A thread 🧵 of ads in Orthodox and Haredi papers related to the situation in Israel.

They range from inspiring, to sweet, to useful, to offensive.

For coverage on the Haredi reaction to the attacks in Israel and the ensuing war, follow @Shtetlnews.

#IsraelPalestineConflict First up is this ad in Satmar (anti-Zionist) paper KJ Weekly/וואכנשריפט.

The ad reads:
There's a mass murder!
In Israel hundreds of sacrifices are being slaughtered on the zionist altar.

All over the world, thousands of souls are being killed on the technology altar.

Thread 🧵 on corporal punishment in Yeshivas:

As a kid, I was one of the best (if not THE best) boys in my class (at least during Judaic studies).
Yet even I was hit numerous times.

One time, my teacher in 2nd grade smacked me so hard that I & my metal desk fell over sideways. That same teacher once smacked me and several other kids for reciting palms while he and other teachers decided to schmooze for a good half hour or so in the classroom during class time.

We thought we were being "goodie goodies."

This may seem counterintuitive, but when ultra-Orthodox community leaders are at the center of various health crises like Measles, Herpes from Metzitza B'Peh, Lead poisoning, Kaparos, and the uptick in COVID, instead of becoming a pariah they exploit the crisis to gain power.
1/5 You demand government officials "engage" with you more than they already have. You insist on them bringing on more community liaisons, more Yiddish speakers, and get the commissioners of various agencies on speed-dial. These connections become useful long into the future.
2/5

The City made 200,000 robocalls, handed out tens of thousands of masks, placed 60 ads in Orthodox newspapers (with Hasidic readers), and engaged with 20 synagogue leaders.

Yet Hasidic leaders like @Avi_Greenstein have the audacity to claim there's no engagement.

It's a con. Their goal is to pressure the city to spend more money on ads with no ROI, to hire more Yiddish writers, hand out more grants to BPJCC and the likes, etc.

All while those same leaders reject any accountability and refuse to follow the rules.

This total lack of appreciation for a guy who literally bent himself and his principles backwards to appease the community is so astonishingly ugly.

He's given money, leeway on Yeshivas, on PreK, etc.
But he gets thrown under the bus for a little thing.

forward.com/opinion/448979… If you are an elected official or candidate seeking to curry favor with these leaders in exchange for the bloc vote they wield, take note! You too will be dumped as soon as you are squeezed out like a rag.

@MarkTreyger718 @MarkLevineNYC @RitchieTorres @LindseyBoylan @errollouis

I'm witness to a yet another mob bullying by the @AgudahNews crew including @ChaskelBennett @CindyDarrison @Avi_Greenstein etc.

Hey, @Stacey23AD @MarkLevineNYC remember this next time you pose with Agudah and pander to their desires.

https://twitter.com/MarcusBlimi/status/1262059332923019264

Agudah is trying to deflect that as a group that tells the government to butt out because they can manage their own affairs, they clearly failed drastically.

It's not on the government to know that on Purim ultra-Orthodox Jews share drinks and go from house to house. (Cont.)

Mayor @BilldeBlasio is rightfully being criticized for lumping all Jews together when trying to call out Hasidic leaders and members (THOUSANDS who gathered).

But this was the exception, not the rule. He's always pandered and looked the other way.

Here's just one instance: MBP Der Blatt recently recounted how, on the eve of the mayoral primaries, Team de Blasio (may include @avifink) came to Satmar for help getting him over the finish line.

Satmar said they'd do it in exchange for a promise to annul any restrictions on Metzitza B'Peh.

And he did.

Ari, in your view, or in your words, can you articulate what that history was and why you say it was a "sad" history?

I didn't learn history, so if I am missing something, please let me know.
cc: @aefeldman

https://twitter.com/aefeldman/status/1252974053809364993

My understanding is that the media is supposed to report the news, regardless of whether special interests like it or not.

I don't think the media needs to repent for a legitimate story that is critical of certain leaders or behaviors by doing a puff piece to offset it.

Thread 4 thread.
We're all in pain about what is happening, both in terms of the deaths from coronavirus and the antisemitic incidents related to it.
But a few things need to be clarified.
First: anyone who blames the entire Orthodox or even Hasidic community is wrong.

https://twitter.com/Laura_E_Adkins/status/1246669363656241155

The fault lies with ultra-Orthodox leaders who failed their people.

Equally egregious is anyone who -upon hearing legitimate criticism about the community's response- goes on the offensive or defensive, instead of acknowledging the problems and calling for introspection.

Interesting, at least one faction of Hasidic Jews is urging voters to vote for @Wofford4AG after voting for @TishJames in the primaries over @ZephyrTeachout. One of the reasons provided: Wofford won't busy himself with taking on Trump but rather will work with community leaders.

1) I find that when anyone criticizes legitimate problematic aspects of the hasidic community, they are bombarded with an impossible demand for accuracy that isn't expected in any other instance.

@Liz_Llorente @LoHudOpinion @katetaylornyt 2) Those same critics never apply it elsewhere, especially if the criticism is directed at their enemies or opponents.
When reporters speak to me I take great pains in being clear where the problem is. The other side does the exact opposite: conflate hasidic Yeshivas with litvish

In the past two weeks, in response to my advocacy at @yaffedorg, the following has happened:
-I was called names that I don't go by or names that are downright offensive.
-I was told I can't be an advocate on this issue because I (allegedly) don't keep Sabbath.
@errollouis -Certain Hasidic people who are often looked at as leaders, one of whom is a Rockland legislator, have posted various pictures of me, my wife, and even one with my son in it.
-My cell phone number was posted publicly.
@BarefootRockU @beenishfahmed