This is a joint statement by many bloggers about the recent ban on VIN and the actions taken against VIN and the companies that advertise on the site. Kudos to R. Gil Student for drafting this statement and to the other bloggers who were primarily responsible for pushing the effort forward.
A little over a month ago, a number of rabbis signed onto a ban that forbade advertising on or otherwise working with the website VosIzNeias. This ban singled out one website without addressing other websites or public forums like newspapers or magazines. The singling out of a solitary website raises many questions, particularly when newspapers in the same community regularly publish arguably libelous stories and online discussion forums for the community are essentially unbounded by civility. Additionally, VosIzNeias has publicly stated that it has already raised its standards and is willing to do even more with rabbinic guidance, provided the same guidelines are applied to its competitors.
Bans of this nature are generally brought into fruition by activists and this one is attributed to a specific activist who seems to have business and political interests in this ban. He ignored VosIzNeias’ request to meet with the rabbis in order to explore ways to satisfy their concerns. With this ban, the activist is threatening the commercial viability of the VosIzNeias business.
We have now received reports of continued harassment by this activist, who is threatening to publicly denounce people, companies and charitable organizations who continue to cooperate with the website. He has also reportedly threatened to remove the kosher certification of companies that fail to adhere to the ban. However, on being contacted, the activist behind the ban denied all knowledge of this harassment and attributed it to someone acting without authorization. We are, therefore, making no formal accusation as to who is conducting this campaign of harassment.
To the best of our understanding, this activity is illegal. One individual told us he reported that harassment to the police.
Harassing good people with threats is illegal and inexcusable. We call on rabbis and people of good faith to denounce this behavior, and we encourage victims to respond to this activist as follows:
If he calls or e-mails you or your organization, thank him for bringing the ban to your attention and say that you will decide how to proceed after consulting with your rabbi or other advisor. And because of rumors that there is harassment involved in this matter, you regret having to tell him that if he contacts you or anyone else in your organization again, you will have to report him to the police.
We have a copy of an e-mail forwarded to us by people involved, which includes a pseudonym and phone number, and we have been told of intimidating phone calls. Note that at this time we are withholding this activist's identity. If he continues harassing people, we will have to be less discrete.
Signed,
The Wolf (along with many other Jewish bloggers)
If you agree, please feel free to sign in the comment section and post this on your blog as well.
6 comments:
VosIzNeias has publicly stated that it has already raised its standards and is willing to do even more with rabbinic guidance, provided the same guidelines are applied to its competitors.
Where have the said this? (And, precisely, what was their statement?)
Bans of this nature are generally brought into fruition by activists
Incorrect.
and this one is attributed to a specific activist who seems to have business and political interests in this ban.
What evidence, if any other than supposition, do you have that this individual organized this and it is therefore "attributed" to him? And why isn't he being named, if you are so sure it is him?
He ignored VosIzNeias’ request to meet with the rabbis in order to explore ways to satisfy their concerns.
VIN doesn't need this guy to "meet with the rabbis". The rabbis are easily accessible by phone and in person. Nor is he the gabbai for the rabbis. This is a fig-leaf.
We have now received reports of continued harassment by this activist, who is threatening to publicly denounce people, companies and charitable organizations who continue to cooperate with the website. He has also reportedly threatened to remove the kosher certification of companies that fail to adhere to the ban. However, on being contacted, the activist behind the ban denied all knowledge of this harassment and attributed it to someone acting without authorization. We are, therefore, making no formal accusation as to who is conducting this campaign of harassment.
So why are you tying this "activist" to this campaign, as you admit you have no evidence he is responsible, other than unnamed "reports" that he has denied.
To the best of our understanding, this activity is illegal. One individual told us he reported that harassment to the police.
Consult a lawyer rather than spewing "the best of our understanding" of a legal issue. The last I checked there is a First Amendment in this country. Organizing a boycott is a protected activity.
You signed this Wolf, I expect you have answer to these questions. Unless, of course, you signed it without knowing all the details. (Where have I heard such accusations? Ah, yes, on this blog regarding Rabbis.)
I'm glad this boycott is taking its intended bite, as this communique clearly demonstrates.
Just ask Al Sharpton if he was ever prosecuted for threatening advertisers on Rush Limbaugh or when Jesse Jackson threatens advertisers in his attempts to shake down media companies to get them to hire more blacks.
Kol hakavod!
read my latest blog post http://thoughtsofasj.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-make-judaism-enjoyable.html
This is a little confusing to me. My finger isn't on the pulse of the chareidi community, so I don't know who this activist is, and you're not saying. But if he does contact me, how will I know to show him the virtual door, since I won't know it's him?
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