A is for Aiding, Abetting, and Accountability

This week of Jewish News features two events which I believe feature an underlying factor: lack of accountability, . The first event was an emergency campaign to raise $50,000 for the boys in Japan. The second was the sentencing of W. Runge.

In the latter case, the defendant was accused of deceiving the state in procuring tax credits for film, pleaded guilty, and then proceeded to set up a now defunct blog slandering the judge and prosecution, accusing them of impropriety, political conspiracy, and anti-semitism. Her story and words were featured on the Chazak Hotline and in Jewish publications, including the Jewish Star (see Shining a Light on Iowa for some rather grotesque charges again "Iowa"). While her story and accusations certainly didn't receive the press of other ongoing stories, the underlying themes were the same.

The judge handed her a doozy of a sentence, although she appeared contrite in court, based on her public statements from the time she plead guilty onwards. Here are his words, which were delivered hesitantly and with some pain.

This is a very difficult case for the court. Here is a defendant who has no prior criminal history, who has a family, and who isn't normally a candidate the court would consider as a candidate for incarceration. However, this defendant not just before her plea of guilty, but even after her plea of guilty, has not taken responsibility for her behavior. There is nothing muddying the waters about that. And your statement here today is not genuine and not sincere. What is sincere is the things you said out of the courtroom, out of your probable perception that it would make its way to the courtroom, because there is no reason not to be truthful there in that setting. And it that setting, you have attacked the judges who have presided in your case, you've attacked the prosecutors, you've blamed this on anti-semitism, you have blamed this on some sort of political conspiracy, and you have not taken responsibility for what you did.

And what you did was a felony. It was a criminal class C felony. It is considered a very serious crime by the Iowa Legislature. It was an attempt to defraud the people of the state of Iowa. And one of the most important considerations for the court in determining an appropriate sentence is to. . . it's not one of. . . it's the guiding principals for the court to choose a sentence that will both provide a maximum opportunity for your rehabilitation and also deter the commission of this offense by others. This cannot happen by placing someone on probation who does not accept responsibility for what she did, who publicly proclaimed that what she did was not wrong, and it certainly will not deter others from doing that.

This is a case, that in my judgement, calls out for the court to send a message to you and a message to others who would engage in this kind of behavior that it is not accepted, that it is criminal, and it won't be tolerated.

Whether at some point in time I might be willing to reconsider my judgement in this case is open to question. But for right now, at this moment in time, based on what you did and, again, your complete, what I would call arrogant, defiant, disclaiming responsibility, this in my judgement is an appropriate sentence. For the reasons that I just said, you are sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed 10 years, you are accessed fine, the mandatory minimum fine of $1000 along with the applicable surcharge. I'm going to suspend your sentence because of your incarceration. . . etc.

In the case of the boys in Japan, the emergency campaign sought to raise $50,000 this week in order to pay a fine for Yaakov Yosef in order that he Japanese authorities consider transferring him to Israel. While other Jewish publications had previously published other accounts of the boys' story, the current account reads as such:

Japan. A strange and foreign land, geographically and ideologically. A country whose crime rate is exceptionally low due to its merciless treatment of criminals and even suspected criminals, whose penal system includes harsh labor camps and prisons. A place where two of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel are incarcerated for over two and half years through no fault of their own.

"Through no fault of their own." In each and every case I've highlighted in the past few years, the underlying theme of Jewish media is "though not fault of his/her/their own. It is a witch hunt, the product of anti-semitism, the result of a cruel penal system (never mind that Hashem commands societies to establish courts of law and seek justice).

I don't any particular issue with a kehilla stepping forward to help accused and/or convicted Jewish criminals, although these "pidyon shevuyim" causes are not my tzedakah of choice as I don't believe any of the cases presented obligate that I divert money from the little real tzedakah we are able to give after bills, tuition, and shul dues for pidyon shevuyin.

What I do have an issue with is lack of accountability and lack of introspection brought on by a Jewish media circus. In an attempt to create stories of inspiration and chizuk or in an attempt to promote being dan l'chaf zechut, lines of battles are being drawn in the sand between "them" and "us", and lost amongst the furvor are any opportunities for introspection and accountability. And in the case of Ms. Runge, giving her a platform to attack the prosecution and judges (an example here at Matzav), media--her own and Jewish media--has essentially aided and abetted in her sentencing, a sentencing that no doubt would have been much softer had she expressed only contrition and throwing herself at the mercy of the judge.

If the boys in Japan (ages 17, 19, and 22) were not at fault for accepting $1,000 each for agreeing to transport antiques in closed false bottom suitcases at the sum of $1,000 each (a sum that is being called "small" but for which is takes much effort and education for many a working person to net), then who is is at fault?

The Jewish media is busy talking about the lack of rachmanut present in the Japanese justice system and criticizing it full force (see Gil Student's article from 2009). While there are tehillim gatherings, speeches in shul, and emails being sent around listserves, I've yet to see someone in a position of "authority" talking about parenting, vocations, employment, poverty, or life outside of yeshiva.

The Japan case isn't the first case where frum boys acted as drug mules, nor will it be the last in there is no accountability. I can think of at least two other past cases, and in one the (non-frum) judge gave the parents of some 17 year old boys quite the mussar schmooze on parenting. If the boys share no fault, than certainly the parents and those who act in loco parentis share some responsibility? How do young, unmarried men (from impoverished families) make it out of Yeshiva without eyebrows raised, much less out of the country? I can barely make it out my front door without inquiries from the in-laws! When I was a teen, I could barely make it down the block unnoticed. I specifically remember one time where my *father* interrogated me about a T-Shirt I was wearing that he did not recognize.

Long overdue is some real accountability. [Cynicism warning: but all there seems to be are messages about tzniut].

In Other Words. . . It's the Man's Fault

Note: There is another posting made today also. Shabbat Shalom to all my readers.

Hat Tip: The Wolf who has just about covered the economic aspects of the post.

News Flash: Israeli Chareidi leadership believes in the economic fallacy of a limited pie, whereas high income earners and the wealthy are keeping the poor poor. There is no recognition of lack of *marketable skills* or putting the cart before the horse as families try to play catchup they first have a (large) family and last plant a vineyard. Chazal were observers of the human condition. These leaders, not particularly.

In other words, the state of poverty in the Chareidi community can all be blamed on "the man." So it appears we have our own [insert name of self-proclaimed or elected leader]s who are completely unwilling to take a good look in the mirror and who, worse yet, have NO trust in the people they claim to represent. I'd go so far as to say that they believe those they represent are incapable.

It is very painful to watch this community being led off an economic cliff. It is even harder to see that their own are leading them to the precipitous. Here are the money quotes:

"The country is lying to its citizens. Once again it has been shown that leaving the ranks of welfare recipients and joining the job market does not change the situation and people who work very hard for their living are unable to make ends meet."
"The problem is especially acute in the chareidi public. The state does not recognize the years of yeshiva and seminary study as it recognizes the years of study of its secular citizens. As a result both husband and wife who work earn paltry salaries, and are unable to extract the family from the cycle of poverty. On the other hand there are people earning as much as an entire neighborhood."
"We need a far-reaching change and a totally new attitude. There are enormous class gaps in this country that will turn into an existential social problem."
"Going to work solves nothing; that's all nonsense. In the State of Israel, today someone who wants to get out of the cycle of poverty has to network with the elites and the power centers just to get a decent salary that will really enable him to make a respectable living." [So start by earning an "unrespectable" living as our sages did].
"His dismissed out of hand claims that the chareidi public is to blame for a state of poverty rooted in a failure to enter the job market."

The one this that Gafni has right is this:

"These class disparities have led to very difficult situations throughout history in all places. . . . . " But I imagine what he has in mind isn't at all what I have in mind.

"Financial Impossibility": Stop with the Excuses Already

There is an editorial up by a Matzav columnist and Rabbi declaring frum living a "financial impossibility." I have dedicated a lot of space on this blog to trying to empower people in Orthodox community to take the bull by the horns and create financially viability for their family. I find it frustrating when the message that comes from all sides is that being frum = poor. I imagine that many of us have family members from the "old country" who weren't particularly fond of being poor and blamed it on religion. I find it highly irresponsible for people in positions of influence to put out a message that we are doomed by virtue of adherence to Torah, when in fact we are largely doomed by our own dysfunction and foolishness.

Part of that dysfunction is that we spend money like poor people. We have no clue how to prioritise, not at the communal level and often not at the individual level. The author of the editorial lumps simcha/wedding expenses and parental support together with food, clothing, and shelter. That is telling and it is exactly where the problem lies. He prefaces this list of expenses with the disclaimer that "most of these expenses cannot be considered luxuries by any stretch of the imagination." Pretending that this, that, and the other thing are necessities is exactly why far too many families in frum community are way in over their heads! We are spending like fools on an individual and a communal level and instead of taking an honest look at our spending habits, we declare most of it "necessary."

I have a brochure from a known tzedakah sitting on right here (I plan to scan it soon) which places Hachnosas Kallah on page one. The donations being sought for the kallah's package include (this isn't a complete list, just what I'm reprinting):
$3,600 for apparel
$300 for classes
$1,800 for 2 wigs
$900 for bed and bath
$2,800 for bedroom furniture
$840 for 2nd night sheva brochos
$2,500 for the shabbos sheva brochos catering expense and $800 for the hall
$1100 for the melava malkah

Following hachnosos kallah are pages regarding collecting for medical expenses, clothing families, food, and helping people in business. Yes, hachnasat kallah is a mitzvah, but the priorities in spending are beyond foolish. A couple that can't even dream of supporting themselves (the charity is also collecting for 18 months of rent for these couples) is doling out $3,600 for apparel!

The habits I see in the frum community are habits I see in many disadvantaged areas and in 3rd world countries (see this article on Egypt's average wedding cost in comparison to average family income). We have tons of smokers (and drinkers). We have families dripping in "bling" that don't make even $20,000 a year. Here is a clue: if the price of all your jewelry, the price of all of your silver, and the price of your sheitel exceed your yearly household income, it doesn't matter who provided all of these goodies, you have a consumption problem. We have families in section 8 housing who hire cleaning help. We borrow as a way of life (and are told that this is the way to survive). We marry of teens and 20 year old children to the tune of mid-five figures who have yet to pay an electricity bill of their own. Of course, we don't invest in their education because we already spent the bank on everything else. We spend on designer gear and clothing as if it was the 11th commandment (thou shalt dress children in matching clothing, buy shoes at Stride Rite, and push a McClaren, Peg, Valero, or Mountain Buggy stroller).

Our habits look pretty bad and it is time to take an honest assessment instead of turning a blind eye and calling most of the expenses "necessary." Enough with the excuses!

Recommended reading for every frum family should be Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (reviewed here) and The Millionaire Next Door (to be reviewed). No, these books won't tell you how to pay for day school/yeshiva, chassunas, and sleepaway camp. But they will let you in on how financial success is built: a hate of debt, a willingness to step outside of the box, and a low consumption lifestyle, and savings to help generate security and eventually dividends. We have to remember that expense begets expense and that savings generate income. From Rav Salanter to the Ben Ish Hai, I have yet to see an endorsement of the crazy spending that we are told is necessary.

We need to deprogram ourselves from all of the bad financial advice we have been fed from the importance of household help to the necessity of everything under the sun and start to make adjustments. I sure don't need my children getting the message that living a Torah life means poverty. Our kids don't want to be poor and neither do I!

Obscene!

For only $30 dollars a month you can help feed a child in a far away 3rd world country. Anyone want to guess what a well known tzedakah is asking to feed a family for Pesach alone? Take $30 and start multiplying. . . . . . . . . .

Obscene is the word my husband blurted out after I showed him an advertisement that was running in a publication for a well known tzedakah for aniyei Eretz Yisrael. This advertisement detailed the costs needed to be covered for aniyei Eretz Yisrael as follows:

Seder night for a smaller family = $214
Seder night for a larger family = $404
Entire Yom Tov for a smaller family (including clothing) = $1449
Entire Yom Tov for a larger family (including clothing) = $3088

My husband and I were simply astounded by these (high) figures and how an organization could ask for far more for one night or one week than the donor you are trying to attract is planning to spend, possibly for 6 months on their own needs? (The advertisement ran in a community that is not known for high incomes).

I only hope that the numbers are inflated. Personally I see no good purpose in inflating numbers. Inflating numbers doesn't underscore need, it makes the donor question the need, especially when your middle income donor in America, who is likely cutting back to make their own ends meet, isn't planning on spending so much for their own needs.

The notation "including clothing" was made in the form of an edit (light blue), in handwriting with a ^, instead typewriting. This too is disturbing. I have been reading numerous reports that the food situation in Eretz Yisrael is desperate. And when the situation regarding food is desperate, it seems to me that the concentration should simply be on feeding people. Yet that does not appear to be the case. In this report, a major philanthropist, is told by well known Rabbonim about the terrible and rampant poverty (bochurim in yeshiva are being fed only bread and water for breakfast and supper and those who have families with food-which from other articles seems to be few- are being asked to go home for Shabbat). One would think that given the situation regarding food, a major donor would be asked to either donate food and/or start some sort of program that could help the situation in the long term via job training and placement. But instead the recommended initiative was to donate suits to bochurim, of which 10,000 were donated.

While I do believe that we need to concentrate on our needs at home (a point emphasized by both Rabbi Schachter and the Rabbonim in Baltimore at another event I have yet to report on--thanks readers for all the info you have sent me!), the poverty in Eretz Yisarel is of great concern to me because the way it is being dealt (and I have another post about wedding takanot in the Belz and Yeshiva communities in Eretz Yisrael) underscores some very troubling issues vis a vis priorities in spending.

Signing off for now. (Hope this post wasn't too harsh).

The Slavery Mentality

Directly related to the discussion on how to rescue an entire community from crushing poverty would be the discussion on how to free a community from a slavery mentality.

We know that when Hashem took the nation out of Egypt, there were complaints about difficulty of life in the midbar, specifically the lack of specific foods. Despite the crushing slavery that was Mitzrayim, there was also was security, ironic as it may seem. We are told that one of the miracles of the Exodus was that Am Yisrael became free men in the fullest sense of the term. Our communal memory of slavery had to be completely eradicated in order to truly become bnei horin. As we know, communal memories run deep.

Today much of the Orthodox world has become slaves to another set of rulers l'chatchila. The only "solutions" Mr. Rosenblum presented were those of a man enslaved by a welfare mentality: being on the government's payroll (i.e. the dole) and taking tzedakah from the "rich." And even the third solution, living a simpler life, which should be commendable if the solution was attached to fighting ostentatious displays of consumption, not in making a three year old sleep on the floor because one has chose a "Career in Learning" and can't afford mattresses.

Ariella recently wrote a post called Free Food on Nahama deskisufa, or bread of shame. Bread which is not earned is inherently differently than bread earned through efforts in this world. But what happens when a person becomes accustomed to eating from the efforts of others? They become a ward in the welfare state.

Ariella points to a post from her communal list serve in which a husband and father of 5 children is considering passing up a pay raise because he might loose his food stamps! There is no question that welfare is as addictive as any drug.

Want to fight poverty? Free the slaves.

Variety Post: Links and Comments on a Whole Bunch of Stuff

Poverty in Eretz Yisrael

(Hat Tip: Esther) Jonathan Rosenblum has just published a column "Can We Talk Seriously About Poverty?"

He details many of the side-effects of crushing poverty:

• Increased defection rates, inability to provide children with services they need to thrive in the Chareidi community, potential association of Torah with deprivation and strife amongst youth.
• Inviting the yetzer hara into financial dealings. This year alone here in America we have had enough arrests here to fill a book. From Spinka earlier in the year to Wextrust just this month, the DOJ, IRS, and SEC have enough work to keep their lawyers busy for a long time to come. Get rich scams are prevelant in the Orthodox community. I detailed my disappointment when the Yated an a free advertisement for one such scheme. Vosizneias recently ran a warning about the Goji scam which has apparantely become quite popular in certain enclaves. Gambling is also a growing problem. And a lot of what passes for "investment" looks more like gambling. Yashrut is seriously lacking, but that really shouldn't come as a surprise because where desperation is the rule, you can be sure that the yetzer hara will win. Chazal told us this long ago in Pirkei Avot.
• Loss of self-respect when one depends on others.
• Putting money first in shidduchim is causing marital problems.
• Serious health issues.

What Mr. Rosenblum does not do is offer any answers. He knows the solutions of the past (greater government support, contributions from Jews abroad, and adopting a simpler lifestyle) have failed and will only continue to fail. And, while he claims not to have any solutions writing, "What the solutions might be I do not know. But it is clear that we cannot afford to hide our heads in the sand and not address the issue," I believe that the real issue is that he, nor any respected member of the Chareidi community, is actually allowed to "Talk Seriously About Poverty." Planting questions is as much "talking" as is allowed, if that.

Talking about poverty will expose an education system that is leaving its constituents unable to thrive in a 21st century job market. (You can't even talk about jobs until you talk about job preparations). Talking about poverty will challenge the community leaders and Gedolim, which challenges the heart of the community. Talking about poverty will bring up questions of prudence in regards to young marriage and extremely large families, defining factors of this community.

Talking about poverty simply isn't something the community is ready to do. In America, we have a similar issue when it comes to Yeshiva Tuition. We all know the problem is huge. But real talking isn't taking place yet. Hopefully it will take place before economic reality really takes over.

Update: The Wolf has also made some comments and Rabbi Horowitz posted the article. A commentor at Cross-Currents believes the problem will solve itself when unemployed/underemployed Chareidim do what immigrant groups always do: work menial jobs, start small businesses, and educate their children. I think we would all like to believe that. But, I would say there has bee a serious change of work ethic and business has also changed. Perhaps in a few years we will all be hiring Chareidi cleaning help?

Reputations, Shidduchim, and Criminals

As Jonathan Rosenblum related in his article, con-men run free in the Orthodox community because of financial desperation. Another type of man that runs free are molesters and rapists. The desperation here is none other than shidduchim. And this desperation turns tzedek, yashrut, and rachamim on its head. In Boro Park, police have DNA evidence that links the abduction and sexual assault of a 4 year old to that of a 14 year old.

Scared that their daughters will lack shidduchim in the future (no thanks to community members who lack the ability to keep their lips zipped), the police can't get much cooperation from the families. And, so another sexual criminal runs free to rape more young Jewish girls.

Chinuch and Crime Control

Rabbi Horowitz posted an article on chinuch written by a Rabbi Brezak. The story behind the article is that boys were caught on camera vandalizing the girls school and causing serious financial loss. After the boys were told that the principal might turn over the video, the criminal activity stopped.

The author then writes, "At first glance, the way this incident was handled appears to be chinuch at its best. The boys were made aware that their unscrupulous deeds would bring them dire consequences, thus discouraging them from similar antics in the future.
However, after careful examination, we realize that this is not chinuch; it is crime control."

Perhaps I am missing something (I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time), but it seems that whatever chinuch these boys should have received vis a vis not damaging other people's stuff was lost upon them and that "crime control" (and under the category of crime control I would include RESTITUTION) is "chinuch at its best" this point. These boys need to understand that their actions have consequences and, while it would have been nice if they understood this before going out and damaging property, they don't and now they need consequences.

More on property damage later. This subject is one that desperately needs addressed and I might as well take the bait later.

Kids Need a Multi-Thousand Dollar Experience to Learn these Skills?

The Aish.com Mom Blog author, Emuna Braverman, hails the glory of camp writing:

"At camp, kids learn some basic cleanup skills (can I brag about my daughter's bunks 10+ neatness grade?), some laundry skills and most of all, some interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. They are thrown together with the other girls 24/7 and they have to work their issues out (even when someone dares to touch their things or sit on their bed!). They learn to negotiate the complicated weaving of new friendships and old ones. They learn about kindness and about sharing (woe to the camper who hoards a care package!). They learn about team spirit and how to really create unity through everyone's involvement."

Camp has been sold to the Orthodox community as a complete necessity, rather than a luxury. And, as such, I've seen many articles, letters to the editors, etc, glorifying the learning experience of camp. This is not the first time I've heard about basic cleanup and laundry skills as a big plus. Am I the only one who find it ridiculous to think kids *need* a multi-thousand dollar experience to learn to take some basic responsibility? If so, our kids have been catered to far too much. The skills named certainly can be learned without spending somewhere between $2000 to $6000 a month, especially when the parents are hurting to provide this experience.

Local Poverty

Leadng into Yom Kippur, I thought it appropriate to reprint a Letter to the Editor in the Yated that ran approximately a month ago (thank you to readers who send me Yated letters and editorials or Orthonomic nature as I am not a subscriber).

During the March of the Envelopes, it can be easy to overlook our own neighbors amidst the glossy pamphlets. So, hopefully this letter will serve as an important reminder. I'm sure the volunteers in ever major community who give so much of their time can recount stories such as those below.

------------------------------------------------

POVERTY IN OUR MIDST

Dear Editor,

I would like to respond to your most moving appeal which appeared in your June 8 edition. First of all, I commend you for your most impressive efforts on behalf of this family in Eretz Yisroel. I would urge your readership to respond to your appeal in a most generous manner, as the aniyim of Eretz Yisroel have the same status in halacha as aniyei ircha. May Hakodosh Boruch Hu grant you hatzlacha in your efforts.

In your article, you noted that this level of poverty can only be found in Eretz Yisroel and not here in America. Unfortunately, that misconception is shared by many, making our work much more difficult. I would like to address and hopefully correct that misconception. Today, in most, if not all, frum communities in America, there are families facing similar situations. The unthinkable has now become reality. We all thought that we could outsource our labor intensive jobs to country overseas with no ramification to the Torah community. Well, sadly, there is an entire segment of our Torah community that relied upon those jobs. Today, numerous people are facing a work environment that they are ill prepared to enter. They have not been given the skills necessary to enter today's work environment in a capacity that would grant them the ability to command a living wage.

Tomche Shabbos of Rockland County would like to awaken your readership to alarming facts. There are numerous families that have their utilities shut off every year due to nonpayment. The average unpaid utility bill in Monsey is in the range of $2,600! We have found families in the winter that had no heat or electricity for many weeks. With regularity, families face eviction from their meager homes or apartments due to rent being unpaid for many months.

Sadly, these are not unheard of occurrences. In our community, grocers regularly sell on credit. When the unpaid bill reaches over a thousand dollars, the grocer typically faces a difficult and unpleasant decision. Does he cut off the credit of another Yid, or does he continue to operate his store at a loss? Sadly, in many, many cases, the answer has been to stop providing the family with their basic food needs.

We once received a phone call from a woman whose children had just left to yeshiva. Through her tears she explained that she gave the children popcorn for breakfast, and now that that was gone, she had nothing left in her home to feed her children when they come home later that day.

There are more than 300 families in the Rockland County [N.Y.] community that have no ability to provide for themselves and their children their basic food needs. As for these nitzrochim having family, some have no family at all, some are baalei teshuvah, and some have poverty running through many branches of their family. But the result is always the same. There is no family capable of helping them. And all this occurs right under our watchful eye, yet somehow we don't see it.

Tomche Shabbos of Rockland County faces these challenges more than 300 times per week. We leave boxes of food for Shabbos at their doorsteps, try to raise money to turn on their electricity, negotiate with grocers, plead with tuition committees, and help them fight eviction.

At this time in history, Hakodosh Boruch Hu has, in his infinite wisdom, chosen to grant many people in America with wealth unimaginable just twenty years ago. The Gemara in Maseches Shabbos (151) states that wealth is something that cannot be assured to stay with a person or his family. One who, b'chasdei Hashem, is providing for his family, has the opportunity to be koneh his Olam Haboh by helping provide his neighbor with food for Shabbos, with electricity, and, most importantly, with a job. I would beg the reader to slowly re-read this paragraph so that he realizes what a zechus he can easily buy for himself today.

The purpose of this letter is not to urge your readership to send money to Tomche Shabbos of Rockland County. Rather, this writer would like to urge your readership to focus on families struggling in their own communities. Assume nothing. Ask your neighbor in confidence how his job is going. No, first ask him if he still has a job. Ask your neighbor if he makes enough money to cover the needs of his family on a weekly basis. Find out more about his financial situation. Does he have food? Electricity? Medical insurance? Is his rent or mortgage paid up to date? Work with him in confidence on getting him the re-education he needs to find a better job. The single biggest thing that you can do for him is to help him find a better job.

A friend gave me a sign to place on my desk which reads:
"Have I tried to find a fellow Yid a job today?"

Let's all remember that aniyei ircha have the halachic status of aniyei ircha.