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Wishing all of K'lal Yisroel a happy and healthy year. A year full of joy and Naches. A year where we can all work positively together to speed along the Geulah.
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Starting this evening with Rosh Hashana services, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, a Lubavitcher rabbi from Crown Heights and founder of the Meaningful Life Center — a project known for blending religious teaching with tai chi, introductory kabbalah and Hasidic rap — will become a kind of Jewish mystic-in-residence at the traditional Orthodox Community Synagogue on the Lower East Side.

Inspired by the movement known as Chabad, a Hasidic sect with a missionary tradition around the world, Rabbi Jacobson said he would offer his programs — which until now he has operated on an itinerant basis around the city — at the Sixth Street synagogue in hopes of creating “a spiritual Starbucks.”

The plan is to attract people, regardless of their faith, from all over the city, he said. But the goal is to restore Jewish identity to those estranged from Judaism and, if possible, to add them to the membership rolls of Community Synagogue.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/at-synagogue-plans-for-a-spiritual-starbucks/
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A Yingerman who has been going for Rosh Hashanah to Uman for the past three years had a baby boy a few days ago, the Bris will IY"H be on Rosh Hashanah. The Yingerman made a Shliach to be at the Bris of his son in his stead so that he will not have to miss being in Uman for Yom Tov. Is this Yingerman crossing the line by missing his own son's Bris, or is his extreme dedication justified?
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Wild beards may strike fear on the sports field, but don't try it at home, gentlemen, writes Shane Hegarty.

AS THE ALL-IRELAND football final plays out on the pub TV, Tyrone's Joe McMahon appears on the screen. "Will you look at the beard," observes someone from their barstool. "He looks like he should be chasing mammoths rather than Kerrymen!"

McMahon's beard - Bomber Liston meets Teen Wolf - is mesmerising. This is not because it is sculpted, shaped or defined (it is clearly none of these things). And it is not a fashion statement, although by last Sunday's big match even Tyrone's toddlers were sporting fake beards in homage to McMahon and his six team-mates who had refused to shave until they were beaten.

Instead, his is an aggressive beard, beginning just below his eyes and ending God knows where. You wouldn't turn up for a job interview sporting such a thing but on the field of play it looks like a warrior's beard.

In fact, the country's fascination with Tyrone's beards may have something to do with a cultural collective memory of the hirsute and snarling Celtic warriors described by quivering Roman legionnaires. Or perhaps they just remind us of watching Braveheart.

Either way, you wouldn't want to be the player who had to mark McMahon. The beard has been a source of perpetual fascination, reverence, disgust and curiosity across many cultures. Psychoanalysts say that no man grows a beard unconsciously, and that changing the look of the face is layered with meaning.

Evolutionists, though, suggest that the beard makes the jaw bigger, and emphasises the teeth as weapons. It's also quite handy in hiding a man's reactions during face-to-face negotiations. The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer suggested that men grow beards because they do not have the knack for dissimulation that women have (before continuing the insults by observing how few of the men of Andalusia seem to require beards).

Some religions demand a beard, although there is debate within Islam as to what length and style, and how the Koran doesn't actually mention it as a requirement. Orthodox Jews, on the other hand, wear their beards because Leviticus commands that "ye shall not round the corners of your heads neither shall thou mar the corners of thy beard". And the Amish grow theirs either with marriage or once they pass 40, although they keep the upper-lip clean, a practice often credited to their associating moustaches with military traditions they want no part of.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/newsfeatures/2008/0927/1222419961833.html
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The following is a letter from the anti-Semite Jew who opposes accepting Baalei-Tshuva trying to explain his previous letter. Yet again he manages to spew anti-Semitic venom and still explains nothing. The letter writer is from Lakewood.


Dear Readers;

I have written the letter posted and I'd like to follow up and explain as it may have not been understood.

Chalila V'chas I didn't mean to belittle anyone, especially those that have sacrificed so much to join Am Yisroel. I specifically wrote that it's a worthy price and for someone who has real Ahavas Hashem to bring his children home is only natural. Avraham Avinu did it and that's why he is the father of all Geirum. We have a lot to learn from them, they do appreciate the glory of Torah much more then many of us who have sacrificed nothing. I love Eliyahu and wish him all the best, but disagree with his interpretation Kibutz Golius. I am entitled to my opinion and he to his, but to call me an Anti Semite?

The point I was trying to bring out was that accepting Geirum comes at a price. I am not the one saying it, the Talmud does. It's also a fact that they tend to bring along with them the culture they came from and while Hashem loves these Jews ever so much and even more then traditional Jews like me, it's best that they don't interfere with our way of doing things. They need to be carefully vetted before being accepted there were lots of problems in recent years with Balei Tshuvas, just ask people in Lakewood. We were burned and therefore are entitled to expect them to accept scrutiny before allowing them to join us.

I did not intend to offend anybody and do not intend to start arguing what exactly is Jewish culture and why people from different places have different minahgim but I am sure that kilt was not one of them, and it's also obvious that I did not intend to include every Ger and Bal Tshuva. I just meant too say that in my humble opinion he should cease to have any contact with a non Jewish tribe. There is also possibility that it's Chikas Hagoy.

A Ksiva Vchasima Tova Lchol am Yisroel.
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We predicted this, here.
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Sent in by a Chaptzem reader

This was sent in response to the post about the Frum kilt guy, Eliyahu McLean.

Not sure if Kibutz Golius means to bring along your non Jewish customs into the fold. Our grandfather Terach was non Jewish as well, but we have not carried on any of his minhagim or did we? We should pride ourself with the Jewish culture. "Koshe Gayrim L'yisroel Ksapachas" is exactly because of this reason, they bring along all these non Jewish ideas into the maistream. Look at chabad, Breslav etc. they all paid a heavy but worthy price for their Kiruv projects.

While it is a beautiful thing to have non Jews or secular Jews realizing the truth and an amazing Zchus for klal yisroel to bring G-Ds chideren home, it comes at a price. They all bring along meshigasen and also tend not appreciate the Jewish culture.
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http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/24/business/0924-STREET_4.html
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A car and a Yeshivah bus were both making a right turn at the same time when they smashed into each other. The passenger car was in the right side parked cars lane and was making the right turn from there while the bus was making the right turn from the center driving lane. No children or drivers were injured in the accident.

Pictures sent in by Chaim
 
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I'm the guy in the picture...I live a shomer Shabbos life in Yerushalayim. Mother is Jewish, but on my fathers side have Scottish roots, from the McLean clan, so wore a kilt for the Clan Maclean Reunion on the Island of Mull in Scotland...why not? There's even a Jewish kilt maker in Edinburgh who makes shatnes free tartan for the kilts...
Wear the Jewish tribal garb every other day of the year...Jews come in every stripe...kibbutz galuyot.

Eliyahu
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For those using the ferry on 1st Avenue in Brooklyn to commute to Wall Street, be aware that parking at the ferry terminal has been drastically cut. The parking capacity for the public at the ferry terminal is now at less than half. Police have taken over a large portion of the parking area for Police vehicles that will be used in motorcades during United Nations visits from dignitaries, or not so dignitaries.
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Four months ago in the middle of the night, six men dressed in wide-brimmed black hats, black coats, white shirts and black trousers burst into the Jerusalem apartment of a young Jewish woman and taught her a lesson.

Mikhail, who is reluctant to give her full name, had scandalised members of her ultra-orthodox Jewish community by leaving her husband and embracing a secular lifestyle. The men, all members of the theologically conservative Haredi branch of Judaism, tackled her to the ground, slammed her head against the floor and tied a rag around her mouth. One assailant sat on her head as the others kicked her while demanding to know the names of the men she was seeing.

They also threatened to kill her if she did not leave the neighbourhood, which contains many secular as well as religious residents. 'A woman is only OK if she has a family, kids and a husband,' said Mikhail with a sigh.

Welcome to the new, increasingly orthodox, Jerusalem. The attack on Mikhail, although exceptionally brutal, was only the latest in a string of assaults over the past two years against Jewish women accused of immoral behaviour in the city.

In relative terms, Orthodox Jews dominate Jerusalem to a greater extent than in any other city in Israel. More than 30 per cent of its Jewish residents are Haredi while only 22 per cent are secular. Of the remaining 47 per cent, 14 per cent say they are religious and 33 per cent say they are traditional Jews.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/21/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast1
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A young Newark, N.J., Jew heads off to college to grapple with the alien demands of the goyische world in this bizarre, flawed little book. Told in flat, uninflected prose--it reads like Portnoy's Complaint on sedatives--it's full of huge chunks of undigested philosophy and dialogue that could not possibly be spoken by a human being. It's hard to believe Roth used to be witty.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1842290,00.html
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Make sure to pick up your free copy of the Country Yossi Family Magazine and read the brand new original article 'The Kiddush Chronicles' written by Chaptzem, the only Heimishe blogger to make the transition from cyberspace to print.
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Pictures sent in by kozoklix
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Police just caught and arrested a man on 17th Avenue and 45th Street in Boro-Park while he was trying to abduct a girl. It is unknown at this time if this is the same person responsible for the other abductions in Boro-Park.
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A driver makes wrong turn onto 14th Avenue in Boro-Park and almost gets into a head-on collision.


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Sent in by a Chaptzem reader

I am a chassidisher yingerman in my thirties who grew up in Williamsburg. I am now burech hashem married with four children living in boro park with my oldest child being a seven year old boy. My son always has a lot of questions for me which I try to answer. Sometimes I know the answer and sometimes I don't. Even when I don't have the answer myself I won't just push him off and say I don't know, I will usually tell him how to find the answer and help him with it.

But lately my son has been asking me a question that I don't know how to answer or how to talk to him about it. Since before the summer he has been asking me why he sees yeeden with payis riding a motorcycle. He asks me if it isn't true that only goyim go flying around on motorcycles.

His question made me start to think. Why do we need this in our neighborhood? Chassidishe people that look just like everybody else on the outside, but are completely fardorben on the inside that just go around making these problems and confuse the little innocent children. I don't understand why the rabunim don't talk about this in shiel and asser motorcycles or at least leaving them on the street where kids can see them. There should not be allowed to have any yiddishe motorcycles parked on the street in boro park. I feel like this is having a very big effect on my son's erliche haskofeh which I work so hard to put into him. This should have to stop now.

A very concerned father
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Saw this on LifeOfRubin. It took guts but had to be said by someone that carries some clout in the Jewish music industry before we end up carrying around record players on our backs. This almost makes up for his other video.


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There is a major fire currently ongoing at Paradise Manor catering hall on New Utrecht Avenue and 58th Street in Boro-Park. NYFD is at the scene trying to contain the flames. The extent of the damage is as of yet still unclear. However, sources are advising that anyone that has a Simcha scheduled at the hall should make alternate arrangements.
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Ramapo Police Officer Ernst Tenemille wants Friday nights and Saturdays off - just like rookie Police Officer Baile Glauber.

Tenemille said he's a practicing Seventh-Day Adventist and those two days are his Sabbath - just like Glauber claims those Sabbath days as a Jew.

The difference is that after starting work in June, Glauber almost immediately got her requested days off from Police Chief Peter Brower, with support from town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence.

Tenemille, an officer for seven years, said he made his request known in June, using Glauber's modified schedule as his model.

So far, documents show, Tenemille's paperwork for Friday and Saturday off has been turned down on technicalities, but not on the merits of his request.

"My request is not being taken seriously at all," Tenemille said. "They told Officer Glauber to submit her days off and she was approved immediately."

The town's position is that Tenemille's request will be considered, as will the other requests from officers based on religious issues. Several police officers on the 125-member force have put in for religious holidays off since Glauber set a precedent for the department.

"Anyone can make a request," Town Attorney Michael Klein said. "The town will do the best it can to respect a person's religious beliefs and religious observances. Whether his situation is identical to Glauber's, I don't know."

Glauber, 30, a single mother with a 9-year-old boy, was raised as a Satmar Hasidic Jew. Glauber no longer is part of the Satmar community, but she told the department she's observant.

For Jews, the weekly Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday is extremely holy and involves prayer, rest and no work. The Orthodox don't touch money, drive or even turn light switches on or off during the Sabbath

Seventh-Day Adventists also view their Sabbath as a day of worship. Tenemille said they also follow a dietary code that prohibits pork, don't wear jewelry that doesn't have a practical purpose and they attend services.

Ramapo Policemen's Benevolent Association President Dennis Procter said the police administration and town officials know what Tenemille wants. Procter said Tenemille's case could end up before a state arbitration hearing and eventually in civil court.

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/NEWS03/809140361/-1/newsfront
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From the Torah Times
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Leaders of South Williamsburg's Hasidic community are pressuring the city to paint over the newish bike lanes on Bedford and Wythe Avenues because they're appalled by the immodest attire of female cyclists pedaling through their neighborhood. Simon Weisser, a member of Community Board 1, tells the Post, "I have to admit, it's a major issue, women passing through here in that dress code. It bothers me, and it bothers a lot of people."

The DOT's addition of the bike lanes have been warmly welcomed by cyclists who brave the heavily trafficked corridor between Williamsburg and South Brooklyn. At a contentious community board meeting Monday, local Hasids tried (and failed) to stop a third proposed bike lane on Kent Avenue, a precursor to a Kent Avenue Greenway with a separate path for cyclists and pedestrians stretching from Newtown Creek to Sunset Park.

Weisser made no mention of the cyclists' dreaded sex appeal at the board meeting. According to the Brooklyn Paper, he told board members that he "has the whole community behind him. There is already a bike lane on Wythe Avenue — now they want a bike lane on Kent Avenue? You can’t accommodate every single street with a bike lane.” Milton Puryear, of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, argues that "the whole idea for the Greenway is to provide a benefit to the people of the community — not just bike riders — by making a truck route into a more inviting streetscape. If you look at Kent Avenue now, it’s just not a place you want to stroll, or ride a bike."

http://gothamist.com/2008/09/12/hasids_say_cyclists_too_sexy_for_bi.php
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The new wave of Yiddishkeit seems to be the carrying-out of all tasks in the Frum community by teams of people that call themselves 'Askonim'. There have always been people that have generously donated their time for the betterment of the Klal, except they were never called Askonim. Today it is almost as if the word Askonim has become synonymous with the word terrorists - people that carry out tasks using any means necessary to push an agenda, usually with the belief that it is religious.

In the latest terror act carried out by the terror-Askonim against the anti-molester team (why anybody would be for the molesters is still a mystery), it seems like they have not realized it, but they are actually shooting themselves in the foot - again. By threatening, breaking and trying to stop the system of the molesters being dealt with by Frum insiders they are exhibiting a loud confirmation that our internal system of dealing with problems no longer works and that government intervention is necessary. Compounded by the violence and threats that they are perpetrating against officials and professionals, arrests and criminal charges are an inevitability.

So molesters and abusers beware, thanks to the 'so-called' Askonim you will be finding yourselves in jail very soon. the judicial system does not take kindly to people with beards that touch little kids and they really don't care much about keeping your name quiet for the sake of your kids' shidduchim. Enjoy your freedom and your Mizrach-vant seats while you still can.
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A real jerk of a driver endangered many people by driving onto a busy sidewalk and then entered traffic backwards into a busy intersection in order to avoid school buses that were loading children.

  
NOTE: License plate in photo was changed in the hopes that this posting is enough to get the driver to change his dangerous driving habits.
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Satmar supporters of Daniel Squadron rallied for him last night in Williamsburg in hopes of boosting Hasidic turnout tomorrow to help the Democratic newcomer's quest to oust Sen. Marty Connor.

The event, which was hosted by supporters of Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum (the UJCARE crew), was touted as drawing some 10,000 people. I can't vouch for that, but judging from the photos sent to me by a reader, it appears to have been quite a crowd.

Also on hand was Rep. Anthony Weiner, who appears to be denouncing Squadron in the photo below, but is actually one of a handful of elected Democratic officials who have endorsed him. (Weiner and Squadron not only both worked for Sen. Chuck Schumer, but Squadron also worked on Weiner's 2005 mayoral campaign).

The bulk of the Democratic establishment is sticking with Connor, as is the other faction of the ever-warring Satmar community.

As I reported today, followers of Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum (the UJO folks) rebuffed a last-minute request from Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey to back Squadron and heeded Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Vito Lopez' request that they remain loyal to Connor.

Interestingly, press release that announced last night's rally said it was also being held to support Rep. Ed Towns, who has on his staff Rabbi David Niederman, a Zalman ally; and Assemblyman Joe Lentol, who is a Lopez ally.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/09/satmars-rally-for-squadron.html
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The following is a response to the post about the alleged beating of civil engineer Harold Weinberg.

Firstly i would like to share something with the public, and explain all the facts. Harold Weinberg, P.E, has been a licensed Engineer for over 47 years. He was retained by the next door neighbor, who happens to be an attorney. Mr.Farkas who was building a new building one of the owners. Mr Weinberg, was hired to ascertain the extent of any damage to the adjacent property. As any qualified and knowledgeable engineer, he took pertinent photographs to verify what type of existing damage had occurred. Mr. Weinberg has a legal right to take pictures. Mr. farkas took exception, and became violent and truculent when he observed pictures being taken of his property. He than attacked Mr. Weinberg, by bashing him in the face repeatedly, and stealing his camera, and fleeing in his vehicle.
Farkas will face either a judge or jury when he goes to trial. and frankly, he does deserve jail time. How much will be the discretion of a judge or jury if he is found guilty. And by the way Mr. Weinberg is orthodox. How do I know? He is my father.

Alan Weinberg
Lake placid, New York
Sunday, September, 7th ,2008
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Pictures sent in by kozoklix
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Method of manufacturing a fur hat using tail fur.
Armin Miller, patent holder.

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Finally, after years of putting pressure on the music industry, the Vaad L'Man Bitul Z'Man has come up with a way to once again make a mockery of every Godol. The new brainstorm, a Hechsher on music. The first completely Kosher CD has gone on sale today in all Kosher music stores.



In order to ensure that a CD will receive Rabbinical certification and be allowed to be sold in Jewish music stores the production must adhere to a number of special rules.

The rules for Kosher CD production are as follows:

1) The singer must have a biblical first name.
2) The singer must have a last name that does not sound Goyish.
3) The singer must be koveah itim l'torah or at least sit in Kollel.
4) The singer has to have been a member of the Chevra Kadisha for at least one year.
5) The CD cover cannot be printed in more than two colors.
6) Only old-style or handwritten fonts can be used for the CD cover.
7) Every Kosher CD must come with a side order of potato kugel.
8) The CD cannot contain any audible sounds.
9) The Hechsher only holds if the CD cannot be played on a CD player that has radio or MP3 capabilities.


Any CD that does not bear the Kosher certification label covering at least 28% of the cover will not be permissible to be sold at any Jewish music store.
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This is a tiny excerpt from The Jewish Week article on the alleged abuse of Yoily Engelman in Satmar Yeshivah.

Rabbi David Niederman, the only community official who would agree to speak with The Jewish Week, expressed skepticism that school officials had ever agreed to the deal Engelman proposed.

He viewed Rabbi Reichman’s return to the summer camp after his initial suspension from the school as an indication that UTA officials did not ultimately find sufficient evidence to back up Engelman’s allegations.

“It’s only normal when charges like this are brought to suspend the teacher in question and conduct your investigation,” said Rabbi Niederman, a confidant of the Satmar sect’s grand rebbe and head of the United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg, a community-wide advocacy organization. “That’s a totally normal reaction. Then, when you have gathered your information, you act on what you have found.”

The above comment by Rabbi Niederman is not only hogwash but is also an insult to the entire Frum community's intelligence. Rabbis that are suspected of abuse are never suspended from their job. Even when charges are brought against them they still remain at their post teaching, and probably still molesting, children. Rabbi Niederman, if you want to deny that this Rabbi is a molester, go ahead, but don't fabricate outlandish stories for the press to make it seem like your organization cares if children are molested. The fact is the Yeshivahs know that abuse goes on and don't do anything about it because they feel that the reputation of their institution and criminal Melamed is more valuable than a child's future. This is something that will soon come to a halt now that the abused are getting older and have a voice.
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http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/ofc/824446081.html
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The following information regarding a convicted Heimishe child molester who was recently sentenced to seven years in prison through guilt by his own admission, was obtained through an exclusive interview by a Chaptzem reporter.

The perpetrator is a Heimishe man in his fifties with a wife and family. He owns his own home and rents an apartment to tenants. The victim is a Heimishe eight year-old innocent little girl. She is one of the children living in his house, one of his tenants’ kids. She had visited his home many times before and would occasionally hang around with his children. He says he loves her and admits that he hugged and kissed her often. One day he crossed the line and yet saw nothing wrong with what he had done.

The man was taking a shower while the young girl was at his home. The bathroom door was unlocked and she walked in. He was just getting out of the shower and she saw him completely undressed. He explained to her what she was seeing and invited her to familiarize herself. The rest of what transpired is now court record and will be left to your imagination.

The girl later went home and told her parents what had happened. When confronted by the little girl’s parents the man explained that he felt that he had done the right thing as to avoid traumatizing the child and that she would be better off this way later in life. The parents called the Police, had the man arrested and got an order of protection put in place for the girl’s safety, effectively barring the perpetrator from entering his home since they lived in the same structure.

The man posted bail and was on his way back home, completely ignoring the Judge’s order of protection. The man walked up to his home and saw the little girl that he had molested sitting on the steps. He walked up to her, gave her a big hug and a kiss and told her that he forgave her and still loved her. The parents once again called the Police and had the man arrested for violating the order of protection. The man was sentenced to thirty days at Riker’s Island for the violation.

The man served his thirty day sentence and is now staying somewhere else for fear of being jailed again. The man had his day in court for the molestation charges and admitted his guilt to the Judge on every charge. When asked by the Judge if he would do it again if he were to be freed, he clearly and unequivocally said yes. He explained in all earnest that he felt that he had done the right thing given the situation and would do the exact same again. The Judge wisely threw the book at him and gave him seven years in prison. Though only a fraction of what he deserves, nevertheless, seven years that he will be away from children. Seven years that he won’t hurt another innocent child. Seven years that children will be able to hold on to their innocence without this man to take it away from them.

You see dear readers, child molesters are sick and dangerous. There is only one way to deal with child molesters and that is to lock them up so that they never get close to children again. Don’t believe that they can heal or get better, it does not happen. There is no place in a Yeshivah, a Shul, or in our community for a child molester. The pain and suffering that a child molester inflicts on a child within even one moment causes unbearable shame and pain that lasts them a lifetime. There is no place for rachmunis when it comes to someone that molests children. As Chaza”l say, “Kol hameracheim al achzorim, sofo sheyisachzeir al rachmonim”. If you feel rachmunis for the child molester you end up being an achzer to the innocent children. It is about time that children should be protected and not betrayed by their own Rebbe, neighbor or man in Shul. “Ubiartah harah m’kirbecha.” Let’s take out the trash!
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The utterly unnecessary return of 90210 to the small screen tomorrow means the arrival of giant billboards displaying the new cast. The Brooklyn Paper reports on one in which teens wear swimsuits and lounge in pools in the form of the 90210 numbers. The image can be seen from the BQE and hangs above Williamsburg--specifically in the Hasidic Jewish area. Rabbi David Niederman says, “In Jewish law, it is forbidden to see any part of a lady that is not dressed — and having men and women swimming together is also not permissible, even if they are fully clothed.” (In the past, Hasids have rallied against an H&M ad.) To be fair, though, that girl in the "1" pool isn't swimming with any boys, so she's only half offensive.

http://gothamist.com/2008/09/01/90210_not_cool_in_the_11211.php
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Bakery workers scraped mounds of poppy seeds into trash bins.

Fathers strapped luggage and toys to the roofs of minivans. Mothers were too busy hosing off chairs and folding the last of the laundry to talk about the exodus.

This scene has repeated for decades now. The day before Labor Day, Sullivan County's Hasidic Jewish communities pack up and vanish. Shops close, bungalows empty, summer ends. Many return to the bustle of Brooklyn.

"It's unbelievable," bakery owner Levi Gombo said. "In three hours, everybody's gone."

Just two months ago, these Orthodox families, who also hail from places like Monsey and Montreal, arrived for the season and, along with other vacationers, increased the county's population to about 250,000 people. And in one day the county's population started its slide back down to 80,000 year-round residents.

Yet in recent years more families have tried to stay on in the winter without their neighbors. New York City is becoming too expensive, and families enjoy the serenity of the mountains, Gombo said.

But community is an integral part of the Hasidic lifestyle; it's difficult to preserve the culture without every element intact. Hasidim vacation in groups for many reasons: They have enough children to fill a school, rabbis to lead prayer, bakers and grocers who carry Kosher food.

They also need scribes like Rabbi Michuel Errera, who will keep Catskills Judaica open this winter for the first time. He's had an increasing number of requests for services in the off-season and hopes to have enough customers so that he, too, can live in the mountains year-round.

"Everybody's talking about it," Errera said of the desire to stay. But other businesses have tried to stay open in the past and failed, said Yosaif Krohn, owner of Le Chocolat.

"The fact is that it is abandoned, and you have to have so many people to afford to stay open," Krohn said.

Bungalow residents will return on weekends to enjoy the lawns and flowers until the water is shut off. But the community won't be the same.

A few customers came into the chocolate shop Sunday, barely a trickle compared to the height of summer. One asked how long Krohn would stay open this season.

He replied, "As long as there are people."

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/NEWS/809010318
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