Return to Sanity Will Make 5T Jewish Times Inconsequential

                                                                                                                                 ב"ה 

9 Kislev 5772                                                                                           December 5, 2011

                  Objecting to the Five Towns Jewish Times is a Singular Honor

    

It is with utmost disappointment, but not surprised, that I learn of that the editor of the misnamed Five Towns Jewish Times --- noted for discriminating against fellow Jews who are Sephardic, Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist, by intentionally pursuing "a business model" aimed to gratuitously divide through being silent and indifferent of their achievements --- has intruded in what should be a non-controversy: the appearance of a Catholic priest, a Righteous Among the Nations, and upon the invitation of Rabbi Hershel Billet, at the populous Young Israel of Woodmere, to discuss a little-known Holocaust story. (It is not by accident that this newspaper is not permitted to enter our household.)

            Instead of applauding the initiative --- Father Patrick Desbois is a remarkable for working to uncover the gravesites of Jews brutally murdered by the Einsatzgrupen --- there has been calumny heaped from anonymous rabbinic quarters, shrilly maintaining that no contact with adherents from other faiths is ever sanctioned, even, if, as Rabbi Billet stated, the prelate's remarks were after worship, with the Ark closed, and without mention of the guest's savior. Parenthetically, and doubly sadly, such attitudes obtain in some Orthodox circles, even issuing versions of fatwas discouraging entry to non-Orthodox Jewish sanctuaries, referring to such structures with the intended demeaning term "church!"  

            Let it be said that I have had my differences with Rabbi Billet --- the monopolistic and mismanaged 5T Va'ad, Jewish fundamentalism, immoderate treatment of our President, advocating a right-wing agenda, maximalist approach to settlements in the West Bank --- but we disagree agreeably, an approach from which the hypocritical 5TJT editor, ostensibly favoring Jewish unity, and nameless rabbis, can profitably learn, for the benefit of our community, and the glory of G-d!

Further, let us honor by emulating the example by inclusion of Orthodox Rabbi Arthur Schneier, spiritual leader-extraordinaire of Manhattan's Park East Synagogue, and founder of the inter-ethnic, inter-religious, Appeal of Conscience Foundation for the promotion of tolerance and understanding. Sadly, our vaunted Five Towns have a long way to traverse to realize this goal; the clownish antics of the 5T Jewish Times, professionally offensive, postpones the day of our own deliverance from real and imagined demons, even as the messianic age continues to elude us!

One can hope, and before the next Day of Atonement, that introspection, and concern for fellow Jews, and mankind, will inspire constructive labor on behalf of Benevolence, Love, and Harmony; meanwhile, let us unite to marginalize the toxic effects of the Five Towns Jewish Times, utterly rejecting the poisonous Kool Aid administered by its editor-publisher.

            Sincerely, and with fraternal affection,

                          Asher

            Prof. Asher J. Matathias            

            312 Longacre Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598-2530

            516-374-2958 Mobile: 369-5799 AsherJmat@Aol.com

For ad hominem reporting and commentary ad nauseam, see:

http://www.yated.com/content.asp?contentid=504

http://www.5tjt.com/local-news/12353-a-priest-in-the-sanctuary

http://www.5tjt.com/local-news/12439-rabbinic-decisions-selective-scrutiny#addcomments http://www.5tjt.com/local-news/12521-letters-to-the-editor

*Your email and its reference to Rabbi Schneier could not have come at a more opportune time. I read it while standing next to the Rabbi in Vienna

Austria at a reception hosted by President Fisher and in the presence of 

leaders of Catholic, Russian Orthodox, and Jewish faiths. The Rabbi is 

appreciative of your remarks. Sincerely, Benny (Cantor R.), New York, NY

**Bravo, Asher! Best, Maxine D., New York, NY

*That's a great character witness --- Maxine D. --- what a joke! By the way it's you and your friends, and your Obama way of doing things that have brought society to the brink of destruction. Look inward buddy at your terrible sins. The Jewish Star … made for you. L.G., 5TJT, Lawrence, NY

**Well said, Asher. M.M., Lawrence, NY

*Kudos on your introspective and timely comments. P.S., Lawrence, NY

**Thank you., G.F., Teaneck, NJ**100% to you, Asher!!! S.R., Valley Stream, NY

*Give all bigots Hell! P.K., Baldwin, NY

 

*Asher, I love you. Let the idiots wallow in their sinat chinam. I, for one, have not gotten over R' Hesh's attitude with Gourmet Glatt. I do, however, find that he was innocent this time and even to be lauded. Ed (R' G.), Hewlett, NY

**Hi, Asher. Hope you are well. Fellow Jews or not, their intolerance is the same as that of terrorists.Thank G-d they at least do not launch suicide bombers.

Their positions and statements are the kinds of hate-filled incitements that probably led to an Orthodox Jewish murderer killing a true peace-maker, Prime Minister Rabin. Yasher K'oach on your continued efforts to shine light on this ungodly hatred, hypocritically promoted by self-proclaimed religious authorities.

H.A.M. (a proudly Reform Jew), Norwich, NY

*Hear, hear. For 3,000 years Jews have been the best informed section of the populace, the most literate, the best writers and thinkers. Now, after three millennia, we are reduced to the likes of the Five Towns Fish Wrap. More of an excuse to wrap around advertising than a real journalistic endeavor, it veers between long winded pieces written as if the author was paid by the word, to right wing apologists looking for any outlet they can find, to articles cut and pasted from other sources. C.M., North Woodmere, NY

**Well said. Marcia Haddad Ikonomopoulos, Museum Director
Kehila Kedosha Janina,

280 Broome Street, NYC, NY 10002

*Amen, to that! I will never understand this factionalism, not toward fellow Jews, and those who attempt to be peacemakers in the world. When has exclusivity and insularity ever brought peace, love, or achdut --- all values stressed in Jewish teachings and cited as reflective of the example HaShem is setting for us? They should be both embarrassed and ashamed by their dogmatism. Where is the ahavat chinam, the love which is causeless, that love said to cause the Beit HaMikdash to be rebuilt? Instead, we have more sinat chinam, causeless hatred which is said to the cause of churban, the destruction of the Holy Temple. Didn't HaShem care when the Egyptians were drowning simply because they, too, were works of His hands? Didn't He send Yona to save the people of Nineveh, and they were not a G-d-fearing people? How dare we tolerate such divisive approach to learning how to get along with each other in a world that HaShem gave us to occupy together? And, finally, isn't it a worthwhile challenge to retain and practice our belief system in spite of the many pulls in other directions? How did we get this way? I know a young man who is a strongly identified Jew, albeit, perhaps, not an observant one by the standards set by the 5T Jewish Times. He and his wife bought a house in Woodmere, hoping to raise their two beautiful boys. He is so unhappy there; his neighbors are so very insular, and he wants to move to a community like East Rockaway where he can feel more accepted. To me, that is a crime. What about the mitzvah of kiruv, bringing people together, rather than alienating them? We can do better, and we must do better! Oh Asher, it is you who bring light to all of us ---speak your mind, recognize wrongdoing, and continues to use your light to enlighten your students and followers! I applaud you for your efforts! Keep up the good work! Love to Anna, Marcia H.E., Lawrence, NY