The Classic Musings series was created to repost older musings that are relevant today. Its especially helpful for those who have not been following the blog from the beginning.
A history lesson that was originally posted March 18, 2010. Everything you ever wanted to know about the origin of Ohr Saadya/Etz Chaim/ToraS Chesed/Torat Chesed is in this posting.
Once upon a time, Rabbi Daniel Feldman and his minyan were victims of slavery in the bondage of the Jewish Center of Teaneck. Rabbi Feldman couldn't handle the edicts of the spiritual ruler of the JCT, Pharoh Zierler. His 3Cs were mightier than 10 plagues and so Rabbi Feldman wrote a letter severing the relationship of the Jewish Center and the Orthodox members of his minyan. The letter was read at a Board Meeting and in doing so, he sacrificed the goodwill that was left between the Board of the Jewish Center and the Mechitza Minyan members of Merkaz L'Torah that would have stayed behind. He led his congregants out of the bondage of slavery in the Jewish Center of Teaneck and to the promised land of self determination. Pharoh Zierler did not chase after the Center members that left. Que Sera Sera. Pharoh Zierler had his own plans for the future of Orthodoxy at the Jewish Center of Teaneck.
Rabbi Feldman, and his group of Orthodox that left the Center with him, wandered from house to house in the wilderness until they set up temporary camp in CareOne. There were a few weeks of calm and stability. Rabbi Feldman set up a Board that he was to lean on for guidance and advice, but they were not taken seriously. His advisors, who guided Rabbi Daniel Feldman to remove his minyan from the Jewish Center, were still in charge and a rift began to form. The Original Mechitza Minyan members who trailblazed the way for the Orthodox community to feel comfortable at the Jewish Center of Teaneck were quickly relegated to the background and the amazing group of people that came together in such a short period of time moved to the forefront.
The group was named Torat Chesed, Torah of Kindness, and were incorporated, in May 2007, using the names of Original Mechitza Minyan members who did not approve the usage of their names on the documents of incorporation. There was talk of the group merging with The Teaneck Shul, a prayer group located near Arzei Darom, a prayer group that was allegedly begun to help their friend with his courtcase. There was talk of getting Rabbi Feldman paid, buying a house on Chadwick, being a satellite for the Teaneck Mikvah and other issues to distract the Original Mechitza Minyan members. Very soon there were activities attempting to get the two groups, the Teaneck Shul and Torat Chesed, to get to know each other, to possibly merge.
Finally, everything came to a head when Rabbi Daniel Feldman took a job with the Teaneck Shul, complete with salary and 554 Queen Anne Rd, and left the Original Mechitzah Minyan members in the wilderness of CareOne. All of his new friends left with him. To add insult to injury, he designated CareOne as a sattelite minyan for his Congregants to pray there on Sundays and Legal Holidays. His new Congregation incorporated in September 2007 as 554 Queen Anne, Inc. DBA: Etz Chaim of Teaneck.
While all of this was going on, from May to September 2007, Torat Chesed collected donations and dues for membership. Checks were being made to Torat Chesed and being cashed in the Torat Chesed bank account. In or about July, there was a change of address where donations and dues were to be sent and there was a request for checks to be made out to ToraS Chesed instead of ToraT Chesed. Monies that were earmarked checks written out for ToraT Chesed, were being deposited in a ToraS Chesed bank account. What was the need for a second bank account? Inquiries were made as to why there was a change and they were greated with a flippant attitude. Some people were told that some people say Tora"t" and some say Tora"s". Its just a matter of what pronunciation you were brought up with. Some inquiries were met with extreme venom.
There was to be no land of Milk and Honey, no giant grapes or land for the hapless Orthodox people that didn't follow Rabbi Feldman to the Promised Land, to the land of strong Cedar trees in the South, on the Path of Peace near the House of Aaron. Rabbi Feldman did what was best for himself and his family, in the short term, while harming his reputation and shirking his duties as the leader of all of his people. He tried to keep the peace by silencing the voices opposed to the merger and abandoning them in CareOne.
Those that were left behind were also defrauded by Rabbi Feldman's Minyan, 554 Queen Anne Rd, Inc DBA: Etz Chaim of Teaneck. It is unclear if Rabbi Feldman was personally involved with any of the shady dealings of his minyan's and now synagogue's leadership and Management Team.
ToraS Chesed is a corporation created in early July 2007 by the same person who incorporated ToraT Chesed. The names listed on the Documents of Incorporation of ToraS Chesed are same as 554 Queen Anne, Inc. From early July 2007-September ToraT Chesed, Inc. and ToraS Chesed, Inc. existed to service the same exact minyan.
The existence of ToraS Chesed, Inc. was kept secret from the Original Mechitza Minyan members. The ToraT Chesed checks were being deposited in the ToraS Chesed corporate bank account. ToraT Chesed's bank account's passbook began to collect dust from non-use.
Donors and members who wrote checks to ToraT were asked to sign a release absolving ToraS Chesed of any liability. Liability? What was/is 554 Queen Anne,Inc. DBA: Etz Chaim of Teaneck afraid of? ToraT Chesed and ToraS Chesed monies were one and the same! Right? ToraT Chesed already existed to represent Rabbi Daniel Feldman and all of his Congregants praying in CareOne. What was/is ToraS Chesed, Inc. and who did/does it represent? What is it's purpose?
ToraS Chesed, Inc. was created to collect money for Etz Chaim's future at 554 Queen Anne Rd. They knew that the ToraT Chesed members not following Rabbi Feldman to Etz Chaim would stop paying dues and donating money once they closed on 554 Queen Anne Rd. Its been alleged that they closed on 554 as ToraS Chesed, Inc. They tried to cover themselves by trying to get the ToraT Chesed donors and dues payers to sign a waiver absolving ToraS Chesed, Inc.of any liability and that they will not take any legal action against ToraS Chesed, Inc. After a ton of pressure, ToraS Chesed, Inc. became the Etz Chaim of Teaneck that we know and love.
Etz Chaim wants the Board of Adjustments to forget their history and their shady past. But as the BOA and the neighbors found out very quickly The Song Remains The Same.
It is upon us, this time of year, to remember and retell all that has befallen our old dear friends of the, now defunct, Mechitza Minyan. Please come home to the Jewish Center of Teaneck, your home until Moshiach comes.
A history lesson that was originally posted March 18, 2010. Everything you ever wanted to know about the origin of Ohr Saadya/Etz Chaim/ToraS Chesed/Torat Chesed is in this posting.
Once upon a time, Rabbi Daniel Feldman and his minyan were victims of slavery in the bondage of the Jewish Center of Teaneck. Rabbi Feldman couldn't handle the edicts of the spiritual ruler of the JCT, Pharoh Zierler. His 3Cs were mightier than 10 plagues and so Rabbi Feldman wrote a letter severing the relationship of the Jewish Center and the Orthodox members of his minyan. The letter was read at a Board Meeting and in doing so, he sacrificed the goodwill that was left between the Board of the Jewish Center and the Mechitza Minyan members of Merkaz L'Torah that would have stayed behind. He led his congregants out of the bondage of slavery in the Jewish Center of Teaneck and to the promised land of self determination. Pharoh Zierler did not chase after the Center members that left. Que Sera Sera. Pharoh Zierler had his own plans for the future of Orthodoxy at the Jewish Center of Teaneck.
Rabbi Feldman, and his group of Orthodox that left the Center with him, wandered from house to house in the wilderness until they set up temporary camp in CareOne. There were a few weeks of calm and stability. Rabbi Feldman set up a Board that he was to lean on for guidance and advice, but they were not taken seriously. His advisors, who guided Rabbi Daniel Feldman to remove his minyan from the Jewish Center, were still in charge and a rift began to form. The Original Mechitza Minyan members who trailblazed the way for the Orthodox community to feel comfortable at the Jewish Center of Teaneck were quickly relegated to the background and the amazing group of people that came together in such a short period of time moved to the forefront.
The group was named Torat Chesed, Torah of Kindness, and were incorporated, in May 2007, using the names of Original Mechitza Minyan members who did not approve the usage of their names on the documents of incorporation. There was talk of the group merging with The Teaneck Shul, a prayer group located near Arzei Darom, a prayer group that was allegedly begun to help their friend with his courtcase. There was talk of getting Rabbi Feldman paid, buying a house on Chadwick, being a satellite for the Teaneck Mikvah and other issues to distract the Original Mechitza Minyan members. Very soon there were activities attempting to get the two groups, the Teaneck Shul and Torat Chesed, to get to know each other, to possibly merge.
Finally, everything came to a head when Rabbi Daniel Feldman took a job with the Teaneck Shul, complete with salary and 554 Queen Anne Rd, and left the Original Mechitzah Minyan members in the wilderness of CareOne. All of his new friends left with him. To add insult to injury, he designated CareOne as a sattelite minyan for his Congregants to pray there on Sundays and Legal Holidays. His new Congregation incorporated in September 2007 as 554 Queen Anne, Inc. DBA: Etz Chaim of Teaneck.
While all of this was going on, from May to September 2007, Torat Chesed collected donations and dues for membership. Checks were being made to Torat Chesed and being cashed in the Torat Chesed bank account. In or about July, there was a change of address where donations and dues were to be sent and there was a request for checks to be made out to ToraS Chesed instead of ToraT Chesed. Monies that were earmarked checks written out for ToraT Chesed, were being deposited in a ToraS Chesed bank account. What was the need for a second bank account? Inquiries were made as to why there was a change and they were greated with a flippant attitude. Some people were told that some people say Tora"t" and some say Tora"s". Its just a matter of what pronunciation you were brought up with. Some inquiries were met with extreme venom.
There was to be no land of Milk and Honey, no giant grapes or land for the hapless Orthodox people that didn't follow Rabbi Feldman to the Promised Land, to the land of strong Cedar trees in the South, on the Path of Peace near the House of Aaron. Rabbi Feldman did what was best for himself and his family, in the short term, while harming his reputation and shirking his duties as the leader of all of his people. He tried to keep the peace by silencing the voices opposed to the merger and abandoning them in CareOne.
Those that were left behind were also defrauded by Rabbi Feldman's Minyan, 554 Queen Anne Rd, Inc DBA: Etz Chaim of Teaneck. It is unclear if Rabbi Feldman was personally involved with any of the shady dealings of his minyan's and now synagogue's leadership and Management Team.
ToraS Chesed is a corporation created in early July 2007 by the same person who incorporated ToraT Chesed. The names listed on the Documents of Incorporation of ToraS Chesed are same as 554 Queen Anne, Inc. From early July 2007-September ToraT Chesed, Inc. and ToraS Chesed, Inc. existed to service the same exact minyan.
The existence of ToraS Chesed, Inc. was kept secret from the Original Mechitza Minyan members. The ToraT Chesed checks were being deposited in the ToraS Chesed corporate bank account. ToraT Chesed's bank account's passbook began to collect dust from non-use.
Donors and members who wrote checks to ToraT were asked to sign a release absolving ToraS Chesed of any liability. Liability? What was/is 554 Queen Anne,Inc. DBA: Etz Chaim of Teaneck afraid of? ToraT Chesed and ToraS Chesed monies were one and the same! Right? ToraT Chesed already existed to represent Rabbi Daniel Feldman and all of his Congregants praying in CareOne. What was/is ToraS Chesed, Inc. and who did/does it represent? What is it's purpose?
ToraS Chesed, Inc. was created to collect money for Etz Chaim's future at 554 Queen Anne Rd. They knew that the ToraT Chesed members not following Rabbi Feldman to Etz Chaim would stop paying dues and donating money once they closed on 554 Queen Anne Rd. Its been alleged that they closed on 554 as ToraS Chesed, Inc. They tried to cover themselves by trying to get the ToraT Chesed donors and dues payers to sign a waiver absolving ToraS Chesed, Inc.of any liability and that they will not take any legal action against ToraS Chesed, Inc. After a ton of pressure, ToraS Chesed, Inc. became the Etz Chaim of Teaneck that we know and love.
Etz Chaim wants the Board of Adjustments to forget their history and their shady past. But as the BOA and the neighbors found out very quickly The Song Remains The Same.
It is upon us, this time of year, to remember and retell all that has befallen our old dear friends of the, now defunct, Mechitza Minyan. Please come home to the Jewish Center of Teaneck, your home until Moshiach comes.
51 comments:
Why are you reposting this stuff, if someone is interested they can look back in your archives, booooorrrrriiiiig. New stuff, funny stuff not old material.
Hey Mac thanks for putting this up. Fraud fraud fraudily fraud!
No 6:02, this is old Mac needs to keep current and fresh, he posted this back on Passover 2010,
Sometimes going back in time is just as important as looking forward! I am glad MacDougal is reposting to help us all keep this fresh in our minds. And I am also glad he is not straying from the reality, no rewriting history, he's reporting this just as accurately as it actually happened. As other lessons in Jewish history have taught us, we have to keep the past alive so we can be sure it doesn't happen again. May Etz Chaim's injustice on all Of Teaneck Jewry never be allowed to repeat itself!!!
7:33,, being a little melodramatic aren't you. EC injustice, that is a little over the top, repeat itself, you make sound like it is on the same level as the holocaust, kinda of silly actually.
Seeing all the comments in the previous it is vital not to forget.
Holocaust stories are for the youth of EC
11:21, hi. The goal is not melodrama and the goal is not to equate EC with the holocaust. Jews are people who are required to remember certain things always: amalek, exodus and more. We remember things in part so that we learn from the past, learn from mistakes and learn to conduct ourselves appropriately. So 11:21, the goal IS to make sure the bad things EC has done and continues to do by suing Teaneck and it residents does not happen again and we all learn to recognize unethical behavior that is unbecoming of Jews.
Yeah whatever 8:55, they are not Suing the residents they are suing the BOA, but the never forget is still somewhat silly. This is not a tragedy of epic proportions, the shooting in Aurora Colorado that is a tragedy. This is just something that EC should not be doing because it is causing us money, but anyway is Mac should make hid posts funny. That is why most people tune in 8:55.
We want new posts, we want new posts, booo. Boooo, be original Mac this stuff blows.
10:30 Contradictions rule don't they. You say only the boa is being sued not the residents and then you say its costing us money. Our taxes find Teaneck and the boa you fool essentially we are being died bcz we are footing the bill. you like the funny stuff bcz the serious stuff is over your head like a rabbi Daniel speech you Ohr saadya wannabe no winery they won't let you into their club
It is not over my head boy the overall situation is over your head 11:35, I am a member of OS and I know the truth unlike a twit like you who has no clue.
As a proud member of OS-EC maybe you should identify yourself so we know you are a bona fide representative of this illustrious organization.
Ohr Saadya making friends lol know it alls. Bob and Daniel know how to blow a courtcase
If Mac I D's himself, I will consider it , Dr. Who, you let me know.
1:18 Burech Hoosheim there are many other choices than Ohr sadya I dont heft to start a sheel of my own
You boys should check our the Jewish Center, it is fully orthodox now that Rabbi Zierler tossed out the last Remnant of those conservative people. That is where I have been going lately and they could use the help, Zeirler is actually a good guy. Too bad the former so called leaders of Merkaz had to ruin it for everybody. But that shul has possibilities.
Hey there 2:31. I assume you are referring to the so called merkaz leaders - Zalman Levine, Chanan Vohen, Elliot Frome and Levi Holdberg? They are the guys who came in and took things over. Levine and Cohen were selected to "work with" rabbi Zierler, Goldberg was the gabbai and Frome did all the announcements. So, yeah, I guess you are right, the so called leaders of Merkaz did ruin it for everyone. But hey, not the first time for this group of saints is it?
Nope 2:49, there are earlier boys who were really responsible for pissing everyone off. It was not Levine and Cohen who did that. It was the front boys who worked harder than anyone to anger Zierler and the Board that basically got us tossed. So your recollection is quite faulty 2:49, no surprise there.
3:05 you mean when Etz Chaim president Robert Erlich told the jct board that he thinks there's a problem between Rabbi Zierler and Rabbi Daniel? Or when Rabbi Daniel fought with Rabbi Zierler? Rabbi Daniel messed with Rabbi Zierler's authority and Zaiman Levine helped Daniel. That's why he was kicked off the board right after you guys were kicked out.
3:05 how do you know so much about what happened at Merchaz? I was a part of that minyan. It was a whole combination of things that caused us to leave and Zeirler never kicked us out. All he did was take a stand and say that he was the Rabbi and that Rabbi Feldman s services were not needed. We could have remained there if we wanted to, there is a difference, we were not tossed out as you put it.
3:22 is right. Rabbi Zierler didn't throw anyone out. Rabbi Daniel refused to allow him to come and speak in his own shul. It was him and not rabbi Zierler who left and convinced everyone to follow him. Sad, so sad.
Mac: thanks for always trying to present both sides of the discussion even if you disagree with part of it. Keep up your hilarious posts and keep on making sure the truth is never buried!! - A Loyal Reader
Wrong 3:17, 3:22 and 3:43, Ehlich and Co. Were not responsible for destroying our relationship with Center, you know who was responsible, perhaps we did not formally get kicked out, but those clowns were the main cause of why we were forced to leave, you just continue to distort history, Rabbi Zeirler would speak and these guys would either talk or turn their backs on the guy, they disrespected him at every turn, we had to leave because of those angry boys Zalman actually when out if his way Ali.g with Levi and Chanan to reach an accord with Rabbi Zeirler and the Board so your collective recollections are suspect boys.
5:12, I Know who you are referencing and you can t just lay all the blame at their feet or anyone in particular, they were not the only guys and or girls to challenge Rabbi Zeirler s authority, I did not go to all the Board meetings but our minyan as a whole was pretty disrespectful to both Zeirler and the Board. I don t recall what Erlich did. I do recall Zalman being more diplomatic than some but it was a lot of people who pitched in probably including me to help fray our relationship with the Center, again we chose to follow Rabbi Feldman out, we could have stayed, but why dwell on this it has nothing to do with the current situation?
5:12 Disrespectful whippersnapper that Abdelhak guy needed a Synagogue and his buddies weren't coming down. Everyone knows that once Rabbi Daniel was offered the money it was over. Weber was an autocrat that we made resign. A deal with him was worthless because he didn't represent the center. The board was angry. We saw that Cohen and Levine worked in tandem with Feldman to get the Merkaz group out of the Center. Danel's letter ruined our prospects to keep the orthodox and we are still recovering from it. Don't point fingers at people. Just because I'm not orthodox doesn't mean I'm dumb. We know who was organized and pulled everyone out of the center. You and the Ohr Saadya group and Daniel did it.
5:30 cut the nonsense, you are orthodox (not religious necessarily) but you may be one of the boys who did the damage, anyone who was or is observant would have no interests in this blog, stop, we are not stupid boy, Rabbi Daniel had very little to do with the break from the Center.
Moderator's Comment:
Based on everything I've read and researched, Etz Chaim people are upset at the Mechitzah people because the Teaneck Shul was not ready to buy 554 Queen Anne Rd and the owner wasn't ready to sell. That is why Ohr Saadya/Etz Chaim people are angry about having to leave the JCT so ”early”.
That has no bearing on the current issues, except to highlight that there is a connection between Merkaz and Etz Chaim and Etz Chaim started from Torat/s Chesed which was Merkaz. That's the only point out of the entire debate that is relevant today and every time someone argues who caused the center exodus, it strengthens the connection and weakens the court case for Etz Chaim.
The reality is that Etz Chaim is feeling pressure from this blog and from Teaneck's strong case that there was no discrimination against Etz Chaim and Mr. Erlich wasn't under duress. The more pressure they feel, the nastier the comments get.
Shluffenheimer
More lies as usual Macdoo, more lies and distortions.
Does the Rosh Yeshiva know you are saying such things without proof of your allegations 7:38? Isn't that misrepresenting the truth?
Mac covered this already. Rabbi Feldman is not a Rosh Yeshiva.
That cuts both ways 9:54, Macdoo should know that. He was one of the boys who screwed Merchaz by disrespecting Rabbi Zeirler and the Board. He buried the truth but that is why he hates the EC boys. That is why this blog is total BS.
But 8:32 all of Mac's posts have backup from court documents or filings and articles and direct quotes in the newspapers. I don't understand how he has said anything that isn't substantiated?
Actually 8:32, for arguments sake let's say Mac was one of the original members of Merkaz, even if he is motivated and does not like them (which seems obvious) it still has nothing to do with what they are doing now. Okay Mac hates them, you seem to argue that that justifies everything they have done. What happened at the Jewish Center really has nothing to do with how they formed and their lawsuit, etc. So again you really have no point, I guess other than to attack the site because you do not like the message.
8:32 The great Ian Anderson once sang ”living in the past” which you are dude. That stuffs over 5 years old now man. Every rock and roller knows you gotta live for today & today Saadya is suing the town. Will they win? Who knows but I haven't seen any real defense against Mac and cheeses accusations. Time keeps on ticking into the future. Dude what has teaneckwood Mac lied about or distorted about the suit against the boa? Tell me what I want what I really really want
I have no problem with your Ian Anderson reference as a Jethro tull fan myself but why ruin it by quoting a song from the Spice Girls, those babes don't possess half his talent musically and they are not Rock n Rollers. Bad choice of an ending. Tull and the Spice Babes bad choice.
Tim Christianson not spice babes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0aqm8oyyEM
They sang it dude,
Hey Mac is that true that you were a member of Merkaz or one of the leaders? The Center is completely Orthodox now so we it is to bad that that we did not stay. What was your role?
Challah Role or maybe baguette
3:05 you could go there now they need people. They struggle to get a minyan on a Friday night. People should help Zeirler out, he is a good guy.
3:39 I never leave Ohr Saadya I could never daven anywhere else. We need help Friday night and mincha maariv on Shabbos during the Summers because of the bungalow crowd. Come daven with us.
Not interested 401, I told you I am going to help Zeirler, actually if your guys drop the lawsuit I will stop by on Friday if you come to the Center for Mincha on Saturday's. Do you have any kibbe?
4:01. You guys need help on Friday nights and Mincha on Shabbes afternoon because half your guys don't go near a shul except on Shabbes morning when there's a kiddush. LOL.
However, do they serve kibbe at the kiddish? I think they serve alcohol as well.
From what I've heard Ohr Sadiya is the only shul in Teaneck or anywhere that has a one drink minimum.
Now the restrictions make sense Ohr saadya is zoned like a bar in a residential area
Is it true that Ohr Saadya's next fundraiser is a Friday night poker game? I heard they are using lachmajin for chips
Actually their next fund raiser is at the Belmont, they got permission to go to the track on shabbos because the stakes are higher, next year Shabbat in Atlantic City baby, they will use the funds that were collected for tarat or toras chesed, that money was set aside for a rainy day.
All you kids making fun of Ohr Saadya are twisting things. Shame on you
You take yourself way too seriously Mr 10:34. But of course Mac is not twisting anything and we all know it (except you apparently). He has given proof after proof from actual documents. You offer only derision and nothing to prove Mac wrong. Why not? Simple- because you have nothing but weak attacks and not one shred of proof that Mac is making this up. Face it, he's being truthful and you still have no sense of humor.
Actually if Ohr Saadya is zoned like a bar then don't you need to be at least 21 to join? Actually bringing kids inside should be another issue or at least allowing kids to attend the kiddishes should be an issue. Maybe that is why kids run rampant all over the front lawn due to the criminal issue of allowing kids in a bar, interesting.
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