Thread by @yaffedorg

A #Thread on @JGreenblattADL's statement on the NY Times recent coverage of Hasidic Yeshivas, essentially accusing the Times of causing anti-Semitic attacks.
Greenblatt made the comment in response to a question from a reporter at an unrelated press conference.

#YeshivaGate
1/12

Since then, the @ADL_NYNJ branch has officially tweeted out that statement verbatim on ADL letterhead.

Greenblatt made a rookie mistake responding to a reporter’s question on a whim, rather than issuing a carefully through-out statement, and now it's official ADL policy.

2/12

In fact, it appeared from his body language and his stammering that he hadn’t actually read the @nytimes piece (below).

Nor did he specify what the Times did wrong and how other reporters might go about reporting on this issue without being accused of antisemitism.

3/12

That the @ADL was easily tricked into taking a strong position on such an important topic on a whim is embarrassing and troubling.
The reporter has questionable credentials -in fact, he was soon after denied entry into the White House (and accused them of antisemitism too).

4/12

But maybe it wasn’t a rookie mistake after all. For years, we have pleaded with the ADL to assist us and media with guidance on how to best advocate for, and report on, this issue without being exposed to scurrilous accusations of antisemitism, a common Haredi leader tactic.
5/12

The ADL refused to provide such guidance. And when Haredi leaders accused us of antisemitism, including once from an ADL podium, they refused to disavow it.

More recently, prior to the NY Times publication, we once again asked for a meeting with the ADL, to no avail.

6/12

So it is unacceptable for the ADL to show up now and attack the reporting, presumably to score points and gain legitimacy with Haredi leaders.

The harm done by the ADL and Greenblatt is hard to overstate.

7/12

If you're a reporter or an elected and you want to report on, or take a stance against, the documented & verified educational neglect of thousands of Haredi children, you now have to think twice and likely arrive to the decision to not risk being accused of antisemitism.

8/12

Of course, for Haredi leaders who have pushed this narrative, and whom Greenblatt likely tried to pander to, that’s the whole point. They don’t actually think that anti-Semitic attacks have anything to do with reporting on educational neglect.

9/12

Haredi leaders use such accusations to shut down any criticism of the Yeshivas that deny tens of thousands of children an education.

Our message to reporters and policymakers is that, if anything, ADL has proven their unworthiness of being taken seriously on this issue.

10/12

There is a reason why mainstream Jewish elected officials openly supported the findings of the NY Times and didn’t think it was anti-Semitic. They include Congressman @RepJerryNadler, State Senator @LizKrueger, State Senator @ShelleyBMayer, and many many more.

11/12

We welcome the @ADL's participation in the discussion on Yeshiva education, and we're happy to meet anytime, but if all they are going to do is help Haredi leaders shut down the conversation to maintain the status quo, we will not sit idly by and let them get away with it.

12/12