KIRYAS YOEL (VINnews) — The anti-yeshiva group that has wreaked havoc for the frum community for years in New York State, has attempted to file a lawsuit against the Kiryas Joel school district. Below is the district’s scathing response.
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On March 9, a baseless case was filed by “YAFFED” with the NY State Commissioner ofEducation against the Kiryas Joel School District. YAFFED bills itself as an advocacy group for Yeshiva parents, yet it is clear from their court papers that they represent no one who chooses to enroll their children in private religious schools.
Under the guise of concern for the education of Hasidic students, YAFFED demanded, among other things, that the Kiryas Joel School District notify the parents of the V’Yoel Moshe Yeshivas (AKA Sheri Torah) of their responsibility under the law for their children’s education.
They demanded that we threaten parents with “penalties, such as fines and/or imprisonment,” and that failure to comply “may also be grounds for the involvement of Child Protective Service Agencies.” They did so despite the facts that the Sheri Torah schools are not located in the Kiryas Joel School District and the District has no authority over them; that YAFFED’s petition makes no allegations reflecting that students at the Sheri Torah schools are not receiving the education required by New York State law; and that it would be inappropriate for any school district to threaten parents in that manner in any event.
“We strongly object to this outrageous demand to threaten parents who have chosen to educate their children consistent with their faith and tradition,” said School Superintendent Joel Petlin.
“The Kiryas Joel School District is well aware of its obligations under NY State law, and we have always worked cooperatively with our local yeshivas, consistent with the law.”
The petition set forth no facts establishing that any member of YAFFED has been harmed by anything alleged in their petition, which is required for YAFFED to have standing to bring the petition. Two other appeals to the Commissioner by YAFFED have been dismissed by the Commissioner because YAFFED had no standing to bring their petitions. This case was no different.
Based upon the strong defenses presented by the Kiryas Joel School District in this bizarre case, YAFFED has now requested that their meritless case be withdrawn. “YAFFED’s lawsuit was a complete waste of everyone’s time and resources. Notwithstanding their withdrawal of this case, they deserve to be sanctioned for bringing such a baseless lawsuit,” Mr. Petlin stated.
The Kiryas Joel School District response to a baseless lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/uHRt6IdPlR
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) April 2, 2024
Below is YAFFED’s response on Twitter:
We discovered that a particular Yeshiva resorted to intimidation and extortion tactics by sending letters in Yiddish to parents in an attempt to silence any concerns about educational quality. This behavior is immoral, unethical, and un-American, and we strongly condemn it.
2/5
— YAFFED (@yaffedorg) April 3, 2024
This outrageious bunch of bums and losers, who obviously have nothing better to do than make everyone meshugah and waste time, need to be , once and for all, taught a lesson and abolished. We’re tired of hearing about them already !
YAFFED = rusha just like Haman
Let the statistics speak for them selves: according to Google: “ Not only is it the poorest town in New York state, but New Square also has the highest poverty and SNAP (food stamps) recipiency rates of any town in the United States. Some 70.0% of New Square residents live in poverty, and 77.1% of area households rely on SNAP benefits to afford food.”
What a BOOSHAH
Yet education is traif?
It’s obvious that this young man did. Not go to a chassidic yeshiva
He Can actually express himself in English as well as write it
Why does the Government try to force parents to give an education to their children? You can’t force.
Just simply say, that if you don’t have a proper high school diploma you could never get any government assistance, period.