In which I call out Haredi Cowards

UPDATED APRIL 2 TO REFLECT MY CHANGED OPINION AS NEW INFORMATION BECAME AVAILABLE.

Original post follows this one

In his serious and surprising article about why its wrong to throw bleach on immodestly dressed women, RYA told this terrible story:

A clothing store, in business before the [Brooklyn] neighborhood turned considerably frummer, had some female mannequins in a window. Before beginning a shiur, a prominent rov... warn[ed] of the great evil in this local display, and offered that it would be a great mitzvah for someone to burn down the store, even if he would have to spend long years in prison for doing so.

I don't have any issue with RYA. He doesn't know the Rabbi's name, and the person who told him the story wasn't there when it happened. His information is second, or third hand. As of yesterday afternoon, I'm also in possession of second-hand information. I've heard from someone who was in the room. I won't publicize this information, however, because my witness is not willing to go on the record, even with a pseudonym, and I make it a rule never to be the first to report something I haven't seen or heard with my own eyes and ears.

My criticism, then, is directed primarily at the Brooklyn congregation that employs and tolerates this thug in a black hat. Why are you unwilling to to confront him? Why do you tolerate him? Why are you shrugging your shoulders, and acting as enablers for hooliganism?

I have a similar complaint about the Haredi blogs and newspapers. I don't expect you to publish the Rabbi's name unless you can get someone on the record, but why aren't you criticizing the community? Why aren't you admitting that you are aware of this travesty and expressing your disgust and horror? It can't be because you worry about the honor and respect of the rabbinate. We saw how you treated Rabbi Moshe Tendler.

*Background Interpolation*

A few years ago, Rabbi Tendler was caught on tape criticizing the custom of Metzizah b'Peh. For this, he was denounced by name in the Yated Neeman, and on Charedi blogs. His house and his shul were vandalized. He was harrased. He was demonized. He was villified. His hometown crazies even staged a rally against him.

A few years later, Rabbi Moshe Tendler took a walk on the Temple Mount. Again the vicious and angry denouncements came raining down, encouraged manfully by the holy and pious Yeshiva World blog. [There's a link to this disgrace somewhere on my blog, but I can't find it.]

*End Interpolation*

To the best of my knowledge Yeshiva World and the RW blogs that came for RMT's head have not posted a word about this arson-encouraging lunatic from Brooklyn. Nor, has Yateed Neeman published one of its famous spit-filled editorials. They're all pretending it didn't happen, and I want to know why.

In his serious and surprising article about why its wrong to throw bleach on immodestly dressed women, RYA told this terrible story:
A clothing store, in business before the [Brooklyn] neighborhood turned considerably frummer, had some female mannequins in a window. Before beginning a shiur, a prominent rov... warn[ed] of the great evil in this local display, and offered that it would be a great mitzvah for someone to burn down the store, even if he would have to spend long years in prison for doing so.Do we know the rabbi's name? No. RYA is protecting him, and those who heard the threat issued are, too. Shoulders, apparently, are being shrugged. Now contrast this response with the sad case of Rabbi Moshe Tendler.A few years ago, Rabbi Tendler was caught on tape criticizing the custom of Metzizah b'Peh. For this, he was denounced by name in the Yated Neeman, and on Charedi blogs. His house and his shul were vandalized. He was harrased. He was demonized. He was villified. His hometown crazies even staged a rally against him.A few years later, Rabbi Moshe Tendler took a walk on the Temple Mount. Again the vicious and angry denouncements came raining down, encouraged manfully by the holy and pious Yeshiva World blog. [There's a link to this disgrace somewhere on my blog, but I can't find it.]Has Yeshiva World, Cross Currents - or any of the RW blogs that came for RMT's head - posted anything about the arson-encouraging lunatic from Brooklyn? Not to my knowledge. And I want to know why not.