Message from R’ Schonfeld: R’ Yoel Schonfeld

A couple of Benjamins have been making the news lately. We all know that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar made her infamous statement referring to Jewish influence in Congress that “It’s the Benjamins baby!” – meaning that Jews are into money as represented by Benjamin Franklin, who is depicted on the $100 bill.

Two issues ago, I wrote an open letter to Senator Toby Stavisky for her damaging letter to Yeshiva University, which was leaked to The New York Times. The letter added fuel to fiery hatred of The Times against Orthodox Jewry (and Israel). It turns out, as documented by Warren Hecht and others, that the charges of financial impropriety were totally unfounded . What really rankled the three Jewish co-signers, including Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Liz Krueger, was YU’s stand against the LGBTQ clubs. Other people privately wrote to Stavisky as well, expressing their dismay with her.

Last week, the local Jewish media carried the story of a very prominent Upper East Side (Manhattan) Orthodox synagogue and its falling out with its leading candidate to succeed the current rabbi, who is 92 years old.

Years ago, there was a member in the Young Israel named Lewis Decter. Mr. Decter was a European Jew who was successful in the textile business (I believe), and was the father/father-in-law to our very special members Shirley and David Lyman a”h.

Last week was a banner week for me.  I had two letters to the editor published.  One was to The Wall Street Journal (under a pseudonym, due to its criticism of Arab terror).  The other was to Mishpacha magazine.

Dear Senator Stavisky:

Although I have retired and live in Baltimore, I remain in close touch with the leadership in Queens and am keenly aware of what is going on. I am therefore very disappointed in your letter of January 11 to Yeshiva University – the letter in which you and two other state senators accuse Yeshiva University of bigotry against LGBTQ and of misappropriating millions of dollars.