Recently, Cross-Currents' Avi Shafran wrote a piece, entitled "The Missing Ethic," in which he denigrated critics of recently indicted Agriprocessors (a.k.a. Rubashkin). According to Shafran, those who protest Rubashkin's numerous legal and ethical failings are jumping the gun.
Among other gems, Shafran wrote that "...until some wrongdoing is actually proven, not merely suspected or charged, no human being – certainly no Jew, bound as we are by the Torah’s clear admonition in such matters – has any right to assume guilt, much less voice condemnation or seek to levy punishment."
A Pravda Ne'eman reader attempted to post the following comment, only to have it rejected by the zealous Cross-Currents moderators:
"But unless and until some wrongdoing is actually proven, not merely suspected or charged, no human being - certainly no Jew, bound as we are by the Torah's clear admonition in such matters - has any right to assume guilt, much less voice condemnation or seek to levy punishment."
Did this happen with Lipa Schmeltzer? According to his comments in a recent interview, there was much disinformation which resulted in the fiasco of the canceled concert.
I am afraid that essays such as this by R. Shafran are counterproductive to his cause. What people see is that where there are claims of serious interpersonal wrongs (fraud, abuse, etc.), there is much talk about "don't be motzi shem ra" and "innocent until proven guilty," but where the allegations are of things not being in accordance with charedi religious sensibilities, it's shoot first and ask questions later (if at all).
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