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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>From: Yitzchok Levine <A href="mailto:Larry.Levine@stevens.edu">Larry.Levine@stevens.edu</A><BR><BR>In
his article <BR><http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%206%20Fried.pdf>Is <BR>there a
Disconnect between Torah Learning and <BR>Torah Living?
<BR><http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%206%20Fried.pdf>(THE <BR>COMPLETE
ARTICLE) Rabbi Dr. Aharon Hersh <BR>Fried makes the case that
today there is far <BR>more emphasis on Bein Adom L'Makom than on Bein <BR>Adom
L'Chaveiro. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>Although Christians have been saying that about Jews for 2000 years, and
Reform and Conservative have been saying it about Orthodox Jews for over a
century, it is not true. </DIV>
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<DIV>Compared to non-Jews, Jews are exemplary in their devotion to their
fellow-man and especially to their fellow Jews. And compared to R and C,
Orthodox Jews have every reason to feel justifiably proud of our
incredible chessed and tzedaka institutions, right across the
spectrum. </DIV>
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<DIV>It is only when compared to our own ideals of perfection that we
fall short. </DIV>
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<DIV>Non-O have absolutely nothing comparable to musar, or chassidus, or
gemachim, or bikur cholim, or loshon hara shiurim, or "hamalbin pnei chaveiro,"
or "hevei dan lekaf zechus" or special consideration to widows, orphans and
converts, or chevra kadisha or Zaka or Hatzalah or Shifra-Puah groups that help
new mothers, or neighborhood committees that cook for families that are sitting
shiva or have a member in the hospital, or hachnasas orchim, or kiruv, and I
could go on and on and on. As a percentage of their income, Orthodox Jews
give many times more tzedaka than do non-O Jews. It is well known that if
a Jew is stuck in any town in the world where there are any Orthodox Jews, he
will not lack for a Shabbos meal.</DIV>
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<DIV>Rabbi Dr. Aharon Hersh Fried's own concern for mitzvos bein adam lechavero
is admirable, but his accusations are false and his slur against
Orthodox Jews is a transgression against his own ideals.</DIV>
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<DIV>I have myself been the victim of rudeness on the part of frum Jews in
Brooklyn and Yerushalayim so I know that we have people in our midst who
could stand to have their rough edges polished. Nevertheless we have
so much to be proud of. We need to stress what is positive about
our community, when there is so much more light than darkness. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><BR></FONT><B><FONT color=#0000ff>--Toby
Katz<BR>==========<BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></B>--------------------</FONT></DIV>
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