AnonymousJuly 11, 2017 at 12:57 AM
To KK:
1. Meor lures kids in with stipends that they call or
heavily suggest are fellowships, merit based scholarships, University
sanctioned scholarships and highly coveted awards when nothing could be further
from the truth. They are payments to guarantee that students will sit for
brainwashing sessions. It's a way to buy recruits. Let's call a spade a spade.
Of course Meor hides their intention. I asked the kiruv rabbi at Penn if his
goal was to make students Orthodox and he lied to my face when he said
"no." Penn parents were so outraged with that deceptive stipend
program that they demanded it stop. See this article:
http://www.thedp.com/article/2014/09/meor-cancels-stipend-for-maimonides-leaders-fellowship
2. The goal of Meor is to make kids Orthodox, especially
secular ones. To claim that many Jews, (especially kiruv Jews), don't define
themselves as Orthodox in order to unite all Jews is laughable, disingenuous,
deceptive and another lie. Kiruv rabbis don't use denominations in order to
confuse their targets. Non practicing secular Jews may have only heard of
Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. To go from no religion to Orthodox is an
enormous jump, maybe too big a jump. But to just read about "True Torah Judaism"
from a well trained, highly motivated kiruv rabbi who supposedly has no
denomination, well that seems safe enough. It's part of the lure, part of the
deception, and it's a con well played played over and over by kiruv rabbis.
It's dishonest and shameful.
3. The lies seem to grow. Prominently displaying the name of
a University with whom Meor has no formal connection on one's web site is
deception at its grandest. Why not say Meor - serving colleges in Boston, New
Haven, Philadelphia etc.? Because the point is to make Meor look as if it's a
sanctioned part of a University. They want people, especially parents, to think
they were checked out by the University, and they're approved of by the
University. Nothing could be further from the truth. Meor gloms onto college
names, uses the good will and good name of a college, and has their way with
students whose unsuspecting parents are thousands of miles away.
Combine the use of the college name with the stipend that is
also made to sound like it comes from a campus academic source, and combine it
with the lack of transparency about what denomination these supposedly true
torah kiruv Jews are practicing, and you're batting three for three on
deceptive lies.
4. Again, the stipend is a lure and the threat of non-payment
keeps students in a chair for kiruv rabbis to work their magic. It's a paid
brainwashing program, except the students, their parents and the University who
Meor attaches itself to don't know.
5. Meor teaches a skewed version of Jewish heritage. They
also fill kids' heads with nonsense such as the "meaning and value of
their Jewish heritage." Kids exit, (if they're lucky and get out), with
inaccurate facts about how their ancestors lived, how they practiced the
religion, and WHETHER they practiced the religion.
Shedding
Light on Meor
This post is dedicated
to my good friend, A.C.
In researching campus kiruv/outreach a while back, I
stumbled upon this letter on a site named "Parents of Meor Kids" and
realized that I needed to look more into Meor.
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Parents of Meor
Kids. https://sites.google.com/site/parentsofmeorkids/ (click to
enlarge) |
Meor is one of many
Jewish campus outreach organizations. They run the Maimonides Leaders
Fellowship program, in addition to sponsoring highly subsidized trips abroad to
destinations in both Europe and Israel. According to one of their many
websites, Meor was "founded in the late-1990s at the University of
Michigan [and] the Maimonides Leaders Fellowship has since spread to 35
campuses throughout North America and Israel. The program, spanning a college
semester, engages students with the texts and concepts of their Jewish heritage
in a mature and sophisticated manner."1
Trips and retreats are a premier attraction for many of
the mitnagdic outreach groups. That’s how the Maimonides
Leaders Fellowship program got started. The MLF is an offshoot of the
University Heritage Society, which runs “Heritage Retreats” of a week or longer
at California ranches.
The MLF also invites student applicants to participate in a semester-long
program of Orthodox education and immersion, with a cash stipend as incentive.
Students meet every week for classes in Jewish leadership and literacy, and for
breakout discussion groups focusing on such issues as “dealing with
relationships with family, with girlfriends,” according to the program’s
founder, Rabbi Mordechai Kreitenberg. The students also spend weekends in
Orthodox communities as part of the program.
The MLF’s Web site, where students can apply, shows no indications of the
program’s Orthodox foundation. Indeed, it serves a population that is almost
entirely non-Orthodox on entrance. But that isn’t to say that these students
aren’t Orthodox when they leave the program. The MLF maintains statistics based
on student surveys, in which 77.4% of last year’s graduates said they have
taken or have plans to take “steps to increase your personal observance,” and
38% “attended programs in Israel or the United States that allowed them to
further explore their Judaism,” such as those provided by Aish HaTorah.2
(Aish HaTorah is one of the largest outreach/kiruv centers currently
in existence. Not only do their programs turn out ba'al
teshuvas (newly
religious people,) they also turn out kiruv rabbis--rabbis
specially trained to recruit people into an orthodox lifestyle. Aish HaTorah's
Beis Medrash Program's webpage proclaims that "our programs have produced
hundreds of dedicated, qualified leaders, serving in positions throughout the
world in kiruv, rabbinics, and other important Jewish leadership roles, as well
as proud "rank and file" Jews to whom commitment to Jews and Judaism
is uppermost in their lives."3)
Meor's websites are beautifully made and filled with
information, even going as far as to create several in-depth FAQ pages. So
prepared is Meor for the inevitable questions from parents that they even
provide a FAQ page specifically made in order to allay parents' concerns.
Strangely, one of the questions they answer is this:
Does
MEOR pressure students to become more observant?
No. MEOR’s approach is to explain the “why” of Jewish
traditions and practices, encouraging students to ask questions and think for
themselves. For example, students interested in social justice discover
the foundational concepts in Jewish philosophy, ethics, Torah and tradition
that are relevant to tikkun olam. Students who want to learn more about why
someone might choose to keep kosher have the opportunity to explore the meaning
of kashrut and issues relevant to contemporary life.4
Apparently, this must be a concern of parents if the
organization feels the need to put it on their FAQ page. But what really makes
me uncomfortable is this ad.
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Ad for Maimonides
Leaders Fellowship from the Meor at Emory site. |
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Additional
Requirement for Meor's Maimonides Fellowship. |
Meor offers students the opportunity to get paid to take their course OR to put
their $300 towards an already subsidized Meor trip to Israel. They mention this
on their Parent FAQ page as well:
Why do
the students receive a stipend? Are they being “paid” to study?
In today’s world of
escalating college costs and financial pressures on families, MEOR recognizes
that the time students are committing to the program is significant, valuable
and not eligible for academic credit. Thanks to the support of generous
donors, we provide a small stipend to students who complete the Maimonides program.
Some students apply this stipend toward a MEOR-sponsored trip to Israel.5
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How can they
guarantee that there will be "an observant Jewish wedding" for
their participants to attend? |
While it sounds very nice
that they're looking out for finances, knowing that Meor is a kiruv organization
makes this seem less than an innocent stipend. College kids are always looking
for extra cash and this is a huge draw. One night a week for two hours (on top
of a full course load, possibly a part-time job, certainly some sort of a
social life...) should be fine, right? Two community shabbatons? Sure, great
deal! A wedding? A cool dinner? Free food? Awesome! Meor at George Washington
University in DC also gives some information about their program's
requirements, and puts pressure on students to show up to all that is listed,
otherwise they don't receive the full stipend. However, I have some questions.
1.
If Meor didn't offer a stipend,
would they have trouble drawing an audience for their program? And if that's
so, then why not better the program so that it can stand on its own, rather
than attracting people with promises of cash? A truly outstanding program
should be able to attract people on its own merit and not need cash incentives,
right?
2.
If these Meor programs are being
billed as, for example "Meor at Emory," and their websites show the
University name, then why are these universities not giving course credit? Or
is Meor not really affiliated with any of these schools, and just happens to be
on or near these campuses? By using the names of the universities on their
websites, are they just really trying to earn your trust? Hey, if it has my
school's name, it can't be bad, right? But is Meor really endorsed by any of
these schools? (I'll give you a hint: I called U. Penn to ask about Meor this
past spring semester and the best they could do was direct me to Hillel,
because they knew Hillel was also a Jewish organization. Otherwise, the
Registrar knew nothing about the Maimonides Program, and nothing about Meor.
Meanwhile, I was sure, based on their website, that Meor was affiliated or
endorsed by the university.)
3.
Who are these generous donors who are
giving money to Meor? And why are they doing so? What is their goal?
4.
Based on Meor at GW University's
statement, I'd like to know how Meor can guarantee that there will be an
"observant Jewish wedding" for the students to attend. Is this
program arranging weddings of former participants in order to facilitate this
requirement? Are they working with kosher catering halls?
5.
Let's say a student really wants that
$300 stipend. Maybe they want the cash. Or maybe they want to use the money to
go on a Meor trip. If a student starts to do poorly in his/her university
courses, but is spending a lot of time with Meor, how does the Meor staff
handle this? Do they discourage the student from staying with Meor? Do they
have a minimum GPA that must be maintained in order to remain part of Meor? Or
is it a matter of once you're in, you're in, and you won't be turned away?
6.
Two hours a week isn't too bad. But
what additional time constraints are really being put on students? How much
time is actually being spent at Meor? Or is it two hours and that's it, they
toss you out until the following week? For some reason, I don't think that two
hours covers any more than the actual course time.
I've had the honor of attending speeches given by
President Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama. I've sat through many classes
given by prominent and not-so-prominent rabbis. And I've completed both a BFA
and an MA, and had professors and advisors who were really fabulous. All of
these people--teachers, religious leaders, political leaders--were intriguing.
Their words made me think. And as a teacher, I know that a good discussion makes
students think, question, and want to learn more. So, when I read this quote,
supposedly from a student, on the Meor at Washington D.C.'s website, I was a
bit concerned:
“There
are few times in my life where I’ve been so enthralled in someone speaking that
I literally feel paralyzed in both thought and motion.” SS GWU ’13"6
See,
because as a parent and an educator, when a student is enthralled to the point
of physical and mental paralysis, I have to wonder. Does this mean that this
student was so fascinated that his/her mind just stopped ... working
critically? The use of the word "literally" makes me wonder if this
is a cry for help. ("Help! I cannot move or
think--literally--really--you've got to help!") Yes, I'm being a stickler
for word choice here, and I'd do the same to my students or my own children if
they wrote this line. And it makes me wonder if Meor thought about this
statement before putting it on their site, and it makes me wonder about what
was really going on in that student's subconscious when choosing those
words.
While Meor's numerous sites give a lot of positive information on the work they
do, it is necessary to look critically at Meor and all campus kiruv organizations
and not allow our own critical thinking skills to become "paralyzed"
in the face of ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach.
1.
Meor @ Emory University http://emory.meor.org/maimo accessed
August 8, 2013.
2.
Weiss, Steven I., Orthodox Rethinking Campus Outreach. The Jewish Daily
Forward. January 20, 2006. Issue of Jan. 20, 2006.
http://forward.com/articles/1518/orthodox-rethinking-campus-outreach/
3.
Aish HaTorah. Aish International. Aish.com accessed August 17, 2013. http://www.aish.com/ai/ip/Beis_Medrash_Program.html
4.
Parent FAQ page. Meor. www.meor.org accessed August 17, 2013.
5.
Ibid.
6.
S.S. George Washington University. Meor Washington DC. accessed August 17,
2013. http://dc.meor.org/maimo
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Labels: Aish
HaTorah, Aish
International, College, Emory
University, George
Washington University, Heritage
Retreats, Maimonides
Leaders Fellowship, MEOR, Rabbi
Mordechai Kreitenberg, University
of Pennsylvania
1.
It seems that they are a
partner with Bronfman Center for Jewish Life! Wow, that is awful!
http://www.meornyu.com/
1. 
It says that they are a
partner with Bronfman Center, whoa. But here's my thought. Meor, if I recall
correctly, has said that they "partner" with Hillel. But when I spoke
with folks at Hillel at U. Penn, the Hillel representative said that they have
used their facility for a room to hold an event or classes. Here I'd be curious
to research what is meant by "partner" in this case. Based on my
conversation, this may just be a buzzword for "we both send people to the
same Israel program and promote it together." Those, of course, are my
words, but I would be wary of certain terms like "partner" since it
seems to change meaning depending on how they'd like it to appear.
2.
tesyaaAugust
18, 2013 at 9:20 PM
The double entendre in
the post title is very cute.
1.
becAugust
18, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Thanks! As a person with
chronic title trouble, I appreciate the compliment.
3.
AnonymousAugust
19, 2013 at 1:28 AM
Bec, I can see you have
a lot of questions about the intentions of these Rabbis. Do you mind if I ask
you what your own background was? Based on your writings, it appears that you
started to become religious a few years ago, it was a slow process. (You were
still driving a car on shabbos for a while) and it appears you were only fully
religious for a very short period of time then you all moved to Israel, and
then moved back to the US. When you came back, you experienced significant
challenges, and at that time, when faced with difficulties, your observance
level dropped, and now you are warning others of the pitfalls that you feel you
were not made aware of? Is that a fair summary?
1.
becAugust
19, 2013 at 10:27 AM
You're only partially
correct. I dabbled in orthodoxy in college. Then became fully orthodox a few
years later, then later left it. The time you're talking about is really the
second time I became fully orthodox.
As for "warning others about the pitfalls that [I] feel [I] was not made
aware of," I'd have to disagree, as my personal experiences have little to
do with campus kiruv or these organizations. My research and critique of these
organizations and their methods came years after I left orthodoxy.
4.
AnonymousAugust
19, 2013 at 11:36 AM
That was a good try at
trying to discredit Bec though! It's really fun to watch kiruvnik's hunt for
reasons they are right and everyone else is wrong. When they can't defend kiruv
they attack the person criticizing it. How about just going with the truth that
kiruv is deceptive! Let's, for argument's sake, go with the idea that Bec is a
bitter ex-BT seeking revenge. How would that change the fact that Kiruv is
deceptive?
5.
AnonymousAugust
20, 2013 at 1:16 AM
Is your problem with
these Keruv, that organizations are providing or encouraging people to become
orthodox? or do you have a problem with people choosing to become more Jewish
in any scenario because you now see/understand the fallacy of orthodoxy itself?
I am bothered by any group that tries to get its participants to do any form of
Jewish practice that they are not comfortable with, be it reform, conservative
or orthodox. To me the only appropriate way to do things, is for someone to
teach me information and for me to make my own decisions off of that
information.
1.
Based on your question,
Anonymous 8/20/2013 at 1:16AM, I'm assuming that you're new to reading this
blog. So thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. The issue that I'm
covering in this post (and on this blog in general)is that there is such a
thing as deceptive Jewish outreach, that often targets a specific audience and
moves them towards orthodoxy in a less than sincere way, for example, with
financial incentives, highly subsidized travel opportunities, sitting through
"leadership" programs, all which are actually subtly and
not-so-subtly pushing people into yeshiva programs ("wanna spend an extra
two weeks in Israel for free? Sign here for This Yeshiva and just attend
classes for 6 hours a day, but it's FREE!")and so on. These organizations
spend a lot of money and time on marketing for a reason.
I agree with you in that giving people information is the only way for them to
make an informed decision. However, if the only information out there is
one-sided, then making an educated choice is impossible, since half of the
information is missing. People who find orthodoxy on their own and take it upon
themselves to find a good rabbi to answer their questions (who doesn't have an
ulterior motive, who is not looking to get notches on his kiruv belt, who is
not looking to make a quota to justify a paycheck,) are fine. My goal here is
not to rip apart orthodoxy, however, once again, people should learn more about
the lifestyle before agreeing to commit to it. Even posts on Beyond BT (an
orthodox site for ba'al teshuvas) talk about issues like not being able to
afford yeshiva tuition for their children, how they feel alienated at times by
non-orthodox family as well as sometimes by the orthodox community, and other
problems that people didn't discover until becoming completely entrenched in an
orthodox lifestyle and community.I've ended many a post on this blog simply
saying that people need to really research the motives of the organizations
with whom they're getting involved. Choosing to be an orthodox Jew should be
one's personal choice, not something imposed on someone who may be in a
position of vulnerability (like a college student away from home looking for a
place to fit in, looking for some extra cash, a travel opportunity, etc.) The
difference between ultra-orthodox outreach and the more liberal denominations
is that Reform and Conservative organizations, to the best of my knowledge,
don't engage in dishonest recruitment on college campuses (or in general,
again, to the best of my knowledge.) I've also found that even during time
spent in Conservative congregation, while, at the time, I may have disagreed
with certain aspects of practice, I still did what was comfortable for me.
6.
AnonymousAugust
20, 2013 at 2:19 AM
I don't know who your
question is directed at, but I have an opinion. My problem with kiruv is the deception.
They are not up front from the beginning that their goal is to make people
ultra orthodox. In fact, groups such as Meor go out of their way to hide what
their real goal is. They invite kids on practically free trips to Israel with
camel rides, rafting, camping under the stars, swimming in the Mediterranean,
museums, antiquities, exotic food and beautiful girls/boys. Oh, and learning
about Jewish history is in there too. The fact is, kiruv trips to Israel are
intended to lure kids away from their families long enough for kiruv workers to
work their brainwashing magic on them. It's bait & switch. It's dishonest.
It's a lie.
If they want to be truthful they should start by admitting that their goal is
to recruit kids into ultra orthodox judaism. Then, tell them what an ultra
orthodox life means: no more frat parties, no girlie magazines, giving up the
foods you love, the sports you love, wearing the black hat uniform or long
skirt, going on a communication blackout every Friday night to Saturday night,
probably changing your career goals to conform with religious calendars,
missing family events such as weddings that don't meet ultra orthodox
standards, and on and on. Let kids make an informed choice about whether to
become religious based on facts, not on ridiculous fantasies about family
heritage and tradition.
When you accept a free dinner in exchange for listening to a presentation about
vacation time share units you know what you're in for - an evening of intense
sales pitches. When groups like Meor take college kids to Israel neither the
kids or their parents have any idea that they're in for a week of intense sales
pitches. This is dishonest. It's wrong. It's immoral. It's deceptive.
The organized pursuit of college kids must stop. The predatory nature of kiruv
and treating college students as fair game to be lured into an ultra orthodox
life is shameful, embarrassing, disrespectful, and gives all Jews a bad name.
1.
AnonymousAugust
22, 2013 at 11:07 PM
really, really well
said!!!
2.
becAugust
22, 2013 at 11:38 PM
I think that you've
nailed it:
"When you accept a free dinner in exchange for listening to a presentation
about vacation time share units you know what you're in for - an evening of
intense sales pitches."
That's precisely my concern with all kiruv--not knowing what you may have
signed up for, and precisely why I started this blog.
3.
AnonymousJanuary
7, 2016 at 11:33 PM
SOOOOOOO well
said!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!
7.
Anonymouses, it'd be great
if you folks could maybe choose a name. It's hard to tell you folks apart.
Thanks. :)
8.
AnonymousAugust
22, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Hi,
I have several friends who have done MEOR programs at some of the schools you
mentioned and at other ones. They all had a great, no pressure experience. I
was surprised to see that you said they have no affiliation with any schools,
so I looked into online. It appears that every school I looked up (NYU,
Northwestern, Emory) MEOR is listed as a valid student organization on campus. Maybe
its different at UPenn? I also noticed on MEOR's website their board and
advisory Board include a Hillel Director and Hillel Member of their
International Board. Did you try to speak to any MEOR staff members, while
writing this article? I think you may be jumping to inaccurate conclusions? Of
all my friends that have done MEOR programs, none of become Orthodox and none
felt pressured to do so.
1.
Hi Anonymous.
Thanks for your comment. I spoke with the Registrar's office at U. Penn and I
also spoke with the Hillel staff there. While I could have called Meor for
this, I figured that I had their info on their website. My point is really that
people do need to make these calls and ask these questions before (or while)
getting involved. I'm glad to hear that you know people who had positive Meor
experiences. I'm sure that most do, and I sincerely think that's great, and I
hope that others have similarly good (and non-pressured) experiences with Meor.
My concern is that they do hide their orthodox affiliation, and that even if 34
out of 35 campuses have adequate information on Meor, that 35th campus needs to
have that same information, and needs to be just as upfront. Campus staff needs
to be aware of clubs and organizations that list their school's name on their
sites and recruit (for lack of a better term) their students. My other concern
is that Meor is a feeder organization to places like Aish. I personally know of
a family who had a child that became orthodox through Meor, but I"m not
going to say that everyone will have that experience. (After asking, I found
out that that family is not linked to the first picture in my post.)
Just out of curiosity, of the folks you know who did Meor, were they aware from
the beginning that they were learning orthodox perspectives on Judaism?
For everyone's sake, I hope that you're right, and that my conclusions are
inaccurate. That clip from the article in The Forward unfortunately seems to
show otherwise. A better statistic would really be from outreach yeshivas to
find how much of their student body comes from which sources.
I genuinely appreciate your criticism, because it means that I need to look
closer at the information I have and the information I find. It also means that
you are questioning closely, something I hope that all will do, not just here,
but with every group offering their opinions. Thanks again.
2.
AnonymousAugust
23, 2013 at 12:18 AM
You have used the phrase
Orthodox Prospective a few times. Is that really such a thing? Meaning,
wouldn't an Orthodox Jew, rightly point out that this was the only prospective
until modern times (the last 150 years or so)
Furthermore, wouldn't they point out that they are the only Jewish group that
believes their prospective is not man-made but rather from God himself.
Therefore, they are teaching not a prospective but God's words. So they can
speak in absolutes, the way no other group can, because to them, it is an
absolute.
3. 
Rachmuna
LitzlonAugust
23, 2013 at 8:48 AM
Not true at all. What we
know and recognize today as "orthodox" is a modern invention. It's
mostly a reaction to the enlightenment. Jews were mostly poor illiterate
peasants, and only the very best and the brightest went to yeshiva and became
rabbis. The majority were what we would call today "traditional".
4.
Just to clarify--the
phrase I use is "orthodox perspective" not "orthodox
prospective."Of course there's such a thing as an "orthodox
perspective." A perspective is a point of view. The term "orthodox
perspective" is used to clarify so readers won't think that kiruv
organizations are selling Humanist Judaism, or chicken feed, or dry cleaning
services. However, the point here isn't that orthodoxy is right or wrong. The
point is that certain groups use deceptive tactics to sell a particular
worldview to those who are not of that worldview.
5.
AnonymousAugust
23, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Rachmuna Litlon, could
you expand on what you mean? I think Meor says what they practice is
traditional Judaism.
9.
AnonymousAugust
22, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Bec,
Really great post. -
1.
becAugust
22, 2013 at 11:28 PM
Many thanks!
10.
AnonymousAugust
23, 2013 at 10:21 AM
August 22nd - Meor does
not point out from the beginning that their view comes directly from God.
That's too bad, because if they did kids might see how bizarre this is before
their heads are swimming with romantic images of "family heritage"
and "tradition."
Instead, Meor sugar coats their message by saying their spin on Judaism is the
"Torah True" one. Just because Meor thinks their version of Judaism
contains God's words, doesn't mean it is.
You must be heavily involved with Meor to have picked out what appear to be the
only three schools that allow Meor a measure of legitimacy on their campuses. A
few schools allow Meor to function as a student club, like the Frisbee Club.
Club status usually gives a group a place to meet on campus, but is does not
grant that group affiliation to the college. Sorry.
I looked up UPenn. Meor is not a registered religious organization on that
campus. It is listed as a student club. From what I can see Meor is led by paid
professionals there, not by students, so even calling them a student club is a
stretch.
Meor is not even listed as a club at American University, Boston University,
Brandeis, Cornell, Drexel, Harvard, MIT, or Temple. They just trawl around
those campuses pretending to be affiliated and use the colleges names and
iconic images on the local Meor web sites. Given the nature of relationships
between clergy and their flocks, implying that you are a religious organization
representing a college is more serious than calling yourself Campus Pizza.
The biggest crime though, is that Meor arrogantly acts as if it is entitled to
prey upon the minds, ideologies and lives of college students without ever
telling them, their parents or college administrators what their goal is. A
successful Meor recruit becomes a fully Orthodox Jew. A fully Orthodox Jew has
little place in the world outside an isolated Jewish community. I wonder how
many students would sign up for Meor's subsidized trips to Israel, and classes
that pay $399 just for attending, if they knew where that road ended?
11.
AnonymousMay
12, 2014 at 10:05 PM
My nephew, a lad with a
sharp mind and a broad Jewish education, took part in Meor, enjoyed the
learning and signed up for a trip---many other plans set around the trip. Close
to departure, he was "uninvited" for asking too many questions,(which
was undermining the atmosphere.) In the end, he was given the $$ to help buy
his own plane ticket to Israel. Yes, these programs need the timeshare
disclosures!
12.
Moshe FriedmanJuly
1, 2014 at 4:19 AM
My name is Moshe
Friedman. I work for the Meor Israel trips. The author has presented a rather
uninformed attack on our institution, and it does not appear that much research
has gone into her claims.
If there is anyone who has legitimate questions or concerns about the program
and is honestly seeking answers, please email me at thecfree@gmail.com, with
your name and phone number, and a good time to reach you. I would rather
respond via personal conversation since writing can easily be misinterpreted.
1. 
test
13.
AnonymousJuly
3, 2014 at 7:29 PM
What part of the author's
essay do you think is an uninformed attack, Moshe? The part about Meor paying
students to lure them in? Is it where the author showed that Meor suggests they
are affiliated with Universities when they are not? How about where she
questioned Meor for not disclosing who their "generous donors" are?
Is it an attack when someone asks how Meor can promise recruits they will be
able to attend "observant" weddings? Maybe you think asking what
Meor's policy is when a student's school work slumps is an attack? Is asking
what other requirements Meor has of students who attend two hour a week
sessions an attack? Really, Moshe, none of these are not attacks. They are
intelligent questions.
I think the readers of this blog would like to hear someone who really knows
Meor address the author's points. If Meor has nothing to hide about itself or
its practices then addressing this publicly should be no problem. Who knows,
you might even change someone's mind about the organization. On the other hand,
if Meor has something to hide it would surprise no one that you would only
discuss the group "privately."
14.
AnonymousAugust
31, 2014 at 11:30 AM
Hi,
As a student who has participated in several MEOR programs, and has just
returned from a summer spent in Israel courtesy of MEOR, I have to say that the
author of this article is extremely uninformed. I was raised a conservative
Jew, and still consider myself conservative despite being subjected to
"brainwashing" for over a year now. Many other of my friends who have
done these programs as well, also have yet to be "forced" into
orthodoxy.
MEOR does not pay students to "lure them in." They just recognize
that as college students, we have time restraints (as you wisely pointed out),
and because they feel it is crucial to the continuation of the Jewish religion
to inform us about practices, traditions, and so forth, they compensate us for
our time.
Further more, many organizations do not disclose donor names, because a lot of
the time it is private families who wish to be unknown. It is a privacy issue,
and I think it is a little ridiculous to expect a full list of donors and
discredit the organization because you cannot obtain it.
In regards to the time commitment issues you pointed out: MEOR is an optional,
extracurricular activity. It is not the clubs responsibility to manage time for
a student, just like any other club. If a student fails to keep up with schoolwork,
then they need to limit themselves on what they do - it's really simple. I know
that if I find myself overbooked, I know when to stop and what to take out. We
all have choices in what we do and no organization "forces" us to do
anything.
I have gotten incredibly close with MEOR staff both in Israel and on campus and
I am so thankful I've had the opportunity to learn with them. And for the
record, I would like to state to anyone who wishes to discredit and attack
MEOR, that they are so wrong about the objectives and requirements of this
organization.
1.
ParisOctober
8, 2017 at 3:47 PM
I 100% agree with this
statement and sentiment. As a college student who now has incredible
opportunities to learn from rabbis, I feel as though the payment is given
solely due to the fact that it is time-consuming. If a college student could be
working or studying for classes, they will choose that over taking religious
classes. It's about time management and, as MEOR and many other student
outreach programs recognize, young adults need an incentive to join anything.
If other programs were paying to learn, religious or not, students would be
more willing to take the time and sign up. The fact that it IS religiously
affiliated doesn't make it forceful or pushed. The kids come to their religion
on their own, despite the program's "intentions". Of course our
rabbis and rebbetzins would love for us to connect to Judaism, but your
willingness to become observant is TOTALLY up to you. I have never felt
pressured and I agree with THIS comment, regarding the common misconception of
brainwashing. It is ridiculous and these student outreach programs want nothing
more than to educate young Jewish people who may or may not have had exposure
before being away from home.
2.
AnonymousJanuary
23, 2018 at 11:31 PM
Paris, you sound like a
MEOR poster child. In fact, I see you ARE a poster child for Aish! I know that
you THINK you became immersed by your own free will, but I disagree. There is a
small army of highly trained recruiters who sucked you into this, and you are
completely unaware of that. Wouldn't you have liked to know that before they
worked their magic on you? Aish & MEOR cause great harm to many families.
Defending them is no more honorable than defending a child molester. Those
rabbis may use sex or not, but they molest just the same.
Free From Meor
15.
AnonymousSeptember
2, 2014 at 7:01 PM
I respect the fact that
you are voicing your opinion, but I have to say that you are mistaken in not
only your facts, but your assumptions as well. By claiming that Reform Jews
automatically follow a MEOR rabbi because they make the connection that he is
Jewish, you underestimate the intellect of these people. Even Reform Jews (and
non-Jews in general) can tell the difference between a secular Jew and an
orthodox one. So by claiming that they are unable to make the comparison
between their non-religious families who don't wear yamulkas or tzis tzis, to
those who do, you are calling them incompetent.
In regards to your claim that MEOR "coerces" students to join with
money: students have choices. I've had a few friends drop out of this program
because they feel it is not for them. As I stated earlier - we all make choices.
College students are not dumb: we understand if we like something or not. And
believe it or not $300 for a decent time commitment is not an adequate
"lure," if they really don't enjoy it.
I read the article you posted and I'm sure that is valid to it's own extent.
However, it is also a Jewish custom to donate anonymously, as well as the
privacy issue I had mentioned before. MEOR is very open that it is more of a
religious organization, therefore negating your claims about any "hidden
agendas."
And finally, I have to tell you that everything you have assumed about me is
untrue. Among other things, I'm actually in a sorority and on my school's dance
team - both activities that do not correlate at all with a Torah observant
lifestyle. And no, I have not babysat any of the rabbi's kids nor organized
Shabbatons. In fact, I think most people who did not know me, would be shocked
to find out I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this organization, as I do not
look or act the part. My relationships with my friends and family has remained
the same, but I appreciate your concern.
You clearly had a bad experience with this type of organization, and I truly am
sorry for that. But your assumptions are wrong, and it is not right to loosely
base your experiences on an organization you clearly don't know anything about.
16.
AnonymousSeptember
3, 2014 at 5:09 AM
I do not underestimate
the intellect of college students, Jewish or otherwise. I maintain that secular
Jews do not know the difference between a kiruv rabbi and a Reform rabbi.
Campus kiruv rabbis make it a point to act as non Jewish as possible to disarm
secular students and their parents. They intentionally dupe people by
downplaying, if not denying, their ultra Orthodox affiliation. When they say
"we're just Jewish, like your grandparents," it's a bold faced lie.
My grandparents did not practice kiruv-style Judaism.
To suggest that money is not a lure for students is out of touch with reality.
Just as students can turn down money, so too can drug addicts turn down drugs.
The likelihood of either happening is low. When Meor waves money in front of
kids, tells them they just have to take a few classes, then argues that they
should just walk away half way through if they don't enjoy it, especially in
the face of love bombing junior Meor acolytes hounding them, they go beyond the
boundary of what is reasonable. Meor knows exactly what they're doing. The
problem is that students do not. Students will hang in there for the paycheck
and out of a sense of honor to complete what they started. The money is a ploy
and tool to give kiruv rabbis time to work on prospective recruits.
Jews did not invent the practice of donating money anonymously. The hidden
agenda with Meor is their goal to make students ultra Orthodox. They claim to
practice "just Judaism, like what your grandparents practiced," when
in fact it is Meor's goal to make students fully practicing ultra Orthodox
Jews. Why not be up front & call themselves an evangelical ultra Orthodox
Jewish organization? Why keep that hidden? Meor may not be breaking laws by
keeping their donors hidden, but they are acting immorally.
I think it's wonderful if your association with Meor does not affect you or
your relationships. I wonder what you might have done with your summer had you
not gone to Israel with Meor? I stick to my assertion that you are well on your
way to becoming fully Orthodox, that you don't see this happening to you, that
you THINK you are making decisions such as buying slightly more modest pieces
of clothing or eating more kosher foods, but that the changes and decisions in
your life are actually happening TO you because an organization with anonymous
donors put a great deal of effort into making sure it would. I also maintain
that you can't see it.
It is absolutely right for me to speak out about groups such as Meor. They
cause tremendous damage to families, they derail the lives of students, and
they are deceptive about their goals. Remaining silent would be criminal.
1.
AnonymousSeptember
3, 2014 at 12:20 PM
I'd also like to clarify
that the author of this blog and I had entirely different experiences with
kiruv. She became involved with Chabad & my experience is with Aish/Meor
groups.
17.
ReginaldJanuary
16, 2015 at 1:05 PM
"How can they
guarantee that there will be "an observant Jewish wedding" for their
participants to attend?" -- Who says they guarantee it? In fact, if you
read the blurb carefully, you'll see the words "such as". The words
"such as an observant wedding" cannot be construed as a guarantee.
1.
AnonymousJanuary
16, 2015 at 4:41 PM
Right, every college
student should read the small print & untangle the deception that Meor
presents before accepting an invitation.
Although, it's just amazing how they manage to consistently pull off that
"observant wedding" non-guarantee.
Clear Minded
18.
ReginaldJanuary
16, 2015 at 1:39 PM
"Who are these
generous donors who are giving money to Meor? And why are they doing so? What
is their goal?" -- People ask that question about the donors to Nefesh
b'Nefesh. A person who is interested in using this organization to move to
Israel may find out who is donating that money -- often evangelical Christians
who have their own agendas. And their response is usually what?
"Heh, who cares?! I'm getting funded to go to Israel!"
1.
AnonymousJanuary
16, 2015 at 4:37 PM
Actually, it DOES matter
who is donating the money. Some of us will not accept money from people with
agendas who expect something in return for it. In the case of Meor's anonymous
donors, it turns out that quite a few promote the agenda of making secular Jews
ultra orthodox. Everyone should know up front what is expected in return for a
gift. I suspect that Meor would have far less success if they were open and
honest about who their donors are.
Clear Minded
2.
ReginaldJanuary
17, 2015 at 9:14 PM
I'd like to repeat what
I wrote, emphasizing one word: "And their response is USUALLY what?
"Heh, who cares?! I'm getting funded to go to Israel!" So, it does
matter to some and it doesn't matter to others. (So I'm not arguing with your
second sentence.) The donors aren't EXPECTING anything in return for their
gift. They're HOPING that their gift will attract the person to choose to lead
an orthodox life.
3.
AnonymousJanuary
18, 2015 at 12:02 AM
The thing is, Reginald,
donors expect results. If they don't get them they'll stop giving. So kiruv
professionals have to produce BT's or their cash flow will dry up. There is a
lot of pressure for them to produce & that can lead to them not being
forthright & honest.
Clear Minded
4.
ReginaldJanuary
18, 2015 at 6:12 PM
As if all other programs
ever thought of run on air. C'mon, they all run on money that can go away if
results aren't produced.
5.
AnonymousJanuary
19, 2015 at 4:31 PM
That is the point. It
contributes to why Meor-style kiruv is not to be trusted. It is deceptive. They
tell kids one thing, but they are under pressure to produce BT's and will do
whatever it takes to accomplish that goal. Even lie.
Clear Minded
19.
ReginaldJanuary
16, 2015 at 1:44 PM
"If a student
starts to do poorly in his/her university courses, but is spending a lot of
time with Meor, how does the Meor staff handle this? Do they discourage the
student from staying with Meor? Do they have a minimum GPA that must be
maintained in order to remain part of Meor?" --
Great questions. Questions that can be asked of soccer clubs, glee clubs, and
community service clubs, too.
1.
AnonymousJanuary
16, 2015 at 4:26 PM
Reginald, University
students are required to keep up their grades in order to participate in
University sanctioned activities. Students are frequently put on notice or
suspended from teams when they do not meet the minimum academic requirements.
The problem with Meor is they present themselves as being University sanctioned
when they are not. Meor usually calls itself "Meor at ______ (pick your
campus)." That suggests they are affiliated with, and sanctioned by the
school whose name they use, and Meor does nothing to dispel this notion.
The audacity it takes for Meor to sucker people into believing they are
sanctioned by a University, and then turn around and claim no affiliation or
responsibility when students have problems, (we're just a community service
club), staggers the mind.
Clear Minded
20.
ReginaldJanuary
16, 2015 at 1:53 PM
bec writes:
"However, if the only information out there is one-sided, then making an
educated choice is impossible, since half of the information is missing."
I can go to one Jewish group and get one-sided information. I can go to another
group and get other one-sided information. An ashkenazic kollel, a Chabad, a
Sephardi center, the Modern Orthodox shul down the road. I fully anticipate
that the information will be one-sided from each one. But the very fact that I
now have these four options challenges your notion that "an educated
choice is impossible."
1.
AnonymousJanuary
16, 2015 at 4:31 PM
Reginald,
Most organizations do not promote their way as the one and only True Torah
Judaism, suggesting everything else is wrong. They do not tell recruits that
all Jews used to practice the way they do now, which we know is false. They do
not tell recruits that what they are showing them is their
"heritage," as if their parents denied them of important family
history. In fact, other groups of Jews do not recruit.
Clear Minded
21.
AnonymousSeptember
12, 2016 at 11:06 AM
wow, you have issues
22.
AnonymousApril
25, 2017 at 1:46 PM
For what it's worth, I
saw that the University of Pennsylvania Director of Campus Chaplaincy and the
Director of Hillel International both endorsed Meor in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WZ717TqF5s. They speak pretty highly of the
organization as an educational program. I noticed you questioned whether UPenn
or Hillel actually partner with or support the organization, so this might be a
helpful snapshot of where the institutional relationships were as of a couple
years ago.
Overall, I'd say a person should ask friends about the program and attend a
lecture if they want to know what Meor is about. And a parent should ask other
parents of Meor students and sources at the college that they find trustworthy
to get their perspectives, also. Probably parents who feel strongly about
vetting the educational information their children receive would also be
researching professors whose classes their children are considering signing up
for, so the process would be the same.
-A guy who never attended a Meor event in college, but met some Meor alumni
after college (both folks who liked and disliked it)
23.
I just stumbled across
this discussion while looking for something else and I have a few points to
make.
1. Just because a program offers a stipend doesn't make it sinister or imply it
has a hidden agenda. As a former campus rabbi and Hillel director familiar with
the Maimonides Fellowship program, I understand that they strive to provide
Jewish text-based learning and philosophy to college students, using classical
sources. Their leadership consists of Torah-observant Jews and their
programming conforms to halachic practice. They do not hide this -- any potential
participant will see this immediately.
2. Many observant Jews choose not to apply the label "Orthodox" to
themselves (I am one such person.) because they don't support dividing the
Jewish people up into opposing factions. To demand that they nevertheless
accept the label "Orthodox" simply because of their commitment to
observance, and to suggest they are deceiving people if they don't accept the
label, not only ignores this crucial principle but also insults other people in
the Jewish community who consider themselves observant but associate in
different circles, as if to (falsely) say that anyone who identifies with a
faction other than "Orthodox" is necessarily not committed to
observance. Plenty of "Reform" and "Conservative" leaders
would object to such an insistence on a one-to-one correspondence between the
commitment to Jewish practice and the term "Orthodox".
3. The use of a college name such as in the phrase "Meor at Penn" or
"Meor at Yale", etc. does not imply university involvement in, or
endorsement for, the program any more than it does when Hillel labels itself
that way, such as "Hillel at Penn" or "Hillel at Yale". It
merely tells people the location at which the program is based and the
population the program attempts to serve.
4. It is not uncommon for an organization to offer a stipend or fellowship for
people to engage in study or research, even if they are not receiving credit
for that study at the college they attend full-time. Of course and obviously
the Maimonides Fellowship program uses the stipend as an incentive to entice
students to attend, and of course they won't pay the stipend to a student who
does not complete the requirements of the program, anymore than someone would
pay a contractor who doesn't complete their job. The participants know these
conditions -- which are typical of such stipends -- going in; there is no
subterfuge here. The stipend is designed to enable students to take hours they
might otherwise spend in a part time job and instead use them to study Torah
without financial loss. Many programs do this. To accuse one of acting
deviously because of it, smacks of some prejudice against the content of,
rather than tactics in, Meor's work. While one has a right to dislike what a
particular organization stands for, one ought not attempt to deny that
organization the benefit of the same promotional efforts that other similar
organizations use to promote their programs, as long as they are upfront and
honest.
5. At a time when we are witnessing never before seen levels of Jewish
assimilation, we ought to be applauding whatever viable efforts appear on the
scene to provide students a real and profound opportunity to learn about the
meaning and value of their Jewish heritage. Precisely because people are
different, we need a variety of such programs that employ a variety of
approaches. Meor is but one such program in a fortunately diverse myriad of
such programs, and it deserves the same accolades as all the other programs
engaged in this vital work for this noble cause.
1.
AnonymousJuly
11, 2017 at 12:57 AM
To KK:
1. Meor lures kids in with stipends that they call or heavily suggest are
fellowships, merit based scholarships, University sanctioned scholarships and
highly coveted awards when nothing could be further from the truth. They are
payments to guarantee that students will sit for brainwashing sessions. It's a
way to buy recruits. Let's call a spade a spade. Of course Meor hides their
intention. I asked the kiruv rabbi at Penn if his goal was to make students
Orthodox and he lied to my face when he said "no." Penn parents were
so outraged with that deceptive stipend program that they demanded it stop. See
this article:
http://www.thedp.com/article/2014/09/meor-cancels-stipend-for-maimonides-leaders-fellowship
2. The goal of Meor is to make kids Orthodox, especially secular ones. To claim
that many Jews, (especially kiruv Jews), don't define themselves as Orthodox in
order to unite all Jews is laughable, disingenuous, deceptive and another lie.
Kiruv rabbis don't use denominations in order to confuse their targets. Non
practicing secular Jews may have only heard of Reform, Conservative and
Orthodox. To go from no religion to Orthodox is an enormous jump, maybe too big
a jump. But to just read about "True Torah Judaism" from a well
trained, highly motivated kiruv rabbi who supposedly has no denomination, well
that seems safe enough. It's part of the lure, part of the deception, and it's
a con well played played over and over by kiruv rabbis. It's dishonest and
shameful.
3. The lies seem to grow. Prominently displaying the name of a University with
whom Meor has no formal connection on one's web site is deception at its
grandest. Why not say Meor - serving colleges in Boston, New Haven,
Philadelphia etc.? Because the point is to make Meor look as if it's a
sanctioned part of a University. They want people, especially parents, to think
they were checked out by the University, and they're approved of by the
University. Nothing could be further from the truth. Meor gloms onto college
names, uses the good will and good name of a college, and has their way with
students whose unsuspecting parents are thousands of miles away.
Combine the use of the college name with the stipend that is also made to sound
like it comes from a campus academic source, and combine it with the lack of
transparency about what denomination these supposedly true torah kiruv Jews are
practicing, and you're batting three for three on deceptive lies.
4. Again, the stipend is a lure and the threat of non-payment keeps students in
a chair for kiruv rabbis to work their magic. It's a paid brainwashing program,
except the students, their parents and the University who Meor attaches itself
to don't know.
5. Meor teaches a skewed version of Jewish heritage. They also fill kids' heads
with nonsense such as the "meaning and value of their Jewish
heritage." Kids exit, (if they're lucky and get out), with inaccurate
facts about how their ancestors lived, how they practiced the religion, and
WHETHER they practiced the religion.
Assimilation is not a tragedy! It is how Jews chose to live when they became
educated, prosperous and free from political oppression. It is a good thing.
I've had it with kiruv thugs.
24.
AnonymousOctober
13, 2017 at 12:33 AM
I am shocked by all of
the negative comments here. I participated in MEOR at Penn a few years ago, I
had a wonderful experience, learned an enormous amount, made long-term friends,
studied individually with the rabbis, and I was NOT "brainwashed"
into becoming Orthodox.
I grew up Conservative and went to Jewish Day School, but I was always
"rebellious" as a child, often breaking Shabbat or eating non-kosher
food just to spite my parents. I also hated my Jewish-related courses in
school. When I came to Penn, I started off going to Hillel CJC and it was a
nice social setting to hang out with other Jews, but there was little more to
it. Sophomore year, I heard about MEOR from Jewish friends and decided to sign
up. I was pleasantly surprised by the intellectual and philosophical approach
they took. They genuinely made many elements of Judaism, which I had found
boring in high school, interesting to me!
A lot of my friends did it too. Some were raised Conservative, some Reform,
some very secular. The more secular Jews were usually the ones who just did it
for the money and free food, and few of them continued beyond the first year.
Some may have met spouses (I'm honestly not sure), but I think that's the
extent of their participation. Most of the people I know who did flip out and
become Ultra-Orthodox were raised either Conservative (often with a strong
Jewish identity) or Reform. In other words, my experience and observations
totally contradict the picture that some people are painting here. Also, one of
my friends who was raised Reform and became frum actually ended up joining
Chabad, but MEOR was where he was first exposed to the Orthodox outlook. And
honestly for most people, it didn't necessarily make them more religious, but
it did motivate them to reconnect more with their Jewish identities, prompting
some to seek out Jewish spouses.
Accusing MEOR of "brainwashing" kids completely undermines their OWN
personal choices and beliefs. Most of the BTs I know started off with a strong
Jewish identity, but programs like MEOR (or Chabad) just helped them strengthen
it. The frum lifestyle is definitely not for me, and I don't agree with them
about everything, but the people who chose that path did so very much
independently, and I respect that enormously.
And, sorry, but no assimilation is NOT a good thing! It's great to be an
American (or whatever country you live in), but it's extremely important to not
lose your Jewish identity. If we all assimilated, then there wouldn't even be a
discussion. There would be no more Jews. Not everybody has to flip out, but
people should be able to expose less religious Jews to viewpoints they might
otherwise never encounter. "Stopping" kiruv is essentially barring
the majority of Jews from even knowing what the Orthodox mentality and
lifestyle is. A Reform or even Conservative Jew is almost never going to seek
out Orthodoxy without context because it's intimidating and the communities are
often isolated. At the very least, these kids should have the option of seeing
the other perspective, and this is exactly what kiruv offers.
I am very far from being Orthodox, let alone Ultra-Orthodox, but I will say
that MEOR (and to some extent Chabad) have helped me reconnect with and
strengthen my Jewish identity, and for that I am very thankful. Overall, I am
much more observant today than I would have ever predicted as a child and it's
because I was exposed to other viewpoints about Judaism that I found to be much
more compelling than the Reform and Conservative views I'd seen as a teenager.
I think it's really shameful that people here are trying to depict kiruv as
sinister or bad in any way.
25.
AnonymousJanuary
23, 2018 at 11:13 PM
I have a big problem
with this statement: "Stopping" kiruv is essentially barring the
majority of Jews from even knowing what the Orthodox mentality and lifestyle
is.
Lynn, the meor rabbi at Penn, (who was not employed by the University, but
pretended he was by calling himself The Rabbi at The University of
Pennsylvania), went out of his way to explain to me that what they were
teaching was Just Judaism, like your grandparents practiced. My grandparents
didn't practice Judaism at all so that seemed pretty harmless. Was this Reform
Judaism I asked, because I think my grandparents or g-grandparents belonged to
a Reform Temple? No, Meor was teaching True Torah Judaism, (whatever that was).
Was this Conservative? No. Was it Orthodox? No, Lynn said it was Just Judaism.
Wow sounded pretty harmless. And this lie was spoken directly to me, straight
to my face, by the guy in charge.
If you think these guys don't lie, misrepresent, twist words and deceive in
order to gain new recruits you're not very observant.
I am awake & not falling for this any longer. Maybe it's time you wake up
too.
Sincerely,
Free From Meor
1.
AnonymousFebruary
21, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Sorry
man -Reform began c.1800. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Judaism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskalah
Before reform for thousands of years, Jewish practice was what today is
considered orthodox- meaning seeing the Torah directives as a lifestyle
mandated by God for the Jewish People.
If someone decided not to follow that openly, they were usually expelled from
their communities, which paralleled the general disciplinary processes which
were common in those days.
Occasionally other sects began, but they died down fairly quickly.
You could claim that "Reform" existed in the second temple's time -
the hellenized Jews who helped overthrow the pharisees. But they were just that
- Hellenized. Before they were hellenized they were practicing classical
Judaism.
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