by Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times
It was an article written by a Reform Rabbi, ostensibly about the Ramapo school district and education. And, of course, it was not at all anti-Semitic. No, not at all.
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin began his article jeffreysalkin.religionnews.com/2015/06/09/ultra-orthodox-jews-should-play-better-with-others like this:
“This is not about Rabbi Barry Freundel, the Orthodox rabbi in Washington, DC, sentenced to prison for voyeurism in the mikveh.”
Chuckle, chuckle.
Salkin continues:
“Nor is it about Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt, the Orthodox rabbi in Riverdale, NY, who had meaningful conversations with boys in the sauna — naked.”
Chuckle, chuckle. Yes, yes, Orthodox. Chuckle, chuckle.
Salkin then tells us what he is about to write about.
“It’s about the situation in the East Ramapo school district, in Rockland County, New York, northwest of New York City.”
My dear Rabbi Salkin, if the article is not about the earlier two incidents, then why mention them at all?
The answer is clear. You are attempting to demean and besmirch Orthodox Judaism and Orthodox Jews. There are no “ifs”, “ands”, or “buts.”
I don’t know what they taught you about the ethics of how to make an argument in the Rabbinical seminary of Hebrew Union College, or wherever it was that gave you the title of “ethical teacher to others”, but there is something deeply disturbing about your article.
Say what you want about the Hasidic Jews that have been voted in to the school board by the taxpayers of the school district. Say what you want about how they have decided to allocate the tax moneys that the constituents of the school district pay, but don’t, repeat don’t, bring in the behaviors of others to besmirch them.
My dear Rabbi, imagine if you were making an argument against a group of African Americans, and just to make your point -you mentioned that your article is not about African American X that committed this crime or African American Y that committed that crime. You would have been correctly declared a racist. The situation is no different here. The beginning of your article is blatantly racist – racist against your Hasidic brethren.
But your racism does not end there. You mention that the area has become “ultra-Orthodox” and Hasidic. You use a term to describe a group of people that they themselves do not use to describe themselves because it is offensive. “Ultra” is a pejorative term that means excessive. My dear Rabbi, would you ever use a term to describe another group that they themselves would find offensive? No, you would not. Why? Because in your book, it is okay to be racist and biased and offensive to the Hasidic and to the Orthodox, but not to anyone else.
We move on to another part of your article.
You write, “As a rabbi, I am proud of my colleagues who have not stood idly by while the blood of this proud school district has been shed.”
I am sorry, did I just read that correctly? Did you just use the terminology of shedding blood? Let’s step back a moment and get some perspective. In fact, let’s get a historical perspective.
Almost two and a half centuries ago, there was a specific defining moment in who are as a nation. The Tea Act of May 10th 1773, had validated a notorious British tax that was to be placed upon the American colonists. The tax was one that benefited Great Britain, but did nothing for those who actually paid the taxes.
“Taxation Without Representation!” became the rallying mantra of the colonists, and eventually this great nation was born. The “Boston Tea Party” was soon to take its place in our history books. It represents, to American schoolchildren, the spirit that is America.
It is now almost two and a half centuries later.
There is another group of people who are being taxed, with little benefit for those who are actually paying the taxes. For years, for decades, these people struggled to get for their children what those around them received for free. They struggled to get transportation to school. But those in charge, the modern day British refused.
“No, your child must learn math and science, that is the law – but we will not pay to transport your child school.”
“No, we care not a whit that your child has special educational needs. And we don’t care that you have struggled for years with this. We will not pay to help your child – even though some of the tax money that we are in charge of spending comes from you and your community. You must pay for all of this by yourself – even though we will pay for special needs education for other children.”
This was the situation in the East Ramapo school district, in Rockland County, New York, northwest of New York City, for many, many years.
But then the demographics changed a bit.
The Hasidic Jew became the main taxpayer. Those who paid the majority of the taxes to the school districts, Spring Valley and Monsey, were now the Hasidic Jews themselves – those very people who have been refused the benefits of school busing and education for their own special needs children.
These taxpayers then did something that has infuriated certain groups. They have infuriated many in the field of education accustomed to rubber stamped budget increases, the liberal media, and they have also angered you, Rabbi Salkin. What did they do?
They exercised their right to vote.
The people that vote are the people that pay taxes, and while you or me may not like it, the taxpayers have an absolute right to decide that all children in the district should have busing to school instead of some children in the district have busing to school and also music. That is what democracy is about – it is about voting.
Now do we agree with everything they are doing? No. They should be sensitive to everyone in the district and they should strive to increase testing scores and basic education. I think that the Ramapo district could learn a lot from what the school boards in the Five Towns area have done – where they have not only reduced the tax load but they brought up the testing scores in the public schools as well.
Rabbi Salkin, let’s cut the unnecessary and racist swipes. Let’s try and be a bit more fair and balanced when discussing these issues, and realize that there are two sides to every story. It very well could be that this community is frustrated at how much of their taxes are going toward paying for gym programs, music and all sorts of extra-curricular things, while they had fought for years just to get basic busing.
Did you, Rabbi Salkin, ever pen an article or ask a legislator for assistance for special needs children education in the Hasidic community or for busing? You quote a Talmudic passage about giving charity to the gentiles along with one’s fellow Jews – a passage that is certainly true and must be emphasized more. But let’s not forget that the passage says along with – that means we have to be concerned about the Jews too and not give just to the gentiles.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
24 Responses
Mr. Salkin is no rabbi. He is a minister in the Reform religion.
First of all, “ultra” is not a pejorative term. And “frum” is not a term that Reform Jews know or use. Some of them indeed have hostile views toward frum Jews, but calling them “ultra” is not how they express it. “Those people are nuts” is how they express it.
Second of all, I cannot possibly understand Rabbi Hoffman’s rebuttal if I have not read the article being rebutted. Please give us a hint of where we can find it. I googled the author’s name and did not find the article. Maybe I am not as smart as I look.
Given the disparaging and often hateful tenor of the articles and comments regularly posted on YWN regarding non orthodox Jews (and even about modern orthodox and D”L Jews) this is a remarkable case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Reb Yair very well done! We need you to focus your talents on these kind of racists. On the other hand you too need to more sensitive when writing about some frum groups. Just recently you wrote very degrading article about women driving in a specific hassidic group.
If you read the article carefully it was not degrading at all. It was respectful and brought rayos to one side from a mechaber. Just because you may not agree with a halachic conclusion does not mean that you have to label it degrading.
If you want to know what Reform is doing, please read a book titled “The Silencing” by Kirsten Powers about the demonizing in general society with points of view that aren’t liberal. The Reform Movement is a front for exactly what Ms. Powers’ book is discussing.
Great news, everybody. I found Rabbi Salkin’s article (at jeffreysalkin.religionnews.com, it’s a posting titled “Ultra-Orthodox Jews Should Play Better with Others,” in a blog called “Martini Judaism ….”) The article presents Rabbi Salkin’s view that the East Ramapo school board, which is all (or substantially all) Orthodox, has breached the Torah obligation for Jews to be kind and generous to gentiles. He alleges that his views come from the Talmud and Shulchan Aruch. If Rabbi Hoffman wanted to rebut Rabbi Salkin, R’ Hoffman should tell us – if true – that R’ Salkin’s citations to Talmud are false.
The problem in East Ramapo is a difficult one, and not because of Orthodox Jews, and not even because of non-white or Hispanic gentiles. The problem is money. The school board members won their elections according to the rules, and have decided to tax and spend in the best interests of a majority of the community, i.e., Orthodox Jews, who send their children to religious schools and get little or no benefit from the public schools. That leaves the minority of East Ramapo children with a lawfully (not counting the fairy tale/fiscally unsupported provision of the New York State constitution that says all children have a “right” to a good education) underfunded school system. The majority of East Ramapo voters want/need low taxes to afford their private religious schools, which get little or no money from the public treasuries because of the provisions of the state and federal constitutions which prohibit taxpayer money from supporting religious education or other aspects of religion.
Rabbi Salkin evidently thinks the Jews of the East Ramapo school district should tax themselves and the other East Ramapo residents for the benefit of the non-Jews. That may be unsound, Torahically and/or politically. But Rabbi Hoffman has not identified the problem or explained why Rabbi Salkin is wrong.
I don’t have a solution for the East Ramapo problem, other than an radical overhaul of how New York State finances public education. And, given the disfunctional and substantially corrupt New York state legislature, many of whose members are under (or at risk of being under) indictment, I don’t expect any bold solutions coming from the New York state government in the foreseeable future. Maybe when pigs fly, or chew their cud.
No one was interviewed by “Rabbi” Salkin for his interview
Please see a small commentary by Board President Yehuda Weissmandl(who is doing this, along with all of the rest of the board LShem Mitzvah)
http://forward.com/opinion/309720/why-is-east-ramapo-school-board-under-siege
Salkin and the reformed are just upset because they are the last generation of Jews in their family. So long silken it’s been good to know you.
Why did Salkin bring up the indiscretions of Orthodox rabbis? To show that orthodox leadership is not always right and perfect, despite what I read on these pages. It is fallible, subject to corruption, and at the mercy of the same Yetzer Hara as everyone else.
NFGO3’s response is spot on and perfectly rational. Yair Hoffman did not identify the problem stated in Jeffrey Salkin’s article, nor did he rebut any of the halachic or political arguments. I’m not surprised.
Bottom line though… if you CHOOSE to send your child to private school in America then the state (or county) has no obligation to provide free transportation or funding for special education. Does that mean private school parents are subsidizing public schools through their taxes but getting nothing in return for their private schools? YES! That’s exactly what it means. It’s private school. Government in the United States (at the federal or local level) does not support religious or private education. Re-read the Establishment Clause. Just because a local school board, bought and paid for by one religious community, voted for it in a budget does not make it right or constitutional.
I say this as a parent that used to spend tens of thousands of dollar a year to send my children to orthodox day school. I didn’t want government support for my religious convictions.
If you want free, public, religious education with transportation and support for special education, come join us in Israel.
It is clear that Salkin’s brains took leave together with his hair.
Salkin first you are not a rabbi and youdon’t speak from a Jewish heart. Where are your children and grandchildren before you speak about the Frumas. I can understand the community but the community show ask for school vouchers and let each member of the community choose what is best. I am tried of union detecting for public schools to fill their union and personal bank accounts. If I was not a Jew I would still not send my kids to any public school
Rashbak
I don’t know if you live in Ramapo but there is NO solution since the only solution is to split the district(which NYS won’t do) or give enough money to cover music and the other programs that they want(which the State isn’t giving) or forcing the State’s hand by threatening that all the Jews will register for Public School, which we are entitled to do. R’ Weissmandl in Mount Kisco did this successfully. We don’t have be treated like dirt and pay exorbitant taxes.
Both Freundel – Joe “Kiddush Hashem” Lieberman’s (wont drive on Shabbos to sign the Gay Marriage bill) Rabbi, and Rosenblatt, are MODERN Orthodox.
Rashbak: ny state law requires the school to bus to private school up to 15 miles. This is the law as it stands today on the books.
Everyone loves democracy until they are in the minority.
Shame on salkin for parroting the anti Semitic drivel all Jew haters have historically vomited and shame on you for supporting him.
Curious ,Yair Hoffman, would you have had the gumption to attack this Salkin just the same had he been Orthodox?
Still,the first few paragraphs say it all ..
everything afterwards is commentary
While I didn’t read the original article, the premise of dealing properly with others is valid. Highlighting issues that impact the Frum community is another issue. Those are societal issues as well and Reform isn’t immune from them either.
Any reasonable point made in the article is negated by the attempt to demean an entire group in the process.
It’s very simple, when you have no substantial argument, like the xtions, you try to destroy the credibility of those that’s very existence proves you wrong. That’s exactly what this Salkin character seems to be doing.
Besalel, did I say I support either side? Why should I feel shame for having a political opinion, or (if I did) supporting the political and halachic opinion of a non-Orthodox rabbi? Are they all wrong all the time? I am against Hoffman’s whiny demands that the state give everything to religious schools, at the expense of the public school system. There is more than enough money in the frum community to support Jewish education. We choose to spend it on bigger houses in Midwood and the Five Towns. But I guess it’s easier to attack a fellow Jew than look in the mirror at our own priorities.
Forget orthodox or Hasidic Jews wanting so called free bus service. How many of those kids who are not here legally. You can sneak in from Mexico and get Free education but an American citizen has to BEG to get services that they deserve. Everyone should sent their kids to public school which is their so called legal right and overwhelm the school district. How much money would The Ramapo district have to pay to build new schools and hire all the teachers that would be required?
Just a minor point. The author wrote: “The beginning of your article is blatantly racist – racist against your Hasidic brethren.”
Technically, it cannot be “racist”, since Hasidim – and Jews in general – are not a race.
Hasidim would more accurately be classified as a sect of Judaism, while we Jews consider ourselves a nation (“am Yisroel”). Most of Western society, though, considers us a religion.
So, hated of Jews or a sect of Jews – as repugnant and unconscionable as it is – is not racism. Alternatives might be “religious intolerance”, “sectarianism” or “bigotry”.
Rashbak
I am against Hoffman’s whiny demands that the state give everything to religious schools, at the expense of the public school system.
We can see where you are leaning, very far left. When we needs to take illegals from Haiti and service them, forget about non-tax paying blacks, Hatians, Hispanics who comprise most of the “30%” of the district, that is fine. But we should give them sports and music so that they have a “better chance at life”. In addition, we are giving ALL of them special education services without discrimination, and if you are in the know, this is a fact.
Please don’t insult our intelligence with your comments if you can’t base it in fact. We are giving EVERY child 20k plus for education. And it’s not enough!
I think Rabbi Salkin should have mentioned the Reform rabbi who murdered his wife a few years back as well!
Rashbak: I have many many issues with the way we in the frum communities live our lives but I won’t let that blind me. If you can’t see that the opposition here is rooted in anti Semitic canard then you are blinded like salkin by your disdain for the “ultra orthodox.”
Salkins arguments are not only vile they are transparent. It costs the school system a tiny fraction to bus a kid than to educate him. If the system acknowledges the obligation to educate it should have no qualms against bussing. If the system is built so that the taxpayer bears some responsibility to shoulder some of the cost towards the education of the community’s children then there is no non anti Semitic or non anti poor argument against what is democratically happening in Ramapo.
Regarding the first part of the article, I agree with Rabbi Hoffman. Salkin is trying to make it about Orthodox Jews.
Once you get into the issues with the board, however, I must disagree. Yes, the overall issue is that there’s not enough money. The formula to determine funding needs to change to account for private school students. But to claim that the board did nothing wrong is 100% false.
Let’s look at a few issues. First, there was the proposed sale of 2 public school buildings. One, the Hillcrest school, had been appraised at $11 million. It wasn’t being used enough, so the board decided to sell it and get money for the district. It was decided to be sold to a yeshiva – for the sum of $3.1 million. That’s about 27.3% of the value. It took a judge to step in and block the sale from happening. Morris Kohn, the former president of the board, admitted the board did not look for any higher bids, and just tried to sell it to the yeshiva. A court also stopped them from selling the 2nd school building (the Colton school).
There was also an issue of missing textbooks and improper books being ordered. The public schools ordered $2.4 million worth of textbooks, which the board decided to “loan” to the Jewish schools. This also included religious books – which the law does not allow government funding to be used towards. The books then disappeared, and the public schools never saw them again. A lawsuit was filed by residents of the area against the school board and Jewish schools regarding this incident.
These are just a few of the issues. The fact is that unfortunately, the Jewish-run school board in East Ramapo HAS caused a HUGE chillul Hashem in their actions. It does not excuse Salkin making it into an issue about Orthodox Judaism as a whole. But it should be noted that the school board in question is not acting properly.