The following letter was submitted exclusively to TLS by Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg:
As the Ir HaTorah V’Hachesed unites in Tefila for our dear Yedid, פרומט חנה בן אשר הרב, who began his trial yesterday, the usual cast of nefarious characters are coming out of the woodwork to spout their venom and hate on him, his heilige Mosad and the general Lakewood Kehilla.
Using loosely controlled blogs, often hosted by ‘mainstream’ publications, or super websites like Facebook, they continue to spew personal attacks and false Nazi-like anti-Jewish rants and conspiracy theories in an effort to further whip-up those plagued with deeply embedded anti-Semitic feelings. The trial is just another opportunity to providea façade of ‘legitimately’ on their despicable trash.
I do not wish to give the haters further exposure by quoting from their hate speech directly, but one’s imagination can picture a hodgepodge of physical threats, conspiracy theories, and classic anti-Semitic propaganda. Some of this comes with clever sounding ‘disclaimers’ that they are not anti-Orthodox, just simply responding to “issues” (of course all clustered only around the Orthodox community of Lakewood).
Horav Osher, as we all know, is a selfless Askan who has dedicated his life to alleviate the matzav of special kinderlach. He does so, along with is dedicated staff, by infusing them with his loving warmth in a state-of-the-art facility in order to grow to their maximum educational potential, This unique Mosad–SCHI –also continuously provides these precious children with a pleasant and nurturing environment to foster emotional well-being and physical health.
With an unstoppable drive and an ocean of unconditional love for special children, he created from scratch – and with untold challenges – an outstanding school, and indeed a movement, to provide Hashem’s dear children, their parents and families with a dignified educational and social environment to soar to unheard of heights. His literally one-man movement has now evolved over many selfless years into an army of professionals and volunteers servicing hundreds of Lakewood (and beyond) special children.
Citing alleged bookkeeping deficiencies, Rav Osher has been harassed and tormented for a number of years now by aggressive investigations and prosecutions. Now that his trial has begun, in addition to the formidable legal challenges he faces, another opportunity has opened for the choir of Anti-Semites to peddle their detestable rhetoric.
May we continue to Daven for Rav Osher and his family, for the continued Hatzlacha of SCHI, and look forward to the end of Golus and the Geula Hashleima.
Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg
Amen. May we all see yeshous soon. Reb Osher is a real tzaddik.
Absolutely true. He is an amazing man who gives the shirt off his back to anyone. I’ve seen his giving first hand. There is no way he would do anything crooked to get money.
We must make a Million Man march!! If we get EVERYONE in town to PROTEST close off Route 9 hundreds of thousands if not a million Men women and children. To decry this blatant anti-Semitism. This is NOT justice! this is pure antisemitism from the government. from the prosecutor’s office all the way to the FBI. This isn’t a secret. Everyone knows the FBI has their own task force just to try to get the JEW in Lakewood. Just like the “Raid” in OCEAN COUNTY sure this was about OCEAN COUNTY this was about the JEWS!! “I can’t prove you are an Anti-Semite. But when I see a bird that quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, has feathers and webbed feet and associates with ducks—I’m certainly going to assume that he is a duck. What are doing about it? NOTHING!! we are going like sheep to the slaughter! The only reason they are getting away with this is that they know they can and that we will stay silent!! Where this to happen to ANY other Minority the PRESS and the Minority would be protesting this! and the government would back down!! But us Jews stay silent!! This MUST stop!!!! Let’s let our voices be heard in a BIG way National all over the world!! That we will NOT tolerate this anymore!! The reason the vultures on social media are getting more and more brazen with the Nazi-like rhetoric is that they see the Government doing it in their own way and GETTING AWAY with it! We MUST do our HISHTADLUS!!! Now is the time. What are we waiting for How many R Osher Eisman’s need to be put on trial before we wake UP!!!!??
So true!
I for one am starting to feel a little odd and uncomfortable with the climate of Antisemitism in general in the USA lately. Especially in the Democratic Party. For some reason, the anti Jewish sentiment and the singling out of Israel has become “ok” and is met with complete quiet. Does it worry anyone else? Are we ignoring the warning signals?
The Gemara says that before Moshiach comes, Tzadikim/Talmidei Chachumim will be accused… (Medicare fraud, Money Laundering, Being Jewish etc…) I personally know Harav Eisman. He’s a Tzadik, Talmud Chuchom and an Unuv. Make no mistake about it. The hatred and attacks are not against Harav Eisman. It’s against his identity. These are attacks against all Jews. We must recognize this and stand up as proud Jews and call it for what it is GOOD OLD FASHION ANTISEMITISM!
Antisemitism has been around for thousands of years and it hasn’t gone away. It may have been hiding but it did not go away. I blame the individuals in “power” for not curbing their hatred and allowing it to show. That’s when it becomes acceptable to express it and that’s what we are seeing here. When a politician, Judge, Police Officer express hatred in the name of politics or the Law, they should be called out and be disqualified of their job. Period!
It looks like its news to people that we are in Galus. well if people were cognizant of the fact we are in Galus we wouldnt be where we are today. yes there is anti semitisim its a age old phenomena “Halacha hea eisav sonei yaakov” but we have no reason to give them headlines or articles to spew on us. when a fire burns dont pour gasoline.
and to the genius who thinks he will make a million man march and stop all antisemitisim, look at yourself in the mirror! we are in galus, its because of your attitude that we are seeing such Hate, galus will always be galus and we have to be nicer gentler and all the more careful with government money that they shouldnt even be able to come after us.
and obviously when people in the community get arrested or indicted there will be a massive chilul hashem and lots of anti semitisim.
so lets take this as an opportunity to reset refocus and remember that we cant change that we are in galus but we can and must be more careful to prevent a chilul hashem
I couldn’t have said it better myself. We are galus Yidden and Hashem brings us anti semitism to remind us of that. Now is the time to lie low, not to make noise.
It looks like its news to people that we are in Galus. well if people were cognizant of the fact we are in Galus we wouldnt be where we are today. yes there is anti semitisim its a age old phenomena “Halacha hea eisav sonei yaakov” but we have no reason to give them headlines or articles to spew on us. when a fire burns dont pour gasoline.
and to the genius who thinks he will make a million man march and stop all antisemitisim, look at yourself in the mirror! we are in galus, its because of your attitude that we are seeing such Hate, galus will always be galus and we have to be nicer gentler and all the more careful with government money that they shouldnt even be able to come after us.
and obviously when people in the community get arrested or indicted there will be a massive chilul hashem and lots of anti semitisim.
so lets take this as an opportunity to reset refocus and remember that we cant change that we are in galus but we can and must be more careful to prevent a chilul hashem, and yes the enviroment around us makes that obligation all the more so important
I know Osher Eisman personally, and he is one of the best people you can find.
Thank you for your kind, expressive and supportive letter, R. Weisberg. We are parents in SCHI for 11 years now, and we absolutely depend and thrive on the school with all the education, love and care they have given us. Our 14 year-old autistic son is extremely happy there. He has learned how to take care of himself, how to read, write, use arithmetic concepts, verbally express himself, sing and play some piano, perform menial jobs and even socialize a little bit. We have lived in Lakewood for over 20 years, (I even taught R. Eisemann’s twins how to swim back in 1999), and I remember seeing the SCHI students before they had the building on Oak St. – I never thought I would be needing the services of R. Eisemann – until my son was diagnosed at 2 years old. That’s it! No cheder for him, no regular Bar Mitzva for him, no mesivta for him. A totally different life than his siblings. So we thank Hashem that we moved to Lakewood, where the warmth of SCHI has spread throughout our lives and has given our son, and others like him, the opportunity to learn to live to their fullest potential. May Hashem give R. Eisemann freedom from all the accusations against him!
People can help pay for his legal funds at Pidyonshvuyim.com
Rabbi Weisberg,
With all do respect, the Lakewood Vaad by getting involved in local Lakewood politics is exacerbating the problem of hate towards us. By endorsing local politicians who then win in a landslide due to a huge block of Vaad followers, the rest of the population feels alienated & unrepresented. This feeling is actually felt by some of our own kehila as well. The Vaad has a very important role representing us on the county & state level but minimally on the local level. If the Vaad would refrain from endorsing local Lakewood politicians it would increase Shalom between ourselves, & lower the antagonism from those beyond our community. A large amount of sinas chinom is generated before each local election due to the lack of choice people feel after your endorsement.
This is a time for honest soul searching for all of us.
Many times these mistakes happen with probably a lot of different businesses . A secretary makes a deposit into one account and those funds were meant for a different account. Also with transfers sometimes there is a mix up and the wrong account numbers are being used.
Today the news that sells is all negative. We caught this guy and this guy. Let us all be honest about this, the government is reviewing about 15 years worth of paperwork, probably about 2 million documents and all they found was maybe 2 mistakes or 3. When you are running a school for years and years, you are entitled to make a mistake.
Thank you Rabbi Weisberg, well stated. I join you in praying for Rav Osher. Everyone who knows him agrees. His oponents are driven by antisemitism and ignorance.