Many of the young people who pass through the Jewish Enrichment Center in Lower Manhattan view it with great affection. It is often the first time they have come in contact with a Judaism that is engaging and accessible. The rabbis responsible for the center’s educational and religious programs are charismatic and approachable people who, participants say, have had a large impact on their lives.
As the official New York follow-up organization for Taglit-Birthright Israel — which sends young people on free trips to Israel and lately is trying to keep them Jewishly engaged when they return — there could hardly be a better model.
But there are also those Birthright alumni who have been turned off by the JEC, sensing that it has a hidden, religious agenda that clashes with Birthright’s declared nondenominational and pluralistic stance. Their suspicions have now been substantiated with the revelation that the JEC’s rabbis were trained at Ohr Somayach, a Jerusalem-based ultra-Orthodox yeshiva with international branches and a publicly declared goal of turning secular and nonobservant Jews into ba’alei teshuvah. The JEC, it has emerged, was launched as an outreach arm of the yeshiva.
For some Birthright alumni who spoke recently with the Forward, this confirmed what they had already surmised.
The realization for one person came when he was asked to memorize lines of Talmud and encouraged to wrap tefillin every day. For another, it was the weekend he was required to spend with a Haredi family on Long Island if he wanted one more trip to Israel. And for a few, it came only after an all-expense paid month at a Jerusalem yeshiva, where they were presented with a stark choice of abandoning their current life for a more religious one.
As the Forward reported on September 4, the JEC which has received nearly $5 million from philanthropist Michael Steinhardt since 2005, has a virtual monopoly on reaching Birthright alumni in New York and is run by Orthodox rabbis involved in kiruv, or religious outreach. What has only now become clear is the JEC’S connection to Ohr Somayach, which engages openly in a form of Jewish evangelism.
“They are ideologically ultra-Orthodox, but they would never identify themselves that way,” said Allan Nadler, a professor at Drew University who has studied the Orthodox world, referring to Ohr Somayach. “It’s the soft sell. Come for dinner, come for lunch, hang around, smoke some weed after Shabbos. But there’s always an element of deception.”
In conversations with the Forward, a handful of Birthright alumni have painted a picture of the JEC as a place where Orthodoxy is the end goal, though it is encouraged through slow, gentle steps that are often difficult to perceive.
“If they had just said, if their whole mission statement was, we’re Orthodox Jews, we’d love to present this lifestyle to you and see if it’s for you, and then did the same exact things that they are doing, that would not bother me,” said David Siegel, who was involved with the JEC for two years and went on three of the center’s follow-up trips to Israel. “But they know they can’t do that. People will get scared.”
Rebecca Sugar, Birthright Israel NEXT’s director of alumni outreach in New York, declined to comment. In a letter to the Forward in response to the September 4 article, she wrote that “NEXT, NY is inclusive regarding the various branches of Jewish expression,” and referred to the secular programming she has organized.
Michael Steinhardt also responded through his publicist that, “I stand 100% behind the work of Rebecca Sugar and her associates and I believe that Birthright NEXT New York gives representation to all views within the Jewish spectrum.”
The outreach has become a focus, especially after a report issued in March found that 44% of alumni no longer in college have not attended any Jewish program since their return from Israel. A further 39% have attended just one or two programs. Only 4% have taken part in more than four programs.
The JEC’s ties to Ohr Somayach were first noticed by David Kelsey, a blogger, on the Web site Failed Messiah. He discovered two references to the JEC on the Ohr Somayach Web site. One referred to the center as an “outreach affiliate”; the other called the JEC the “latest outreach post of Ohr Somayach’s international network.” Both references also mentioned Mordechai Mindell and Lawrence Hajioff, who attended Ohr Somayach’s Monsey, N.Y., yeshiva and are, respectively, the executive director and educational director of the JEC.
Officials of Ohr Somayach told the Forward that they had an “informal relationship around 2003” with the JEC. Tax returns for Ohr Somayach International, the organization’s Brooklyn-based office, show that donations totaling $25,000 were made to the JEC from 2002 to 2003. Presented with this information, Mindell responded in an e-mail: “The JEC has never been nor are we now an affiliate of the Ohr Sameyach organization.”
Siegel, a 33-year-old standup comic who starred in a promotional video for the center, described a slow process of being drawn into a religious life. He went on the first post-Birthright trip offered by the JEC, called Reloaded. When he returned, he got heavily involved in the center, partly as a way of earning another vacation in Israel. While the Reloaded trip cost him $600, the next 10-day program in Israel, called Legacy, was free as long as he attended several weeks of religious courses and spent two weekends celebrating the Sabbath at the home of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family on Long Island.
After that second trip to Israel, which he mostly spent studying in Jerusalem, the JEC rabbis offered Siegel an opportunity to spend a month at a yeshiva in Israel, Machon Shlomo, which would be completely subsidized. Following weeks of 10-hour study days, Siegel thought the program was interesting but knew he couldn’t go further. Some of his friends who had gone with him, he said, are still there and are now very observant.
Not everyone who attends the JEC feels nudged toward ultra-Orthodoxy. Many of the activities at the center are social and without a strong emphasis on religious practice. There are lectures from Jewish intellectuals, along with cocktail parties and an extensive adult bar and bat mitzvah program. But some of those who stay around longer, like Siegel and others, find themselves in one-on-one study sessions with the rabbis, from whom they feel pressure to become more observant.
“Each and every one of them on a person-to-person level is totally open to helping you understand life, spirituality, growth, relationships; anything you want to talk about, they’re open about it,” said another Birthright alumnus, who asked to remain anonymous. “The issue for me was eventually after spending a lot of time there, it became apparent that they did have an agenda to try and get me to incorporate Orthodox practice into my life. And that became awkward.”
After he started individual studies with a rabbi, the situation became strained. “Eventually they wanted me to start memorizing sections of Talmud even though that was not something I was interested in doing,” the anonymous alumnus said. “They wanted me to start wrapping tefillin. I didn’t want to do that, either. And instead of just saying, all right, do your own thing, they kept bringing it up and pressing the issue. It didn’t always feel as though they were willing to be totally supportive of my personal choices.”
In the end, he said, his feeling that the rabbis had ulterior motives forced him out of the JEC altogether.
Most of the young people involved with the JEC perceive no hidden agenda. They describe events and classes that take place in an open, nonjudgmental environment, devoid of any pressure. But this, too, conforms with Ohr Somayach’s methodology.
In an interview posted in 2006, Mendel Weinbach, head of Ohr Somayach yeshivas, described how outreach has helped increase the number of ba’alei teshuvahthe organization has been able to attract. “When we established Yeshivas Ohr Somayach some thirty-four years ago, our student body was made up of young people who came to tour Israel out of curiosity and were ‘picked up’ at the Wall or the Central Bus Station, etc.,” he said. “Today, such things don’t exist. We have established kiruv centers on university campuses, in communities, in many locations throughout the world and have trained hundreds of avreichim [who pursue a life of Torah study] in two-year kiruv courses to run them. This has produced many blessed products.”
Kelsey, who first discovered JEC’s ties to the ultra-Orthodox institution, was recruited to join an Ohr Somayach yeshiva 20 years ago, when he was 18. He has written on his blog and elsewhere about the successful attempts of groups like the JEC to act as a cover for Ohr Somayach while infiltrating the mainstream Jewish world.
“Mainstream organizational enabling, not just funding, is critical to their general success for recruiting in the Diaspora,” Kelsey said. “This is the only way for Haredi institutions to have substantial access in the Diaspora. In Israel, they can pick these people up at the Western Wall. In the Diaspora, they need the support of the secular Jewish community to fund and facilitate a much longer recruitment process.”
Contact Gal Beckerman at beckerman@forward.com
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Is this a big scoop or something? Every follow-up program has an ideological bent of one kind or another. When I returned from Birthright, our Conservative congregation sponsored some get-togethers with a goal of getting us more involved. The Federation did a few evenings and brought in a Reform rabbi for one of them. He spoke to us about getting more involved in his congregation and Israel. From what this sounds like, JEC is doing a great job of servicing the alumni on two levels. those who wish to maintain a low-level affiliation have a venue to do so and those who want more, have access to more. Or is the problem that the "more" is Orthodox? Otherwise, I'm not sure how this is news but whatever.
Upon further research I think you (David, 9/3) will find that JEC would NEVER bring in a Reform rabbi. Every Rabbi that works here is Orthodox, Shomer Negiah, davens three times/day, lays tefillin, etc. Why is the first trip $600 with no requirements and the second trip free, yet you have to study torah and sleep over Orthodox Jewish homes? No agenda?
Like Dave, I don't see what the problem is. Is this any different from what Aish or Chabad do? I'm sure the thousands of Israeli Jews who pass through Asia joining a Shabbat dinner or Pesah seder are also invited to lay tefillin. I hardly see that as deception.
Are these bright young Jews incapable of just saying no if they're not interested in pursuing an Orthodox lifestyle? It's not like they're being seduced by a cult or Jews for Jesus. Or does the writer think that going Orthodox is equivalent to joining a cult?
It seems to me that the central issue is assimilation and how to respond to it. It is understandable that Jews with little to no background would reject any heavy handed attempt to make them orthodox. But for all their zealousness it is the orthodox that do the most Jewish charity, have the most children and do the most to preserve Judaism. The more 'progressive' Jews should do less complaining about too much Orthodox influence and do more to undertake their share of Jewish responsibility. And then they would have less to complain about. Today's Forward Editorial also deals with their concern over assimilation. I wonder if those who run the Forward are able to keep their own children Jewish?
What is the big deal. How is this different from Chabad and their work on university campuses? If you saw any of the JEC rabbis, you would know that they are Orthodox and encouraging Jewish identity as understand it.
Now,my question. Would everyone be upset if these were liberal Rabbis?
This article some how implying to expose Birthright alumni to Orthodox practices is wrong. With the variety of alumni programs available, shouldn't an orthodox option be available.
It seems to me that JEC has a great model which is appealing to young Jews of different observance levels. Bravo!
This article is frankly quite funny. To say that the JEC is an affiliate of Ohr Somayach is just plain laughable. I know Lawrence Hajioff as well as David Kelsey, and I studied at Ohr Somayach in Israel for about 2 years. I know for a fact that the JEC is not in any way related to Ohr Somayach, just like Goldman Sachs is not related to Lehman Brothers, or McDonald's is not related to Burger King. They are in the same business, but the connection ends there. David Kelsey is sadly a very angry young man with a chip on his shoulder not just about Orthodox Judaism but about life in general, and his clever detective work unearthing a connection where it doesn't exist is simply a reflection of his paranoia. The tone of the article by the Forward, as if this were some kind of grand exposee, is also laughable. The Forward is high school journalism at its best.
David, As the article notes, the issue is that Birthright contracts with JEC---and ONLY with JEC---to do its official follow up work in the New York Tri-State area. It's terrific that your Conservative synagogue, on its own, did a couple of follow-up get-togethers for young congregants who'd taken the Birthright tour. But Birthright funding for a planned and sustained, organized follow-up program is reserved in the New York area for JEC alone. In fact, as the article The Forward ran last week pointed out, JEC gets more money from Birthright Israel NEXT, Birthright's follow-up arm, than all other recipients combined. In 2007, Birthright gave Hillel, the pluralistic nationwide campus foundation that would be a natural follow-up venue for its program, $547,516---compared to $1.87 million for this local/regional center with a non-transparent sectarian agenda.
@David/Raymond/Robin: The issue here isn't that the JEC has a religious agenda. It's that the JEC, with its fundamentalist religious agenda, is the only "official followup center" for NY-area Birthright alumni.
Birthright is nondenominational and as such it should not be directing its alumni exclusively to programs that are trying to evangelize on behalf a fundamentalist fringe form of Judaism.
As Robin pointed out, there is nothing wrong with having the an Orthodox option for Birthright alumni programming, but as it stands, camouflaged ultra-Orthodoxy is the ONLY option available, and that's neither cool nor consistent with the mission of Birthright NEXT.
@Peter: If you find the idea that JEC is affiliated with Ohr laughable, then you'll find Ohr's website hilarious, with side-splitting quotes like, "Ever since Ohr Somayach made the JEWISH ENRICHMENT CENTER its outreach affiliate in Manhattan" and "The JEWISH ENRICHMENT CENTER in Manhattan, headed by alumni Mordechai Mindell and Lawrence Hajioff, is the latest outreach post of Ohr Somayachs international network," and "The outreach affiliate of Ohr Somayach in Manhattan, the JEWISH ENRICHMENT CENTER (176 Madison Avenue, bet. 33-34 St.) is, in addition to its ongoing lectures and kiruv activities, beginning to attract alumni to come there in their spare time and learn with people dropping in." Isn't that funny?!
It's entirely possible that the JEC and Ohr are no longer officially affiliated, as these quotes are almost 7 years old, but with the same people running the place and plenty of folks saying that they've been pushed toward Ohr by the JEC, it's hard to understand what exactly has changed.
The links in my previous comments did not come through, but the quotes come from the following Ohr alumni newsletters:
http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/559 http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/515 http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/631
This is ridiculous. You are acting like being orthodox is akin to being in a cult. Like asking someone to pray is sooooo horrible. The JEC has orthodox rabbi's teaching mostly secular jews about the religion, why is this bad? Most people leave the JEC a lot more enlightened about Judaism and what it has to offer. Yes the rabbi's there would love for everyone who comes to the JEC to become more religious once they learn more, but MAYBE 5% of the people who go there become orthodox and everyone else just becomes more knowledgeable about their own religion. Either way the path they take is completely up to them. There are a ton of events, most in fact, that are completely non-religious, and if someone is choosing to learn more and go further with the JEC then clearly they WANT to know more and grow spiritually. If they don't there are many ways to stay involved on a social and cultural level there without learning more seriously. I can't imagine anyone who is familiar with the people who work at the JEC saying that they are fundamentalists or evangelists. I am conservative and have never felt more welcome anywhere. The JEC is a great program that really does help young jewish people out of college find a jewish identity and feel a part of a community, no matter how religious or not religious they may be.
@Michah - yes it is IS hard to understand what as changed from behind your computer screen. Go to the jec and ask. It's quite clear that website you pointed us towards is very outdated. The JEC has not been on Madison Avenue since 2004. It is now 2009. Not sure if you noticed. Just wanted to point that out for you. Instead of reading outdated websites ask some of the people who go to the jec and who like it. and who clearly don't have a massive chip on their shoulder as Mr Siegel does. I go to the JEC and I don't know a single guy who has gone or been suggested to Ohr Somayach. I have never even heard of Ohr Somayach until this article.
I have went to JEC two times and their rabbis are great but definitely have agenda. Why is it that JEC has the monopoly over Birthight NEXT programming. At the very least, there should be other options for alumni.
What exactly does the author mean by "utra-orthodox?" How is this term defined by the author? The editors should have spotted the loaded terms before publishing the story. Disclaimer: I went on Birthright in early 2004 with Hillel- a diverse pluralistic group.
Lets face it and be honest, The Forward and Gal Beckerman have a liberal and anti-religious agenda and are quoting and basing this article from a self-hating Jewish blogger who also has an agenda. The Rabbis at JEC are just trying to impart their Jewish knowledge and a sense of belonging to a segment of the American Jewish young adults that have very little if any Jewish education. There is no pressure whatsoever. The majority of the people on the program do not become Orthodox, but they leave and go back to their homes with a little more knowledge and love of their Jewish heritage. They are also less likely to become assimilated and marry out of the faith. Thats a real accomplishment.
Interesting -- Michael Steinhardt is an agnostic; which anyone reading his autobiography or articles about him would know. Growing up in Brooklyn, on Wall Street, and perhaps due to a father into gambling "professionally?" he saw the many downsides of the world we all live in. He writes that only Judaism held meaning for him, but not God. So, he's the premier funder, along with Bronfman.
That attitude seems like Reform-ish to me. However, Reform has the numbers but not the meaning (is Torah holy -- meaning is it from God? -- they say no, from Man -- like Jerry Seinfeld said in his series: is (Judaism) a show about nothing?); and Reconstructionist growing numbers but declining meaning (Is there a God, really?, I mean really). Orthodoxy has their meaning, but maybe not yours -- and then there's Postville -- ritual with lies and opression (illegal, underage workers).
The good news is the various Branches of Judaism and cultural programming offer alternatives from which we can choose that most relevant to us. Mostly, that doesn't work because the collection of the best of them all isn't available in a context that answers these 2 questions:
1. What is Judaism all about? 2. Why would it be meaningful to me?
Leaders I know in DC area hide when I ask them to address these questions in a meaningful context, to be accountible for results, and when I offer ideas.
Mark Werfel ajcwerfel@yahoo.com for comments
What an awful article. I am orthodox from birth and have little to do with kiruv or outreach. It so happens, a good friend of mine used to run the JEC and the administrators of JEC are individuals truly dedicated to educating their fellow Jews in a non judgmental way. I don't know if JEC has a 'hidden agenda' any more than any Rabbi from any stream who would like their congregants to accept or take on a more observant lifestyle. That's sinister??! Don't Conservative, Reform or other types of Rabbis desire from their congregants or students a more committed jewish lifestyle?? if that is called 'sinister' then what are Rabbis for? Jewish leaders cry and wring their hands when they hear the hair rasing statistics of Jewish assimilation in todays society and split hairs how they can make Judaism more palatable to young jewish people. Here you have a group that is able to instill a love for Judaism and a strong identity and suddenly here comes the Forward and cries out 'Traif'! You have a hidden agenda to make jews more committed!' . What a bitter irony. How pathetic. This article is nothing but a kerfuffle. The Forward is trying (desperately) to make something out of nothing. JEC is ultra Orthodox? Hardly! This article illustrates once more that the Forward does not represant the jewish mainstream. I don't recall ever seeing the Frward having an article from an Orthodox columnist - 'Ultra' or otherwise. For the Forward, anyone who is Orthodox is 'Ultra Orthodox'.
Unfortunately I am not eligible for a Birthright trip.
Spend Shabbos with an Orthodox rabbinic family and smoke weed afterwards? Learn to daven with joy? A completely subsidized second trip to Israel?
Where can I sign up? LOLROF (Laughing out loud, rolling on floor).
Most likely whoever funded the followup program felt exposure to Orthodoxy was a good idea. And I agree with that premise.
HEADLINE: Jews Exposed to Religion!!
The Forward comes up with another exclusive expose. :)
What a horrible idea! Jews wanting to teach other Jews about their heritage.
These young people are not being held at gunpoint and nobody is forcing them to go on these wonderful trips. Please go the JEC website and look at their videos and see the truth.
I feel compelled to comment in the JEC's defense. I would never want to blast them. The JEC has given so much to so many people and should be applauded. Regardless of what the agenda may be, they provide a medium for Jews, mostly liberal modern Jews, in the city to meet each other, socialize, meet friends along the way, and make learning more accessible. So what if they want people to become more religious? Isn't for the greater good? Doesn't it serve a bigger purpose? They are not some cult trying to brainwash people. Jews are educated, smart people and can make their own educational decisions as to whether or not they want to practice, become religious, etc…
The tone of this article is a little disturbing. Like others I find it interesting that the author often uses the term "ultra-Orthodox" as if it is universally understood that that label alone is enough to warrant condemnation. As a life-long modern orthodox person who went to mainstream yeshivot, let me tell you... no one in the Orthodox world would consider Ohr Sameyach to be "ultra-orthodox". I don't know where to draw the line to distiguish between Orthodox and Ultra-orthodox, but Ohr Sameyach isn't in the later camp. But they are certainly a kiruv organization and I think that's the author's point.
The author implies that "religious" education is unwarranted in a Jewish program. Well... in case she missed it in hebrew school, surprise - Judaism is a religion! Some Jewish organizations, like Ohr Sameyach or Chabad or NCSY, do a pretty good job educating jews on Jewish heritige. I believe the author's bias is that Birthright should not be affiliated with religion. Under that premise, introducing religious instruction would be out of place. That also seems to be the main point of the critics of the Birthright grant to JEC. Some obviously believe that Jewish programs should always shun "religious" entities in favor or cultural entities. Others (like Rabbi Jaffe, in the previous article) may feel that they need equal footing with any Orthodox organization. I can't think of any other reasons that the author and others should object to "religious" organizations' affiliations with "Jewish" programs. JEC (and Ohr Sameyach) probably do a good job at Jewish education - which is probably why Birthright selected them. Believe it or not, some Jews going to Israel might come back with some new (or renewed) interest in the Jewish Religion. Should we ignore that interest? Must Birthright shun any religious information? Why should a Jewish program shun religion?
If there are equally qualified Conservative or Reform or Reconstructionist or Humanist Jewish educational programs - let them step up to the plate and compete for the Birthright funds. Even if there are successful, committed, non-orthodox, Jewish, religious educational organizations - is it really Birthright's obligation to use them all? Why? Can't they just choose the ones they feel do the best job? Oh yeah, I forgot, it's because we don't like the "religious" part of the Jewish religion.
The series of articles this publication has recently run are rather funny. The whole purpose of Birthright was to keep young people "Jewishly connected". Those who have a stronger Jewish identity are less likely to intermarry - and intermarriage is the true enemy of the Jewish people.
So, a bunch of college kids come home from an inspiring trip, all pumped up about their experience in Israel. What are the deformed and conservative offering them? Nothing. That's why they rejected them in the first place - kids are way smarter then believing that Judaism is bagels and gefilte fish, and synagogue attendance to show off one's new jewelry a few times a year. Fortunately, JEC, Aish and others are there to fill the void. I'm not aware of anyone who was forced against their will to participate in any Orthodox program. But it's standard Forward modus operandi to freak out at the prospect of people choosing to be observant Jews.
Kudos to the Forward and David Kelsey for exposing this egregious hijacking of a supposedly community-wide educational endeavor. Peter's comments, and those of other posters, are ad hominem and abusive. The majority of posters have rushed to defend the JEC's insidious imposition of its ultra-Orthodox agenda (a 'stam' Orthodox agenda would be equally objectionable); this seems to be a kneejerk reaction to perceived crtitique of their beliefs and lifestyle. The article's intent, however, is not to critique that lifestyle, but to critique the highjacking of the Birthright follow-up program by outreach activists. This is warranted critique and of great concern to those who seek to educate rather than indoctrinate or 'cult'-ivate the next generation.
The fact that JEC is the main venue for Birthright NEXT is not JEC's problem. They do what they do, and do it well. It certainly should be a significant option for Birthright alumni. If NEXT wants to fund someone else that is more Reform as well, that is their prerogative. But does a Reform outreach program exist, outside of the efforts of individual synagogues and temples?
Bat-ami, the reason JEC is involved is because your beloved deformed and conservative only do outreach to the intermarried. They can't attract anyone else, because, especially in the case of conservative (flavor the month Judiasm), they've nothing to offer. If they did, thousands upon thousands of kids who had Bar & Bat Mitzvahs through the conservative movement would still be a part of it. Instead, as soon as their obligatory "Bnei Mitzvot" celebration was completed, they chucked the whole thing.
Fortunately, many have had the opportunity to join Birthright programs. Don't you think they're intelligent enough to decide for themselves whether attending a Shabbos dinner at someone's home will make them part of a cult?
I heard a Birthright alumna say that their guides were attractive IDF soldiers, and the people who ran the trip seemed to be encouraging them to have sex.
For example, she said the guy in charge pointedly told them that there were no restrictions on male visitors in their dormitories.
That would be consistent with their pro-natalist policy.
Can anyone confirm or deny that?
What happens when a participant visits an orthodox family?
"He has written on his blog and elsewhere about the successful attempts of groups like the JEC to act as a cover for Ohr Somayach while infiltrating the mainstream Jewish world."
It's strange language to use about a Jewish organization.
One would think one was writing abut Leftist Jews "inflitrating" the Jewish world," or even about the Forward.
These people are part of the Jewish world already unlike to those anti_Israel Jew that hang around the Forward.
I don't know of any anti-Israel Jews who hang around the Forward, or anywhere else, for that matter.
Are you referring to Neturei Karta?
As I kid I lived in a household where the Foverts was a daily occurrence. I read Yiddish and conveersed Yiddish with my parents. I still love Yiddish; it's my Mame Lushn. But that was then, and this is now. To object to religious Jewish organizations that attempt efforts to keep our Jewish youth Jewish is ill-tempered and destructive, Where are the Jewish secularists whose cultural connection to the Jewish people is Yiddish and Jewish culture. It's simply not possible to perpetuate it in this 21st century American milieu. For myself, I would much rather have religious Jews in large numbers going into the future as confident and comfortable Jews, than have these pathetic "cultural" (but ignorant) Jews smirking at those whose connection to our people is strong and permanent and their knowledge much superior to those who are "modern" and "enlightened." Let those who are serious about Jewish survival and continuity do their job. If you can't do it yourself - and you can't - get out of the way.
of course there is nothing wrong with spreading jewish awareness. that's not the point. it's spreading it through chicanery and dishonesty. and speaking as someone who frequented the jec for over a year, that is what they do. they are very good at at it. very embracing and charming... but they have a goal and would never publicize it.
Does the "Reform" movement and its anti-Israel "rabbis" do more harm or good for American Jews?
I wouldn't know. Every Reform rabbi I've had the pleasure of knowing has been a passionate Zionist.
Palestinians Refugees, both Muslims and Christians have more rights to join your program than Jewish folks from NY. As this isn't going to happen in the near future ''BirthRight'' is destined to remain another racist adventure sponsored by the Zionist Entity.
Back to the article. It's about time the Forward and other publications come out with the truth about these so-called-outreach groups. They have done much damage, as their m.o. is to manipulate and control. They do this under the guise of Orthodox Judaism, which, today unfortunately, is simply a platform for right-wing ideology unbecoming of Jews. --Raymond, Yes, Aish and some rabbis of Chabad do the very same thing.
There is nothing wrong with being observant. There is everything wrong with being deceptive. It's just plain unintelligent to be disdainful of other Jews, about whom you know nothing about. It's very sad that so many observant Jews look down on Reform, Conservative or even unaffiliated Jews, many of whom are committed to all manner of Jewish causes and, in fact, have supported and sustained the Jewish community.
"Cult-like"--yes. Consider young girls getting involved with Orthodox practices and by the time they come up for air they have a few children and are therefore trapped. When the Orthodox practice responsible birth control and encourage their teenagers not to rush into marriage--then, the rest of Jewry will take pride in the more Orthodox ways.
I am an alumni of birthright, but went the other direction. I followed the writings of Noam Chomsky, Noah Feldman, Tony Judt, Tony Kushner, Norman Finkelstein, etc and decided that I could no longer be a citizen of the world and be a Jew simultaneously. Therefore I converted to Islam, and now spend my time as a human shield, preventing the IOF from oppressing the Palestinian people. I will also be picketing outside the Toronto Film festival protesting Israeli films
Nathan Greenberg "Palestinians Refugees, both Muslims and Christians have more rights to join your program than Jewish folks from NY. As this isn't going to happen in the near future ''BirthRight'' is destined to remain another racist adventure sponsored by the Zionist Entity."
Fuck you nathan if that is your name, you antisemitic bastard. You are the racist pig.
I doubt you care a fig about the Jewish refugees from the Arab lands. Of coourse they are just Arab Jews so they dont' count.
Besides many of the Jews from NY or wherever are the children of refugees of Jews from the same Arab lands and from Europe.
So take your self righteous bigoted self elsewhere.
There is our DNA there are many books on it. Readers should be prepared never to look at life on this planet in the same way they have before. Sorry about my poster, I do go on. Point well made.
Jer. 31 Behold, the days come saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
Think DNA....this takes the frontier of science another leap forward toward understanding our time, the role of evolutionary patterns of the universe.
Could this verse in Jer. and the DNA change all religious leaders thinking?
I was around when Reb Noach Weinberg was raising money to begin his yeshivah and outreach in Jerusalem. You can't imagine a more decent soul.I studied in Baltimore with his elder brother Reb Yakov Weinberg, another truly great man. This article makes Aish and Ohr Someach aound like some sinister plot to poison Jewish youth. Do Conservative Jews no longer wear tephillin or observe Shabbat? Are Reform Rabbis outraged by such encouragement? When I first rread this article I checked whether it was Purim or April 1st.
Aish, wants to bring about union with the all religious groups. I like Aish. I would like to bring about all groups in union with the One True G-D of All That Is. But I cannot do nothing within my self, for I am only me, but through G-D working in all of us that call on His holy name, the world would change. I look around , I read what you all write, my heart has so much tears of my own but it still crys for all the wrong the people have had to put up with due to in short---mankind sin----. Only G-D can come into our hearts and wipe away our tears. I try to show us how to get there,I have been there and I want to bring all the broken harted with me. It is written...The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
In the call of Abram, and the creation of the nation Israel. G-D purified and swparated a small stream from the vast polluted river of humanity. His purpose was to keep this branch pure, (remember a branch is but a part of the tree) and separated, that with it G-D might eventually cleanse the great river itself. Its purity consisted in its clear-cut separation to the One True G-D in the midst of universal idolatry read Deut 6; and Isa 43.
Evil is not an insignificant passing fad or some trivial temporary aberration affecting only mankind, to be lightly regarded and trifiingly dealt with. Far from being inconsequential, the whole subject is invested with the weightiest consequence. Sin is plainly sinful, alienating from G-D, and dooming eternally. It is blighting and terrible destructive manifestation in the moral universe calls forth the mighty demonstration of G-D'S infinite goodness and grace in His redemptive plans and purposes embracing the ages read Eph.1:3=6 his dramatic revolt Isaiah 14:11-15 his organization in the heavenlies of a stupendous host of evil angels under him Eph 5-13, his agency in the fallof man Gen.3 his present relentless and sinister activity and final doom with all who follow him.
The angels seeded here and out of all this G-D will make bring about freeing us. That is why it is written,,,,Jeremiah 31...Behold, the day---s come....., saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and the seed of beast.
All that G-D has done, was planed long ago. We were made in the image of our G-D. We are to be His name sake, it is written Leviticus 22....Do not profane My Holy name.
"The LORD, the G-D of heaven, who brought me out of my father's house hold and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath saying, ' To your offspring I wll give this land', He will send His angel before you.....
It is written in Job the Spirit of G-D made me,(below, flesh, death} but the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ( above, spirit, everlasting life)
When we put sin out of our lives, we are given the breath of the Almighty, it is a declared decree for us to obey. Mark this...In Psallms 2: ....I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said to me,Thou art my Son; this day have I brought you forth.
I normally post on Jerusalem Post, Haaretz and Jewish Chronicle. Their posters vary in outlook but there are certain boundaries of correct English usage that keep posters on the subject being discussed. Some of the abusive language in the posts on this article perhaps is unnecessary in presenting one's opinion. On the other hand, what a scandal !! Rabbis encouraging Jewish learning and Jewish life. Who do these Rabbis think they are ?? Rabbis ? The meaning of Eretz Israel to us Jews is that it is the Holy Land, where Prophets walked and we once worshipped G-d in His holy Temple. Birthright wasn't created just to increase Israel's income from tourism. Encouraging students to spend time studying in Israel isn't an Orthodox monopoly. Neither is observing Shabbat, Kashrut or Tephillin. Since when do Conservative and Reform Rabbis object to these things?
As an active participant in JEC events and classes, this article truly saddens me. The JEC brings together young Jews in Manhattan and creates an open and inviting community for learning and socializing. There is nothing heavy-handed about their approach and their trips are a GIFT. Matt Mindell, Rabbi Lawrence and the rest of the staff are doing a wonderful thing for so many people. They don't deserve to be criticized for what they've done and what I hope they continue to do for Birthright Alumni in NY. I only wish that other cities could provide a similar center for my peers.
Kudos to the exposure of impressionable Jewish youths to tribal ritual. Birthright should be brought under an internationalist control, and Jewish kids should be exposed to the Naqba, which is the greatest incidence of ethnic cleansing in the 20th century. They need to visit the tomb of Yasser Arafat, Izz al Din Qassem, and others who have bravely sacrificed their lives for the Palestinian cause. They need to be warned of the dangers of exclusivist tribal rituals such as circumcision, kashrut, shabbat, family purity, and others that belong in the 7th century. These trips cause more harm than good because they foster tribal solidarity over world solidarity. I think that Michael Steinhardt needs to be investigated at the Hague
Stella not_so_Adorable, what did you eat today? You seem to be suffering from ingestion of the brain.
And how come the moderator (is there one?) hasn't deleted the obviously inappropriate comments in this thread - especially those heavy in 4-letter words.
What I'd like to know from my fellow commentors, is, if "Orthodox" is so awful, what do you perceive Jewish observance to be? Is being Jewish just guilt, bagels and yiddishisms, not necessarily in that order? BTW, the term Orthodox was coined by the Conservative movement. And prior to less then 300 years ago, there were no other branches. You guys are totally the new kids on the block. And, as Ruth Book (who posted above) recommends, you should only have 1.2 kids each - that way, even without the intermarriage aspect, you'll disappear within another generation. Coming soon to your neighborhoods: The Frummies!!
I don't get it.
Judaism is a religion, not a social club or financial institution.
Jews recieved the Torah. That is who we are. If you do not want to follow the Torah, then don't call yourself Jewish, and do not insult or berate me for being Jewish.
Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years. Why would any sane person, who does not want to follow the Torah, want to label themselves as Jewish? I don't get it.
Can some "secular" (non-Jew) please explain why you would want to be labeled Jewish, with all the racism that exists today, if you do not follow Jewish law. It just does not make sense.
It seems to me that the Jewish Forward and Gal Beckerman have an agenda as well.
Ephriam, To be a Jew, is to follow the law. The law written with our burning desire to do the will or our Beloved Father. For it is written in Ps. 51....Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: (heart and mind) and in the hidden part (rock, the mountain, the true foudation of the temple of G-D).....thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
These are the true Jew, the ones that turned, and put sin out.
Judaism, has been in error....Moses gave us only one sided tablets.
The covenant has been broken in every generation!
It is written in Jer. 31...But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those day-s, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
Those are the people that will not give the free will offering. Their desire is to keep the old ways and rituals and customs and stay blind and stiff. G-D will change them.
G-D tells in Jeremiah 32.... For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.
To be a holy child of G-D is for all...... is it not written....Jeremiah 32..."Iam the LORD, the G-D of All Mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?"
Isaiah 45..The Law, the desire of G-D'S heart continually calls, it sommons all of us. The Law, upholds the world, and enables each part to perform its function. For there is not a member in the human body but has its counterpart in the world as a whole. The higher and the lower grades, of this world and the world to come are to be found here.
David, said,...."Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold woundrous things out of thy law" Psalms 119.
The true Jew, a holy child of the Living G-D .....for it is written of them.....The Song of Solomon 4....A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and flowing streams from Lebanon.
A fountain of gardens--is a description of Isaac, of whom it is written " And Isaac dwelt by the well of the living and ---seeing one---." The "well" is none other but the Shekinah; "the Living One" is and allusion to the Richteous One who lives in the two worlds, that is, who lives above, in the higher world, and who also lives in the lower world, which exists and is illumined through the holy children, that are brought forth.
For it is written...Job 33...The Spirit of G-D made me, (flesh , below, death) but the breath of the Almighty gives me life.( spirit life above,forever)
...a righteous man who illumines his generation as the living Deity above illumines the universe. So the well constantly looks to the "Living One". to be illumined.
Agenda,.............we should all have ONE goal.... and that is to seek G-D with all our hearts and minds.....not mankind....and what they think G-D is ....Be the like the woman in Genesis... that spoke and seen the G-D who sees her. Ro it is written...Genesis 16...She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her; You are the G-D who sees me, for she said 'I have now seen the One who sees me." El Roee.
Mark this.....It was necessary that G-D should bless Isaac, becauwe Abraham had not bledded him, and the reason why Abraham had not blessed him was to prevent the blessing being transmitted to Esau/ So the task of blessing fell, so to speak , to the Almighty.
" And Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi" the Well of the Living and Seeing One, that is. as the The well where appeared the------------------------------------" Angel of the Covenant". The Shekinah, to which Isaac became attached, thereby drawing upon himself the blessing of the Almighty."
The Blessing is giving in the breath of the Almighty that gives eternal life to the a person who has turned and put sin out, the everlasting covenant.... the angel that stands at the gate lets us enter in to see the tree of life in the garden.
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, Spirit to spirit. Who will G-D call you?
"And prior to less then 300 years ago, there were no other branches."
The Orthodoxy of the Haredim, represented by organizations like Aish and Ohr Someyach, is a modern invention, much like evangelical Christianity. It's based upon a romanticized vision of a past that never truly existed. This is not the observant Judaism of your great-grandparents.
"And, as Ruth Book (who posted above) recommends, you should only have 1.2 kids each - that way, even without the intermarriage aspect, you'll disappear within another generation. Coming soon to your neighborhoods: The Frummies!!"
Right - that's why, after more than 200 years, we're still here.
How about this, Charnie? The Haredi world is collapsing, succumbing to pressure from without and deteriorating from within. They have another two generations left, at most. They've also spent the past several decades subsuming most of the rest of the Orthodox world. As a result, when they go, that will pretty much be the end of Orthodoxy.
Jeff, Did you ever read the book of Jasher? Joshua 10: "Is not this written in the Book of Jasher?" and allso it is found in 2 Sam.i:
The Book of Jasher , states:....Mankind must be an accountable being, and ----ordained---- by his glorious Creator to live for ever. It is to be observed, that the fall of mankind, the promise of the woman's seed, and the early predictions of a deliverer, are not mentioned by Jasher; npr does he at all allude to any of the Predictions in the book of Moses, excrpting those of his song, in which the future fates of the tribes are predicted. Shall we determine this to have arisen from his knowledge, that these subjects were designed to be revealed by the Hebrew lawgiver, or form his ingnorance of them? It appears to me that his book simply is a work of record. But nevertheless, G-D and the divine mysteries were appointed to be made known by one greater than Jasher, his master and teacher.
Mark this....Jasher ought to have been printed in the Bible before the book of Joshua. To put a book back then out of print, and out of the peoples hands, was very simple.....the priest did not put it in or write it. So, it realy was not lost. Put out of print! Read it and then ask your self why? Then ask your G-D. Truth is for those who seek The Holy One.
One of the most remakable circumstances is , that this book is not more freqently referred to. But it is the lie and deceit that covers us so be can not see. I account for on this principle, that it was not regarded as the books of Moses were. Qestion, why name G-D'S Holy Words, after a man, even if he was being used by ---the hand of G-D who brought them out? The book of Jasher, does not make the clame to be any thing other than putting down events as they as they took place. Jasher declaring that he received his information from Caleb, his father, and Hezron, his grandfather, and from Azuba, his mother. This applies to the events which occured before his times. he afterwards records ---facts---as they arose, and states them with the simplicity and force of truth.
I noted when I read this record of Jasher that he did not narrated events by him, nor does he introduce his commands with the authority of a lawgiver or proclaim them, as Moses did, with "Thus saih the LORD."
As a book of record, it appears to have truth without mixture of error, for its peculiar object and design. His name, Jasher, or the Upright, seems to stamp all his words and actions, and his counsels and laws are dictated by love to his countrymen, zeal for the honour of G-D, and a regard to the welfare of his people and nation, and their posterity, for the honour of G-D and not himself, and a regard to the welfare of his people and nation, and their posterity, for whom he prays with ardour and affection to the time of his death.
Jeff, why do you think, G-D'S face is turned? Why would you want to be live those of the past. Why make fun, of those who are trying to bring us together? Not every thing I like, but us all over the world being United putting sin would have some effect, would it not. Think all the things.....we have done...TV for one. Take sin out of that and movies, one step at a time by all of us. What a step that would be. But be real, could you see someone turning down a job for the big money, becouse it was not of G-D. The shows that are not of G-D sell. The biggest lie we do is to our selfs....when we say...its not so bad....we deceive ourselves in thinking we are good. When we are far from it.
Look ahead, pray, turn, be part of the generation that wips G-D'S tears away.
G-D is making war on mankind....The world looks very different when the observer is not consumed by fear. The tool, G-D is using on both sides to make them see Truth and desire Truth to let them know Wissdom in the hidden part, our true foundation. We are the dwelling place that G-D puts his law when we trun form all sin. It is written Ps.51:
"Look ahead, pray, turn, be part of the generation that wips G-D'S tears away."
You could wipe God's tears away by getting some much needed psychiatric care.
Jeff, Aklog hot dir gelrofen, you must be into Baal Pear better you Baal Teshuva and enter in Bah Tzoor. I would like to see you become Bal Semcheh. good by my chavurah
Gal Beckerman is absolutely despicable. Guess it’s wrong for an organization to try to enrich one’s life. I feel compelled to defend the JEC for bringing POSITIVE things into my life and into the lives of many of aquaintances, as enriching me with knowledge about a religion I knew so little about. Am I observant of Shabbas? Absolutely not. Do I eat kosher meat? Not at all. Did the JEC hold a gun to my head and make me do either? Nope, but I had some wonderful dinners on Friday nights that left me spiritually fulfilled. Probably the only ulterior motive of the rabbis is to help you learn more about yourself, your religion and your people. Not a bad tradeoff for a $699 subsidized trip and an extensive amount of events after you get back ...
Yasher koach, Bess. Your comments should certainly enlighten those who are trembling with fear at the possibility that Birthrate participants are being dragged off against their will to eat Shabbos dinners. My gosh, what a horrendous ordeal that must be - good food, conversation, wine. OK, maybe you didn't get to see your favorite TV show that evening, but that's what TIVO is for.
Jeff, where did you formulate your picture of our heritage from? It's interesting, albeit wrong. And the word Haredi has been so misappropirated here that it's comical. If someone wears a black hat (at times), that makes them Haredi? I'm very familiar with both Ohr Somayach and Aish, knowing many people who've learned there, including my husband and many of his friends. And there's not a one who is off the wall religious. So perhaps you can define what YOU mean by Haredi, and then we can have a beneficial discussion.
Chanie, it is true what you say of Aish, what they do is to bring the truth out, and they want UNITY. If you love G-D, you would want unity with the G-D of Host. A host can house many.
Worshiping G-D we should do in unity. ONE G-D,one people! It is written Jer. 9 .....Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in thise things I delight, says the LORD.
Isaiah 39...G-D'S faithfulness, Judah's true hope. is well beyond even the piety of the good king. Life in "the house of the LORD" is a match and meeting of faithful king and faithful G-D. The future depends upon that match.
"LIFE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD"-----Psalm 51, the hidden part. Ps. 2 the declared decree that G-D gave David who was brought forth into the house of the LORD. Ps. 101:1-8 who David found the "LIFE IN" "THE HOUSE OF THE LORD". Job 33 were it starts and ends....The Spirit of G-D made me, (flesh below) the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ( above spiritual life in the house of G-D.)
We need to turn....The living those not given over to death, give thanks. Thanks is to give voice to G-D fidelity, which is the powerful alternative to death. There can be no ultimate claim made by death, and it is this that faithful Israel must teach the young.
G-D saves/we sing................to the LORD of life, our life in Him.
Not just the Jewish nation, but all nations, should sing, lets us go up to the mountain of the LORD, let us learn of His ways, let us worship at His feet.
Turn, put sin out, get ready for the trip, into the hidden part, the Rock, the mountain of the LORD, the true foundation. Become, the ark the vessel that has the law written on both sides, on earth as it is in heaven, the law on your inward parts, your hearts and minds.
Time, is now this generation to wipe away the tears others have given our LORD, our G-D Most High.
The G-D of All Mankind!
I took the reloaded trip. I then too all the required classes, one on one study and 'shabbat' trips required to take the Legacy trip. 10 days before the trip, they told me I could not go on the Legacy trip because only my father is Jewish and not my mother. *They knew this BEFORE I signed up for Leagcy. So considering the above events, how can you say that the JEC does not have an Orthodox agenda.
Jason, think nothing of it, this trip is nothing to the trip offered you now.
First, Isaiah tells us of them, they do not even know who their G-D is.
For it is written....Isaiah 1...Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled agains me.
Look Jason the next line......The ox knows it owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.
My friend, in Job it is written of our births, below and above. This is the union of our Mother and Father, whos mirror image we are to be made in.
Job 33....The Spirit of G-D (our Mother) made me, (the seed she cares for) but the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (the union of below and above.)
Lets look again at this...The Spirit of G-D made me, (below, flesh death) ....but the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (above, spirit, everlasting life in the kingdom of G-D in the house of G-D in the family of the G-D Head, and the name is upon us.
A woman has many seeds, but nevertheless, only few come to full life in her. Did I help you my friend?