The Power of a word: Rabbi Arthur Green calling for the death of Child Victim Advocates

Rabbi Arthur Green (AKA: Heschel Green)

Rabbi Arthur Green - Dean, Rabbinical School of Hebrew College Newton MA
Hebrew College, 160 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459
Phone: 617-559-8626


The following information was recently forward to The Awareness Center. The message provided below is posted on a blog (something like a bulletin board).  Due to my lack of knowledge of Hebrew and Torah I had to ask one of our volunteers for the definition of a rodef.  Below is the response:

"din rodef" - the Jewish law of rodef, which literally means one who chases and refers to a license to kill someone who intends to kill someone else.

Basically, a rodef can be killed on sight. You can't break the Sabbath to save the life of a rodef.

People publicly called Rabin a rodef. Many feel this contributed to the atmosphere in which Rabin was murdered. Din rodef was used as a justification for his murder.

Rabbi Arthur Green has put members of The Awareness Center, Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Heshie Billet, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, the women who have been "allegedly" sexually assaulted and attempted sexually assaulted by Rabbi Gafni and all of the child victim advocates who have supported the "alleged victim/survivors" at risk of harm.  The Awareness Center is demanding that Rabbi Arthur Green make a public appology for making such a dangerous of statement. 

If anything harm should come to any of the survivors, Rabbi Blau, Rabbi Billet, Rabbi Riskin, the board members of The Awareness Center, or any of the victim advocates connected to making the case of Rabbi Mordechai/Marc Gafni/Winarz public -- Rabbi Arthur Green should be held responsible.

Sincerely,
Vicki Polin
Executive Director - The Awareness Center
www.theawarenesscenter.org


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Rabbi Arthur Green writes The Jewish Week
New York Jewish Week 

 http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/letters.php3

Protocols
http://protocols.blogspot.com/
me @ 11:40PM | 2004-10-02|

Rabbi Arthur Green, the Ayatollah from the left has apparently launched a fatwa against: the Awareness Center, Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Heshie Billet, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, victims raped/sexually molested by Rabbi Gafni and supporters of Gafni's victims and apparently Me too.

Using the language of the late Prime Minister Rabin's murderer (and advocates of Rabin's murder), Rabbi Green has invoked Din Rodef. Calling the above rodfim.

Is this a sign of times? Will Jewish Renewal now resort to the language and advocacy of murder against fellow Jews?

Jewish Renewal, no boundaries, no standards, a place where an abuser and exploiter of children and women can feel at home.

Now advocating murder.

Irresponsible and disgusting language.

Shame.

It's time for the Rabbi Arthur Green to apologize and remove himself from any position he holds as a Rabbi. From his use of the word rodef in reference to community figures in a public letter he shows himself unfit to be called a rabbi. He has gone beyond the bounds of civilized discourse.

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Abhorrent Column 

New York Jewish Week - October 1, 2004
http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/letters.php3


Although I am not a regular reader of The Jewish Week, a New York colleague sent me your column regarding Rabbi Mordechai Gafni ("The Re-Invented Rabbi", Sept. 24). It makes me wonder whether journalistic honors and awards are as rescindable as rabbinic smicha seems to be.

I have known Rabbi Gafni for several years and think highly of his abilities as a creative teacher of Torah. As a trusted friend, I also know how he struggles with a personal history that includes some genuinely bad deeds done when he was quite young, some 20 years ago. He has been relentlessly persecuted for those deeds by a small band of fanatically committed rodfim, in whom proper disapproval of those misdeeds combines with jealously, anger at his swerving from Orthodoxy, and a range of other emotions.

Perhaps this rabbi should be made to confront his past more fully. A bet din before a mutually accepted rabbi would be the right setting for that. But the public press? Who set you up as ruler and judge over us? Is this responsible journalism?

Rabbi Gafni has more or less been assassinated in the Jewish community. None of his explanations will mean much against the whispering that will accompany him forever, thanks to your article, within the confines of our extended gossipy shtetl. You have taken it upon yourself, on erev Yom Kippur, to drive a man away from Jewish life. In the absence of anything like a "smoking gun" evidenced in present or recent conduct, I find this journalistically and Jewishly abhorrent.

Rabbi Arthur Green
Newton, Mass.

Rabbi Arthur Green writes The Jewish Week

Rabbi Arthur Green writes The Jewish Week

Protocols Blog - October 2, 2004
By Blogger "ME"

Rabbi Arthur Green, the Ayatollah from the left has apparently launched a fatwa against: the Awareness Center, Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Heshie Billet, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, victims raped/sexually molested by Rabbi Gafni and supporters of Gafni's victims and apparently Me too. 

Using the language of the late Prime Minister Rabin's murderer (and advocates of Rabin's murder), Rabbi Green has invoked Din Rodef. Calling the above rodfim. 

Is this a sign of times? Will Jewish Renewal now resort to the language and advocacy of murder against fellow Jews? 

Jewish Renewal, no boudaries, no standards, a place where an abuser and exploiter of children and women can feel at home. 

Now advocating murder. 

Irresponsible and disgusting language. 

Shame. 

It's time for the Rabbi Arthur Green to appologize and remove himself from any position he holds as a Rabbi. From his use of the word rodef in reference to community figures in a public letter he shows himself unfit to be called a rabbi. He has gone beyond the bounds of civilized discourse.

The Power of a Word: Rabbi Arthur Green Calling for the Death of Child Victim Advocates

The Power of a Word: Rabbi Arthur Green Calling for the Death of Child Victim Advocates

The Awareness Center - October 2, 2004 

Rabbi Arthur Green - Dean, Rabbinical School of Hebrew College Newton MA

Hebrew College, 160 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Phone: 617-559-8626   Email: agreen@hebrewcollege.edu
 

The following information was recently forward to The Awareness Center. The message provided below is posted on a blog (something like a bulletin board). Due to my lack of knowledge of Hebrew and Torah I had to ask one of our volunteers for the definition of a rodef. Below is the response: 

"din rodef" - the Jewish law of rodef, which literally means one who chases and refers to a license to kill someone who intends to kill someone else.
 

Basically, a rodef can be killed on sight. You can't break the Sabbath to save the life of a rodef.
 

People publicly called Rabin a rodef. Many feel this contributed to the atmosphere in which Rabin was murdered. Din rodef was used as a justification for his murder.
 

Rabbi Arthur Green has put members of The Awareness Center, Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Heshie Billet, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, the women who have been "allegedly" sexually assaulted and attempted sexually assaulted by Rabbi Gafni and all of the child victim advocates who have supported the "alleged victim/survivors" at risk of harm. The Awareness Center is demanding that Rabbi Arthur Green make a public appology for making such a dangerous of statement. 

If any harm should come to any of the survivors, Rabbi Blau, Rabbi Billet, Rabbi Riskin, the board members of The Awareness Center, or any of the victim advocates connected to making the case of Rabbi Mordechai/Marc Gafni/Winarz public -- Rabbi Arthur Green should be held responsible. 

Sincerely,

Vicki Polin, Executive Director

www.theawarenesscenter.org
 

Rabbi Arthur Green calls for the murder of those who speak out against "rabbi" Marc Gafni

Please note that Gary Rosenblatt, who is the editor of the New York Jewish Week chose to publish a letter to the editor that called for the murder of those who advocated for the civil rights of survivors of confessed rapist, Marc Gafni (AKA: Mordechai Winiarz). If anything should happen to either the survivors or Gafni or those who advocated for the survivors –– Gary Rosenblatt should also be held responsible.

Letter to the Editor

Abhorrent Column

By Rabbi Arthur Green 
Jewish Week - October 1, 2004

Rabbi Arthur Green - Enabler of Sex offenders

Although I am not a regular reader of The Jewish Week, a New York colleague sent me your column regarding Rabbi Mordechai Gafni ("The Re-Invented Rabbi," Sept. 24). It makes me wonder whether journalistic honors and awards are as rescindable as rabbinic smicha seems to be. 

I have known Rabbi Gafni for several years and think highly of his abilities as a creative teacher of Torah. As a trusted friend, I also know how he struggles with a personal history that includes some genuinely bad deeds done when he was quite young, some 20 years ago. He has been relentlessly persecuted for those deeds by a small band of fanatically committed rodfim, in whom proper disapproval of those misdeeds combines with jealously, anger at his swerving from Orthodoxy, and a range of other emotions. 

Perhaps this rabbi should be made to confront his past more fully. A bet din before a mutually accepted rabbi would be the right setting for that. But the public press? Who set you up as ruler and judge over us? Is this responsible journalism? 

Rabbi Gafni has more or less been assassinated in the Jewish community. None of his explanations will mean much against the whispering that will accompany him forever, thanks to your article, within the confines of our extended gossipy shtetl. You have taken it upon yourself, on erev Yom Kippur, to drive a man away from Jewish life. In the absence of anything like a "smoking gun" evidenced in present or recent conduct, I find this journalistically and Jewishly abhorrent. 

Rabbi Arthur Green

Newton, Mass. 

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Clarification regarding the use of the term rodef

© (2004) The Awareness Center

The Awareness Center - October 11, 2004 

Some have questioned why the Awareness Center posted a very strong, immediate and public response to Rabbi Arthur Green's public letter stating: 
 

"He has been relentlessly persecuted for those deeds by a small band of fanatically committed rodfim, in whom proper disapproval of those misdeeds combines with jealously, anger at his swerving from Orthodoxy, and a range of other emotions."
  

It is the position of the Awareness Center that the use of such language to designate an alleged victim of any form of violence that seeks justice against their abuser as a rodef is utterly irresponsible and unacceptable. It is also a dangerous event to allow to pass without unequivocal public condemnation. This is a term which as we have seen in Israel with Prime Minister Rabin can lead to tragic consequences. Such language cannot be ignored or tolerated by advocates of victims of sexual or physical violence. 
 

We cannot allow victims, their families, friends and supporters to be labeled as rodfim. A reckless public libel such as Rabbi Arthur Green's must be responded to with in an unequivocal public condemnation. It is a dangerous thing to let stand or ignore. This type of language has no place in civilized discourse. 
 

"Rodef" or the plural form "rodfim" when used as a noun has one meaning "a pursuer with murderous intention". A person who meets the definition of a rodef/rodfim is subject to din rodef / law of the pursuer and is subject to death on sight. It is forbidden to transgress the sabbath to save the life of a rodef/rodfim. 
 

The term rodef/rodfim is commonly known due to its use in rationalizing and excusing of the murder of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. It is claimed that the use of the term rodef against Rabin by community leaders at the time contributed to the charged atmosphere in which Rabin was murdered. 
 

His murderer uses that designation as justification for killing Rabin. Today the use of the term rodef in Israel is widely seen as "incitement for murder" and those who make such statements in public are reported to the police.
 

It has been suggested that rodef literally means pursuers in some benign, innocent way. That is incorrect. In Hebrew, many words have a three letter "shoresh" or root. There can be numerous words with differing yet similar root meanings that have the same derivation from the same shoresh. There are numerous words with the same shoresh as rodef but they are mainly adjectives, verbs and adverbs. There are a few nouns with the same shoresh. 

They include:

Redifah = pursuit

Meradeh = one who pursues vanities

Mordaf = persecuted/pursued.
 

Rabbi Arthur Green used rodfim as a noun. As a noun, there is no modern Hebrew usage of the term rodef/rodfim. It is a biblical term and a Halachic designation. It does not mean a mere benign pursuer.  It means "a pursuer(s) with murderous intention". A person who meets the definition of a rodef/rodfim is subject to din rodef / law of the pursuer and is subject to death on sight. It is forbidden to transgress the sabbath to save the life of a rodef/rodfim. 
 

The average person in any hebrew speaking community in the entire world who saw a person shake his fist at a group of people and shout "RODFIM" would instantly recognize, understand and appreciate the "blood libel" being stated. That is exactly what Rabbi Arthur Green has done here. 
 

We call on Rabbi Arthur Green to publicly withdraw his comment and issue a full public apology for the use of the term rodfim. We call on Jewish institutions affiliated with Rabbi Arthur Green and that work with victims of violence to condemn his comments and distance themselves from him until he takes those steps.