Rechnitz, Tischler, Satmar, and Agudah

Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz (YWN)

It is a mistake to say that the heated debate over COVID-19 is between the Charedi world and everyone else. Although sometimes it seems that way.

The debate is just as strident among Charedi leaders as it among other communities. 

Which is why I am so alarmed by it. It isn’t a respectful disagreement. It is almost a war! It is about how each side sees the epidemiologists and the government officials they advise. Should we listen to their advice even though it has caused unbelievable hardships on our way of life? Or are they closet antisemites whose covert  antisentism has now come out of the closet in the form of using a manageable virus to force undue hardships on us! Thus justifying protests and some really disgusting rhetoric among some of us.

This in part is what Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz- a man with impeccable Charedi credentials - recently said about it: 

It is irrelevant that President Trump moved the American embassy to Jerusalem and helped Jews in other ways, we Yidden are putting ourselves in a bigger Makom Sakana every day. I doubt that there is even one Goy who saw or read about our current vile behavior and did not instantly forge an innate hatred for the Jews. They’re not evil, it’s called natural. Just remind yourself about some of your inner thoughts while watching the fatalities during the BLM “peaceful protests”.

The Goyim don’t necessarily have to care how many Jewish mortalities there will be in a specific shul, they are rightfully viewing this as a case where the Jews are being selfish, uncaring and above the law, which is causing an uptick in cases which will ultimately reach their own neighborhoods. “The Jews simply don’t care that we’re being killed”.

 This is and will remain direct causation of unadulterated anti-Semitism. To stir up anti-Semitism takes a lot less than this. We’re breaking records now. This behavior has never occurred by Jews in America.  

Wow! That is quite a comment coming from a Charedi Jew where many in that community are on the opposite side of this issue. A side that - through Agudah - sued the New York governor (unsuccessfully) for singling out Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods for increased restrictions. Claiming that those restrictions were unfair considering the actual data - among other reasons. 

And in a display of defiance there is the following from the Jerusalem Post: 

An estimated 10,000 people are expected to attend the wedding of the grandchild of the Satmar Rebbe in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn on Monday, CBS-affiliate WBCS reported Saturday. 

The wedding of the grandchild of Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitlebaum likely will have guests from Williamsburg and Rockland County, raising fears that coronavirus could spread in the area, the report said…

The New York City Sheriff’s Department has ordered the wedding be canceled or postponed if it is not limited to 50 people, WCBS reported. 

Heshey Tischler (NY Daily News)

Making matters worse is a fellow by the name of Heshy Tischler - a dangerous Buffon who is on the side of chaos and violence. And quite  clearly the catalyst for Charedi  journalist Jacob Kornbluh being attacked by the crowd he incited in an earlier Chasidic protest. He may believe he is on the right side of the issue and right to protest government restrictions. But that does not really matter. His recent behavior is so bad  Rechnitz called him an animal and Rodef. He also said the following about him:   

Unfortunately, Ltza’arenu harav, we have living amongst us a Behaima she’anenu tehora who is creating anarchy and chaos, which is being streamlined by the national media outlets. It shows indisputable proof that this self appointed, power hungry, inciter and demagogue Heshy Tischler who falsely claims that he represents us, is organizing demonstrations where we are to scream personal obscenities at the governmental authorities. “Dirty animals, Nazi’s, and Kapo’s” are just a few examples of this clowns overall limited vernacular.

If this seems like I’m taking this personally, it’s because I am. He’s putting my family and your families at risk, and he knows it. But that’s not reason enough for him to surrender his candidacy in a race where his support won’t even hit double digits. What changed our mindset so suddenly? How did we collectively all forget that we’re being closely watched? Who is prepared to give a Din V’cheshbon on this colossal CHILLUL HASHEM?  

This is not who we are. This is the antithesis of who we are!

I fully agree with his conclusion. Although I disagree with some of the things Rechnitz said in his YWN article I fully agree with his assessment of the Chill HaShem this type of behavior is causing: 

It isn’t just Tischler. It is those of us that are on the side of an issue that encourages the Heshy Tischlers of the world.  And by ‘encourage’ – I mean things like suing the New York governor as Agudah tried to do. 

Although Agudah executive vice president, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel was quoted in the New York Times calling Tischler an idiot and embarrassment, Agudah’s attempt to sue the governor implied that the protest was justified. And that is when the Heshy Tischlers of the world show up and take advantage of it. Now I am sure they will deny this with every fiber of their existence. But actions (the lawsuit) speak louder than words. Instead of suing - Agudah should have supported precautions the government urged upon their community.

I’m glad to see Tischler being called out by a highly respected Charedi activist who has a lot of influence in his community. And has been very generous in his support of it.  

Whatever valid considerations there might be to relax restrictions - they need to be put aside as the current level of COVID has spiked all over the world despite the best efforts of much of that world to prevent it. And virtually all epidemiological experts believe that this is only the beginning as the weather gets colder and we spend more time indoors. 

We ought not forget how many of us have already died because of COVID, some of whom were prominent Orthodox leaders and activists. Most of them would still be alive if not for that. How many more people need to die before ALL OF US take this pandemic more seriously?!