NEW YORK (VINnews) — Jewish philanthropist Michael Steinhardt, co-founder of Birthright, who has been embroiled in multiple scandals, wrote a vicious hit-piece in the NY Post, seething with hatred for the yeshiva system.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In the article mockingly entitled “The fate of a generation of Jewish children is at stake in yeshiva debate”, Steinhardt made many vicious, false, despicable statements against the Charedi community.
He claimed “65,000 Hasidic children statewide do not receive the education they deserve”. He hypocritically said that “the [secular education] proposals do not interfere with yeshivas’ religious freedoms or management. They come from a genuine desire to help them follow the law while protecting their community’s way of life.”
Steinhardt nefariously claimed that the ultra-orthodox are “my people as much as any other group of Jews.”
And he accused Chasidic leaders of choosing “a path that rejects the Jewish tradition of educational excellence and instead leads to poverty, dependence and an inability to contribute meaningfully to the world.”
Steinhardt manufactured his own facts, and recycled the same drivel which has been spewed by anti-Charedi organizations behind the movement to invade and secularize yeshivos. He claimed that the guidelines which are designed to crush yeshivas are aligned with Jewish tradition, and painted a bogus narrative in which Charedi leaders are rejecting longstanding Jewish core values.
The op-ed got intense backlash on Twitter from non-Charedim and non-Jews. Logan Ratick, National Correspondent for Newsmax, wrote: “Michael Steinhardt proves that you can co-found Birthright, yet still be ignorant when it comes to yeshiva education.”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE LATEST YAAKOV M ROUNDUP
Well said.
Amazing how Steinhardt makes broad sweeping statements about thousands of yeshivas.He also claims that the proposed regulations are in line with "Jewish tradition" and those who oppose are rejecting their own heritage.
Laughable.
— Yaakov M (@yaakovmshow) September 6, 2022
Let me be clear: Neither I nor any of my fellow-yeshiva parents need Michael Steinhardt’s parenting guidelines codified in state law. Of course, his ad hominem @nypost piece is also built on hearsay and lies. 3
— Dovid Margolin (@dovidmargolin) September 6, 2022
Dovid Margolin, a writer and yeshiva parent whom Steinhardt blasted in the op-ed, responded sharply and critically, pointing out the many lies and disingenuousness of the article.
Margolin tweeted: “Neither I nor any of my fellow-yeshiva parents need Michael Steinhardt’s parenting guidelines codified in state law. Of course, his ad hominem @nypost piece is also built on hearsay and lies. Quick example: “Haredim live in a cycle of poverty.” Neither Steinhardt nor Yaffed have ever provided any proof for this blanket-statement. It’s simply stated as fact, though it’s a vicious lie about Haredi Jews. Another: “65k Hasidic children statewide… [attend] yeshivas whose language of instruction is Yiddish.” A lie”
Another: “65k Hasidic children statewide… [attend] yeshivas whose language of instruction is Yiddish.” A lie. 5
— Dovid Margolin (@dovidmargolin) September 6, 2022
Steinhardt has been involved in multiple legal scandals. In December 2021, he surrendered 180 stolen antiquities valued at $70 million and received a lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities.
In November 2014, Christie’s had to withdraw a prehistoric sculpture from Sardinia, valued at $800,000-$1.2m, put on auction by Steinhardt and previously put on sale by the notorious and convicted antiquities dealer Giacomo Medici. In January 2018, investigators raided Steinhardt’s New York City apartment and seized a large amount of stolen antiquities which had been illegally purchased by Steinhardt.
District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. once said, “For decades, Michael Steinhardt displayed a rapacious appetite for plundered artifacts without concern for the legality of his actions, the legitimacy of the pieces he bought and sold, or the grievous cultural damage he wrought across the globe.”
Not quite sure what the problem is here.
The אבן עזרא in his Sefer יסוד מורא וסוד התורה writes about the importance of learning science, medicine, algebra, and other subjects. Not least because otherwise you won’t understand much of what is written in the Gemara.
The Sefer, written in 1158, was the first of it’s kind not written in Arabic.
I could give you a list of famous doctors and astronomers amongst the Rishonim, but that may not be politically correct on a Chareidi website.
This article acts like it refutes anything Steinhardt has said. The issues of poverty and the ability to introduce more secular learning time didn’t start with him. I’m not saying he’s right or wrong but there were no chiddushim here and people have been saying this for years.
You can’t deny that many of these chasidic schools move kids thru with the most minimal English, math and science skills. The few shining examples of chasidic businessmen are self-made (or go into family business) despite the poor secular education. They are the exceptions. That being said, there is no point in writing to the NY a post about it. That will achieve nothing. A Frum Jew (or at least one with common sense) would know this.
Maybe someone should shine a light on the public school system. Not sure about NY in general, but where I’m from 70%-80% of public high school graduates can barely read at an elementary level…never mind math, etc..
Michael Steinhardt is a righteous Jew who has profoundly and generously contributed significantly to Jewish causes. His world outlook is unique and worthy of respect. His statements about Charedim, though unempathetic and judgemental, are valid in his eyes since his life is and has always been ambitiously committed to wealth creation and philanthropy. It is near impossible for Steinhardt to understand or empathize with the Charedi “cycle of poverty” or more illustrative of voluntary abstinence, which they consider a significant means of getting closer to God. It would be best and productive if we would, as Jews, would demonstrate greater respect for each other by withholding pernicious judgments. We should show more humility and understand the truth is solely in the domain of Hashem and expressing negativity toward each other prevents “Tikun HaOlam (b’malchut Shakai)”.
So why won’t mesftas teach secular education? What’s so bad ? Are the kids really sitting and learning all day ? Or are they climbing the walls by 3pm anyhow ?what’s the harm ?
If he respectfully wrote a piece dealing point by point with our accusations, could we not have responded with a point by point rebuttal as opposed to a personal attack? As someone who is on the fence regarding this issue, when someone is arguing coherently and the other side blasts his opinion as “Lies, Hate and Distortions” without rebutting makes me wonder weather we have what to respond at all…
P.s is there anyone here that boycotts Birthright and won’t let there kids go on the Frum trips due to his antique dealings? Because it seems the oilam is very fired up about this hobby of his…
There’s Steinhart’s personal behavior. There’s what some boys’ yeshivos teach (and don’t teach). There’s NY law and its definitions of education and school. Easy to conflate it all to obfuscate any one particular item. No one that can refute for me what I personally, from personal research and experience, know about each of these, and in this hotly debated topic of yeshivos and education, no amount of attempted obfuscation will confuse me away from the truth that a) certain yeshivos do not provide what the law requires if they wish to be considered a school, b) those schools’ parents are effectively participating in truancy, c) those schools could adhere to NY law standards and not violate any halacha, and d) there are factors at play in this “religious” debate that have little or nothing to do with halacha. But I’m just a guy in the bleachers watching those on the field kick the ball around (while the calculated sociological well-intentioned methodology of mind and life control continues to play itself out in countless humans in NY).
Over the years dozens of frum posters have made the exact criticisms, and worse. I understand “building a wall around the Torah” but building a wall to keep out modern life and knowledge is to bequeath the gift of poverty to many. Why not ask the bouchers what the want to learn? They’d agree with Steinhardt.
I went to Torah Vodaas in the 1970s.
Starting around 3- after 6 hours of judaic studies- we had 3 hours of math, science, and english.
Stop the narishkeit. It’s doable.
Michael Steinhhardt needs to first explain how stolen, expensive antiques ended up in his possession before he attacks the Yeshivah system !!!
There is a significant amount of truth in what Steinhardt says.
Where is his buddy, the Lubavitcher preacher Samuel Boteach? No comment from him here?
When a self hater like him sees “community leaders” endorse Hochul and Adams wich by default means endorsement of sweeping changes in our chinuch. He feels emboldened to write what he did.
Shame on our leadership.
The NY Post is constantly running anti-Frum articles. Yet, a great many Frum Jews read it. Why?
While I support secular education to the extent needed to earn a living, one should be under no illusion that the secular authorities will end it there. The Vizhnitzer girl’s school in the UK has an excellent secular program. The authorities still fined them, because they did not have sufficient education about tolerance towards homosexual behavior.
That’s what’s coming here. It might start with algebra and English, but the radical agenda is not far behind.
What everyone should know that this Steinhardt guy is an open declared atheist. He has stated it on many occasions. So who cares what this loser says. Like if a dog barks we don’t bark back. He also has a private zoo. Let him lecture his animals. He also was accused by a number of women of immodestly attacking them. It made him drop out of some secular Jewish groups. He also has stolen expensive antiques which was written up in the papers. He is no one to lecture our community.
Are you all awara of the fact that when the holy R Michel ber ZT”l founded Mt Kisco, Nitra a chinukita yeshiva, the whole idea behind it was to offer a yeshiva plus an apprentice with farms and printing presses. (today a printing press is microsoft office). He never considered it bitul torah? He knew bochrim can’t learn all day.
To be 100% clear i am against the govt interfering in our mosdos or dictating. But I don’t understand why our mosdos don’t make a safe tznuis secular curriculum. In fact the govt stuff are mostly nonsense. They should have a “computers regent” for example and skip shakespare. Let our schools custom tailor it but offer something. kosher. I don’t buy that 9th graders can learn gemara all day. The biggest issue is they waste time and have no structure to the day. Liedigars. To the few that do have zitsfliesh they should taka sit and learn all day.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
Secular people think public school education is education because it trains a person to work. But yeshiva education trains a person to think.
My kids all had yeshiva education and all were capable of getting good jobs thanks to their ability to think.
The trashy New York Post is commonly found in Jewish homes despite the numerous photos of half dressed women in every issue and very little actual news other than about celebrities. Boycott, Boycott,Boycott.
the anti semitic jew hate org, yaffed has sunk to a new low [who would have thought that was possible!] 200,000+ frum yidden have made their voices clear that they reject yaffed and its hate-filled leader who is oozing with hatred towards chasidim and yeshivos. they reject the venomous vitriolic bile that this org has been spewing for the past 10 years. so who does he get to parrot his lies? an atheist, abuser parroting his lies in a shmutzdik tabloid. as Rosh Hashanah approaches, we turn to Hashem to save us from those who seek to destroy our yeshivos and turn them into institutions that follow the past of mr. steinhard- the path of atheism and abuse R”L
boteach the rogue chabad character embraces him
Billionaire Steinhardt is a successful businessman but also a huge Illiterate when it comes to Yiddishkiet.
Birthright has to do with Judaism but nothing to do with Yiddishkiet.
Frum Yidden in the USA have nothing to be ashamed of anyone. They are THE most successful people in the USA of all ethnic groups and from white Americans.
Success is not always measured by money it is measured by what lives they lead.
No-one no one and no one leads the lives that Frum Yidden live.
Whatever your opinion on secular education in Yeshiva keep it for the schools you choose for your children and the yeshivas you donate enough to that they care about your opinion. Otherwise it is just the majority trying to bully the minority to follow their lifestyles and beliefs.
If you have those values it’s also easy to look askance at the schools who give such a good secular educations but whose graduates for the most part can’t understand a Gemora without Artscroll . Or even a sefer written in Loshon Hakodosh. Where the likelihood of an alumni of theirs becoming a Talmid Chochom or even an erlicher baal habos is a lot smaller than the likelihood than the likelihood of a Satmar graduate becoming wealthy. But those who send there are not interested in anyone telling them what to do based on their values. They shouldn’t do so to others either.
As far as Steinhardt and Yaffed being so well meaning and caring so much about the children in such school , that epitomizes what Chazal say “Kol Tovoson Shel Resoyim Rah Etzel Tzadikim”
So the Post reported. Do you believe everything you read. I have no knowledge either way. But it wouldn’t be the first or last time something is out of context. Did you hear of Fake News TM.
There is a Chiyuv on the father to teach his son Torah – nowadays given over to Rebbeim/Yeshiva. Its same chiyuv for father to teach his son a trade for Parnossa. Therefore, the Yeshivos should be teaching boys how to earn a parnossa. More than that would not be needed, but all bochrim should at least graduate yeshiva system with some trade/skill/education in order to earn a living.
How is the law suit on this issue proceeding?
Are Orthodox Jews living in poverty? Really?
Steinhardt has a seat waiting for him in Gan Eden next to the biggest tzaddikim. Thousands of teens bringing them closer to Yidishkeit, and I’m told thousands of them will only marry Jewish girls or boys. Tovo Alev Bracha Michael! How many on VIN can say the same for themselves?
Let’s be fair I believe that his piece was meant not to harm
but to help the Haredi Children to be both scholars and
Menschen in this world and the next.
if you read the full piece you will be amazed at the mount of overt lies this atheist menuval says. but where does he get them from? obviously, his lies are fed to him by the hate-filled LIARS of yaffed. the number 65,00 is something that the hate-filled leader of yaffed routinely uses as is his lie that chasidim live in poverty. what is utterly ridiculous is that steinherd claims that yaffed is made up of parents at chasidic schools. who? anita altman, “Rabbi” eric yoffe? Rabbi jill and the rest of the yafed “rabbinical court” whom they list on their website? the truth is that yaffed has utilized lies and false info to mooch MILLIONS of $ from donors and charities.
in an antisemitic article last month the leader of yaffed whined that chasidim control politicians and that is why they don’t support him since they want the chasidic vote [and they spread diseases to the goyim etc.]. but for 10 years he falsely claimed that chasidim all support him [that was his line to schnorr off of charities as if he is a tzadik to want to help them-yeah right] so doesn’t that mean that chasidm wll vote in line with him? The leader of yaffed has publicly admitted to being a liar!
There is a crime called charity fraud….