Yisroel Belsky
Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Belsky (born August 22, 1938) is a rabbi of Orthodox Judaism and Haredi Judaism in the United States. He is also a posek in both religious sects, who has served with the Orthodox Union since 1987. He resides in Brooklyn, New York. He is one of the roshei yeshivas at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. He also serves as the rabbi of Camp Agudah, since the passing of the camp's former rabbi in 1967.[citation needed]
Belsky has been criticized by other rabbis for his support of sexual abusers and for his alleged intimidation of abuse victims whom he has publicly stated should not report their having been raped to the police.[1]
Career
Belsky's first kashrus position was with the Kof-K. He is the son of Rabbi Berel and Chana Tzirel Belsky. His maternal grandfather is Binyomin Wilhelm, a founder of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.
Belsky received his semicha from Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, in Brooklyn, NY, in 1962, and from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein in 1965. He also studied in Beth Medrash Elyon for a number of years, having been one of its most prominent students.[2] Rav Belsky considers himself a student of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky.[citation needed]
According to the New York Times, he is a "prominent and influential Orthodox rabbi in Brooklyn",[3] and he is one of "the chief experts for the Orthodox Union, which certifies more than 600,000 products as kosher."[4]
Controversies
Belsky publicly defended a confessed sexual abuser, Rabbi Yosef Kolko, who taught youngsters at a Lakewood, N.J., yeshiva. Further, he condemned the victim and his parents for reporting the sexual abuse to the police, and wrote that one who does so "has no share in the world to come." Belsky was harshly criticized by other rabbis for his actions in this regard.[1]
According to court documents, Belsky is alleged to have approved the use of physical violence against Jews who civilly divorced and refused to perform the Orthodox Jewish religious divorce cermeony.[5]
Works
- Piske halakhot (Brooklyn 2002) - responsa
- Einei Yisroel on Chumash (currently Bereishis, Shemos, and Devarim) (Kiryat Sefer 2005, 2006, 2008 respectively) - Lectures edited and adapted by Moshe Armel and Reuven Mathieson
- Sha'alos U'Teshuvos Shulchan Halevi, questions and answers on a wide variety of topics, (Kiryat Sefer 2008)
- Rabbi Belsky also answers moral questions on a series called "Honesty" found on Torah.org.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Jewish Week: Orthodox Groups Under Fire From Within For Inaction On Defender Of Pedophile
- ↑ http://torahlectures.com/s-14.aspx
- ↑ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D06E6D71F3BF937A15755C0A9639C8B63
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/national/01kosher.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&position=
- ↑ The Village Voice: Bad Rabbi - Tales of Extortion and Torture Depict a Divorce Broker's Brutal Grip on the Orthodox Community
External links
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