Is this some sort of purim joke? soon will be hearing a HESPED on jimmy Saville from our greats. seriously? is this really acceptable? when all our local Rabonim have said what they have said about this man, its just shocking!!!! where is the voice of our Rabonim on this? now you all wonder why kovod rabonim does no more exist???? shame on all of you
Really this is an invitation to a simchah, does the whole family have to be in cheirem? Is the Bar mitzvah boy to be punished for his grandfather's sins? I guess if it isn't behind glass it will be altered somewhat. By allowing an invitation to hang, no way is it taking sides.
Amazing that the hypocrite Dovid Stern makes such a fuss about what one may see on the internet, yet when it comes to people who do what he doesn't want people to see, he has no problem.
Disgraceful. All his anti-internet talk is worthless and his game of being so holy is clearly a sham. People need to get the basics right before they start spouting chumrahs. Baal nefesh yachmir - lol at such people calling themselves baalei nefesh
However hanging it up shows a blatant chutzpa against the Rabonim of the gilu daas and a complete insensitivity towards those affected directly and indirectly.
Everyone knew about this barmitva with R Stern endorsing it. Its not like the vishnitzer telling his chassidim to go to the belzer chasuna.
Anonymous' comment is emblematic of a misunderstanding shared by many. First of all, 'not taking sides', between an abuser and the abused, a molester and his victims, is itself an act of evil. Secondly, this invitation was designed to make a political point. CH is trying his very hardest to climb back to power, and the fact that he conducted a wedding a couple of weeks ago, and now has much of GG coming to wish him mazel tov, is affording him a degree of acceptability that he did not have a month ago. By playing along with this, Dovid Stern is doing his bit to bring back CH. Of course CH's family is not in cheirem (although anyone with the slightest bit of dignity would treat CH himself as if he is), but if CH didn't want the barmitzvah to be viewed as an event to relaunch his career, then he shouldn't have hosted it in his shul - a shul he knows that decent people in GG will not step into. But he didn't do that, and he did send out the invitation in his own name, and phrased it in a way that was clearly aiming to score as many points as possible. Anyone who played along with his vile game by going along on Shabbos, merely fell into his trap. And lastly, not that anyone in GG seems to care anymore, but think of the pain of the victims and their families as they see CH being increasingly treated as if nothing has happened. Dovid Stern was guilty enough for his equivocation throughout the last few months, but this shabbos proves that he is absolutely in the Samech Mem's camp.
More disgraceful and hypocritical are the people who left DC, but chose to daven there last Shabbes and still attend his shiurim and ask him shaalos. Why did they leave at all?
Only fractionally better are the others who left DC, but still felt they had to pop in at the kidush to wish him Mazel Tov.
Apparently RCH had a nice turnout and no doubt much chizuk from these people and must be thinking to himself that within a few years he will be back in the driving seat.
We all know that your wife calls in members from your shulvtellingvthem to wear more tznious clothes, would u really expect them to listen to you or hour wife, when all our Rabonim have come out very clear that this man is not git to be a Rabbi, well you dont listen, so wont we listen.
Just as the Navi says a son does not die for the sins of the father, nor the father for the sins of the son, a wife should not be treated badly because of a view expressed by her husband.
Is it really a chiddush that a man on the Freshwater payroll would behave like this? We all remember his 'Gaaved' droshe a few months ago. He seems far more concerned about people talking about what Chaim Halpern allegedly did that the despicable acts of abuse themselves, and is obviously not at all bothered about our kehilloh being run by reshoim gemurim. What a bizoyon
And now the Jewish Tribune on page 13 unashamedly prominently displays a picture of a woman, without any attempt to disguise it in any way. Where is all this leading? Whats next?
You lot are all pathetic! Dayan Ehrentreu B'Kvodo u Batzmo together with his Rebbetzen went to wish the Meyers Mazel Tov in Kinloss Hall after the Chupa which Reb Chaim officiated at.
There are also other shul's which had this notice on their message boards.
Maybe one of you with guts wants to be brave and ask Dayan E why he went to the hall and not to the house. . . and tell us all . .
To me it means he realises that there is an element of Hakoras Hatov to people . . and nothing is black and white.
Let's see what rubbishy replies this comment receives
If you ask me it makes the whole r' chaim affair 1 big joke (a very sad one unfortunately). The whole GG turned up at the kiddush. What a piece of cake cant solve......
To all of you who went to the Kidush thanks a lot !! each of you nailed another nail in CH's coffin .......... those alleged victims who had there doubts that police and going to court is the only option .... now you convinced them !!
This is the only possible outcome. The victims need to see that whilst he's under police investigation he can still be mesader kiddushin and make simchas that are well attended and endorsed by rabbonim. In other words our kehilla has no ability to stop monsters - only jail can solve the problem. If this is happening while he's being investigated what will happen if the police drop it chas vesholom? We'll be nowhere.
The fact that Dayan E had rachmonus on a temimusdik yid who has unfortunately also fallen into the 'alleged' menuvel's trap does nothing to mitigate the severity of what the Quisling of Leeside has just done. Dayan E was the driving force behind the GD and feels nothing but disgust for CH.
You are very slow. Could have told you months ago that the only way to deal with CH is police. If police don't do anything,CH will be back to normal in the near future.. Be very clear that the victims will never have justice or closure if they do not take him to court..
What utter idiots most of you are berating such a choshuve temimusdike yid. R Dovid probably never even saw this flyer maybe someone walked in and put it up? Any to the utter shote that started this post i really fear for your olam haze and olam haba. You better start doing tshuva!
As far ad I am concerned, each and every Rabbi are all just there for the kovod and money, and they all have the same yetzer hora as each and everyone of us. all theses people do is control you and destroy lives. I can go on and on and on, but sadly I know to much. bekitchers and frucks have zero meaning, Shockling by davening, has zero meaning, Each one of us has to have there own close connection with the one above, and to try and correct our soles, and to become better people. until there is no unity amongst klul yisrorel, meaning loving every single jew what ever they look like, only then will we be zoiche to me mkubel moshiach.
The allegations if valid will have caused the victims much pain and suffering and I offer my deepest sympathies to all victims.
Unfortunately, there is further fall-out from this insalubrious episode, which has impacted upon the NW London kehilla, and whatever the outcome of the investigations into the allegations against this man, be he found innocent and saintly or guilty and evil, the effect upon the kehilla has been devastating. The community has been on an emotional roller coaster for the past few months and it's going to be a long time before we get back to normal, if ever. Much of the communal damage is down to the mishandling of events, a lack of clear leadership and failure to act in the best interests of the community. It has raised the question as to the very viability of the Union, certainly in its current form, and has highlighted the diametrical differences of the fundamental expectations between the kehilla and its leaders.
In spite of anything that is alleged to have taken place, Rb E Halpern, great-grandfather of the Bar Mitzvah boy, remains the president of the UOHC and a senior Rov in NW London. Rb Schneebalg, also a great-grandfather – and undoubtedly blameless of any unsavoury involvement in this entire despicable episode – heads Manchester’s Machzikei Hadass. The Ernster family are a respectable family, who travelled to celebrate the Bar-Mitzvah of their son in London. The overhanging shadow of impropriety falls upon one individual, against whom allegations have been made, but the rest of the family are certainly blameless.
Although the allegations have been supported by a handful of eminent and highly respected Rabbonim in a well-publicised Giluy Da’as, nothing else of substance has been done. A couple of other rabbonim have refrained from publishing anything beyond ambiguity whilst the majority have held their silence if not openly decrying the absurdity of the allegations. With one noticeable exception, no shul has ceased its affiliation to the Union, and even that one shul did so as a protest, its Rov writing in his notice of disassociation that in all other respects there is full confidence in the integrity of Kedassia. The rabbinic and lay leadership of the Union, never having experienced the need for accountability for its actions or lack thereof and finding itself between a rock and a hard place, have yet to decide how to deal with the situation or even if to deal with the situation at all – I believe they don’t comprehend what the situation is – have totally disregarded the overwhelming public opinion of the NW population, and not only have they continued to ignore matters beyond setting up a special, yet pointless, Beis Din - without a clear remit - to make the waters as clear as mud, they have failed to stand-up to their president and impose so much as a temporary suspension against his son, but authorised his functioning as Messader Kiddushin, which gave rise to a peak of blog commentary 2 weeks ago.
The hanging up of an invitation is a common form of informing the public of a simcha to which the public are invited to come and give their good wishes to the ba’alei simcha. It is not an instruction to pay homage to the alleged transgressor. Rb Stern was in effect informing his mispallelim that there was a simcha and anyone wishing to wish mazal tov to Reb Chuna, Rav Schneebalg, the Bar-Mitzva bochur, etc, accepting that each individual will follow the dictates of his own common sense.
Rb D Stern is an extremely honourable rov, with refined middos and a vast knowledge in every aspect of PaRDeS. He is also well versed and well-practiced in – as his late great-uncle the Bobover Ruv ZTVK”L called it – the 5th chelek of Shulchan Oruch, where it is taught how to respect your fellow man.
Could you please clarify how Pardes House Primary School and its governors, your support, Reb Duvid, his hours of work or his salary have any connection to the subject matter being discussed? Or are you simply looking to appease your conscience for allowing your yetzer hora to talk you into reducing your charitable support for a local moissed?
Yossi, for the first time since you started writing I actually agree with you completely. Well said.
There are two major issues here.
The Union, or to be more specific, the Chassidishe majority of the Union, are not 'goires' the golders green community. As far as they are concerned we are a bunch of 'moderner am horatzim'. That these 'moderner am horatzim' and their 'moderner' Rabbis dare to attack and try and discredit one of the Union's Chassidish Rabbonim is just symptomatic of our irrelevance to the Union.
The other issue is that a small but very vocal minority of GG have and ate trying to turn this into a 'Us vs them' argument. If you're not attacking the Halperns at every stage, you must be one of 'them'. The vast majority of GG do not agree with this. They believe CH to be guilty and wish he would gave left town or at least stepped down as Rov, but apart from that, have very little interest in the matter and definitely are not judging or deciding what others should be doing.
I agree with Yossi Heller. It's high time we dissolved these artificial bonds that control and fetter our Rabbonim. It took me a decade to realise that it's all about control, power, political affiliation and nothing to do with Torah or Halochoh. Those that were zoche to be guided by the unflinching moral leadership of Rav Feldman of GGBH (may he have a refuah sheleimah) will appreciate what I am saying. In private he often expressed disquiet and sometime more at the mutterings from Stamford Hill, and he did not hesitate to guide his Kehilloh the way he saw fit, irrespective of what they might think of him elsewhere in town. Ditto Rav Berel, who for the good of his Kehilloh and Beis Hamedrash associated himself with the Federation and worked for cheaper milk and meat so the wider Kehilla could feed hungry children with less financial pressure. And if it costs their respective kehillos numbers, so be it. If it means that Kolel members, who think after ten year's learning think they know it all, whilst in fact they barely reach the above's ankles in torah knowledge, mutter and murmer so be it. It's quality, not quantity that matters. Once every Rov is free of the artifical shackels that bind them to each other, each individual will chose the Rov that is good for them and be sure that he will be getting unbiased and non political guidance. The Rabbonim will not run around like headless chickens or rodded beef trying to formulate a response to a new hechsher on their doorstep whilst at the same time not appearing to back the incumbent, whom they have been bashing since Sukkos. Each Rov will independantly guide his questioner without having to consider artificial,political ties or the concept of 'toeing the party line'. I am waiting for the day a young mother, desperate to feed her children meat during the week, is given a clear p'sak, based on the merits of the case, whether she can use the cheaper meat. Not just a 'no', based on the party line, from a young Rov who may have done the 'bosor b'cholov/taruvos' course but never learnt hilchos shechitah/tereifos, looking to forward his career. May it come soon in our day.
The apathy of the 'silent majority' of GG is exactly the reason why CH will be back in the driving seat in a few years time. He is continually creating morally ambiguous scenarios in which people, for some reason or other, feel compelled not to make a fuss about his efforts to relegitimise himself. Before we know it, CH will be back to normal, and it will all be because 'well mannered' people such as yourself declined to protest.
BTW chaps, I wouldn't get so excited about the 'big' turnout at Charlie's kiddush on shabbos - all the losers who still regularly frequent his massage parlour were instructed to stay from beginning to end to keep the crowds up. As if that wasn't ludicrous enough, they were instructed (all of this took place at the 'chizzuk' meeting, otherwise known as a moshav leitzim, at Andrew Sprung's house a few weeks ago) that if they get to shomayim and are asked why they frequented the house of hell otherwise known as Divrei they should just say 'The Halpern Clan' sent them. Besides for the astonishing arrogance and audacity the man possesses, I have been reliably informed that the malochei hashoreis have recently installed a trap door....
Hello wrote ; I am waiting for the day a young mother, desperate to feed her children meat during the week, is given a clear p'sak, based on the merits of the case, whether she can use the cheaper meat.
I have never understood people who need permission from a Rov to purchase meat from a different Rov. The baalei machshir are erliche yidden and highly qualified rabbonim. Whats the halachic shailo here?
If their question is whether hashkaficly they are permitted to purchase such meat, well, people have their own brains and should be able to decide such minor things on their own.
After 38 comments, did R' Shraga Yechezkeil Duvid SHLITA go to the kidush himself? Even if the answer is yes I will not condemn him. I still can't comprehend why hanging an invitation is a crime, even if CH is a criminal, there are many other family members who are not, and may even be victims. The fact his name was on the invitation, do you really expect his own children to conduct a yemach shemoi on him? The fact it was in DC do you really have another place for them? the breakaway minyan? Believe me the family are from the biggest victims over here, be he guilty be he not they are victims. Loi yumsu banim al avos. Children should not be killed for their father's crimes. Of course a manipulator will use every chance to advance his cause, nevertheless we must be careful not to victimize his victims, in this case his family. Sof Ganav litliah, a thief end is on the gallows, justice will prevail, maybe not on our timetable.
If R Stern felt it was so important to hang up the hazmuno but would of been sensitive to others he could of cut off the bottom bit. Yotzo Sechuro Bhefseido.
Aren't they some form of amulet, permitted for people who are ill, but not to be encouraged? If they were told they can carry them on Shabbos within Dayan Ehrentreu's approved Eruv, does that mean R. C. aproves the Eruv?
THE VILLAINY OF CHAIM HALPERN HAS NO END.RAV DOVID STERN DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS INVITATION WAS HANGING IN HIS SHOUL HE TOLD ME THAT EVERY WEEK SOMEONE HANG UP ALL THE EVENTS OF THE WEEK, AND WHEN ON MONDAY I TOLD HIM WHAT RUBBISH HALPERN WROTE ON GOOGLE, MY BELOVED SON IN LAW KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, HE DOES NOT HAVE INTERNET AND DOES NOT WAIST HIS PRECIOUS TIME IN READING ALL THE SHTUYOT OF DIGRASFULL HALPERN WHO HAS CREATED THE BIGGEST CHILLOUL HACHEM OF OUR POOR GENERATION! IT IS HIGH TIME THAT THIS WRONGDOER SHOULD SAY SORRY. BUT NO HALPERN WILL EVER SAY SORRY FOR ALL THE WRONG THEY HAVE DONE.APPOLOGISE HALPERN,DO TESHUVA!STOP THIS WRONGDOING, AND LIE AS YOUR COMMENT ABOUT RAV DOVID STERN IS VILE AND WICKED AND COCRETE EVIDENCEOF YOUR UNFORTUNATE CARELESSNESS AND WRONGHDOING. ENOUTH IS ENOUTH HALPERN. RABBANIT G SILBER
Either Halpern is A DON GIOVANI OR NOT WILL REMAIN TO BE PROVE IN THE ROYAL COURT OF JUSTICE OR THE COUNTY COURT, BUT THE HEAVENLY COURT ABOVE IN SHAMAYIM SHED BITTER TEARS ON ACCOUNT OF THE DESSECRATION OF ASHEM NAME AS HE, HALPERN, UNDOUBTEDL IS THE AUTHENTIC CULPRIT OF THIS DISREPUTABLE DISPUTE WHICH HAS DIVIDED OUR COMMUNITY: EIMETH!!!! AND WHEN WE ARE ORDERED TO SCREAM TO THE WORLD "SHEMA ISRAEL ASHEM ELOKEINU ASHEM ECHAD USHEMO ECHAD" IS TO DECLARE THE UNITYOF G-D WHOSE MESSAGE TO US CHASHUVE YIDDEN IS TO BE UNITED AND NOT DIVIDED BUT THE HALPERN SIN HAS TOO MANY TIME DIVIDED THE FRUM KEHILA WHICH IS UNFORGIVABLE!!!HALPERN APPOLOGISE,SAY SORRY,DO TECHUVA TO THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE HURT LIKE ME AND TO THE LORD ABOVE! MAY I ADD UP EITHER YOU ARE A DON GIOVANY OR NOT, THE GREAT MOZARD FINISHED HIS MAGNIFICENT OPERA BY BURYING ALLIFE HIS VERY HUMAIN CHARACTER DON GIOVANY, BE AWARE!!!!!!
I HOPE YOU PRINT MY DON GIOVANY MESSAGE TO ALL THE HAHALPERINIM WORLDWIDE!!!YOU NEVER KNOW THEY MIGHT REPENT BEFORE ITS TOO LATE BUT I WAS TOLD ITS NEVER TOO LATE! IS IT TRUE???? GOOD NIGHT!!! I AM STARVING, TWO SPOUNS OF SMO0TH PEANUT BUTTER AND ORANGE MARMELADE WILL SOOTHE MY BROKEN SOUL! MAY MY BELOVED ACHEM BLESS ME AND THIS IS MY SONG "ASHEM ASHEM MECABEL BEAAVA TEPHILATI" BEAUTUFUL!!!!!!
Is this some sort of purim joke?
ReplyDeletesoon will be hearing a HESPED on jimmy Saville from
our greats.
seriously? is this really acceptable? when all our local Rabonim have said what they have said about this man, its just shocking!!!!
where is the voice of our Rabonim on this?
now you all wonder why kovod rabonim does no more exist????
shame on all of you
Wakey wakey people have voted with the feet who the no. 1 rov in london obviously is.
DeleteReally this is an invitation to a simchah, does the whole family have to be in cheirem?
ReplyDeleteIs the Bar mitzvah boy to be punished for his grandfather's sins?
I guess if it isn't behind glass it will be altered somewhat.
By allowing an invitation to hang, no way is it taking sides.
Amazing that the hypocrite Dovid Stern makes such a fuss about what one may see on the internet, yet when it comes to people who do what he doesn't want people to see, he has no problem.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he hung it up as kovoid to Reb Chuna. Reb Chuna's mispalelim went yesterday to give mazel tov to their Rov, not to RCH.
ReplyDeleteDisgraceful. All his anti-internet talk is worthless and his game of being so holy is clearly a sham. People need to get the basics right before they start spouting chumrahs. Baal nefesh yachmir - lol at such people calling themselves baalei nefesh
ReplyDeletedoes the whole family have to bein cheirem?
ReplyDeletecertainly not.
However hanging it up shows a blatant chutzpa against the Rabonim of the gilu daas and a complete insensitivity towards those affected directly and indirectly.
Everyone knew about this barmitva with R Stern endorsing it. Its not like the vishnitzer telling his chassidim to go to the belzer chasuna.
Anonymous' comment is emblematic of a misunderstanding shared by many. First of all, 'not taking sides', between an abuser and the abused, a molester and his victims, is itself an act of evil. Secondly, this invitation was designed to make a political point. CH is trying his very hardest to climb back to power, and the fact that he conducted a wedding a couple of weeks ago, and now has much of GG coming to wish him mazel tov, is affording him a degree of acceptability that he did not have a month ago. By playing along with this, Dovid Stern is doing his bit to bring back CH. Of course CH's family is not in cheirem (although anyone with the slightest bit of dignity would treat CH himself as if he is), but if CH didn't want the barmitzvah to be viewed as an event to relaunch his career, then he shouldn't have hosted it in his shul - a shul he knows that decent people in GG will not step into. But he didn't do that, and he did send out the invitation in his own name, and phrased it in a way that was clearly aiming to score as many points as possible. Anyone who played along with his vile game by going along on Shabbos, merely fell into his trap. And lastly, not that anyone in GG seems to care anymore, but think of the pain of the victims and their families as they see CH being increasingly treated as if nothing has happened. Dovid Stern was guilty enough for his equivocation throughout the last few months, but this shabbos proves that he is absolutely in the Samech Mem's camp.
ReplyDeleteMore disgraceful and hypocritical are the people who left DC, but chose to daven there last Shabbes and still attend his shiurim and ask him shaalos. Why did they leave at all?
ReplyDeleteOnly fractionally better are the others who left DC, but still felt they had to pop in at the kidush to wish him Mazel Tov.
Apparently RCH had a nice turnout and no doubt much chizuk from these people and must be thinking to himself that within a few years he will be back in the driving seat.
A man with no balls
ReplyDeleteDear Rabbi Stern,
ReplyDeleteWe all know that your wife calls in members from your shulvtellingvthem to wear more tznious clothes, would u really expect them to listen to you or hour wife, when all our Rabonim have come out very clear that this man is not git to be a Rabbi, well you dont listen, so wont we listen.
Just as the Navi says a son does not die for the sins of the father, nor the father for the sins of the son, a wife should not be treated badly because of a view expressed by her husband.
DeleteIs it really a chiddush that a man on the Freshwater payroll would behave like this? We all remember his 'Gaaved' droshe a few months ago. He seems far more concerned about people talking about what Chaim Halpern allegedly did that the despicable acts of abuse themselves, and is obviously not at all bothered about our kehilloh being run by reshoim gemurim. What a bizoyon
ReplyDeleteAnd now the Jewish Tribune on page 13 unashamedly prominently displays a picture of a woman, without any attempt to disguise it in any way. Where is all this leading? Whats next?
ReplyDeleteCan somebody please verify this?
ReplyDeleteI cannot accept that a Chosuve Rov like Reb Dovid is weakening Kedusha amongst us?
you change the title to 'True Colours'
ReplyDeleteas the above comment clearly its the old money muscle showing its arm again.
You lot are all pathetic! Dayan Ehrentreu B'Kvodo u Batzmo together with his Rebbetzen went to wish the Meyers Mazel Tov in Kinloss Hall after the Chupa which Reb Chaim officiated at.
ReplyDeleteThere are also other shul's which had this notice on their message boards.
Maybe one of you with guts wants to be brave and ask Dayan E why he went to the hall and not to the house. . . and tell us all . .
To me it means he realises that there is an element of Hakoras Hatov to people . . and nothing is black and white.
Let's see what rubbishy replies this comment receives
If you ask me it makes the whole r' chaim affair 1 big joke (a very sad one unfortunately). The whole GG turned up at the kiddush. What a piece of cake cant solve......
ReplyDeleteTo all of you who went to the Kidush thanks a lot !! each of you nailed another nail in CH's coffin .......... those alleged victims who had there doubts that police and going to court is the only option .... now you convinced them !!
ReplyDeleteThanks !!
This is the only possible outcome. The victims need to see that whilst he's under police investigation he can still be mesader kiddushin and make simchas that are well attended and endorsed by rabbonim. In other words our kehilla has no ability to stop monsters - only jail can solve the problem. If this is happening while he's being investigated what will happen if the police drop it chas vesholom? We'll be nowhere.
DeleteThe fact that Dayan E had rachmonus on a temimusdik yid who has unfortunately also fallen into the 'alleged' menuvel's trap does nothing to mitigate the severity of what the Quisling of Leeside has just done. Dayan E was the driving force behind the GD and feels nothing but disgust for CH.
ReplyDeleteTo Stamford Hiller
ReplyDeleteYou are very slow. Could have told you months ago that the only way to deal with CH is police.
If police don't do anything,CH will be back to normal in the near future..
Be very clear that the victims will never have justice or closure if they do not take him to court..
To Ohel Moishe
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can have an official statement from your Rabbi.
This could clear up things
Halperns, Freshwaters, Sterns - its' all one big Mafia.
ReplyDeleteAll the same thing. It's all about the Money Money Money!
I ` agree
DeleteWhat utter idiots most of you are berating such a choshuve temimusdike yid. R Dovid probably never even saw this flyer maybe someone walked in and put it up?
ReplyDeleteAny to the utter shote that started this post i really fear for your olam haze and olam haba. You better start doing tshuva!
Chushove temimesdige yid thats not a rov- we need rabunim who are fearless - the sad thing is that one fearless rov We got is our menuvel
DeleteIt was up the whole shabbos and he wasn't moicheh. Mideshoskei rabonon, shmah minoh nicheh lehu...
ReplyDeleteAs far ad I am concerned, each and every Rabbi are all just there for the kovod and money, and they all have the same yetzer hora as each and everyone of us.
ReplyDeleteall theses people do is control you and destroy lives. I can go on and on and on, but sadly I know to much.
bekitchers and frucks have zero meaning,
Shockling by davening, has zero meaning,
Each one of us has to have there own close connection with the one above, and to try and correct our soles, and to become better people.
until there is no unity amongst klul yisrorel, meaning loving every single jew what ever they look like, only then will we be zoiche to me mkubel moshiach.
The allegations if valid will have caused the victims much pain and suffering and I offer my deepest sympathies to all victims.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there is further fall-out from this insalubrious episode, which has impacted upon the NW London kehilla, and whatever the outcome of the investigations into the allegations against this man, be he found innocent and saintly or guilty and evil, the effect upon the kehilla has been devastating. The community has been on an emotional roller coaster for the past few months and it's going to be a long time before we get back to normal, if ever. Much of the communal damage is down to the mishandling of events, a lack of clear leadership and failure to act in the best interests of the community. It has raised the question as to the very viability of the Union, certainly in its current form, and has highlighted the diametrical differences of the fundamental expectations between the kehilla and its leaders.
In spite of anything that is alleged to have taken place, Rb E Halpern, great-grandfather of the Bar Mitzvah boy, remains the president of the UOHC and a senior Rov in NW London. Rb Schneebalg, also a great-grandfather – and undoubtedly blameless of any unsavoury involvement in this entire despicable episode – heads Manchester’s Machzikei Hadass. The Ernster family are a respectable family, who travelled to celebrate the Bar-Mitzvah of their son in London. The overhanging shadow of impropriety falls upon one individual, against whom allegations have been made, but the rest of the family are certainly blameless.
Although the allegations have been supported by a handful of eminent and highly respected Rabbonim in a well-publicised Giluy Da’as, nothing else of substance has been done. A couple of other rabbonim have refrained from publishing anything beyond ambiguity whilst the majority have held their silence if not openly decrying the absurdity of the allegations. With one noticeable exception, no shul has ceased its affiliation to the Union, and even that one shul did so as a protest, its Rov writing in his notice of disassociation that in all other respects there is full confidence in the integrity of Kedassia. The rabbinic and lay leadership of the Union, never having experienced the need for accountability for its actions or lack thereof and finding itself between a rock and a hard place, have yet to decide how to deal with the situation or even if to deal with the situation at all – I believe they don’t comprehend what the situation is – have totally disregarded the overwhelming public opinion of the NW population, and not only have they continued to ignore matters beyond setting up a special, yet pointless, Beis Din - without a clear remit - to make the waters as clear as mud, they have failed to stand-up to their president and impose so much as a temporary suspension against his son, but authorised his functioning as Messader Kiddushin, which gave rise to a peak of blog commentary 2 weeks ago.
The hanging up of an invitation is a common form of informing the public of a simcha to which the public are invited to come and give their good wishes to the ba’alei simcha. It is not an instruction to pay homage to the alleged transgressor. Rb Stern was in effect informing his mispallelim that there was a simcha and anyone wishing to wish mazal tov to Reb Chuna, Rav Schneebalg, the Bar-Mitzva bochur, etc, accepting that each individual will follow the dictates of his own common sense.
Rb D Stern is an extremely honourable rov, with refined middos and a vast knowledge in every aspect of PaRDeS. He is also well versed and well-practiced in – as his late great-uncle the Bobover Ruv ZTVK”L called it – the 5th chelek of Shulchan Oruch, where it is taught how to respect your fellow man.
The Pardes House governers come by both in shul and my house begging for me to support their school. They urgently need money to pay milamdim etc.
ReplyDeleteI just found out that Reb Duvid takes a £500 a week wage from the school for a couple of hours work sitting in a office doing nothing.
Its a rip-off, I am not supporting that school any more
Could you please clarify how Pardes House Primary School and its governors, your support, Reb Duvid, his hours of work or his salary have any connection to the subject matter being discussed? Or are you simply looking to appease your conscience for allowing your yetzer hora to talk you into reducing your charitable support for a local moissed?
DeleteYossi, for the first time since you started writing I actually agree with you completely. Well said.
ReplyDeleteThere are two major issues here.
The Union, or to be more specific, the Chassidishe majority of the Union, are not 'goires' the golders green community. As far as they are concerned we are a bunch of 'moderner am horatzim'. That these 'moderner am horatzim' and their 'moderner' Rabbis dare to attack and try and discredit one of the Union's Chassidish Rabbonim is just symptomatic of our irrelevance to the Union.
The other issue is that a small but very vocal minority of GG have and ate trying to turn this into a 'Us vs them' argument. If you're not attacking the Halperns at every stage, you must be one of 'them'.
The vast majority of GG do not agree with this. They believe CH to be guilty and wish he would gave left town or at least stepped down as Rov, but apart from that, have very little interest in the matter and definitely are not judging or deciding what others should be doing.
I agree with Yossi Heller. It's high time we dissolved these artificial bonds that control and fetter our Rabbonim. It took me a decade to realise that it's all about control, power, political affiliation and nothing to do with Torah or Halochoh.
ReplyDeleteThose that were zoche to be guided by the unflinching moral leadership of Rav Feldman of GGBH (may he have a refuah sheleimah) will appreciate what I am saying. In private he often expressed disquiet and sometime more at the mutterings from Stamford Hill, and he did not hesitate to guide his Kehilloh the way he saw fit, irrespective of what they might think of him elsewhere in town. Ditto Rav Berel, who for the good of his Kehilloh and Beis Hamedrash associated himself with the Federation and worked for cheaper milk and meat so the wider Kehilla could feed hungry children with less financial pressure. And if it costs their respective kehillos numbers, so be it. If it means that Kolel members, who think after ten year's learning think they know it all, whilst in fact they barely reach the above's ankles in torah knowledge, mutter and murmer so be it. It's quality, not quantity that matters.
Once every Rov is free of the artifical shackels that bind them to each other, each individual will chose the Rov that is good for them and be sure that he will be getting unbiased and non political guidance. The Rabbonim will not run around like headless chickens or rodded beef trying to formulate a response to a new hechsher on their doorstep whilst at the same time not appearing to back the incumbent, whom they have been bashing since Sukkos. Each Rov will independantly guide his questioner without having to consider artificial,political ties or the concept of 'toeing the party line'.
I am waiting for the day a young mother, desperate to feed her children meat during the week, is given a clear p'sak, based on the merits of the case, whether she can use the cheaper meat. Not just a 'no', based on the party line, from a young Rov who may have done the 'bosor b'cholov/taruvos' course but never learnt hilchos shechitah/tereifos, looking to forward his career.
May it come soon in our day.
Amen.
DeleteAn end to vested interests and a refocusing on the quality of life for the ordinary yid will be most welcome. May it come soon?
The apathy of the 'silent majority' of GG is exactly the reason why CH will be back in the driving seat in a few years time. He is continually creating morally ambiguous scenarios in which people, for some reason or other, feel compelled not to make a fuss about his efforts to relegitimise himself. Before we know it, CH will be back to normal, and it will all be because 'well mannered' people such as yourself declined to protest.
ReplyDeleteJo - why does the vast majority of GG wish to remain part of a Union that views them with such contempt?
ReplyDeleteBTW chaps, I wouldn't get so excited about the 'big' turnout at Charlie's kiddush on shabbos - all the losers who still regularly frequent his massage parlour were instructed to stay from beginning to end to keep the crowds up. As if that wasn't ludicrous enough, they were instructed (all of this took place at the 'chizzuk' meeting, otherwise known as a moshav leitzim, at Andrew Sprung's house a few weeks ago) that if they get to shomayim and are asked why they frequented the house of hell otherwise known as Divrei they should just say 'The Halpern Clan' sent them. Besides for the astonishing arrogance and audacity the man possesses, I have been reliably informed that the malochei hashoreis have recently installed a trap door....
ReplyDeleteHello wrote ; I am waiting for the day a young mother, desperate to feed her children meat during the week, is given a clear p'sak, based on the merits of the case, whether she can use the cheaper meat.
ReplyDeleteI have never understood people who need permission from a Rov to purchase meat from a different Rov. The baalei machshir are erliche yidden and highly qualified rabbonim. Whats the halachic shailo here?
If their question is whether hashkaficly they are permitted to purchase such meat, well, people have their own brains and should be able to decide such minor things on their own.
Are we little children?
Please can you confirm who was at this meeting held at Andrew Sprung's House?
ReplyDeleteAfter 38 comments, did R' Shraga Yechezkeil Duvid SHLITA go to the kidush himself?
ReplyDeleteEven if the answer is yes I will not condemn him.
I still can't comprehend why hanging an invitation is a crime, even if CH is a criminal, there are many other family members who are not, and may even be victims.
The fact his name was on the invitation, do you really expect his own children to conduct a yemach shemoi on him?
The fact it was in DC do you really have another place for them? the breakaway minyan?
Believe me the family are from the biggest victims over here, be he guilty be he not they are victims.
Loi yumsu banim al avos. Children should not be killed for their father's crimes.
Of course a manipulator will use every chance to advance his cause, nevertheless we must be careful not to victimize his victims, in this case his family.
Sof Ganav litliah, a thief end is on the gallows, justice will prevail, maybe not on our timetable.
No wonder many members of Union Shuls have started using the Ereuv lately....
ReplyDeleteIf R Stern felt it was so important to hang up the hazmuno but would of been sensitive to others he could of cut off the bottom bit.
ReplyDeleteYotzo Sechuro Bhefseido.
Meeting at Mr. Sprung's house?
ReplyDeleteIs this definitely true?
Yes, it is true. They were all given kemeios too, and told that it is permitted to carry them on shabbos kl'achar yad. I kid you not.
ReplyDeleteAmshinover Rebbe was in Sprung's house meeting....
ReplyDeleteNO-ONE around the table there could answer if it was verified if the Amshinover allowed all the alleged stories....
Chaim, you have wrecked our community!
ReplyDeleteDo the right thing andvstep down,so we could start living b'sholoim.
What are 'kemeios'?
ReplyDeleteAren't they some form of amulet, permitted for people who are ill, but not to be encouraged? If they were told they can carry them on Shabbos within Dayan Ehrentreu's approved Eruv, does that mean R. C. aproves the Eruv?
ReplyDeleteTHE VILLAINY OF CHAIM HALPERN HAS NO END.RAV DOVID STERN DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS INVITATION WAS HANGING IN HIS SHOUL HE TOLD ME THAT EVERY WEEK SOMEONE HANG UP ALL THE EVENTS OF THE WEEK, AND WHEN ON MONDAY I TOLD HIM WHAT RUBBISH HALPERN WROTE ON GOOGLE, MY BELOVED SON IN LAW KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, HE DOES NOT HAVE INTERNET AND DOES NOT WAIST HIS PRECIOUS TIME IN READING ALL THE SHTUYOT OF DIGRASFULL HALPERN WHO HAS CREATED THE BIGGEST CHILLOUL HACHEM OF OUR POOR GENERATION! IT IS HIGH TIME THAT THIS WRONGDOER SHOULD SAY SORRY. BUT NO HALPERN WILL EVER SAY SORRY FOR ALL THE WRONG THEY HAVE DONE.APPOLOGISE HALPERN,DO TESHUVA!STOP THIS WRONGDOING, AND LIE AS YOUR COMMENT ABOUT RAV DOVID STERN IS VILE AND WICKED AND COCRETE EVIDENCEOF YOUR UNFORTUNATE CARELESSNESS AND WRONGHDOING. ENOUTH IS ENOUTH HALPERN. RABBANIT G SILBER
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I suggest you ask Mr Sprung or maybe Mr Noe what the hetter is.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have no doubt that anyone still attending Charlie's house of love is very ill indeed and needs a refuoh sheleimo be'korov.
ReplyDeleteEither Halpern is A DON GIOVANI OR NOT WILL REMAIN TO BE PROVE IN THE ROYAL COURT OF JUSTICE OR THE COUNTY COURT, BUT THE HEAVENLY COURT ABOVE IN SHAMAYIM SHED BITTER TEARS ON ACCOUNT OF THE DESSECRATION OF ASHEM NAME AS HE, HALPERN, UNDOUBTEDL IS THE AUTHENTIC CULPRIT OF THIS DISREPUTABLE DISPUTE WHICH HAS DIVIDED OUR COMMUNITY: EIMETH!!!! AND WHEN WE ARE ORDERED TO SCREAM TO THE WORLD "SHEMA ISRAEL ASHEM ELOKEINU ASHEM ECHAD USHEMO ECHAD" IS TO DECLARE THE UNITYOF G-D WHOSE MESSAGE TO US CHASHUVE YIDDEN IS TO BE UNITED AND NOT DIVIDED BUT THE HALPERN SIN HAS TOO MANY TIME DIVIDED THE FRUM KEHILA WHICH IS UNFORGIVABLE!!!HALPERN APPOLOGISE,SAY SORRY,DO TECHUVA TO THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE HURT LIKE ME AND TO THE LORD ABOVE! MAY I ADD UP EITHER YOU ARE A DON GIOVANY OR NOT, THE GREAT MOZARD FINISHED HIS MAGNIFICENT OPERA BY BURYING ALLIFE HIS VERY HUMAIN CHARACTER DON GIOVANY, BE AWARE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI HOPE YOU PRINT MY DON GIOVANY MESSAGE TO ALL THE HAHALPERINIM WORLDWIDE!!!YOU NEVER KNOW THEY MIGHT REPENT BEFORE ITS TOO LATE BUT I WAS TOLD ITS NEVER TOO LATE! IS IT TRUE???? GOOD NIGHT!!! I AM STARVING, TWO SPOUNS OF SMO0TH PEANUT BUTTER AND ORANGE MARMELADE WILL SOOTHE MY BROKEN SOUL! MAY MY BELOVED ACHEM BLESS ME AND THIS IS MY SONG "ASHEM ASHEM MECABEL BEAAVA TEPHILATI" BEAUTUFUL!!!!!!
ReplyDelete