Letters to the editor 1/22/10

Issue of January 22, 2010/ 7 Shvat 5770

Editor's note: Our editorial questioning the relative silence over the fall from grace of conversion power broker Leib Tropper (A smart career move; Jan. 15, 2010) was picked up by the widely read news aggregator site www.vosizneias.com. Following are a selection of  comments offered about the piece, its subject and the newspaper, that we thought you might enjoy. Some minor grammatical and spelling corrections have been made; mostly the comments are reproduced here as they appeared online.

"Don't attend his yeshiva. End of story."

"Wow, normally the Jewish Star is too left wing for my tastes - but this is emes!"

"This article is just silly. Troppper had to resign from EJF. His life as a respected person in the Jewish community is over. What else do they want? That Agudah should issue a kol korey saying that it is illegal to have extramarital relations with a goy?"

"Still, the correct response to this should not be to allow cynicism to spiral out of control, throwing away all of yiddishkeit because of some bad apples."

"Lipa just keeps trying to make an honest living by entertaining people. Sheitel machers actually work very hard for a living. Working hard and honest, character traits which Chazal seem to value highly, as evidenced by Chazal saying that the first question the Heavenly Beis Din will ask is if you were honest in earning a living. Obviously the Heavenly Beis Din isn't on EJF's list of preferred batei din."

"The cynicism in this article, makes it seem like the author is jealous and wishes he could get away with such aveiros without repercussions. Think about it.

When the Gedolei Yisroel ask why people question their authority, they should hold a picture of Tropper up and understand. It is beyond me that any of our leaders can remain silent and not criticize the actions of this pervert.

Doesn't it seem strange to anyone why the Roshei HaYeshivas have not said anything publicly against R' Leibb Tropper ? Maybe the answer is the tape is a phony. Today anything can be dubbed, or made voice over. R'Leibb Tropper is not some"guy" he is a big Talmud Chacum.

Indian Hair is a halachic manner, is the writer implying that it's not a big deal? well then he could drop the word 'Jewish' from 'The Jewish Star Magazine'...

What a stupid article, What should be done? stone him to death?

Singers and concerts, as far as the rabbi's are concerned is not appropriate for our style of living. This guy is dead meat already, what will a kol korah help or achieve?

I don't know what the Gedolim are thinking. We are in a blind Gulos. Hopefully Hashem will show us some light.

No one is doubting that R' Tropper may have done Tshuva, but that still is not a reason to let him continue serving as a rosh yeshiva. What he did was a disgrace and a massive chilul Hashem and while no one should judge him, I don't think that he should be rewarded either.

To see the original editorial click here. For the full Vos Iz Neias post click here.