By COLlive reporter
A heated discussion in the comments of leading community news service COLlive.com has led the Jewish Orthodox daily Hamodia to publish a clarification.
Chabad readers were furious over an apparent omission of Chabad’s crucial role in the building of the Jewish communities in North Miami Beach, Portland, Las Vegas and other cities.
166 comments were submitted to COLlive.com (not all published) and letters were sent directly to Hamodia as well.
What sparked the uproar was an interview they held with Rabbi Moshe Katz, Dean of Yeshiva Day School of Las Vegas – a Litvish institution opened as a rival to the Chabad stronghold in Nevada.
Katz was quoted as saying that “despite a few shuls and kosher restaurants, there was very little in the way of a Torah infrastructure in place.” His words were seen as a disregard to 9 Chabad Rabbis and their families who currently serve the Las Vegas area.
While Katz arrived in Vegas 4 years ago, Rabbi Shea Harlig and his wife Dina were sent by the Rebbe in 1990 and spearheaded the establishment of 5 thriving centers, with its headquarters housing a Day School, Preschool, Hebrew school, summer day camp, synagogue, adult education center and state-of-the-art mikvah.
Criticism was directed to Hamodia for not editing the article and correcting Katz’s attempt to re-write the history of Jewish life in the Silver State. COLlive readers pointed out that past articles also allowed other Litvish rabbis to do the same.
In response, Hamodia asked Rabbi Katz to clarify his words.
“I would like to clarify some of my statements and the context in which they were intended,” he wrote Wednesday.
“Considering the fact that we live in one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the country, and have one of the highest assimilation rates in the country, we all agree that there is still much that needs to be done.”
He added, without mentioning the word Chabad or Lubavitch, “This is not meant to denigrate or nullify the wonderful actions and accomplishments of the dedicated marbitzei Torah and organizations throughout our emerging community.”
Hamodia also printed two letters from local Jewish community members setting the record straight about the infrastructure of Jewish life in Las Vegas.
“We are grateful to the readers who brought this issue to our attention. The article was exclusively based on an interview with one person who recently moved to the area to run Yeshiva Day School of Las Vegas, which is actually located in the nearby suburb of Henderson. The Desert Torah Academy, which is run by Chabad, is located in Las Vegas proper.”
Hamodia’s editor’s note added, “We regret any misunderstandings that may have emerged from this interview and, as we have in the past, will b’ezras Hashem continue to report on mosdos and organizations that span the spectrum of Torah Jewry.”
The first printed letter titled “Chabad Pioneered Yiddishkeit in Las Vegas” was written and signed by Phil Scheinman, a resident of Henderson, NV.
“As a resident of Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas, I was astonished to read the interview in Hamodia with Rabbi Moshe Katz claiming that in Henderson “there is absolutely nothing in the way of Yiddishkeit.” Our community is rich with Judaism.
“The flourishing Chabad-Lubavitch center under the leadership of Rabbi Mendy Harlig has created an oasis of Torah, tefillah and tzedakah in a spiritual desert. There are daily minyanim, Torah classes and a growing community.” The claims in the interview that there was “very little in the way of Torah infrastructure” in Las Vegas were equally disingenuous. Two decades ago, Chabad pioneering work in Torah education began when Rabbi Shea and Mrs. Dina Harlig moved to Las Vagas.
“Recently they completed a beautiful new $10,000,000 school for 200 children. A network of five Chabad Centers, four community-based shuls and one campus outreach center are the lifeblood of Judaism in Las Vegas. There are mikvaos, shuls and learning. Las Vegas has seven kosher restaurants under Chabad supervision, all of which are either glatt kosher or chalav Yisrael.
“Shaarei Tefillah was the first Orthodox shul in Las Vegas. Some years ago, Young Israel opened, and there is an Israeli shul called Ohr Bamidbar. All have made important contributions to our community. The catalyst for the major transformation of Las Vegas has been largely due to the pioneering efforts of Chabad in the region. They came when Jewish life was small and tenuous. Now after two decades of mesirus nefesh we have a vibrant community.”
A second letter signed by L.R. was titled “And More on Las Vegas”:
“While I have been anxiously awaiting some recognition for our beautiful community in Las Vegas, and I appreciate your wonderful article, I was slightly disappointed. I understand that you were interviewing Rabbi Katz, who is only affiliated with the Yeshiva Day School, but there was a glaring omission in the article – Chabad’s work in Las Vegas, mainly its school, the Desert Torah Academy. Established twelve years ago, D.T.A.’s enrollment is pushing 200, ka”h.
“Rabbi Moshe Rodman, principal of the school, is a talmid chacham and world-class educator. He and his highly-qualified Judaic and secular staff have been providing the finest Torah education a parent could wish for.
“This past September, the school opened the doors to its brand new, 65,000-squarefoot, state-of-the-art building. Under directors Rabbi and Mrs. Shea Harlig, D.T.A. and Chabad have provided educational services, tzedakah funds, hospitality, kosher food, minyanim, and mikvah (to name just a few), to any Jew in need.
“There are now five Chabad centers in Las Vegas, including one in Henderson (est. 1998) under the direction of Rabbi and Mrs. Mendy Harlig. Visitors to Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon (of which there are many) have several kosher restaurant and shopping options, thanks to the Vaad Hakashrus of Las Vegas, a project of Chabad. Thank you again for your inspiring articles and stories, and may you continue to grow and have hatzlachah.”
A Chabad person who was in touch with Hamodia told COLlive.com: “We don’t believe Hamodia has anything against Chabad. They have written about the Rebbe’s Torah, the Shluchim’s work and recently has the Kinus Hashluchim on their cover.”
He said it was more an issue with the writer who pens the above mentioned articles directly based on interviews with people and not fact-checking it before publishing.
The interview of MK itself was not as revealing as the clarification he squeezed out, as is usually the case. The point simply is that if you are going to shine light up your own hooha just don’t forget who has been holding the flashlight. To #70, I agree with your intended message but you simply missed the point of aggitation, its like plagerism, seeing someone take credit for your work and then comment that the work was not all that good, its adding insult to injury. Nonetheless, you expressed a good message regarding human relation. In fact, I would… Read more »
WAIT TILL YOU HAVE MISNAGDIM OPEN UP NEAR YOU AND DENY YOUR EXISTENCE.. THEN YOU CAN TALK. THANK YOU. BYEBYE
READING ALL THE COMMENTS HERE I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU ARE ALL FRUM PPL. THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN? TO HATE ANOTHER JEW AND THAT THERE IS NO HOPE FOR PEACE? COMMENTS LIKE 74 ARE APPALLING. THE BAIS HAMIKDASH WAS DESTROYED BEC OF SINAS CHINAM! YOU CANT JUST SAY IT IS THE OTHER GUYS PROB , YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOURSELF, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE A SHLUCHA BUT TO ACTUALLY PRACTIVE WHAT IT SAYS IN THE TORAH. ONE IS NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK LASHON HARA OR RICHILUS! THE CHOFETZ CHAIM SAID THAT AND HE WS… Read more »
Over a year ago I was very involved with Friendship Circle in Los Angeles the only Orthodox Talmud Torah for children with special needs who are enrolled in public school where they received their much needed services. I submitted a beautiful, hartzige article to Hamodia to be published in their national news section. I was given a nice run around with the excuse that they have to check things out. Of course it was never published. Being rather naive about their politics I asked someone in the know why in the world something so special would not be published in… Read more »
Dignified and respectful? Perhaps the “kollel” would like to show how to lead in that area? Talking rechilus and motzei shem ra and shkorim behind other people’s (never mind Jews’, never mind frum Jews’) backs is showing how to be dignified and respectful or showing cowardice? Unfortunately, these are Jewish anti-semites. Too bad they’ll never learn from the Torah of the true Godol whose name is on their “Yeshiva”. This is what gives “Chareidim” a bad name here and in Eretz Yisroel and drags the name of the rest of frum yidden down with them.
finallly! someone who knows what he is talking about!
To all of the complainers about Chabad media not covering others: This (COL) is a Chabad community website that very often covers news items from the broader Jewish community and generally in a positive light. See the immediately preceeding post about Agudas Yisroel and many others like it.
Once again. There are lines that one cannot halachically cross. If you love every Jew, you don’t say there “is no yiddishkeit” where there in fact is. You don’t say that a Chabad mikva is treif to a non-frum mikureves unless you think that you stand to gain (Ein odom choteh velo lo). Not only did the Rebbe answer a prominent rosh yeshiva about sleeping in sukkah (again, go watch the video), The Rebbe took the kovod of chassidim during the early Lameds (70s) when a rov insulted them in a yiddish language newspaper. Those who think The Rebbe stood… Read more »
I am a product of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva system, and I am forever indebted to Chabad for helping to make what I am today. It is particularly for that reason that I am utterly dismayed at both the tone and the content of the responses of supporters of Chabad to an interview of Rabbi Moshe Katz, dean of Yeshiva Day School of Las Vegas, in a recent edition of Hamodia. The kiruv work done by both Chabad and non-Chabad organizations is wonderful and is deserving of the greatest praise. I am at loss to understand why self-proclaimed defenders of Chabad… Read more »
see, that is good stuff.
you present litvaks as another religion. is that so? where is your ahavasyisroel?
i wish everyone would understand it. you cant talk like that about other ppl!
now move on with your life! for reasons like these, ppl say they don’t like chabad. i never hear anyone saying they dont like bubovers, or klausenbergers. dont make a big deal!
#61, you just don’t get it….IT’S ABOUT THE LIES…..R. KATZ DIDN’T APOLOGIZE FOR THE LIES……He needs to know that he won’t become one of us if he mentions the word CHABAD….
Mr. Phil Sheinman’s reponse was beautifully written and anyone who sees this editorial will know that this “Kiuv guy” is playing games (I hate that term Kiruv, for who knows who is closer). G-d runs the world and does not forsake his holy Rebbes, Tzadikim and Shluchim, so leave this silly article alone. Does a Shaliah of the Rebbe need a pat on the back from this paper or R. Katz? This type of action is called Kinah and like busnesspeople, the “Kiruv guy” and this paper will not mention their “competition”. It is sad that some folks look at… Read more »
They issued an apology and in one of their other articles this week there were several mentions of Chabad. Quit the Lashon Hara and Motzi Shem Ra.
Its so sad to see yidden that will do anythign for power.
They are too self concious to admit that the only reason they are flourishing is because of others
they use the mikvas in Portland, they use their schools and they know when they have a baby they can always count on the Chabad of Portland to support them
and yet they are cowards and pretend all the yidishkeit is because of them
may moshiach come speedily and people will finally have thier masks torn away and their will be shalom in the world!
so hamodia is a newspaper for everone. get used to it. stop making mountains out of molehills. hamodia is not meant for chabad bec. they are not mentioned. period the end. read other stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! who cares?
Chabad publications ARE denominational (to chabad) thus promote Chabad. Hamodia is non denominational and thus they have more objectivity and diversity (within the frum circles) to live up to. You can’t open up the Kfar Chabad Magazine and expect to read the opening Dvar Torah to be from the Bobover Rebbe. It being a Sicha from the Rebbe ought to be expected. Nevertheless, if there is Torahdik Yiddishkeit in a given place prior to Chabad’s arrival and the Kfar Chabad would publish a feature article stating that the Shliach is the first Rabbi to bring yiddishkeit to that city, I… Read more »
there is no changing the world . this is the way it is. if you want to change anything, start wit yourself
no harm was intended, no harm was done. just accept it
Once again (apparently some are really S L O W), this isn’t about recognition. IT’S ABOUT NOT TELLING BAREFACED LIES! And when you apologize, you should mention the aggrieved party, otherwise it isn’t an apology. D O Y O U G E T I T N O W?
Ahsreinu She’unu Chasidim – Shkoich to all those who submitted articles and allowed this matter to be brought to light
About Katz- We know youre not a Meshichist but havent you heard of giving credit – Kal haomer Davar Beshem umro – MAVAY GEULAH LE’OLON
Halevay now!!
I guess Chabad and Coca Cola don’t have the right “hechsher”. 🙂
You are probably correct that if Kfar Chabad or Lubavitch International would do a story on a community they may not mention the other kiruv organizarions in town. But they would never try to rewrite history to claim that there was no yiddishkeit in town before the shliach came and that is the problem with R Katz. If he would have just mentioned his accomplishments without making that false claim , I don’t think people would have been so upset.
What about the other way around- since when do Chabad publications give recognition to efforts of non-Chabad activity in an area. Is it only me who senses a double standard?
Hamodia is an organ that pushes the agenda of the lavish world. They have no interest in anything other than that. We need to stop looking to the litvishe world to present the whole truth -they present their own truth. We have always thrived with the Rebbe way -facts on the ground and we know how much that really accomplishes. We should not be deterred by these slights – ask any business person that has traveled to Las Vegas in the last 20+ years – they will tell you what Chabad has accomplished their. They can write – we can… Read more »
Chabad builds Chabad. Show me where Chabad publications praise anything about the Litvishe velt.??? I am holding my breathe!
Wowww. You said it all. I couldn’t put it better than that.
All these new so-called Kiruv movements learn from Chabad and then use it against Chabad by declaring it their own. They even train husband and wife teams for Kiruv work like the Shluchim keilu.
1) The other side would be the same way, if chabad was interviewd by. Lubavitch international, about chabad activities in say california, I don’t think rabbi cunin would mention that there are people also doing work such as aish or ohe sameach and other people doing kiruv.
I go tovegas for business and more then once was I stuck there for shabbos. I ended up staying in the shabbos suite at the venitian.
Keep up the good work.
once the article is printed omiting chabad, THE DAMADGE IS DONE. APOLOGIES ARE TO LATE
we have gotten alot of support from yidden all over for Rubashkin, we have to try to accept the apology if it shows itself to be pure. We will see
Apology? This Rabbi Katz won’t mention Chabad by name, yet it passes for an apology. The wording of his response is nothing more than political correctness mumbo-jumbo.
DEAR ALL – My friends at a large new Jewish magazine informed me that Hamodia will NOT allow or print a Picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. This is the official policy of their paper. We should not allow their paper into our home until they change their attitude.
About five weeks ago in their magazine about sorotov Russia. Chabad has TWO shluchim there and Shul and senior learning. An article appeared in Hamodia Magazine with NO mention of Chabad.
Right on the mark!
When i was at at a non-Lubavitch high school in the 80’s I was ridiculed for singing “We want Moshiach now” Guess who is talking and singing about Moshiach now?!
this is not thef irst time hamodia has omittted mentioning chabad in articles of ‘pioneers’ in places chabad has been for so much longer.
Not to mention the article about Rabbi Deren that didn’t mention that he was Chabad.
This weeks the Hamodia featured a whole article about Yidshkeit in Tunis and lo and behold … Chabad is omitted once again! No Rabbi Pinson – I guess he was forgotten by the writer who forgot to check out the facts!
they hate us they us soo what
we r better then that
Again, Katz BOUGHT an article. Hamodia is a business. It has no real editorial standards when it comes to farkoifte (and farkokte) articles that anyone can pay to have put in.
He is a follower and not a leader, he came after Chabad-Lubavitch pioneered the work of hafotzoh and kiruv levovois. Yet he wants to take the credit?? This is a phenomanon that is prevalent throught other cities and countires. Yad hachassidim will always be al elyoinoh and the Rebbe’s shlichus will never be over shadowed . Long Live the Shluchim of the Rebbe!!
if you notice, he said there is no school in henderson, but when he signs the letter, he writes his address is las vegas,,,, so make up your mind??? are you vegas or henderson????
BH Here is a letter I wrote to Hamodia on June 14th, 2006 after their article did the same exact thing to my community! Of course, I never recieved a reply. To Whom it May Concern: I have some issues with your recent article, “The Jewish Folk in [Deleted]”. The Rabbi you have interviewd for this article has provided you with numerous lies. 1) Rav Chaim [Deleted] is NOT the ‘Rav’ of the community… He is the Rabbi of [Deleted] Congregation. 2) The Kollel has nothing to do with the Local JCC. 3) There is a community Jewish Day School,… Read more »
I’m sure Hamodia has learned from this not to always trust was people – even askonim and rabonim – tell them.
They are a newspaper and their job is to report the truth. I’m continuing to read them as they are the only paper which has news from around the world and is always clean.
As for this Kartz, I’m not going to waste my time…
Rabbi Katz you’ve repeated your mistake once again,you failed to mention Chabad. If you were so sincere with your activities you would no not look at Chabad as a threat but would give them the credit due to them.Perhaps you forgot the reason we are still in Galus,Sinas Chinam.Maybe you shuld have attende on of the Rallies for Shalom Rubashkin and seen the Ahavas Chinam.
food 4 thought !! I went to the site of Ham-modia , and i read that the news paper was orignated in the early 1900`s by 3 Gedaiolm who were on the best of terms with the REBBA RESHAB & THE FREIADIKAH REBBA . 1] REB CHAIM OF Brisk 2] THE IMRAY EMESS 3] REB CHAIM OZER GORDENSKY….
so how can they treat us like we dont count .
after all what we have done for yidishkiet does`nt make sense
That’s no apology.
I want to vomit from him (Katz) He can’t even utter the word “Chabad” on paper???? Either he is full of hate or full of fear.
And Hamodia’s explanation is no better. They claim to be a professional paper but then blame the reporter. Have they laid off all the editors??? Did no one from a supervising position read it? Sorry, but they are hiding behind ignorance when in fact they are part of the problem. Allowing the propaganda to fester is what they are responsible for.
Several issues ago, Hamodia published an extremely one sided, unfair article about yiddishkeit in Portland, Oregon. The entire article praises the litvishe new comers who purportedly took a veritable desert re: yiddishkeit, and transformed it alone into a garden. There is just too much distortion to even articulate. However, all of the precious work of Chabad over the years in Portland– before the arrival of the heroes of the article — was trounced, painfully ignored. The Chabad Cheder– which the “new heroes” send all of their kinderlach to was not mentioned. The chabad mikvah– used by all– was given no… Read more »
The absurd non apology is too little, too late.
I don’t know if this is just me but, if you are writing an article on anything from shoelaces to Yiddishkeit, you’d think they would get the full scoop, and INVESTIGATE the story instead of just asking one person?
Its a short 20 minute commute from Henderson to the Chabad school where there is “Chinuch Habanim”. Sadly Rabbi Katz fails to truly apologize with his new claim. This is part of a broader shitah of Talmidim of Chofetz Chaim Yeshivas not to cooperate in any way with Chabad. Setting up in smaller communities new institutions that divert communal resources and are not needed. The same is now happening in Portland where a Kolel supported by Torah Umesorah is undermining the well established Chabad school. Portland is a much smaller community than Las Vegas. Rabbi Katz should make a proper… Read more »
People chill….you need the recognition?!
do you work on shlichus. G-d know what every person does.
you need a newspaper – a human to publicize how great you are?
Stop trying to cause fights! Is this what the Rebbe would want? Stop begging for this argument and anomosity to continue! They apologized! They printed in big bold letters “Chabad Pioneered Yiddishkeit in Las Vegas”. Thank you Hamodia. Continue publishing Chabad’s work. It is a Kiddush Hashem 🙂
I find Yated Neeman to be much more friendly to Chabad than Hamodia
I Haven’t yet seen Hamodia’s good will extented to the nonsense that they printed about Portland. Again another wonderful article that “forgot” to mention Chabad and the 20+ years of Mesiras Nefesh that has built a thriving and vibrant community. Apparently Portlands Kolel Rabbi went to the same “media spin ” school that R. Katz of Las Vegas went to.
in continuation to comment No# (4) I could not agree more with you, I see that this concept of not giving CHABAD the appropriate credit is a international problem and with all due respect to the Hamodia they are definitely NOT pro Chabad I don’t care how often you No#(3) reads it, it dose not change the fact even if they feel compelled to every so often put an article in about Chabad I mean how could they not, even if they don’t like Chabad which they don’t you would not be able to call your self or congratulate your… Read more »
Your only existence is because of Chabad! You only bother looking at another Jew because the Rebbe’s love and care for every yid! You only dare to talk to a secular Jew because the Rebbe stated that every Jew is a part of Hashem and is holy no matter what he did or does! You were only told to care about “kiruv” because the Rebbe instated Hafotzas Hamayanos! Your rebbeim permitted you to go to a far flung city only becase the Rebbe was the trailblazer with Shlichus! You only have people in your classes because Chabad has raised the… Read more »
u tell em 2c
For people like Rabbi Katz, there is no “Torah Judaism” besides for his version of it. Chabad is insufficient and does not count as Judaism because it does not reach the standards he and his leaders have set for being legitimate Judaism. “Torah Judaism” is just a euphemism for Litvish standards and complete observance.
(Not that I hold it against him, many others have similar tactics to deligitimize competition.)
Kollel doesn’t try to work with anyone…..they have problems wherever they go…. And still R. Katz couldn’t mention Chabad. What a chutzpah. The apology is a non-apology.
to avi rosenberg for writing the original letter and for collive.com for defending the truth and not being afraid to stand up for the kovod of the rebbe and lubavitch
i find it intresting that in Crown Heights this morning we received a free copy of this weeks Hamodia has this been the case with all the residents of Crown Heights ?
I also agree that R. Katz does not give hakores hatov to or recognition of Chabad of Nevada. There is plenty in Henderson, to say the school of Chabad is in a different community is like sitting in Bensonhurst and wailing that all the mosdos are in Boro Park……………..
its not a chuzpa! its basic reporting they didn’t both doing!
Rabbi katz didn’t just land onto the moon, las vegas and yiddishkeit arrived! basic google jewish las vegas and many different frum mosdas pop up!
they try to say that the confusion was because Yeshiva Day School is in Henderson and Desert Torah Academy is in Las Vegas. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! They need to retract the lie they printed that there is no yiddishkeit in Henderson
Rabbi Katz didnt say there was little in the way of Torah infrastructure in the first interview, he said there was little in the way of Torah infrastructure 4 years ago (before he came)
I also noticed that R. Katz did not directly apologize to the Chabad community of LV. He still did not have the mentchlikeit to even acknowledge Chabad’s many activities that has helped the LV community grow in Yiddishkeit. Shem on him.
Thank you to the hamodia for this clarification!
If you read the Rabbis apology it is impossible not to notice the fact that he does not acknowledge Chabad by being carefully not to mention it by name.
The hamodias apology needs a bit of improvement
In any case the way they will write in the future should be their best judge.
still did not give recognition to chabad, rather he said there are ‘others’ who do good work as well. Hamodia, too, did not ‘really’ apologize, they just made an excuse
did you notice that even in his clarification he can’t say the word CHABAD. lol. It’s ok Reb Katz, you won’t turn into one of us if you say it outloud.
Here is a video of Chabad of Las Vegas from about 4 years ago:
https://collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=12724
It’s interesting to note that in R. Katz’s so called apology/explanation, he still can’t bring himself to give credit to Chabad or even mention them by name…
I commented on thi stopic under the same Title. Hamodia does in fact include Lubavitch activities around the world quite often. I know because I am a regular subscriber. I have in the past contacted the editor in the past comending them regarding the several write ups they have had in the paper, whether about Chabad Houses, Yortzits from our Rebbes or other activities. I believe their regret of misunderstandings was genuine. “Dan Lichof Zchus” was applicable here. We are ONE KLAL YISROEL and we are in it TOGETHER! to increase in Torah, Mitzvas and Maasim Tovim to bring Moshiach… Read more »
L.R. is Leibel Rodman…….Well written
Anyone who has the decency to make a public apology, for all to see, and admits its mistake. . . . is a mentch