrew school opened nine years ago and until recently enrolled students from first through sixth grade. After a recent initiative to expand the school to serve seventh and eight grades as well, it was decided to construct a new building on the seam line between the Jewish neighborhood Pat and the Arab neighborhood Beit Safafa.
Construction on the school begins next week with a ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone, and its completion is expected in two-and-a-half years.
The project has met some enthusiasm, and recently a philanthropist from England contributed USD 3.5 million towards the school. However, not everyone is thrilled about the program. Leading an initiative against the school, Rabbi Batzri and his son held a conference two-and-a-half months ago where they made racist slurs against Arabs: “Arabs are a misfortune, a problem, Satan,” the two said, according to the prosecution.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3230645,00.html
The state prosecution ordered an investigation into prominent kabbalist Rabbi David Batzri and his son, Rabbi Yitzhak Batzri, for suspected incitement to racism.
According to prosecution lawyer Shai Nitzan, the two used unacceptable means in attempt to convince residents of Jerusalem’s Pat neighborhood to protest a local bi-lingual school where Arab and Jewish children study together.
The Arabic-Hebrew school opened nine years ago and until recently enrolled students from first through sixth grade. After a recent initiative to expand the school to serve seventh and eight grades as well, it was decided to construct a new building on the seam line between the Jewish neighborhood Pat and the Arab neighborhood Beit Safafa.
Construction on the school begins next week with a ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone, and its completion is expected in two-and-a-half years.
The project has met some enthusiasm, and recently a philanthropist from England contributed USD 3.5 million towards the school. However, not everyone is thrilled about the program. Leading an initiative against the school, Rabbi Batzri and his son held a conference two-and-a-half months ago where they made racist slurs against Arabs: “Arabs are a misfortune, a problem, Satan,” the two said, according to the prosecution.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3230645,00.html
Comments:
> AN OPEN LETTER TO SUSAN ROSENBLUTH
> (Jewish voice and Opinion)
> Dear Ms. Rosenbluth:
>
> I read, with great disdain and displeasure, your most recent
> article about the "Tendler Affair" in New Hempstead, New York.
> For the reasons set forth herein, your so called "article" is
> best described as a screed reminiscent of Horace Greeley's yellow
> journalism.
>
> At the outset, the article is rife with inaccuracies, mistruths
> and outright falsehoods. Your coverage of this affair is
> premised on the mistaken notion that R. Mordecai Tendler was never
> given his "day in court." That however is very far from the
> truth. Even if it is arguable true, the RCA, in expelling him did
> so without
> convening a proper Beth Din, Rabbi Tendler has flitted away other
> opportunities to state his case. After the RCA expelled R.
> Tendler from its ranks, he commenced proceedings against the RCA,
> its leaders and other
> distinguished rabbis before the municipal Beth Din in Jerusalem.
> The ultimate decision from the Jerusalem Beth Din which was issued
> nearly six months ago was that the parties should proceed to a din
> Torah in the
> United States via a tripartite arbitration procedure, know
> talmudically as "Zabla." Rather than cut through any and all
> procedural hurdles, and proceed to the substance of the matter
> (i.e. resolving whether there
> exists a basis for the RCA to have expelled R. Tendler), R.
> Tendler chose to prevaricate and unduly delay these proceedings.
> He took no steps to identify the RCA's borer, chosen arbitrator,
> and continued to
> insist that the RCA must first reinstate his membership before
> the commencement of the din Torah. Simply put, he placed the cart
> before the horse. Your publication simply ignores that truism and
> instead idealizes the worst of litigation, the manipulation of
> the rules to avoid the search for truth. SHAME ON YOU!!!
>
> Your most recent article however sinks to even lower depths. I
> have known Shlomo Pomeranz (I suggest you ascertain the correct
> spelling of his name before your scurrilously lambaste him) for
> the past five years. He is a true friend. Moreover, as a member
> of the New Hempstead community, and frequent worshipper at
> Kehillat New Hempstead, I observefirst hand all that he does on
> behalf of the community.
> He has literally saved lives in his capacity as an active
> volunteer firefighter. He devotes more hours than I can count to
> synagogue affairs. He certainly has spent more time helping New
> Hempstead than you have
> tryingto hurt it.
> Your assertion that Shlomo somehow does not deserve to sit on the
> boardof Kehillat New Hempstead is despicable. Moreover, it
> violates any ethical code to which legitimate journalists should
> aspire. Membership information of the type to which you
> disgustingly allude is highly confidential. Very few people in
> the shul are in possession of that type of information. Indeed I
> am a former board member, and I never knew who paid what or who
> made alternate arrangements regarding membership. The only way
> you could have truthfully learned what you printed is if a former
> president of the congregation chose to break a "sacred trust"
> and divulge it to you. Is that what happened? Did someone "in
> the know" break a confidence?
>
> You fashion yourself an Orthodox Jew. If indeed you are how
> could you do this to a fellow Jew, to anyone? Of what importance
> was Shlomo Pomeranz's finances to your article? The only value
> was to hurt
> him personally; just as you did to Shelly Karben when you made a
> ludicrous link to her son, Assemblymen Ryan Karben. In doing
> both those things, you made your true function known. You
> allowed your "august
> publication" to become a cudgel for Mordecai Tendler. You teased
> an honest man and tried to humiliate him because that's what
> Mordecai Tendler wanted fromyou. You threatened an upstanding
> public servant in an
> effort to intimidate his mother, because that's what Mordecai
> Tendler wanted fromyou. The question is why? What would lead
> you to this act of journalistic prostitution? Please answer.
> The eager public
> deserves to know.
> Sincerely
>
> Trevor Resnick
>
> >
> (Jewish voice and Opinion)
> Dear Ms. Rosenbluth:
>
> I read, with great disdain and displeasure, your most recent
> article about the "Tendler Affair" in New Hempstead, New York.
> For the reasons set forth herein, your so called "article" is
> best described as a screed reminiscent of Horace Greeley's yellow
> journalism.
>
> At the outset, the article is rife with inaccuracies, mistruths
> and outright falsehoods. Your coverage of this affair is
> premised on the mistaken notion that R. Mordecai Tendler was never
> given his "day in court." That however is very far from the
> truth. Even if it is arguable true, the RCA, in expelling him did
> so without
> convening a proper Beth Din, Rabbi Tendler has flitted away other
> opportunities to state his case. After the RCA expelled R.
> Tendler from its ranks, he commenced proceedings against the RCA,
> its leaders and other
> distinguished rabbis before the municipal Beth Din in Jerusalem.
> The ultimate decision from the Jerusalem Beth Din which was issued
> nearly six months ago was that the parties should proceed to a din
> Torah in the
> United States via a tripartite arbitration procedure, know
> talmudically as "Zabla." Rather than cut through any and all
> procedural hurdles, and proceed to the substance of the matter
> (i.e. resolving whether there
> exists a basis for the RCA to have expelled R. Tendler), R.
> Tendler chose to prevaricate and unduly delay these proceedings.
> He took no steps to identify the RCA's borer, chosen arbitrator,
> and continued to
> insist that the RCA must first reinstate his membership before
> the commencement of the din Torah. Simply put, he placed the cart
> before the horse. Your publication simply ignores that truism and
> instead idealizes the worst of litigation, the manipulation of
> the rules to avoid the search for truth. SHAME ON YOU!!!
>
> Your most recent article however sinks to even lower depths. I
> have known Shlomo Pomeranz (I suggest you ascertain the correct
> spelling of his name before your scurrilously lambaste him) for
> the past five years. He is a true friend. Moreover, as a member
> of the New Hempstead community, and frequent worshipper at
> Kehillat New Hempstead, I observefirst hand all that he does on
> behalf of the community.
> He has literally saved lives in his capacity as an active
> volunteer firefighter. He devotes more hours than I can count to
> synagogue affairs. He certainly has spent more time helping New
> Hempstead than you have
> tryingto hurt it.
> Your assertion that Shlomo somehow does not deserve to sit on the
> boardof Kehillat New Hempstead is despicable. Moreover, it
> violates any ethical code to which legitimate journalists should
> aspire. Membership information of the type to which you
> disgustingly allude is highly confidential. Very few people in
> the shul are in possession of that type of information. Indeed I
> am a former board member, and I never knew who paid what or who
> made alternate arrangements regarding membership. The only way
> you could have truthfully learned what you printed is if a former
> president of the congregation chose to break a "sacred trust"
> and divulge it to you. Is that what happened? Did someone "in
> the know" break a confidence?
>
> You fashion yourself an Orthodox Jew. If indeed you are how
> could you do this to a fellow Jew, to anyone? Of what importance
> was Shlomo Pomeranz's finances to your article? The only value
> was to hurt
> him personally; just as you did to Shelly Karben when you made a
> ludicrous link to her son, Assemblymen Ryan Karben. In doing
> both those things, you made your true function known. You
> allowed your "august
> publication" to become a cudgel for Mordecai Tendler. You teased
> an honest man and tried to humiliate him because that's what
> Mordecai Tendler wanted fromyou. You threatened an upstanding
> public servant in an
> effort to intimidate his mother, because that's what Mordecai
> Tendler wanted fromyou. The question is why? What would lead
> you to this act of journalistic prostitution? Please answer.
> The eager public
> deserves to know.
> Sincerely
>
> Trevor Resnick
>
> >
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: March 22, 2006 1:59 AM
: March 22, 2006 1:59 AM
Yeh he looks dangerous lock him up (???)
Post a Comment
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : March 28, 2006 8:13 AM
: March 28, 2006 8:13 AM
