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 Rabbi Michael Broyde, a high-profile Jewish and legal scholar based at Emory Unversity, has apologized for deception.
April 16th, 2013
12:12 PM ET
With fake name revealed, top rabbi faces heatBy Jessica Ravitz, CNN Atlanta (CNN) - A top-tier rabbi and expert in Jewish law and ethics is now under the microscope for what many see as his own ethical transgressions. Rabbi Michael Broyde was outed last week for having created a fake identity that he reportedly used for about two decades. Broyde has long served on America’s highest Modern Orthodox rabbinical court and was said to be a finalist to become the next chief rabbi of the United Kingdom. Just last month, he was named one of America's top 50 rabbis by Newsweek magazine. Broyde is a professor of law and religion at Atlanta’s Emory University. Under the pseudonym Rabbi Hershel Goldwasser, Broyde cited and promoted his own work, wrote and weighed in on articles, gained membership to a rival, left-leaning rabbinic organization and engaged in otherwise privileged online conversations by way of its Listserv. The story came to light Friday when The Jewish Channel, a cable network, released online an in-depth investigation. The lengthy piece revealed, among other things, how a search to find Goldwasser, who allegedly lived in Israel, led to IP addresses matching Broyde’s. Broyde initially denied involvement when contacted by The Jewish Channel last week - a move he’d later call “silly and a mistake.” But he fessed up soon after the story’s publication. In a blog post titled “My Nom De Plume Exposed,” he explained that he and a friend created and used the pen name up until a few years ago, after which he said it was used by others. He later told a reporter with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that he wouldn’t name the friend who was also involved because “he has more at stake to lose than I do.” In his blog post, a written apology spoke for both of them. “No malice was ever intended and our participation was always intended to foster vigorous conversation about ideas and approaches to halacha (Jewish law) that we thought needed to be addressed,” he wrote. But he also added that there’s an “old practice” of using pseudonyms when discussing these sorts of matters.
By Sunday night, it was clear that, at least in his corner of the Jewish world, Broyde’s standing was shaken. The Beth Din of America, the top rabbinical court affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of America, issued a statement that Broyde had “requested an indefinite leave of absence from his role” as a member and judge, a request the court accepted. By Monday, the council said he’d also asked for leave from its membership. In a written statement, the council called his behavior “deeply troubling” and said, “We will continue to investigate this matter in order to determine further appropriate action.” Meantime, the International Rabbinic Fellowship, the more liberal group Broyde once joined as Goldwasser, also weighed in, dubbing his actions “shocking and saddening.” The fellowship suggested in an online statement that given Broyde’s infiltration into “a sacred and safe space in which our members can share ideas and thoughts,” he should issue apologies directly to those with whom he’d corresponded. CNN reached out to Broyde on Monday, but he said he could make no comment. The question remains as to whether any of these developments will affect Broyde in the secular academic world. Officially, Emory University said in a written statement: “The allegations regarding the conduct of Professor Michael Broyde are concerning to the Law School. We are currently reviewing the matter and plan to issue a statement once our inquiry is complete.” But unofficially, Paul Root Wolpe, director of the Center for Ethics at Emory University, said he suspects Broyde will feel less of a blow on campus. Joining a rabbinical organization's Listserv under a false name is wrong, but it may not be "an academically sanctionable offense," he said. In the academic community, what Broyde has done may be seen as "bad, but not fatal,” Wolpe said. “People should recognize this is clearly a breach of academic ethics. … But there are far worse things he could have done.” Yes, he submitted work to a journal under a pseudonym - which on its own isn’t unheard of, but he did so without disclosing that fact to an editor. And, yes, in a world where citing someone else’s work is a form of “academic currency,” he cited his own, Wolpe said. But he didn’t plagiarize, nor did he steal someone else’s research. Those sorts of actions are tenure-breaking. “The guy is still a genius when it comes to Jewish law. He’s got an expertise that is valuable. I think this is something he will recover from,” Wolpe said. “But his heart is in the Orthodox community, and to be sanctioned by them would be the real blow.”
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Lets see this rabbi writes some articles under a fake name and then promotes them... While priests molest children and Muslim clerics promote terrorism, violence against woman and the like.... Putting it in perspective, it doesn't seem like a big deal!
or a valid comparison
" Why does the cover-up continue to this day ? Why did the L.A. Archdiocese claim to have turned over 30,000 pages of docu-ments when they only turned over 12,000 pages ? Where are the other 18,000 pages ? Why are the 12,000 pages so badly redacted as to be virtually unreadable ? When will full disclosure be forthcoming ? "
Marc do you believe in JESUS he died for our sins on the cross? Marc you may not believe me but read Romans thru Hebrews and maybe GOD might let you see the truth if you will not harden your heart.
ttt2013, how is it again that your omnipotent being couldn't do his saving bit without the whole silly Jesus hoopla? And how was Jesus' death a "sacrifice", when an omnipotent being could just pop up a replacement son any time with less than a snap of his fingers?
Pretty pathetic "god" that you've made for yourself there.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement.
Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Maybe none of it is true? I could be all alone in an uncaring and hostile world, clinging to my few comforting illusions like a child with a worn-out teddybear. I believe, O God, help thou my unbelief.
ttt2013, grow some courage and answer the questions for a change. No more dodging, you coward:
How is it again that your omnipotent being couldn't do his saving bit without the whole silly Jesus hoopla? And how was Jesus' death a "sacrifice", when an omnipotent being could just pop up a replacement son any time with less than a snap of his fingers?
Pretty pathetic "god" that you've made for yourself there.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement.
Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Jesus didn't die for me. Egwene al'Vere did. Long live the Amyrlin Seat.
"how was Jesus' death a "sacrifice", when an omnipotent being could just pop up a replacement son " It's like the Star Trek transporter which actually destroys you and makes another one just like you somewhere else. You don't realize that you are a zombie, you just keep on walking around.
Marc search the scriptures and find about the elect Jews, i gurantee you want be laughing then. Typing difficult with this keyboard
Look up "electric jews" on YouTube. I saw the Electric Jews warming up for K. Friedman back in '76. Helluva show.
Marc look in the scrirtures and find about the elect Jews, i gurantee you want be laughing then.
Those jews were elected by votes from Mutt Romney. True story. He wanted them to lend him some money afterwards.
I say this with this love the law can not save you, only JESUS can and for the elect Jews that believe on JESUS it is blessing that GOD love you and the gentiles so much that the gentiles have been grafted into the wild olive tree. I have a question for the Jews who are still under the law, how can the gentiles be saved if we are not under Jewish law.I love you my fellow Jewish brothers thru the seed of Abraham but JESUS is the only way to the Father. If you do not believe in YAHWEH this does not apply to you.
You're funny lol.
Holy God, my seeds of Abraham just came up! I think they are turning into triffids. How the hell did this happen?
A rabbi walks through the sanctuary and a man is praying and weeping. "What's the matter?" says the rabbi. "I want to get married and start a family but my mother hates every woman I bring home."
The rabbit thinks and says "why don't you try to find a woman just like your mom?" and the man agrees.
Two weeks later the rabbit again sees the man praying and weeping. Didn't he find a woman who was like his mom?
"Yes, I did" the man says "and I brought her home. She looked like my mom, she acted like my mom and she even cooked like my my mom."
"What happened?" the rabbi asked.
"My father hated her" said the man.
Oy vey !!
Pretty much everyone at a certain level games the system. Professional Athletes will use whatever works, and won't get them banned. Politicians and musicians use page view generators and fake twitter followers to make them seem more relevant. I would be shocked to learn that this man is the only academic who uses questionable methods to promote his work..
He didn't steal from anyone, he pushed his own work into the conversation. Once it was there, it had to stand or fall on it's own merit.
Creation Scientists do this sort of thing all the time, to try to make their views mainstream, but their views do not stand under the scrutiny they're given, and they fall apart laughably.
Professional Christians do the same thing, so I'm unsure as to what you're driving at. Everyone uses technology to further their agenda. You're doing it here, aren't you?
No, I've turned into Mike Broyde now.
A religious person doing something immoral? This is unheard of!!!!
Gotta love religion.... its so HONEST.
You're in need of some restraint?
I guess he needs to find Jesus. Mexican gardeners are really good listeners.
I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I got a plastic Jesus, riding on the dashboard of my car . . .
"I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran 20 red lights in his honor. Thank you Jesus, thank you lord"
My name is real, but my hugh jass is phony.
Oh my, a dishonest rabbi. Looks like he missed his calling as a lawyer.
Wolpe with his whole "what's the big deal, could have been worse" statements heads the center for ethics. LOL
Of course, this is Emory, whose President thinks the 3/5 compromise is a great model to follow. You're batting 1000, Emory!
Just the tip of the iceburg. Big brother is watching your every move. We thought GPS and facebook were so great, think again. We liked airport security, think again. Every purchase at the drugstore tracked now. Big brother is watching.
Get an estimate on your garage door, and with permission they will have one with pictures and never have stepped on
proberty.
@Science
I think you may need to get some sleep.
And some new material...
Guess what just had gagare door replaced . The company never stepped on the driveway until they repasced the door !
They had covered every inch of the door in the pictures !
Peace
Brother had same done !
Oops replaced !
By the way email estimate weith pictures !
"We liked airport security"
When was that?? This statement alone makes one fear for your grip on reality.
Oops dang thumb emailed with pictures................. key is they asked for perrmission ! The technology is out there !
Hopefully it will help catch the Boston Bomber !
By the way you can watch eagles having babies on line in the wild . Go figure
Surf with cookies off !
or clear daily !
Peace
Eat your heart out, Big Brother. Ha ha ha ha ha! Watch all you like, if you dare.
Forgot no fairy in the sky watching !
And it looks like cameras caught them, one still missing ?
I haven't been reading all the comments as most of them center on simply mistrusting the guy because of using a pseudonym, but if I'm the first to address this then I'm sad at the unwillingness of you all to look deeper into this. Could it be that he truly believed the elements of Judaic law that he was involved in and discussing, but wouldn't be allowed to be in said position to discuss them because his actual bloodline wasn't pure enough by hardline Jewish standards to attain the position that he was able to attain by using his pseudonym? I'm no fan of religion, I think in future generations the human population will look back on religion and think "what were we thinking?", like we do about slavery now, and will soon about gay marriage and marijuana use, but I think its fair to address the fact that maybe this guy had things to say as far as his beliefs go, and in order to infiltrate a highly exclusive, bloodline-oriented community such as hardline Judaism, he had to engage in some deception and did it extremely well to the point that they're just finding out now after 20 years. If this is the case, instead of railing against him and his "deception", any true thinker should be discussing the "pure-blood" exclusionary aspects of a highly influential faith that would require someone with such obviously, to those who believe in said faith, powerful and influential things to say to have to take on a pseudonym in order to express himself at the level in which this guy was involved.
Although when I think about it further, I realize that I'm probably too full of my own prejudices about "bloodlines" and have too many weird Elders-of-Zion notions about what Jews do in their synagogues to actually comment intelligently. Either that, or I am a sock puppet.
John 8:44
King James Version (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Get a life.
Let me guess: You're quoting your book of fairy tales to prove some other tribe's book of fairy tales and that whole tribe are "evil"? Did I get it right?
Calm down people,
Many people throughout history have done the same thing and none more prolifically than Benjamin Franklin. Starting as a young man Franklin wrote letters to every publication he could disguised as women, farmers, merchants, soldiers. None as himself. And surprise, I myself was not born with the name Futureman!
Have you used "futureman" to promote you work and gain access to rival organizations to get secret information?
A leader should exemplify strong character. Hiding behind a pseudonym and then denying it doesn't qualify. I wouldn't follow a person with such weak character.
So, tell me: is Bostontola your real name?
He doesn't follow himself, so there! Nya nya nya! He only looks in the mirror at the weak character.
I never denied it or used it for self promotion. I'm not a religious leader.
Ethics seem to be a really fungible idea lately. Most of the time it's in the financial or political communities. I'm not sure this is more troubling, but it's certainly not any claim to fame, and this whole situation reminds me of Lloyd Blankfein testifying before Congress, when he said (paraphrasing) that "what we did isn't against the law." Technically he was right, but ethically he couldn't have been more wrong. In this case, it sounds like the same thing. He didn't "technically" plagiarize...since he wrote the material he was using as a source, but it's a pretty presumptuous position to cite yourself as a source while writing as somebody else. In short, regardless of everything else, you're hiding the truth...and I don't think any university should consider that ethical. In the most simple terms, he lied when it was to his advantage to do so. Is that a good qualification for a teacher?