JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Talansky tales

By Uriel Heilman · July 15, 2008

We've heard a lot of things about Long Island Jewish businessman Morris Talansky since he was linked two months ago to alleged financial improprieties involving Ehud Olmert. Now comes New York magazine with a piece offering more details about the "Great Neck macher."

A transcript of secret tapes obtained by New York Magazine suggests that Talansky can indeed be willful and determined, and even threatening.

Among the details:

• Talansky suggested that a debtor's car would be bombed if he didn't return money he owed Talansky.
• Talansky sent three "goons" to the home of a debtor to intimidate him and his associates, including rabbis, whom Talansky felt had fleeced him.
And then, of course, there's the stuff we already knew, like that Talansky is under investigation in Nassau County for allegedly assaulting his 84-year-old former dentist over a bill dispute.

Back in Israel, Talasnky, 75, is scheduled to be cross-examined this week by Olmert's lawyers.

0 Comments | Share This | Israel |

Speak softly…

By Uriel Heilman · July 15, 2008

Does Israel's warmongering on Iran serve the interests of the Jewish state? Some former Israeli military officials tell Israel's Channel 10 that Israel would be better off speaking softly and carrying a big stick.

1 Comment | Share This | Iran, Israel |

The News Shticker: Reggie Jackson’s Jewish crack, Heeb’s Jewish swimsuit calendar

By Ami Eden · July 15, 2008

• Reggie Jackson makes the mistake of cracking a Jewish joke (and an A-Rod one) – on tape. And now poor Ryan Braun is expected to play Abe Foxman instead of left field.
• Heeb releases "The Ladies of '69: The First-Ever Jewish Swimsuit Calendar" (as in 5769). (Someone is going to hell for this, but let's hope its them for publishing it and not us for linking to it.) [UPDATE: JTA Managing Editor Uri Heilman says I need to loosen up, and adds: The real scandal is that Heeb only found six women – talk about an insult!]
• Israel is on the lookout for Diaspora Jews who can play soccer.
• Imagine if Ahamdinejad discovered he had Jewish roots – and embraced them.
• A Jewish school in Liverpool tells the students to leave their unhealthy lunches at home.

0 Comments | Share This | Shticker |

Escape from the shtetl

By Ami Eden · July 15, 2008

New York magazine has a lengthy story on Gitty Grunwald, who left the Satmar enclave in Kiryas Joel, and is now fighting for custody of her small daughter:

In early 2007, Gitty fled Kiryas Joel for good, taking Esther Miriam with her. At first, they lived in the relatively relaxed frum (Orthodox) community of Monsey, New York, then moved to Brooklyn. "It was just the two of us. I loved it," Gitty says. Then in January of this year, as Esther Miriam was walked with her class to a Flatbush playground, she was taken, says Gitty. ...

"Some KJ guys snatched her off the street. Esther Miriam said they were wearing masks. All she remembers was crying, crying so hard," Gitty says, calling it the worst day of her life. "When they told me what happened, I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was being suffocated. I still do."

Since then, Esther Miriam has been in KJ, at times in the house of Yoely's parents, as Gitty works through the courts, both secular and rabbinical, to try to regain custody of her daughter. For the time being, Gitty says, "Yoely calls the shots, when I can see my daughter and where."

12 Comments | Share This | Uncategorized |