Hasidic Jews Ordered to Stop Talking to Cops, Reporters

Courtesy Who is Smira?

The Rabbinical court that governs the insular Lubavitch Hasidic sect in Crown Heights has issued an edict [pdf] telling its estimated 10,000 subordinates to stop snitching. The Beth Din of Crown Heights decreed last week that, "No one shall bring to any media outlet information about any resident that could, if publicized, lead to an investigation or intensified prosecution by any law enforcement agency." They're not supposed to talk to reporters, either, but we read about this in the Daily News and on the blog "Who Is Shmira?", where they're calling for Zaki Tamir, Chairman of the Vaad, to resign! Vaad the hell is going on here?!

"Zaki Tamir, 'who the hell do you think you are?'" the blog wants to know. "You go and write a letter forcing the Rabbis to sign, banning any interaction with police. Is that your mission, is that why you were elected? Tell us, what have you done for any of the victims, who were mugged, robbed and traumatized? What measures have YOU taken to curb the crime?... How many people will die for your agenda? Last night a 50-60 year old black man was, unfortunately, shot point-blank. How will you explain to the 10 children of a Jewish man, if G-d forbid the story would have read a 40-50 year old Jewish man was shot point-blank?"

Don't you love a good holy war? Tamir tells the News the commandment was issued in response to the ongoing rivalry between civilian patrol groups, which has gotten press attention outside the community. And he insists the rules are intended to prevent the rank-and-file from going around community leaders to outside authorities. But Yosef Bergovoy, a young college student who got a ticket for standing on the sidewalk last month, says, "We have rights as a U.S. citizen to complain about the police." And the Who Is Shmira? blog wants to know, "Zaki Tamir are you afraid of something? Is there some corruption going on and you don’t want the community to know about it? Because we know all about it!"

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on December 10, 2010 9:52 AM

Comments [rss]

ProcedureTurn

Im surprised by this. I thought Jews were very united people and hated everyone else. Jews blood is usually very thick. They really do take care of their own.

schmeep

Nah, we only hate trolls.

yetanotherdamneduselessaccount

The Chosen people.

Nyctini11

"Vaad the hell is going on here?!" ha ha ha

whatstheproblem

Got Cult?

thefacts

It is alleged that it is this secrecy that prevents a lot of the sex crimes, particularly among family members, within that community from being reported.

Rather than bring public shame before the eyes of the Gentiles, they have their own "religious courts" to handle the matter.

Nyctini11

You're dead on, the other HUGE problem is in the schools. A lot of molestation occurs there, esp. amongst the boys and unfortunately many are too afraid to go to their parents and the ones that do, the majority are hushed and basically told to drop it. I pray the younger generations, with as much publicized media as there is now a days will continue to take a stand against the elders on things of this nature and many other archaic ways.

Mordicai

Agreed; you'll also note that this isn't unique to this situation-- any closed social circle without outside checks & balances-- whether it be priests or Amish or what-- is prone to this messed up stuff.

thefacts

The Catholic Church is a "closed social circle" comparable to the Amish or the Hasids? What planet are you on?

Feel free to respond you're back on earth.

felixthecat

Stop Snitching is spreading to other communities now? oy vey.

WetButt

Imagine if an Imam put out an "order" like this out to his religious community

Sulayman

Congressman Peter King is heading up the Homeland Security committee and claims that Muslims never call the cops, despite the recent reports that 40% of the terrorism busts come from tips from the Muslim community. Someone should send him this article.

tijuanatornado

Or if a Catholic bishop had said that?..... also..... an order like that sounds like a street edict from the Latin Kings, Creeps, Bloods, etc.....

CR

The Daily News is dead on. This is also further proof of the grand chasm that is opening up between the elders and the younger generation in these communities.

Mordicai

On the plus side, hopefully the younger generations will be reformers who won't participate in farces like this...or the Palladino thing...etc.