Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Agudah Statement : Nonsense and Insults at a Recent Monsey Gathering

STATEMENT FROM AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA.  May 15, 2019

Nonsense and Insults at a Recent Monsey Gathering
Countless rabbinical figures and leaders, including leading rabbis in the Agudath Israel movement and doctors serving these communities, have repeatedly encouraged vaccination in the strongest possible terms.

A recent gathering in Monsey, NY, heavily promoted in Orthodox Jewish areas, featured figures in the anti-vaccination circuit, including a pediatrician who uses “cranial-sacral therapy, homeopathy, essential oils, aromatherapy, yoga, Reiki, meditation, reflexology, and mindfulness”; a television producer who has sported a large yellow star at anti-vaccination rallies; and the author of a paper in the Lancet on vaccines that the publication retracted as fraudulent. The latter lost his British medical license for unethical behavior.



Of particular concern to us were assertions made by a presenter speaking as a rabbi, a long-time agitator on behalf of controversial causes. In the past, the speaker has likened vaccination to “child sacrifice” and, at the recent gathering, he accused New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio of scapegoating Hasidim, being “a very, very sneaky fellow” and of having German heritage.

The speaker also blamed concern over the appearance of measles in Orthodox communities on an effort to “to distract from the virulent diseases that are sweeping through the city from illegals.”

His assertions are nonsense, and his personal attack on Mayor de Blasio is deeply offensive. It is unfortunate that he was allowed to share his imaginings with others.

17 comments:

  1. The Agudah statement is nonsense since 2 Roshei yeshiva on the moetzes support the non vaccinating movement. This debate has been playing itself out for a while and agudah showed no leadership or took a stand this statement is political and self centered ita all about Agudah.

    Secondly Agudah speaks only for themselves and in no way do they represent all segments of klal yisrael.

    Thirdly hypocricy at its best it was Agudah that publicly attacked president Donald Trump in a statement, a very dangerous that it could have serious repercussions for the klal but now they are upset that someone attacked the Mayor of NYC

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    1. Which Moetzes member spoke as irresponsibly as the Neturei Karta spokesman at that gathering? He must be roundly condemned for his dangerous words, both regarding DeBlasio and regarding immigrants.

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  2. Agudah is sticking up for left liberal politicians

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  3. Is hefkervelt becoming a site to attract the ignorant, primitive anti vaxxers? These comments are so foolish! When did klal Yisroel start attracting such uneducated and ignorant views as we see in the above comments? Kol Hakovod to Agudah for publicizing the majority, sane and educated side of the story.

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    1. Agudah had plenty of time and opportunity to weigh in on the vaccine debate they sat back and did nothing now they jumped on an opportunity after rabbi Handler's comments and used him to finally issue a statement
      The timing and letter speaks volumes of an organization that leads from behind and looking to protects its image and standing over the klal.

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    2. Are you chas veshalom calling 2 respected roshei yeshiva in the agudah moetzes as primitive and ignorant?

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    3. Are you, Anonymous 7:51 AM, calling the majority of the roshei yeshiva and gedolim people who would encourage "child sacrifice"? I am, admittedly totally perplexed about the anti vaccination position held by a very respected rosh yeshiva. But I still stay on the side of most doctors, scientists and Gedolim.

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    4. Yes

      If the shoe fits......

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  4. Agudas mission is to protect the religious rights if Jews in America. How do these statements help that mission. It's best they keep quiet.

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  5. They are sucking up to De Blasio hes running for president but they had no problem attacking Trump a ohev yisroel who is supported bu most frum yidden.

    The agudah is disconnected from the hamon am.

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  6. Rav shmuel Kanenetzky and Rav Malkiel Kotler are on the Moetzes of Agudath yisroel they are big proponents of the anti vaxxer movement did agudah consult With them for daas torah on the matter

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  7. Handlers remarks were in poor taste but the Agudah attack is hypocritical after they publicly ATTACKED THE SITTING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

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  8. ווען דע עם חכם ונבון וואלט נאר געהאט אביסל שכל

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  9. Agudah could have condemned tge Rabbis renarks without delving into the vaccine issue. Rumors swirling that this statement was not fully aporoved by the Moetzes.

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  10. For some reason, the poop took this post down

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  11. It was likely written by the left wing of agudah and it's social media twitter army.

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