Whistleblowers In The Haredi Orthodox Community Have Always Faced Obstacles. Coronavirus Is Just The Latest Example.

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Haredi Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn pray on the street in socially distanced groups. (Braulio Jatar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

NEW YORK (JTA) – Jacob Kornbluh was walking past his synagogue in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park on Passover when he noticed a light on inside the building. Knowing that the synagogue had been closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, he looked inside and saw approximately 40 people praying.

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“I said to myself this can’t be true,” said Kornbluh, a political reporter for Jewish Insider and a member of the Hasidic community. “I know for a fact that this shul was ordered to be closed and the main door was locked.”

After the holiday, Kornbluh filed a complaint with New York City’s social distancing complaint hotline and a few days later posted a video to Twitter (now deleted) of himself confronting a man leaving the same synagogue before Shabbat.

The video would land Kornbluh’s name and face on a “pashkevil,” a flyer commonly posted in haredi Orthodox neighborhoods to spread information. This particular pashkevil was posted online and labeled Kornbluh and two others “mosrim,” informers who betray fellow Jews to secular authorities. Some who shared the flyer on Twitter even quoted the medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides, who wrote that it’s permissible to kill a moser.

While Kornbluh may not be in any physical danger from the pashkevil, which was created by an anonymous Twitter account with just a few hundred followers, it is emblematic of a wider effort to intimidate Hasidic Jews who speak out about problems in their communities.

Mesirah – literally “handing over” in Hebrew – is considered a serious infraction in haredi communities, which typically prefer to handle sensitive issues internally. (One who is guilty of mesirah is a moser.)  Whistleblowers who have sought to draw attention to the problem of sexual abuse in the haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, community, or to the lack of basic secular education, have been branded mosrim – a label that can lead to all manner of social ostracization.

“The origin of this situation is that in much of Jewish history, Jews weren’t treated fairly before the law,” said Moshe Krakowski, a professor at Yeshiva University who studies haredi Orthodox society.

“Ultra-Orthodox culture is a very learned culture, so everybody’s got exposure to the same texts. So you’ll have people who will accuse others of all sorts of things, including mesirah, on the basis of their understanding, but not necessarily sanctioned by any rabbinic authority.”

Mesirah has been used in the past to deter sexual abuse victims and their families from turning to the police for help – and to exact a social price from those who do.

In 2013, a Hasidic woman who testified against her abuser, Nechemya Weberman, walked out of her Brooklyn synagogue in the middle of Rosh Hashanah services after another congregant repeatedly called her a moser, shouting until she left, according to the New York Post.

“This idea of mesirah comes up all the time,” said Asher Lovy, an Orthodox activist who runs Za’akah, an organization advocating for sexual abuse victims in the Orthodox community.

“If you were molested and reported it to the police and your father has a job somewhere in the community, he could be fired, you could be thrown out of yeshiva,” he said. It’s as if “your personhood kind of ceases to exist in the minds of anybody in the community.”

In the case of the pashkevil targeting Kornbluh and two other men, Mordy Getz and Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, the consequences may not be as severe, as most community leaders have endorsed official guidelines on social gatherings. Virtually all synagogues and schools in New York’s haredi communities have been closed, and community leaders have repeatedly urged people not to assemble in secret minyanim, prayer quorums, in homes or synagogues.

After the Forward reported that some teachers at a school in Williamsburg were continuing to teach students secretly, the school sent out a robocall saying the practice was forbidden.

The issue with Kornbluh’s tweet was less the warning about violating social distancing guidelines but the use of social media to do it. Haredi often are averse to airing their community’s dirty laundry in public, and with reports suggesting that anti-Semitism is on the rise as a result of the coronavirus, there is particular sensitivity around taking community problems to social media.

“I don’t mind calling the police to report, I care about posting photos and videos from the handful of Jews who violate the regulations,” Eli Mendel, who reposted the pashkevil from his @HeimishNiyes Twitter account, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a private message.

Getz and Horowitz, the other two men named as mosrim in the pashkevil, declined to comment for this story, but both had been outspoken in calling for Orthodox Jews to abide by social distancing guidelines.

On March 17, New York Times columnist Bari Weiss posted a picture of a massive wedding in Borough Park and cited Getz, a real estate developer and owner of a popular Jewish bookstore there, who said there were two other large weddings happening that day. The next day, Weiss posted a video by Getz imploring people to stay home to protect those with compromised immune systems – including cancer survivors like himself.

Bari Weiss

@bariweiss

This photo was just sent to me by a Hasidic friend in Brooklyn with a 104 fever. He’s enraged. This was a wedding on Sunday of a key Satmar figure. Many yeshivas remain open today. “This is a Hillul Hashem,” he says. And it’s a betrayal of the primary Jewish value:
choose life!

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“Today, and only after I consulted with dozens of community leaders … which admitted to me that they’re helpless in the face of vocal extremist leaders, I did what I felt is my obligation to raise my voice and wake up the community and show the world that we, the majority of Hasidim in New York, are not blind, selfish and careless,” Getz said in the video. “My work has borne fruit, and it seems that even the extremists were beaten into submission today.”

Getz later posted some of the private messages he received from those who were angry at his public actions.

“Shame you didn’t die from cancer,” one said.

Horowitz, the director of the Center for Jewish Family Life/Project YES, an organization that provides resources on parenting and abuse prevention, had been particularly outspoken on the issue of “house minyanim,” prayer services held in private homes after synagogues were closed. After the pashkevil was published, Horowitz alerted local police, who have opened an investigation.

“I’m not intimidated at all. It is unsettling, it might be a little frightening, too, but it’s certainly a fight worth fighting,” Horowitz said in a video posted to Twitter. “This is about social distancing, but it’s also about the right to speak your mind and not have terrorists try to intimidate.”

Horowitz later deleted the video.

“Dear Friends: I took down the post about the flyer,” he wrote in a tweet Wednesday. “It was being weaponized by some as a blunt instrument against our entire community in a way that was deeply troubling.”


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114 Comments
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Joe miller
Joe miller
3 years ago

These guys praying in a synagogue are murderers.And the guy who reported it should get a trophy I see anything like that myself I would never hesitate to call

Not always..
Not always..
3 years ago

Mesira is a serious violation of Torah law!
There are instances such as eminent danger when mesira is not only permissible but Torah mandated. Nobody, being held at gunpoint or being held unwillingly needs to ask a Bais Din prior to phoning the police. The posekim have ruled that those who violated the health authorities are Rodefim and thus should be reported. (Why anyone would approach a Rodef is inexplicable and posting on social media is purposless and likely the cause of added anti-semitism)

There is also unfortunately a laxity amongst us of individuals who are not in any danger who utelize mesira and arkois sans a heter Bais Din. The fact that said indviduals feel they have no alternative doesn’t obsolve one of the Torah prohibition or the punishment delineated in Shulchan orach!

Yankel
Yankel
3 years ago

Interesting . in the uk we have the famous whistleblower ifyoutickleus who tweets everytime any local Jewish leader moves slightly in the wrong direction.
Yet last night there was the largest beach of social distancing in the uk kehilla by a wedding, but the amazing whistleblower didnt tweet because it is his friend at fault

ruby
ruby
3 years ago

“It was being weaponized by some as a blunt instrument against our entire community in a way that was deeply troubling.” THAT IS THE POINT OF THE STORY , peddling to the press is counterproductive not only because the press loves dirt but because of “CONTEXT” . it is impossible to explain to the secular world what details in yiddishkeit mean to us , how they are classified , & how bending it is a non starter.
one example: i once coordinated a shabbos event in deep flatbush, it finished at 11:30pm & it was pouring , i sarted to walk home to bp , the waiters offered me a hitch home & a stop at the bar at j & mcdonald , they wouldnt take no for an answer until i told them NOT FOR A MILLION BUCKS. “vus farshteyn zei”
nothing that we do and the value of intricate details of halacha – lighting candles a minute before shkia or a min after.., chatzitza, mashehu chometz , ….can be explained

Emes
Emes
3 years ago

EMES SAYS,
I feel comment one, Joe Miller didn’t laud the people who reported the incident enough. It is people like these, who put there families at risk in order to save all of us. These are truly G-d fearing people who do what’s right when it’s not popular. We should all learn from this. Yasha Koach!!!!!

LBK-new
LBK-new
3 years ago

I drove to Boro Park early this morning to pick up groceries this morning, and i saw at least eight boys walking on different blocks holding tefilin, clearly on their way to davening. No masks or gloves. Clearly the message is not getting around…….

Jake
Jake
3 years ago

There is no such thing as a truly anonymous Twitter account. You cannot threaten someone’s life over the internet. It is a crime. The hero who reported the infraction should report the threat made against him to the police. They can find out exactly who posted the twitter account. Only that will stop the practice of threats.

sam
sam
3 years ago

Stop hating, I understand how you feel about the shuls open now, and some rabbonim have permitted to report them, but dont attack the prohibition against Messirah with a broad brush, you wouldnt like someone to report you to the authorities for something you committed and so stop hating your fellow jews. the cops are not your friend, neither is the City of Ny.

Been thinking about it...
Been thinking about it...
3 years ago

Messira is assur. If you dont like it, dont do it, but this is counter productive. Only harm come from these. Try debating that!

Hasid in quarantine
Hasid in quarantine
3 years ago

The were no 40 people in that shul. I saw the pictures.
That Shul is locked. I daven there and I haven’t been there in the last five weeks.

There are those few nutty individuals who break the lock or climb thru the windows and nobody can stop them.

Jacob knows that well, but still chose to portray to the media that Hasidim are irresponsible.

Someone who lost a fellow Jew
Someone who lost a fellow Jew
3 years ago

When our friends are dieing there’s nothing to do but to shout if people don’t get the message there is nothing to do but call the police to

David Cohen
David Cohen
3 years ago

What is the likelihood that those who yell MESIRA loudest have what to be worried about?

To Sam who brilliantly posted “you wouldnt like someone to report you to the authorities for something you committed”, here’s a thought, don’t commit crimes and no one will have to report you! Duh!

georgeg
georgeg
3 years ago

In 2007 Rabbi Hershel Schachter had given the following information (a clarification to his on-line shiur Should I Call the Police? Clarifying the Issurim of Mesira and Chilul Hashem dated December 3, 2006)

> However, mesirah is permitted in situations where one is a public menace (see Shach to Choshen Mishpat 388, 59), or if one is physically or psychologically harming another individual (for example, in instances of sexual abuse of children, students, campers etc., or spousal abuse) (see Shach to Choshen Mishpat ibid, 45).

I take it for granted that spreading an epidemic is at least a “public menace” (many rabbis have actually called these minyanim a “rodef” and “retzicha”)

ruby
ruby
3 years ago

its unbelievable , although we all agree on 99% of this religion.. shabbos, tefilin, tahara, pesach, bris,lulav…….every 5 years some passionate issue comes up that throws everybody to their corner with a vengeance… washington rally… citifield.. Manhattan tefilla..WZO votes..& now “minyan”. whats truly amazing is that each side can bring plenty of torah evidence to back their position & yes with validity.
BP has had more niftarim than anyone , yet yidden from other neighborhoods that drive thru … are blown away by the ” lack of fear, daily living…they see in bp,; you have friends in bp you know them they are your relatives, business associates, vendors. if someone were to call u chanukah time for shidduch info …it would be a pleasant conversation.. DO YOU THINK ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY ARE ALL CRAZY & RECKLESS? what do u think is going on??

get real
get real
3 years ago

Fact is Horowitz went to LOHUD on this, damage is already done, No problem you want to do misira, there is a thing called a FOIL request and we can find out who made the complaint and we can make sure they are never aidus, get aliyahs, etc and if any businesses wont do business with them that fine too.
PS Asher Lowy has not been a practicing orthodox jew for many years now

Daas Torah
Daas Torah
3 years ago

The moiser is lucky not to have ended up on a Chinese restaurant menu. Who cares about his little feelings. There is no justice in the “justice system”, and snitches are the enemy.

Kolemes
Kolemes
3 years ago

As a long time BP resident let me try to clarify the issue.
On one side you have you have people who believe davaning with a minyan in any shape (even with social distancing or from porches) is tantamount to murder thus u have to report it (while shopping in crowded supermarkets is ok).
On the other side alot of people believe that the virus more or less passed thru BP with almost no new cases in last 2 weeks thus with social distancing u could daven in a shul just as u could shop in Wal-Mart.
I respect both sides.
That said to go on TV in front of 1000s of goyim and talk ahainst yidden plus add made up stories about open schools is unconscionable if this is not mesira what is??

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

There are shuls that are allowed by the cops to be open as long as less than 50 people are present. Yes a cop stands by a minyan. I do not know the nuiances of this minyan. It may have been shut down bec it was greater than 50 but now its OK. Facts are it can be done legally. If this was legal then this guy is an idiot and trouble maker. If it wasn’t social disatnr then I won’t go either way

Shaul
Shaul
3 years ago

First of all, one is allowed to kill a “moser” because he is a “rodeif”, now in this circumstance the “Roideif”???
I don’t know the other two people, but I must speak up for my dear friend, one of the tzadikei hador, Mordy Getz. If anyone here had a clue how much chessed this tzaddik does on a daily basis, how much he cares deeply for EVERY single jew, he would just stand in awe of this man! He single-handedly helps hundreds of Jews, many of them secretly. He is a beacon of hope for so many who would have been lost without him. For the record, Mordy Getz set up a program to pay the grocery bills out of HIS OWN pocket for all Boro Park almanos since purim. He is paying their bills fully until Rosh Hashan! The Ahavas Yisrael that spews forth from this man is breathtaking! How DARE anyone portray him as a menace to the tzibbur. He acts only out of true love and puts his money where his mouth is. Beg him mechilla!

ah yid
ah yid
3 years ago

My rov was from the first in new york to tell anyone over 70 not to come to shul. He was one of the first to close his shul and told all to daven beyechidus. When he said to quarantine, The Tuesday after Purim everyone in the shul listened and I know that there are those who haven’t left their homes since then. I sat alone with my wife and unmarried children at the seder and my marrieds made their own seder because our rov came out strongly that everyone should stay in their own homes. My point is, I have a rov to follow and until Pesach I was really upset when I saw people going to shul or making minyonim in houses. Now after Pesach I realized that there are three groups of people. Those like me that have a rov to guide them and said to stay home. Then there is a group of people who also follow a rov. Their rov allowed their shuls to remain open. I know of three prominent rabbonim who did not close their shuls. Then there is the third group. Most people fall into this group they don’t have a rov who is their mora derech. They daven in one shul for shachris another for mincha and yet another for marriv. On Shabbos they daven in a local shtibel. These people don’t have a rov to listen to, so they listen to the Torah and follow the dictum, Ish kul hayashar bainav yaseh. Nothing will change until Moshiach comes.

Aronmm
Aronmm
3 years ago

As much as it hurts me to see people going out to Mikvah and Shulwell we see another side so many tragedies. It really sickens me. I confront people and convince them to do whats right.

I know Korenblue personally. He would do anything to become famous and gain publicity. *He will sell his wife and kids* or his soul if he can get some attention. What a low life and cheap creature.

He had posted so much hate against his own community knowing that he’s not right. All just to get a good position or getting some money for his post.

ah yid
ah yid
3 years ago

I don’t see the connection.

lazy-boy
lazy-boy
3 years ago

dina d’malchusa dina, means that the law of the land is the LAW.
You are obliged to keep it.

In this case when so many good righteous men and women died because they were in a group that some one had the virus and they caught it, a person who informs the authorities is doing a mitzvah, and those who call him a ‘moser’ are sinners.

This certainly isn’t the first time sinners try to justify themselves by blaming others, but certainly is a very blatant example of perversion of justice in the frum world…..

KShomron
KShomron
3 years ago

תלמדי חכמים מרבים שלום בעולם
Oy, halvi, halvi…..

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

Someone who makes minyan agains a Psak is Ok because he/she (not a Posek, Doctor, Hatzlolah etc)
decided its over.

Many possikm hold social distance minyan is muter so yes he is a moser.

Shopping at Walmart is a Problem.
Lets rephrase that to jewish grocery stores. Now lets look at CDC rules. They are the greatest drs.
1) Aisles are impossible to social distance
2) Lines are long and not social distanced
3) You touch surfaces (Tomatoes etc..) that the last guy breathed on and touched. CDC says not to do that

P. Wulf
P. Wulf
3 years ago

I’m just curious if these pepole that call the Law also feel the same moral obligation to report when they see the Brooklyn Bride Park full of people or an underground sports bar full of patrons converging, something tells me that their moral radar stays low in these scenarios!

Brooklyn yungerman
Brooklyn yungerman
3 years ago

I’m so happy you posted this, as it shows the true colors of this website. BeH I will never look at this website again, not to be in shamayim part of this bizayon hatorah vachachameha. I implore the rest of you to do the same. I only look here in order not to have to look at goiyeshe sites and their values, and I expose myself to this?!! I’d rather go back to fox or some other site. HKBH should have rachmanus on you, and not let you do more damage to kedushas am yisroel. There is SO MUCH good out there to look for. Go and find it

Big Mosh
Big Mosh
3 years ago

Let me put in my 2 cents too.

The way I look at it, is, that all these people who are so concerned about minyonim and call all minyen goers regardless if they obey social distancing “murderers etc”.

They had a problem with minyen goers long before this virus started. And now they only have an excuse to bash & attack them.

unfortunately today people are getting so megushim with all this internet and being open to the Goyishe world & their thinking, that they subconsciously hate the torah & the yidden who strictly cling to it with love.

This is the truth, and you can give yourself all kind of excuses & try to convince yourself as much as you want, that you mean it genuinely for the sake of saving lives,
deep inside that’s not true,

Because why the passion when it comes to minyonim and not to grocery, If you are so concerned for safety try at least to recommend people to buy only once a week or order by phone or come up with ideas not to have to go to Walmart etc.

to show such anger and passion only when the talk is minyonim or torah shows that there is something else here that’s bugging them.
Thanks all for reading

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 years ago

R Moshe Sterbruch said it is usser to call the police unless someone with obvious symptoms is going right up to people. And even then it’s only after he was warned

get real
get real
3 years ago

I hear they are organizing a shunning of the people who either reported or encouraged people to report by not giving them aliyos, kibuddim or aidus, or by not supporting their organizations.

Stam
Stam
3 years ago

Let me understand; All these pious yiden who justify mesireh based on the psak of the rabanim, did they forget that Rav Chaim said that the internet in ביהרוג װעל יעבור?
Now, I know I know that this is the reality, blah blah blah…. But, if all there mosrim, yes, that’s the name that the shulchan aruch gives for people who smear yiden’s name by the goyim, are so keen on what the rabanim have to say. How do they have social media? All rabanim said that it disqualifies you from eidus?

Stam
Stam
3 years ago

I will reiterate my point. Halachah is that smearing s yid’s name before goyim is mesireh.
All these holy tzadikim. That masred. Had they called the police and then shut up then maybe they meant lishmah. But the fact that they bragged about it and spread it on social media while adding some figments of a very vivit imagination is proof why the mastered to begin with.
Point two. According to all real rabanim social media is shefichas dammim mamash case closed.

Like it is
Like it is
3 years ago

In yiddishkeit, two wrongs DONT make a right. The mosrim should rot in hell!

fed up
fed up
3 years ago

This is a great way to bring moshiach such achdus here people please just do what you feel is right and don’t air your dirty laundry in public its wrong and its worst then being a moser which in this case is permitted when it comes to saving even one life anything is permitted so stop the nonsense and get back to the daf