I was in the gym, on the exercise bicycle, reading Rolling Stone when I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my bike. The article was about Matisyahu – the reggae, pop, hip-hop, beatboxing orthodox Jewish sensation who is currently blowing up the circuit. This article, like everything else written about Matisyahu, explored the lingering question that follows him everywhere he goes. That question is this: How does an orthodox Jew front a reggae, hip-hop, pop band without contradicting his orthodoxy? Anyone who knows anything about Hasidism knows it is a religion chock full of rules, many of which would make being in a hip-hop, pop reggae outfit highly complicated. For instance, according to Hasidic law, Matisyahu (born Mathew Miller) must not have contact with women to whom he is not related, which means he can’t even shake their hands when they want his autograph.

“It’s hard to [say no] to every other person who comes up to you,” he complained in the RS interview. “It can come off as disrespectful.”

When I read that quote, I laughed so hard my left foot actually careened off the pedal and my body sharply tilted left-ways as I thought to myself, Did he really say that? “Come off as”? It can come off as disrespectful? As if it’s not actually disrespectful; it just sort of appears that way. Well I have news for you Matis. When you refuse to shake someone’s hand simply because she is a woman – that’s what disrespectful is, you twit. That is the essence of disrespectful. It is the poster-encounter for disrespect. If you were to look up “disrespectful” in the dictionary there would be a picture of Matisyahu lurching back in horror at a woman’s outstretched hand.

Come off as?

Picture the scene: It was a great show. You rocked the house. You just finished shaking the hands of 35 filthy rasta-wonks, when this adoring post-pubescent female approaches you – tells you how much she loves you, how your music changed her, and how, maybe, it even saved her life. Then she extends her hand to you for some gorgeous human-to-human contact and you actually, unbelievably, somehow have the brick-like balls to tell her no.

Come off as, my ass.

At best, Hasidic Jews treat women like second class citizens – at worst, like diseased whorehouse gerbils that were once stowed in certain customer’s assholes. Can you imagine what that must do to the collective psyche of Jewish women? That and all these other execrable tenets such as how females must sit in the back seat of the car when other males are present, or how they’re generally not allowed to speak unless spoken to, and how they must cut their hair when they marry so as not to risk attracting other men – it’s a fucking institution of disrespect man, and so far from come off as that I almost laughed myself right off an exercise bike.

Do you know how hard it is to fall of a stationary bike?!

I know what you’re thinking Matis. You’re thinking it’s not your fault. You’re thinking that these are the rules of your religion which you must obey. But you weren’t born into Hasidism. You adopted it when you were 20 years old. I would understand more if you were born into it, or brainwashed at birth to believe that all this misogynistic rooster-shit you abide somehow brings you closer to Hashem. But you weren’t born into it. You chose Hasidism. You observed it. You researched it. You saw how they treated women and still said, “Yup, this is the religion for me. You even read The Talmud, with its embarrassingly vulgar regard for women: Such as Shabbat 33b which states women are “light minded,” or Swidler, 3 which claims, “A woman is a pitcher of filth with its mouth full of blood,” or Kiddushin 49b which says, “Ten measures of speech descended to the world; women took nine,” which means in lay terms – they talk too goddamn much – leaving you with little doubt that this was a culture that did not respect women and why your disrespect for them is not incidental. So please, please please Matisyahu would you stick your “come off as” right up the place where the gefilte fish don’t swim.
———————————————————————————————————–
There is a line in the RS story that I found telling: “In accordance with Jewish law [Matisyahu] has had to stop stage-diving at shows so as to avoid the risk of contact with women he is not related to.”

The part of that sentence that interests me is, “has had to stop,” because it means that, at least for a while, he had been stage diving. So why all of the sudden did this become an issue? My guess is somewhere along the road he received a phone call from one of the elders telling him to stop.

Imagine that phone call. . .

Brring

“Hello.”

“Hello Mathew, it is I, the Grand Exalted Imperial Highness of Hasid. Do you have a minute?”

“Of course your greatness.”

“This thing you do, where you leap into the crowd and then body surf across it. You must stop immediately.”

“But why, Your Imperialness?”

“Because there are women out there that are not related to you, you schmendrick! Some of them are menstruating fer crissake!”

“Yeech!”

“I’m just so disappointed in you Mathew. Reggae? Really!? Why couldn’t you play the klezmer music like a nice Jewish boy? Klezmer is a great music Mathew. I never tire of ‘Hava Nagila.’ Why won’t you play ‘Hava Nagila?!’

This article originally ran in San Diego CityBeat Magazine on March 8, 2007.

• Click here to read the angry responses sent to CityBeat letters department.
• Click here to read my follow up column in response to the angry letters.
• Click here to read the Jewish Sightseeing story about this column.
• Click here to read the Jewish Sightseeing interview with me about my column.
• Click here to read a multiple-post, message board attack on me and this column including my comments near the bottom.

EJD
03/08/06

Below are only a fraction of the letters we received in the aftermath of the Matisyahu article Just Another Yahu that ran in CityBeat Magazine on March 8, 2006.

This piece was a real firestarter. Angry readers emailed it to friends and family and soon it was whisking across the country, inflaming people in dozens of states who then wrote us to express their disgust. There were, of course, threats of boycott. The Anti Defamation League was notified and they in turn grilled Editor Dave Rolland on the phone for publishing it.

If I have any regrets about writing this article it’s would be the damage and discomfort I caused the magazine. Yes, I took a lot of heat for writing it, but Dave and the magazine took even more for publishing it. Advertising dollars were lost because of this column meaning that it jeopordized the magazine and all those who work for it and for that, I apologize.

And now, with no commercial interruptions, edwindecker.com presents….

The Shitstorm

Dear Ed Decker,
In regards to your article SORDID TALES Hasidic rapper should have known better,
Your opinion of this artist is very narrow minded and raciest. Your points are offensive, you are not willing to judge a man based on if he is musically talented or not, rather if he looks the part and shares the same religion as you. Your article was entirely anti-Semitic and does not take any regard for other peoples beliefs.
rosshartnett@gmail.com
—————————————————————–
Mr. Decker,
I was apalled by your anti-semitic remarks! Are you a skinhead?
-Ty
—————————————————————–
Hello to you Mr. Pecker… I mean Mr. Decker,
No, I do mean Pecker; after you called Matis a ‘twit’ (yep, it will be TWIT FOR TWAT- translated ‘wit for that,’ but I am sure you misread it). Thank you for writing Sordid Tales. Your articles was actually enlightening and meaningful, leaving readers with one curiosity. You very clearly managed three objectives with the entire article. The meaningful part-That we all know a fool when we see one, but not when we are one. Very well done< BRAVO!!

The enlightening part-That you possess a grossly immature frustrated libido. The entire article focused on sexuality regardless of the props. And the curiosity part?- readers are left wondering if you will pass the fifth grade this year? Try asking Matthew Miller for an interview next time you want to verbally assault like a first year literary shock jockey. Your disappointment in Matis is now our disappointment in you.
Sincerely,
Caroline
Caroline5765@aol.com
——————————————————————-

I enjoyed Mr. Decker’s article much better in the original German. The editing just isn’t what it was when Goebbels was on staff, but still a decent effort. I’m reasonably sure that the surname ‘Decker’ translates as ‘wanker’ in the southern German dialect, but I’ll have to check on that.
–Matisyahu fan
——————————————————————-

Dear Mr. Decker,
Concerning your recent article SORDID TALES Hasidic rapper should have known better
I of course feel you have the right to express your opinion, uninformed as it may be, due to your protection under the first amendment of freedom of the press. As well, I have the right to respond, protected under that same amendment, freedom of speech. And also Matisyahu Miller has the right to shake or not shake any hand he prefers, protected by that very same amendment, his freedom to practice religion.

You state in your article “At best, Hasidic Jews treat women like they are second-class citizens, at worse like diseased whorehouse gerbils that were once stowed in certain customers’ assholes”. Would you agree that women treat men as “second class citizens” for they are also forbidden by religious law to touch any man unrelated to them, and even their own husbands at times. In fact, men and women are equal, and have equal rights and protection under Jewish law. It is because of that mutual respect, and God’s unmatched understanding of the human psyche that this commandment not to touch each other has been created. I believe, that a country where women are convinced their goal in life is to star in “Girls gone Wild”, “Americas Next Top Model”, and “The Bachelor” is the real disrespect.

Jewish law always has and always adapt to the world around it within the borders of its own law. However just because you and the world around you consider it normal and respectful to shake hands, doesn’t mean he should lay down his beliefs. In fact any girl at any concert of his, many of whom are not Jewish or have no affiliation with orthodox religion are completely respectful if not inspired by his unwavering beliefs, and would be dismayed if he went ahead and violated that system.

Had Matisyahu been Amish, or from another religious sect that had similar negative commandments I am positive your article would have been very different. And yes I did just imply sordid anti-Semitism- but I can because I am protected by the first amendment.

Instead of reading about him in Rolling Stone, you should go down to a concert and see him, and speak to fans, female one preferably. But first please take a sensitivity course, on religious sensitivity or sexual sensitivity, or both.

Ari A. Burack
———————————————————————

Decker, Man, i got to say, you come off like an ignorant dumbfuck. claiming you know shit about a religion is as funny as picturing your fat ass on an exercise bike. read up a little more on life, religion, and the like, take a high school journalism class, and then see how much you know.
cmicpace@gmail.com
——————————————————————–

Dear Ed Decker,
Thanks for standing up to the pathological hysteria of “anti Semitism”. The Jewish community is still playing the victim and lashing out in tribal response to any criticism of Israel or the Jewish community. The Holocaust was another time in another place.

My father died in a Nazi slave labor camp. Only by separating truth from fiction and learning from our history can Jews once more follow their progressive roots and contribute to the liberation of the entire human race. We are not the chosen people.
We must have compassion for others and fight like hell to save the human race from war, bigotry, fundamentalism and greed. Fortunately the American Jewish community is safe and prosperous in the year 2006.Its time they ceased their self-absorption and faced the real problems of the world. They could regain their reputation as
champions of the underdog and advocate for those who are truly oppressed.
Tanja Winter
———————————————————————

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE SENT TO THEIR MEMBERS AND CC’ED TO ME AND EDITOR DAVE ROLLAND:
——————————————————————–
Dear Colleagues:
It has come to our attention this afternoon that Edwin Decker’s column
“Sordid Tales” in CityBeat should be insulting to the entire Jewish community. We have attached a link below so you will have the chance to read this disgusting column yourself.

http://www.sdcitybeat.com/article.php?id=4131

In it you will find a disturbing perception and rather vile portrayal of the Hasidic community’s alleged view of Jewish women. Although directed at Hasidic Jews, this negative representation affects our entire community. Our Associate Director, Tina Malka, spoke with David Rolland, the editor of CityBeat. When she told him the Anti-Defamation League had received scores of complaints, his response was that he “doesn’t care if it is offensive to Jews.” He went on to say that “progress happens through conflict” and it is the job of his reporter, Mr. Decker, to be provocative and to even offend in order to start a conversation.

We suggest that you continue this “conversation” and urge you to write a response to CityBeat. Your letter should be strongly worded but carefully written. The editor should hear from as many of your constituents as possible. You can send your response to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Thank you,
Morris S. Casuto
Regional Director
Anti-Defamation League
7851 Mission Center Court, Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92108
Tel: 619-293-3770
Fax: 619-293-7010
E-mail: mcasuto@adl.org
———————————————————————
THIS IS A RESPONSE FROM ONE OF THE ADL MEMBERS ALSO CC’ED TO US
——————————————————————–
Sorry Morris, but although I find the style of Decker’s writing a bit over the top and colorful – but no doubt appropriate for the audience to which it is addressed — I think he makes valid points. Innocent men and women are being massacred in the illegal
Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld invasion of Iraq ostensibly waged in part because of how women are treated and mistreated by so-called Muslim fanatics. How many
Jews support that effort? How many Hassidim? In my book, all fanatics are dangerous because they are blinded by their beliefs to our common humanity (however flawed).
Matasyahu is just another nut case – hey, he’s in show business! You don’t like him? Don’t buy a ticket. You disagree with Decker’s take on Matashahu’s mixed up values, good. It promotes dialogue about fanaticism. I’m all for that. Even Jews can be flawed.

Respectfully,
Mark Newman
(not on behalf of Dor Hadash – but you sent it to me)
——————————————————————
Dear Sir,
I am glad that you pointed out that Matisyahu doesn’t respect women. I went on his fan board, and all of these people are claiming that your article was anti-semitic. I like that about people in general in America right now, that they believe that calling sexism out in a culture is racist. I think the general issue here is that it’s hard to believe in someone’s sincerity to a religious cause when they are on myspace, and tour to make people money, and are in the press to make money. I like how people are so down for a white rich person to convert to something and co-opt something black. It’s awesome to me that people don’t know what sexism is (treating people a certain way because they are one gender or another is sexist). People love to be
concerned about women soooo much, and their well being, that they
accept someone not touching people because of their sex a ‘gift of glorification?’ Come on.

Imagine this scenario: So I was with my friend, and we saw some people I know, and we walked up to them. I’m shaking hands and greeting everyone, but my friend
doesn’t shake another of my friends’ hand. I go, “Why won’t you shake
his hand dude?” He says to me, “Oh, I’m sorry, I just have so much respect for black
people that I won’t touch them.”

That’s not racist? Treating people different because of race is something that is a part of anti-semitism. Treating people differently because of their sex is part of sexism. I don’t see how the assertion otherwise is made without contradicting itself immediately.
Thank You For Your Time.
geoff@geoffmakesmusic.com
——————————————————————–
Ed, you are my hero,
Every time that idiot [Matisyahu] comes on the radio I just want to toss my cookies. I do not understand what the fascination is. In fact, any time I refer to him I call him Matisjackoff or Matiswhackoff. My question to others would be if it were 10 or 20 years ago would this guy even get a sniff on the airwaves? PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY!!!!
He doesn’t even come close to a good Reggae artist such as Bob Marley or any of the music from the Ska era of the 1980′s.
Sincerely,
David Katz
Pacific Beach
Dkatz1@san.rr.com
——————————————————————–
Mr. Decker:
I greatly doubt there’s any chance that someone who writes as venomously, vulgarly (and conceitedly) as you did in your recent article Just one more Yahu could possibly reconsider his opinion when invited to investigate the matter further, so I’m probably wasting my time suggesting you read the link to the subject of the role of women in Judaism and opening myself up to a volley of your prejudiced vitriol to boot. Really, don’t bother; it would be neither persuasive, nor even painful, if that’s your aim, to receive a predictable tirade from you.

Although I’m not all that well versed in Judaism, it occurred to me, as it apparently didn’t to you, that a Hasid’s practice of not shaking unrelated women’s hands may have something to do with encouraging sexual modesty or restraint (in the man) rather than showing contempt for women. But I suppose you have no patience for such an interpretation. You know what cultural practices really mean. Anyone who doesn’t assimilate their understanding to your Truth about how people have to live can only be a reactionary against the cultural mountain top you occupy. So if a Jew is offered pork, he can only be showing contempt for the host when he refuses? That’s the only thing that can be in his heart?

To me your article illustrates a proverb of Solomon, Do not be hastily upset, for anger lingers in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastics VII:9
Bob Tassoni
Carlsbad
Petrarchus@aol.com
——————————————————————–
THESE ARE THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
——————————————————————–
Editor,
I’m Jewish, and I can’t say that I agree with the Hasidic way of life, but I must tell you that this article is really offensive. You may think you’re trying to affect change, but you’re not going to do it this way – that is for sure. I can’t remember the last time

I saw something this antisemetic in a public publication in a long, long time.
“At best, Hasidic Jews treat women like they are second-class citizens, at worse like diseased whorehouse gerbils that were once stowed in certain customers’ assholes”

We have affiliate companies that advertise in your publication. Not any more. I also plan to send this article to ‘ads by google’ and let them know I am withdrawing our substantially large account with them unless they remove you from approved sites to advertise on.
Martin Goodman
———————————————————————
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to your recent article about Matisyahu. I am appalled by your description of Hasidic Jews and all the nonsense Edwin Decker came up with. As a Hasidic Jew, and someone who knows Matisyahu personally, I find very little truth in this article.

As an editor, I would think it is in your interest to corroborate what’s written in an article prior to publishing it, but obviously you didn’t take the time to do so. I hope you be a little more honest with your readers in the future, and perhaps ask some Hasidic wives how they feel and in what manner they are treated+ I’m sure you’ll be surprised with the answer.

On a side note, Matisyahu belongs to a Hasidic sect called Chabad Lubavitch, they are known for being a lot more open and do a lot of outreach work. I’m sure you can look them up locally in San Diego, or online at www.chabad.org

Sincerely,
Chaim Davidson
chaimbru@mail.ru
———————————————————————-
Editors,

The article by Edwin Decker, “Sordid Tales” is not only bigoted, insipid,and insulting, the author is obviously an uneducated neaderthal who has no idea what the term “respect” is.

It is a shame that your publication does not have the intelligence and moral responsibility to recognize this piece of trash for what it is, and instead opted to publish it. Shame on you.

Simi Zuckerman
Carmel Valley, SD
——————————————————————–

Dear Editor:
It was a real disappointment to read Edwin Decker’s angry article “Sordid Tales.” There were a number of misstatements about Judaism that went beyond the line of disrespect (e.g. “Hasidic Jews treat women [at worst] like diseased whorehouse gerbils”) to being simply hateful. It tarnishes your otherwise excellent publication.
It is not just Hasidic Jewish men and women that do not touch each other unless they are related, but all traditional Jews. These rules are, for the most part, related to “tzniut,” the laws of modesty. The Jewish way is to project oneself less externally, to develop our own internal spiritual depth. Fighting superficiality seems more relevant today than ever.

Regarding the quotes from the Talmud, without discussing which people those quote were referring to, for what time, etc., it is worth noting that there are many unpleasant things said about men. Men come off especially poorly regarding their sexual behavior and morality. And don’t forget the stories of Berurya, the wife of Rabbi Meir, who often corrected his teachings and was more authoritative on many Jewish issues.

The fact that Matisyahu has tried to find a bridge between a more spiritual life and his beliefs, and still continue his work, is the story of an admirable struggle. This effort should be applauded rather than nastily ridiculed.

Aside from the litany of insults and degradation, the article was especially upsetting in that it asserted that Judaism is disrespectul to women. This is simply not true: Judaism treasures women immensely. Judaism does not view G-d as a man as do many other religions, and we teach that G-d has both female and male qualities. With the millenia-old rights to buy and sell property or enter into contracts, Judaism has been far ahead of “Western” countries in terms of women’s rights. Marital relations in a Jewish marriage are the woman’s right, not the man’s. Every Friday night, we read Proverbs 31, which praises women for their business savvy and success. Your publication may walk a spiritual path different than that of Judaism; that is to be commended and respected. However, the slander of one of the world’s great spiritual systems, with profanity and disdain, is not the way for you to move down that path. You should recognize that is simply wrong, even if you are not religious.

Sincerely,
Adam Sragovicz
San Diego, California
asragov@gmail.com
—————————————————————–

Dear Editor,
I am appalled that you allowed an article such as Edwin Decker’s
“SordidTales” pass your desk. Please read my email below to Edwin and pass it on to him.
Elissa Z.
—————————————————————-

Editor,
I just read the pathetic Sordid Tales article by Edwin Decker. After reading Edwin’s absurd persoanl distortion of Judaism, Hasidism and the treatment of women, I am failry sure that he did, in fact, fall off his exercise bike- and cracked his head.
One of two things probably provoked Edwin to write such trash. Either he was
facing a deadline and ran out of ideas- or his own Jewish roots resulted in
self hatred, and he is squirming in his own skin.

Poor Edwin- sounds like he tries to justify self loathing by distancing
himself thru fabrication and ridicule.

Edwin needs help- and Citybeat should know better than to allow emotional
vomit to pass as journalism. Get a new writer or Citybeat will be thought of as a joke. I can’t imagine your advertisers will want to be tainted by the garbage you just printed- so lose Edwin and hire someone that can actually write the truth.
Sheila Schwartz
——————————————————————–

Dear Editor,
I finished reading Edwin Decker’s article, and could not contain the loud
guffaw of disbelief that emanated from my belly. What Decker writes is so far off base that it goes beyond the pale of being insensitive, rude, wrong, and bigoted (all of which is most certainly is) to land squarely in camp of being absurdly stupid and laughable.

It is amazing to me that you would allow Decker’s article — if it can be called that; a rant against Judaism is a much more accurate description — to be published. Did you not read it before your magazine went to press?

Did it not occur to you that by making such allegations, Decker would render your magazine as one with the reputation of loving sensationalism more than journalistic integrity? I am choosing to believe that you simply did not read the article, and thus did not know what sort of trash you were printing — it is a much more comforting thought than the alternative, which is that you knew full well what grotesque inaccuracies were to be printed, and you simply did not care.

Decker, in order to write with such venomous hatred against Hasidism and Judaism, must be a self-hating Jew — or else someone that a White Power group has on their payroll. I tend to believe the former, which makes your printing of this piece all the more suspect and sad. Hopefully one day Edwin Decker will take the time to get off his bike and look himself in the mirror and ask himself — what did he gain by slagging off a religion besides some free personal advertisement and a direct line to the bigots
marketing group? Truthfully, I wish him luck, because if it is self-hatred, it will come back around one day to kick him in the pants. And that will not be pretty.

Sincerely,
A disgusted reader in PB
———————————————————————
THE FOLLOWING 3 LETTERS ARE FROM MY FRIENDS BACK HOME IN NY – THEY ARE JOKESTERS AND NOT BEING SERIOUS. ESPECIALLY THE FIRST.
——————————————————————–
Editor,
I always thought that the Black-Jew alliance was a forced marriage of convenience and my very dark indeed friend Edwin Decker has reinforced that suspicion. As a decidedly light-skinned but none-the-less chocolate tinged black of Irish descent (or so-called “high black”), I read with barely contained delight the salvos that “Black’n Decker” lobbed at our pale faced through-the-sheet-fucking counterparts. It reminded me of the fact that I hate all Jews except for the ones I know.
JOHN JANUARIO

Editor,
Every time Ed comes back to Monroe, I have to travel over there to
visit his sorry ass. The conversation inevitably turns to the subject
that Kiryas Joel is not only expanding exponentially but that they are
soaking the welfare rolls at the same time. They are now a bigger
burden to the local system than the “Newburgh Blacks”. And they have
big houses and big cars. Ed constantly defends them, to the point
where I have begun to research the Decker genealogy. Stay tuned.
DAVE MASELLA

Editors,
I introduced Ed to Matisyahu. Therefore the Jew Times should
interview me. Ed forgot to talk about the sex through the plastic
sheets thing. Once that gets out, everyone will take his side.
MASELLA
———————————————————————

Dear Mr. Decker,
Just want to point out if you want to find disrespect in the Hip Hop/Reggae music culture you’ll find much more of it in the music of the majority of artists that refer to women as “Hoes and B**ches”. Or perhaps the advantage most musicians take of there stardom and having a woman at every port. “It’s hard to be a pimp in this city” (or something like that) just won the Oscar award.

I think it’s refreshing to see an artist that has values and abides by the Hassidic custom that all ones physical contact belongs to ones spouse. Imagine how secure his wife must feel in her love knowing her husbands values. Do you think that there is music artist’s wife out there that has that same feeling of security that their husbands love is reserved for her.

Rabbi Chaim Bryski
Director
Chabad Jewish Center of Thousand Oaks
ShulaBryski@msn.com
———————————————————————–

Ed,
SIMPLY: YOU ARE A FOOL, STUDY BEFORE YOU WRITE.
starguardian@yahoo.com
———————————————————————-

Hi Edwin,
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Sordid Tales- “Just one more yahu” from the March 8th issue. Absolutely fantastic!! hear hear, so brilliantly stated, and true, true true…and best of all you said it all with such candid humor, hilarious!. I can’t wait to share with my friends.

I happened to pick up the San Diego City Beat while on a recent mini vacation for my Mom’s birthday in San Diego area, I live with my two teenagers(14yrs and 17yrs old), in Irvine, Ca and make it my business to keep updated on the music and entertainment world, hence knowing where and what my teenagers are taking in.
They had downloaded and enjoyed Matisyahu’s song from Napster, but, yes, having some Jewish roots and knowing about all the rules, we had also discussed and wondered how he was pulling it all off….so yeah,..without coming off as disrespectful….lol…keep up the reality checks needed for some of the new up and coming music trends.

Love the way you write Edwin.
Yours sincerely
Maxine.
maxeen2u@yahoo.com
———————————————————————

To Whom it may concern:
Regarding the article “Just one more yahu” in the San Diego Citybeat, I feel that this is nothing more than an article of hate written by someone who has obviously never been part of any orthodox Jewish society. It is further obvious that Mr. Decker has never spoken to any Chassidic women.

Now, if this article had only stated that Mr. Decker felt offended by Matisyahu following a religion which promotes sexual modesty, I would have no issue. However, when he blatantly shows his disgust for Jews and takes quotes from the ancient Talmud out of context, he has crossed the line.

First of all, the Talmud is a description of the legal system of ancient Israel, a society gone for more than 2000 years. Even if you had quoted the Talmud correctly, and it was anti female, how could you logically hold Chassidim accountable? Secondly, trying to say that Matisyahu and Chassidim in general are disrespectful of women without knowing or having lived in their community is slander of the worst kind, especially these days when women’s rights are so very important.

To conclude I want to say that there has to be room for hate in a free society Mr. Decker. I do not disagree with that. But next time please label your article as such so unassuming readers do not think that what you have written is actually correct or well researched, and instead realize that it was just the rant of an anti Semite trying to sound legitimate.

Sincerely,
Ethan Brookes
Slomoucsd@hotmail.com
——————————————————————–

29) Dear Sir,
I am glad that you pointed out that Matisyahu doesn’t respect women. I went on his fan board, and all of these people are claiming that your article was anti-semitic. I like that about people in general in America right now, that they believe that calling sexism out in a culture is racist. I think the general issue here is that it’s hard
to believe in someone’s sincerity to a religious cause when they are on myspace, and tour to make people money, and are in the press to make money. I like how people are so down for a white rich person to convert to something and co-opt something black. It’s awesome to me that people don’t know what sexism is (treating people a certain way because they are one gender or another is sexist). People love to be
concerned about women soooo much, and their well being, that they accept someone not touching people because of their sex a ‘gift of glorification?’ Come on.

Imagine this scenario: So I was with my friend, and we saw some people I know, and we walked up to them. I’m shaking hands and greeting everyone, but my friend
doesn’t shake another of my friends’ hand. I go, “Why won’t you shake his hand dude?” He says to me, “Oh, I’m sorry, I just have so much respect for black people that I won’t touch them.” That’s not racist? Treating people different because of race is something that is a part of anti-semitism. Treating people differently because of their sex is part of sexism. I don’t see how the assertion otherwise is made without contradicting itself immediately.

Thank You For Your Time.
geoff@geoffmakesmusic.com
———————————————————————

30) Dear San Diego City Beat,
It is difficult for me to adequetely express my shock and disgust at discovering this piece of hateful Anti-Semitism posing as journalism in your newspaper. The entire article consists of the author *laughing* at a person for his religious beliefs. Mr. Decker cannot seem to believe that a person practicing an antiquated relgion would dare raise his voice in mainstream culture. Cross-cultural dialogue should be encouarged, not mocked. Regardless of how you view the prohibtion of touching between the sexes, it is *not* meant in a disrespectful way. Mr. Decker’s article is full of innaccuries and false assumptions about Hasidic Judaism. For example, the quotes from the Talmud are at the very least taken out of their appropriate context and are quite possibly complete fabrications.

Shame on you, City Beat for publishing this hateful diatribe; shame on you, Mr. Decker, for your virulent ignorance.

David A. Schwartz
Washington D.C.
daveabe@gwu.edu
———————————————————————

32) Ed,
I just wanted to give you some support from a non-hassidic jew. I personally found your article very humorous and basically true. I’m not anti-religious, but I’m not into any orthodox or fanatical position on pretty much anything. Unfortunately, you pissed off a lot of people. Hopefully they’ll get over it once they realize that you really aren’t anti-semitic or a nazi-skinhead. Good luck. If you need any help from a “reformed” jew, give me a call. Tell your wife I said hi, I’m the one who kicked her butt in pool at Sooty’s 50th.
Geoff Levine

Hey Ed,
What an article! You seem upset and a bit bitter there. I have some questions about your article and yourself if you will.

Are you Jewish? Do you have any Jewish friends? I’m trying to understand where you are coming from with it. You see, I myself am a Chassidic Rabbi and I have heard many sides to your angry tirade before, but never quite like you put it. You seem to be somewhat knowledgeable in the Chassidic world, yet you failed to mentioned some of the other side of things. For example some of the nicer things the Chassidic world has to offer, such as meaning, deeper meaning to life and the like. Sometimes a glance cannot offer true understanding, and only after learning a bit more or taking a second look can you understand what’s really taking place.

If someone who never saw a doctor before observes an operation, he/she may think the doctor is hurting the person by cutting them open, when of course the opposite is true.

I don’t shake the hands of women I am not married to or closely related to, and I feel that when someone does, it may be disrespectful of the woman. Chasidim give great credence to touch and in doing so understand that it is a wonderful, powerful, gesture held only for those the Torah and Hashem allow such closeness. A Chassidic man would also avoid contact with a Sefer Torah (torah Scroll) before washing his hands properly due to impurities that may be on their hands this is not saying that people are bad or evil. Simply put, we poses impurities (due to no fault of our own) and much like you would take a physical shower we do so spiritually.

I don’t know if you are following what it is I’m getting at, but I think you should do some research on the topic then write another article this time with a bit more humor and understanding.

Thanks for your time,
Rabbi Mendy
Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld

My last column saying Hasidic rasta-singer, Matisyahu, was being disrespectful of women for not shaking their hands (a practice called shomer negiah) has garnered more fireworks than any other column I have written. As soon as the article hit the streets BANG! I immediately began receiving emails from all across the country calling me, “anti-Semitic,” “racist,” “skinhead,” “Nazi,” “white-hood wearer,” “member of a white power group,” and even, “a self-hating Jew.”

There are also numerous angry postings on various Jewish websites in cyberspace. Another responder with so-called connections threatened to bully Google to take us off their search engine. I just finished an interview about the scandal with Donald Harrison from the San Diego Jewish Times. And, unbelievably, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has contacted us. Apparently, they’ve received a “score” of complaints about my column.

Ok, getting all irritated about some of the trash I write is one thing. I can even tolerate your calling me an Anti-Semite, or a Nazi. But going to the ADL to snitch on me is so weak.

“Mommy! Mommy! Eddie Decker is saying mean things to me. Make him stop!”

Dictionary.com defines anti-Semite as: “One who discriminates against or who is hostile toward or prejudiced against Jews,” which I am not. I am hostile toward the religion that I believe blinds them. Orthodox religions. All of them. As for the Jews themselves, I love ‘em. I Love Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce. I love Adam Sandler and his epic Jew song. Sarah Silverman? Fucking Love her! I love the look, the feel, the taste, and the sound of Jew. I love Jewish weddings, love all that clapping. I love Jewish music, love Klezmer. I love Adam Gimbel’s Jews Explosion band. And I love, love, love the shit out of Garry Shandling. How you gonna call me a Jew hater when I love Garry Shandling?

Email: “…. the article was especially upsetting in that it asserted that Judaism is disrespectful to women. This is simply not true: Judaism treasures women immensely.” Adam Sragovicz/San Diego, California.

Response: The Taliban treasure their women also. That’s why females receive a public flogging for exposing a little ankle. Because a woman’s carnality is so treasured it must be protected at all costs.

Email: “I think it’s refreshing to see an artist that has values and abides by the Hassidic custom that all one’s physical contact belongs to one’s spouse. Imagine how secure his wife must feel in her love knowing her husbands values.” “Rabbi Chaim Bryski/Director Chabad Jewish Center of Thousand Oaks.

Response: Rabbi, how much security could you have when you demand women cover their hair and skin and disallow even the most platonic contact? Real true security can never come from obscuring the goods. It can only come from a mutual, impenetrable trust between partners, rare though it be.
Message Board Post: “Sir, [your] screed against Matisyahu is a piece of Jew-hate. . . Would [you] have had the balls to say the same thing about a strict Muslim?” I Randolph S Shiner.

Email: “Had Matisyahu been Amish, or from another religious sect that had similar negative commandments I am positive your article would have been very different.” Ari A. Burack.

Post: “Decker wouldn’t be reacting that way if it was Muslim in a robe singer who refused to shake women’s hands because of his religion. Or a Buddhist in a Tunic, etc…” The Town Crier

Response: If Matisyahu was an Amish rapper, I would have written the same thing. If he was an orthodox Muslim oompa-tuba player, I would have written the same thing. Which is this: “Orthodoxies suck ass.” They are primarily about controlling the masses in order to preserve the old ways, and when it comes to respecting women, the old ways suck ass. As for Buddhists, I don’t know of any misogynistic behavior or other bigotries in that particular religion.

Post: “I enjoyed Mr. Decker’s article much better in the original German. The editing just isn’t what it was when Goebbels was on staff.” Matit yahu

Response: That’s funny. I laughed out loud at that. However, just because it’s funny doesn’t make it true. It is not religious criticism that defines a Nazi, but actual, tangible, oppressive behavior that pulls you closer to Hitler’s bosom – behavior like trying to take me off search engines – something I would never in a million years dream of doing. So who’s Nazier, you are me?”

Post: “Decker has twisted the reason why men do not shake hands with women. It is out of mutual respect for both that shomer negiah exists.” Diane_RG.

Response: I never twisted the reason. I never even submitted a reason for shomer negiah. Because it doesn’t matter what the reason is. When a group is being oppressed their can be no reasons that justify it. All tyrants have “reasons” behind their cruelty. And when I look at your religion – albeit from the outside – I see real true cruelty toward women. (A cruelty that has driven many women out of your religion.) Like the aforementioned Laws of Modesty, that require women to cover their hair, arms and necklines. Like how they may not wear perfume. Like how women must be separated from men during prayer. Like a certain prohibition called Kol isha, which means, with varying degrees of strictness among tribes, that women are not supposed to sing when men are present. Like the fact that women can’t be Rabbis or even lead a prayer. Like how marriage contracts are drawn and enforced by men and how woman cannot initiate a divorce yet according to the Talmud a man may divorce his wife, “Even if she burnt his meal,” or, “If he found another more beautiful than she.” Which shouldn’t be hard now that he’s got her all covered up and frumpy.

Still not convinced that women are dissed in Hasidic culture, then consida Niddah: The most offensive and egregious Orthodox Jewish custom of all. Also known as The Law of Separation, women who are menstruating are deemed impure and untouchable. No man may touch her when she is menstruating, not even her husband and I just don’t care what the reason is, it’s fucking cruel man. It’s exile. You have taken the very essence of her womanhood and made it filthy. Add all this to the quotes about women being a “pitcher of filth,” and all the other misogynistic literature in the Torah and Talmud and it just seems blatantly clear that if you’re Hassidic and not disrespecting women then you ain’t doing it right.

Incidentally, I did receive 2 positive responses, one of which was from my mom (a Catholic) who wrote this just before the email firestorm hit: “Wow, you sure were rough on the poor Hasidics. Maybe even rougher than when you go after the poor Catholics. I wonder if any Hasidics will read it?” (Um, yeah mom, they read it.) And also one from Geoff Welliver of Walnut Creek, CA, who said it best of all (paraphrased): “Imagine not shaking the hands of blacks and saying it’s because you respect them too much. Treating people different because of race is racism. Treating people different because of sex is sexism.”

So no Adam, I’m not an anti-Semite. I do not think there is a Jewish conspiracy. I believe in Israel’s right to exist. If Jews really do run Hollywood, I don’t care. Ditto banks. I believe in the holocaust and the current official death toll. I don’t think Jews are cheap, but if they are, I don’t care. It is their prerogative. I never make derogatory statements like, “You Jewed me out of my money.” And even though I know it’s wrong to say “Some of my best friends are Jewish,” I don’t care. Some of my best friends are Jewish. When did saying so become a bad thing? Oh and guess what? My bride – she’s a Jew. Every Passover, I go to her parent’s house, put on the yarmulke, orate quotes from the Haggadah, break matzah and feel no guilt about it whatsoever because nobody in my wife’s family shits on women.

This column originally appeared in CityBeat on March 22, 2006
This article originally ran in San Diego CityBeat Magazine.

Click here to read the original article that started it all
EJD
03/22/06

SAN DIEGO– Morris Casuto, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, contends that San Diego CityBeat columnist Edwin Decker stepped over the line of taste and fairness in a column ridiculing certain practices of Orthodox Jews. Casuto’s organization has asked its members as well as those of other Jewish organizations in San Diego County to write letters to the periodical in protest.
In an e-mail sent to Jewish leaders, organizations and media of San Diego County, Casuto contended that Decker’s column, “Sordid Tales,” requires a response from the community to the alternative weekly newspaper.

Here is the text of his letter, addressed to “dear colleagues”:
It has come to our attention this afternoon that Edwin Decker’s column “Sordid Tales” in CityBeat should be insulting to the entire Jewish community. We have attached a link below so you will have the chance to read this disgusting column yourself.

http://www.sdcitybeat.com/article.php?id=4131

In it you will find a disturbing perception and rather vile portrayal of the Hasidic community’s alleged view of Jewish women. Although directed at Hasidic Jews, this negative representation affects our entire community.

Our Associate Director, Tina Malka, spoke with David Rolland, the editor of CityBeat. When she told him the Anti-Defamation League had received scores of complaints, his response was that he “doesn’t care if it is offensive to Jews.” He went on to say that “progress happens through conflict” and it is the job of his reporter, Mr. Decker, to be provocative and to even offend in order to start a conversation.
We suggest that you continue this “conversation” and urge you to write a response to CityBeat. Your letter should be strongly worded but carefully written. The editor should hear from as many of your constituents as possible. You can send your response to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

In a follow-up interview, Casuto was asked if the language of Decker’s column or his opposition to such Orthodox practices as gender separation were considered offensive. The ADL director responded that what “we intend to do is share with the publisher that you can write things questioning whatever you want…. but this was done in the most vile and demeaning way.” In particular, he said, the comment about the “gerbil” was grossly offensive.

(That comment presented jewishsightseeing.com with an interesting choice. Should we reprint the paragraph so everybody would know what Casuto was talking about, and thereby compound the perceived offense? We decided not to use the language in question ourselves, but to note that anyone who wants to read Decker’s article and decide for themselves may do so via the link printed above.)
Told that Decker is a poet and “gonzo” journalist in the tradition of the late Hunter S. Thompson, whose language often goes beyond the bounds of what is considered appropriate in standard journalism, Casuto responded: “There is a difference between taking on an entire group or faith versus taking on an individual.” Whereas an individual can sue a journalist if he feels his or her character has been defamed, “there is no group libel in this country.”

In his column, Decker told of reading a quote in Rolling Stone from the singer Matisyahu that he fears his refusal to shake the hands of females “comes off as disrespectful.” Decker contended the practice not only “comes off” as disrespectful, but in fact is. Then he went off on what bloggers call a “rant” against Orthodox practices, missing, in the process, that it is not only Orthodox men who decline to shake hands with women, but also vice versa. Orthodox teachings concerning modesty strongly discourage physical contact between persons of opposite gender.

Jewishsightseeing by email has requested an interview with Decker. It also has offered to print letters on the CityBeat controversy to make certain that Jewish community voices are heard in one forum or another.

SAN DIEGO– A San Diego CityBeat columnist whose denunciation of gender separation and other Orthodox Jewish customs ignited a storm of protest letters from the San Diego Jewish community said he understands the community’s reaction, but said although his language may be vile, he believes speaking out for women is just.

The exchange between columnist Edwin Decker and me began with my email to him, in which I asked for a telephone interview, explaining: “Your most recent column concerning the fact that Orthodox Jews do not shake hands with unrelated people of the other gender has prompted a lot of comment within the San Diego Jewish community. I’m told that some members of the community are writing letters to your newspaper in protest. The Anti-Defamation League, in particular, feels that you have offended the community.”

In his response, the “Sordid Tales” columnist wrote “yes, the Anti-Defamation league has contacted us. And we’re receiving more angry mail than any article ever published in this magazine before. I would love to do an interview with you, but, given the angry nature of my letters, and what I perceive to be a total misunderstanding of my words, I would rather do the interview via email so that I have a written record of everything that was said, just in case I am misquoted, or quoted out of context. This is not to imply that you would intentionally misquote me, but I have to protect myself here. (I’ve never received communication from the anti defamation league before — scary!). Does this work for you?”

That was fine with me. Following are my questions, which were submitted as a group, and his responses:

Q: What experience have you had with the Jewish community? Are you yourself Jewish?

A: I’m not Jewish. I was born into a Roman Catholic family and rejected it pretty early in my life. As for my experience with the Jewish community: Aside from the fact that my wife is Jewish, and many of my friends are Jews, and I love Jewish comedians, and writers, and directors and the food and the language, I guess that would have to be Kiryas Joel.

Kiryas Joel was/is an enormous Hasidic community that neighbored my home town. While there was no doubt a separation existed between my community and theirs – our proximity was so close that we had no choice to interact with each other. Thankfully, I had many opportunities to meet, and speak with, and enjoy the company of Hasidic men (sadly, never women).

I’ve always been the type of person who has been attracted to and curious about different cultures and so I was always asking questions. One such man became a close friend. Once a week he would come to the produce market where I worked. It was my job to fulfill his special needs as he was shopping for a very large extended family. He would buy several cases of lettuce, and other produce at a time and I would help him order them, and stack the pallet, then load them into his truck. Over the course of months/years we became friends. We liked to share stories about each other’s communities. He was full of questions about my secular lifestyle as I was of his.

He debunked a lot of urban myths for me (like the one about coitus through the hole in the sheet) and told me many things I just had no idea about. In turn, I told him about my lifestyle. I remember him being nearly blown away when I told him I dated, and had sex with different partners (as I was single at the time.)

Q. What is your reaction to the letters in response to your article? Do any of them make a point that you agree with?

A: My first reaction to the letters I have received, and many of them are quite spicy (I’m called an anti-Semite, Nazi, white-hood-wearer, and even a self hating Jew) is that if I can dish out it, I better be able to take it. And I do understand the angry response.

I’ve written many sarcastic screeds about my own religion, and of Islam, and fundamentalism in general, but none of them garnered the response this one has. Dozens and dozens of angry emails, many message board posts on Jewish websites. Boycotts threatened. I mean, even the Anti-Defamation League has contacted us. Of course, I understand why Jews are more sensitive than other peoples, but that’s not going to keep me from calling it as I see it, and the way I see it is, the language and literature of Orthodox Judaism can be very disrespectful to women.

Q: How would you characterize the letters? Are they all angry or are some more dispassionate?

A: 98 percent of them are angry and highly passionate. A small amount have been positive, and passionate. Zero are dispassionate.

Q: I believe some people are more angry about your language than your questioning of Orthodox customs. Do you agree? Some comments call the language vile? Do you feel this is justified.

A. Yes, the language is vile. That’s my style. I’m a vile writer. My column is called Sordid Tales. It’s quite vile. I grew up reading the vile smatterings of vile authors and loved it vilely so yes, the comment is justified.

Q: What conclusions do you draw from this episode? What conclusions do you think the Jewish community should come to?

A. I don’t really like to think in terms of conclusions. The whole thing, the whole process of being human, is a work in progress. I guess I’m just for equality that’s all. For everyone involved. There’s some stuff in the Talmud and the Tora that are pretty disrespectful of women, like their divorce rights, and Niddah, that I just will never understand, so I write about it. That’s all.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to say on the matter, that perhaps I haven’t asked you?

A: I just want it to be known that I am the farthest thing from an anti Semite you can find. I simply have no problem with the Jewish people, hard as that may be to believe. My problem is, and has always been, with the institution of fundamental or orthodox religions. I feel, for the most part, they can be repressive, regressive, and in my view tend to be disrespectful to women which is exactly the sort of thing I love to rail against.

An interesting interview. I hope you realize that we have never called Mr.Decker an anti-Semite nor have we suggested or implied that a proper response to his, as he puts it, vile language, are threats or boycott. However every community and individual have the right to call such an article disgusting and inaccurate since it belittles and insults an entire community which is more sophisticated and nuanced than he suggests.

Given his comments one might come to the conclusion that he throws a metaphorical “bomb” at something he doesn’t like and then sits back to watch. What type of interaction does he expect from those he so easily stereotypes and reviles? Nevertheless you do a service to the community by printing his comments.

–Morris Casuto, Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League