Letter to the Editor 7-16

Issue of July 16, 2010/ 5 Av, 5770

Boss George the college adviser

To the Editor: George Steinbrenner died Tuesday, a larger than life figure to New Yorkers for nearly four decades. I never met Steinbrenner in person, but our lives intersected briefly on one spring day in 1990 when he and I spoke on the phone twice for about 15 minutes. Actually, I spoke for approximately one minute and Steinbrenner spoke for 14. When these conversations took place Steinbrenner was not the beloved figure eulogized this week. Frankly, I don't know what possessed me to call him or to think that he would take my call. My son Benjie, who was soon to graduate yeshiva high school, had just recently been accepted by Williams College, Steinbrenner's alma mater. When our family visited Williamstown, Massachusetts, it was instantly apparent that the Williams College environment was markedly different from the yeshiva world to which Benjie was accustomed, and would pose many interesting challenges. As our campus tour continued and we walked on the Steinbrenner Athletic Fields I decided I would call Mr. Steinbrenner when we returned to New York. The next day I called the Yankee offices. I identified myself as a New York attorney calling to discuss Williams College. George Steinbrenner picked up the phone instantly. When he heard my question regarding the suitability of Williams for a yeshiva kid from Long Island he told me about his Jewish pal from the track team, and about the new Jewish Center under construction on campus; he wouldn't let me off the phone. Unbelievably to me, he even offered to call my son to speak with him directly. So, when the housekeeper answered the phone at my cousin's Manhattan apartment during dinner and told my son that the call was for him, some Mr. Steinbrenner, everyone thought it was a practical joke being played by one of Benjie"s friends. When he heard that voice say, "Hello, Ben, its George Steinbrenner," he knew it was no practical joke. Several days later Benjie received a personal letter from George Steinbrenner on Yankee stationery congratulating him on his admission to Williams College and advising him that his son, Hal Steinbrenner, a Williams senior, would look him up in September. So Tuesday, as TV commentators, players and celebrities recounted many tales of Steinbrenner, I couldn't help but reminisce about the day 20 years ago when George Steinbrenner, unbeknownst to anyone, took the time and made the effort to assist our family with its college decisions. Benjie never spent a day at Williams College, but we saw another side of George Steinbrenner not visible to the public (especially back then) and we will never forget the interest he showed in a yeshiva kid from Long Island and his future. Lester Henner Lawrence

Witness tamperer doesn't go to BMG

To the Editor:

The individual charged with intimidation is not a faculty or staff member, employee, nor representative of Beth Medrash Govoha (Witness tampering charged in abuse case; July 9, 2010). We consider intimidation in any form or format to be entirely wrong and improper. Rabbi Aaron Kotler Lakewood, NJ

The writer is chief executive officer of Beth Medrash Govoha.

Lessons from witness tampering

To the Editor:

Your cover story about the indictment of a 31-year-old man in Lakewood for witness tampering ("Witness tampering charged in abuse case"; July 9, 2010) was a great service to the community for at least three reasons.

First, many still feel the “community” can handle child abuse cases better than the authorities. Yet, at the recent Agudah convention I attended, we were instructed to contact the police if there is a suspicion of child abuse.

Second, some people may think they have the right to free speech to espouse and encourage that matters like child abuse should be handled through beis din, but they could find themselves in violation of the secular law. In a New Jersey case called State v. Crescenzi, an appeals court rejected such a constitutional challenge of free speech noting “when the public interest in discovering the truth in official proceedings is balanced against a party's right to speak, that party's right is minuscule.” A “beis din only” defense to prevent chillul HaShem will not go too far before any jury hearing a child abuse, witness tampering trial.

Finally, it astounds me that people willingly and openly talk to the police without the advice of counsel. The government’s proof in the case would have been substantially harder without the young man talking so freely. Unless you call the police, they do not come to your house just to shmooze or have coffee. Be smart; call a lawyer before you talk too much.

Alexander (Abba Shmuel) Novak, Esq. Cedarhurst