Issur to vote for a candidate who supports assisted suicide

Psak halacha (rabbinical ruling) forbidding voting for a candidate who supports assisted suicide

Liberal "Jewish" twitterer Wants Orthodox Jews To Leave America!

 

Russell (the antisemite) Schaffer - twitter telling us to leave

David Greenfield Spits In Rabbi's Faces Again

David Greenfield's response to Rabbi's letter supporting Erick Salgado

David Greenfield had the chutzpah to make a joke out of the rabbis on Twitter, right after a letter was read on their behalf, to endorse Erick Salgado.  

This is not the first time Greenfield slapped the rabbis in their faces.  During a close election between Lew Fidler and David Storobin, Greenfield arranged and put together a group of men and children, including City Council candidate, Chaim Deutsch, to ignore Daas Torah.

 

I was told by a reliable source, Duetsch and Greenfield even went one step further by bullying some rabbis with threats of losing their 501c3 and threatening them with their jobs.

Now that we know that David Greenfield is truly Dov Gordon, that source seems to be corroborated.

k But sources say that behind at least some of Gordon’s “Backroom Deals” columns is Greenfield himself, working in tandem with Yeshiva World publisher Yehuda Eckstein, with the councilman a primary source for “inside” political information.
“I’m not insinuating that David is the only person that uses the Dov Gordon pen name, but as it pertains to politics, he is far and away the only person writing about inside baseball,” Stefanie Fedak, Greenfield’s former chief of staff, said in a recent interview with City & State.

Dov Gordon (David Greenfield) wrote a false article claiming that rabbis never signed anything to oppose Lew Fidler.

Dov Gordon's (David Greenfield's) Yeshiva World New Article

On the heels of David Storobin’s latest negative attack on Councilman Lew Fidler it appears that several rabbonim are sending a message: enough. YWN has confirmed that at least four rabbonim who David Storobin has publicly claimed as endorsing him have said that they HAVE NOT endorsed him. The rabbonim, well respected in their communities, each wrote personal letters stating very clearly that they are not endorsing Mr. Storobin. The statements are a serious break in Storobin’s claim to have lined up support from rabbonim – the central claim of his campaign.

“I am not convinced that one candidates observance or hashkofas is better than the the others,” wrote Rabbi Mechel Rosenbaum. “I never authorized my name to be utilized in a political campaign or to urge a vote for David Storobin,” continued Rabbi Rosenbaum’s letter.

Rabbi Avrahom Moshe Binsky was equally forceful stating, “In no way do I endorse any candidate or any party in this political election.” Rabbi Natftoli Rottenberg echoed the same concerns, “I have never endorsed or authorized my name to be utilized in a political campaign nor have I urged anyone to vote for any particular candidate in this upcoming state senate race.” Also signing a letter proclaiming that he was not endorsing Storobin was Rabbi Chaim Krausz.

“Our community should participate in the upcoming elections and vote based on who will represent us best and produce the most accomplishments for our community’s needs,” concluded Rabbi Rosenbaum.

It is unclear if the Storobin campaign will take responsibility for this latest embarrassment or pass the blame on the organization that is believed to be responsible for originating the letter – Jews for Morality. According to several sources, Joseph Hayon and Joseph Friedman, both of Jews for Morality, actively solicited signatures for the letter. However, it appears that in the case of these four rabbonim they were not told by Mr. Hayon or Mr. Friedman that the letter was an endorsement of Storobin or that it was being organized by Jews for Morality.

Jews for Morality was founded by Rabbi Yehuda Levin (it was really founded by Rav Avigdor Miller). Levin is well known in the Jewish community for his strong views on all things related to Toeiva. Levin quite famously endorsed Republican Carl Paladino in his race for Governor of New York last year. Levin later withdrew his endorsement in front of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral after Paladino refused to endorse all of Levin’s anti-toeiva platform. Ironically, Democrat Andrew Cuomo went on to win the election and immediately passed same-gender marriage into law. Rabbi Levin is also well-known for his endorsement of renowned anti-Semite Pat Buchanan for President. Less know is that Levin has run for Congress, Mayor and New York City Council twice. He lost each and every time.

Keep your browser pointed to YWN for all the latest news in the final hours of this exciting race for New York State Senate.

(Dov Gordon ?David Greenfield?– YWN)

However, Matzav then outed Gordon (Greenfield) as a liar. 

Unfortunately, there has been significant fallout from irresponsible claims regarding rabbonim “withdrawing” endorsements and the like with regard to yesterday’s race in New York between Democrat Lew Fidler and Republican David Storobin.

As first reported on Matzav.com, both candidates have declared victory, though the race is still too close to call. An unofficial tally from the New York City Board of Elections has 10,756 for Storobin and 10,636 for Fidler, with at least 750 paper ballots yet to be counted. The outcome won’t be known for some time.

“Regardless of the result, however,” an askan told Matzav.com this morning, “it is important for Yidden to have a clear understanding of the views of the gedolim, especially because there was an underhanded attempt by some to misrepresent their views.”

Those who were said to have “withdrawn” endorsement, in the cases known, had actually never issued endorsements, said the askan. What was stated by those individual rabbonim was that they were not sure that one candidate’s hashkafos were preferable over the other, and, in addition, they never authorized their names to be utilized in political ads or literature.

“Those rabbonim did not withdraw anything,” related the askan.

More importantly, gedolei Torah made clear yesterday their stance on the issue of Yidden voting for a politician who supports marriage redefinition.

Rav Yisroel Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, himself recorded an audio message that was sent to frum Jews throughout the New York and New Jersey area making it clear that rumors that he had retracted his statement in this regard were completely false. Rav Neuman made clear that it is a chillul Hashem to vote for or assist a candidate who does not stand for moral values, such as supporting marriage redefinition.

Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, also made clear his feelings on the matter, stating that one should vote for the candidate who stands for values consistent with the Torah. He added that he hopes that candidate would emerge victorious. Rav Kamenetsky’s comments can be heard by calling 712-432-8533 and then pressing 1.

For those unable to call the number, after the last two paragraphs of the recent p’sak was read, Rav Kamenetsky said, “I signed it, and I still stick to it, and I hope he’ll win.”

The rosh yeshiva was then asked, “And the rosh yeshiva was encouraging people to act on that p’sak not to vote for Fidler, and if indeed Mr. Storobin is endorsing these values that (i.e., then) people should support him…?”

Rav Kamenetsky responded, “Correct.”

In addition, Rav Avrohom Binsky of Kehillas Moreshes Yaakov, who was depicted by some as having retracted his signature against supporters of marriage redefinition, issued a statement making it clear that he had never done so.

Rabbi Binsky letter

And as reported on Matzav.com yesterday, Rav Chaim Krauss and Rav N. H. Rottenberg  emphasized that although they did not endorse a particular candidate, they did not retract their view regarding voting for a candidate who has pledged support for legislation regarding toeivah. 

Rabbi Krauss letter

Gay NY State Senator Wants To Ban Conversion Therapy, No Word Yet On Abortion

Gay NY State Senator from Greenwich Village who want to ban What almost 200 Rabbis said is a chiyuv to try!

 It remains to be seen if he will also ban Abortion for a minor!
or at least force a parental consent or notification.

(read the bill)
ALBANY - The state Senate’s only openly gay lawmaker wants to outlaw a controversial therapy that attempts to make gay youth straight.

Legislation introduced Friday by Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) would bar mental health providers from trying to change the sexual orientation of anyone under the age of 18.

If enacted, a licensed mental health provider who ignored the law would be cited for unprofessional conduct and subject to licensing sanctions.
Hoylman will co-sponsor the bill in the Senate with Michael Gianaris (D-Queens). It is being carried in the Assembly by Deborah Glick, a Manhattan Democrat who is a lesbian.

Conversion therapy has been rejected by many in the mental health community.

Hoylman, who is "married" to a man and has a two-year-old daughter, said the controversial treatment is not good for the individual or society.

“It not only is impossible, but it is detrimental to young people to attempt to convert them,” he said.
“It also increases the stigma in society and creates a culture of unacceptance for young gay and lesbian people,” Hoylman added.

California last year enacted a similar law barring the controversial therapy, but the measure is on hold while it’s being challenged in the courts.

The Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, doesn’t believe a New York law would pass legal or ethical muster.

“I simply believe that those in the homosexual community should recognize that there is a significant population in that community that want to leave that lifestyle and pursue a heterosexuality lifestyle,” McGuire said. “People should respect their choice to pursue that.”

(Daily News)

Rav Nelkenbaum (Mir RY) Donates To Erick Salgado's Campaign (2013 NYC Mayoral Election)

Rav Avrohom Yaakov Nelkenbaum's tzeddaka donation to Erick Salgado's campaign

Rav Nelkenbaum Leading By Example

In light of the recent attacks on "morality and religious freedom," HaRav Avrohom Yaakov Nelkenbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, joined with 7 other rabbis, including HaRav Yisroel Neuman, Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood Yeshiva (the largest yeshiva in the world), issuing a statement on his mayoral campaign.  The statement which was read, at Erick Salgado's kick-off ,stated "it is a Mitzva Chiyuvis (religious obligation) to support" Erick Salgado's campaign.

Highlighted in their statement was the mitzva of "volunteering and donating" to Erick Salgado's campaign "as you would to any other charity".  The rabbis also urged that anyone who is not yet registered to vote should do so, in order to vote in the democratic primary.


The last day to register to vote is Friday: AUGUST 16, 2013 (10th of Elul).

To illustrate the importance of this mitzvah, Rav Nelkenbaum specifically had the check released publicly.

According to NYC Campaign Finance Law, for any resident of New York City who donates between 10-175 dollars the city gives the campaign 6 times that amount.

Letter with Rav Nelkenbaum's last minute emendations and signature. (Rav Haim Benoliel)