Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Jewish Press' Elliot Resnick: Chasidim are liars - Chaptzem: Elliot Resnick is a mental case
While writing a recent article I was unsure how many people had attended a certain event. I happened to mention to someone that as a JTA article on the same subject would soon appear, I would see what number they gave for the crowd and base my estimate accordingly.
"But their number will be an exaggeration," he said.
"Why should they exaggerate?" I asked him, knowing that the JTA is a professional agency, not a propaganda operation.
It was to this question that I received his "Why shouldn't they exaggerate" reply.
To be honest, his question rang so strange in my ears that I had a hard time formulating an answer. And then a few minutes after the conversation's conclusion it came to me: Why shouldn't they exaggerate? Because doing so is false!
This point is obvious of course. But not apparently to this ostensibly religious Jew. To him, the question wasn't why someone should depart from the truth, but why one would ever tell the truth in the first place.
Unfortunately, this gentleman is not alone in placing a very low premium on the value of truth. Unfortunately, some Jews, including -- or perhaps especially -- Chassidic Jews, will make sure never to shake a woman's hand and to always faithfully wear a black hat but lie (stretching the truth is perhaps a more delicate term) with astonishing ease.
When one witnesses such behavior one wonders what makes these people so religious after all. One also wonders what kind of impression these Jews make on other people who may be unobservant or non-Jewish but whose inner religious core and rectitude are stronger and more Godly than these "truth stretchers." Surely this cavalier attitude towards truth does not inspire others to praise the God whom these Jews (especially those wearing black hats or beards)apparently represent.
The impulse among many to come closer to God by becoming better Jews is laudable. However, these Jews and all Jews should attach greater importance to basic Biblical values and laws, such as the value of truth, than they do to ensuring that their tzitzis are clearly visible to all.
http://thejewishpress.blogspot.com/2007/10/truth-and-certain-jews.html
While writing a recent article I was unsure how many people had attended a certain event. I happened to mention to someone that as a JTA article on the same subject would soon appear, I would see what number they gave for the crowd and base my estimate accordingly.
"But their number will be an exaggeration," he said.
"Why should they exaggerate?" I asked him, knowing that the JTA is a professional agency, not a propaganda operation.
It was to this question that I received his "Why shouldn't they exaggerate" reply.
To be honest, his question rang so strange in my ears that I had a hard time formulating an answer. And then a few minutes after the conversation's conclusion it came to me: Why shouldn't they exaggerate? Because doing so is false!
This point is obvious of course. But not apparently to this ostensibly religious Jew. To him, the question wasn't why someone should depart from the truth, but why one would ever tell the truth in the first place.
Unfortunately, this gentleman is not alone in placing a very low premium on the value of truth. Unfortunately, some Jews, including -- or perhaps especially -- Chassidic Jews, will make sure never to shake a woman's hand and to always faithfully wear a black hat but lie (stretching the truth is perhaps a more delicate term) with astonishing ease.
When one witnesses such behavior one wonders what makes these people so religious after all. One also wonders what kind of impression these Jews make on other people who may be unobservant or non-Jewish but whose inner religious core and rectitude are stronger and more Godly than these "truth stretchers." Surely this cavalier attitude towards truth does not inspire others to praise the God whom these Jews (especially those wearing black hats or beards)apparently represent.
The impulse among many to come closer to God by becoming better Jews is laudable. However, these Jews and all Jews should attach greater importance to basic Biblical values and laws, such as the value of truth, than they do to ensuring that their tzitzis are clearly visible to all.
http://thejewishpress.blogspot.com/2007/10/truth-and-certain-jews.html
Comments:
I never said, "Chassidim are liars."
I pointed out that some Chassidim lie more than they should, which is disturbing, especially when some of these same people berate other Orthodox Jews for not being frum enough. Do you disagree?
And why the name calling on your end?
I pointed out that some Chassidim lie more than they should, which is disturbing, especially when some of these same people berate other Orthodox Jews for not being frum enough. Do you disagree?
And why the name calling on your end?
Resnick deserves a yasher koiach.
The disproportionate, furious reaction of the Chassidim shows how on target he was.
If what he wrote was way off the mark, they wouldn't have been so bothered by it.
If the Chassidim were smart they would thank Resnick, as the posuk says הוכח לחכם ויאהבך. Evidently they identify more with the other part of the posuk, namely
The disproportionate, furious reaction of the Chassidim shows how on target he was.
If what he wrote was way off the mark, they wouldn't have been so bothered by it.
If the Chassidim were smart they would thank Resnick, as the posuk says הוכח לחכם ויאהבך. Evidently they identify more with the other part of the posuk, namely
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: October 11, 2007 12:49 AM
: October 11, 2007 12:49 AM
Chaptzem
I think the Jewish Press' time has come to an end, they represent no one, besides some Lubab who are happy that this rag is the only Jewish one that''ll publish an ad referring to the late Rebbe as shlit'a and some very disturbed righwing settlers, Kahane style.
They recently sold the building the city gave them for a buck in the 70's.They recieved millions for it from some Lubab developer .
Time to start a boycott.
Klass, time to get some brains and class
I think the Jewish Press' time has come to an end, they represent no one, besides some Lubab who are happy that this rag is the only Jewish one that''ll publish an ad referring to the late Rebbe as shlit'a and some very disturbed righwing settlers, Kahane style.
They recently sold the building the city gave them for a buck in the 70's.They recieved millions for it from some Lubab developer .
Time to start a boycott.
Klass, time to get some brains and class
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : October 11, 2007 3:25 AM
: October 11, 2007 3:25 AM
Elliott is too clever by a half. He says he never said "Chasidim are liars," and that strawman is accurate. He did, however, say that "some Jews, including- perhaps especailly Chassidic Jews... lie..." And some blacks are in prison. Neither observation is "newsworthy" of and in itself. After all, some Arabs are terrorists, some are not. So what is Mr. Resnick's point in stating the obvious. To my mind, it is clearly to stir up hatred. And just as no unbiased observor could claim the above comments are neutral toward blacks or Arabs, the same is true regarding chassidim.
For Mr. Resnick to shrug innocently and claim that what he said can be understood in more than one way, shows an appalling lack for nuance of English for a writer. If I say I don't like John, although it is true that one could infer from that that the reason I don't like him is because I don't know him, any native English speaker will pick up my colloqial intent, which is to say that I dislike him.
And by the way, this is not written by a chassidic Jew in Borough Park, but rather a secular one in the suburbs. It doesn't matter: right is right, and Mr. Resnick clearly isn't.
For Mr. Resnick to shrug innocently and claim that what he said can be understood in more than one way, shows an appalling lack for nuance of English for a writer. If I say I don't like John, although it is true that one could infer from that that the reason I don't like him is because I don't know him, any native English speaker will pick up my colloqial intent, which is to say that I dislike him.
And by the way, this is not written by a chassidic Jew in Borough Park, but rather a secular one in the suburbs. It doesn't matter: right is right, and Mr. Resnick clearly isn't.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : October 11, 2007 12:15 PM
: October 11, 2007 12:15 PM
Why does this have to turn into a Lubab thing, if you have problems with them stay away from them (It's your lose) but don't mix in your Sinas Chinum in everything.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : October 11, 2007 4:14 PM
: October 11, 2007 4:14 PM
IDN, bevakasha! kulanu iod'im sheiesh ktzat makor veta'am lamilim shel resnick, af al pi sheze lo haya hamakom hanachon lehagid tochacha.
achshav, tekablu et hatochacha, veim rotzim to take action az titnasu laasot mashehu kedei sheiagbia hadarga shel derech eretz beineinu.
kol tuv.
achshav, tekablu et hatochacha, veim rotzim to take action az titnasu laasot mashehu kedei sheiagbia hadarga shel derech eretz beineinu.
kol tuv.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : October 12, 2007 9:15 AM
: October 12, 2007 9:15 AM
Regardless of whether or not you agree with Resnick’s blog, still there is absolutely no excuse for the denigration of the Jewish press that many of you voiced. The outright lashon hara that was spoken is outrageous. One of the founders of the paper, Rabbi Shalom Klass zt”l, was a masmid par excellence whom many gedolim were fond of. Those who run the paper today, follow in the pathways of Rabbi Klass as well. You may not agree with the articles in the paper, but that gives you absolutely no right (mamash a violation of halacha-how ironic that is just that which you are criticizing resnick for) to publicly defame a paper, run by frum yiddim. Hashem should have mercy on you and treat you as “fools” who need the rachamim of shamayim to save them.
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Comment Credit ---This article posted by : October 15, 2007 12:47 AM
: October 15, 2007 12:47 AM
