I guess everyone has to try to be serious some time. This video is insane, about a charedi Jew living on a settlement who converted to Islam with his whole family and moved to East Jerusalem. Lets just say that- this guy took has taken the Niturei Karta philosophy to the extreme and he is so “pleasant” about it.
In other news, a controversial Muslim School in Brooklyn that wanted T-shirts made to say “Intifada NYC” has a new principle and she is a Jewish Zionist women- no idea where the PR guys were on that one.
Vos Iz Neias also has an article on this matter.
34 responses so far ↓
1 SA // Aug 15, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I know this guy from the Internet, he is an a@@hole. I remember when he first converted I used to talk to him all the time on Paltalk.com via chat. May Allah poop in his hat.
2 Frum Hiker // Aug 15, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Amen!
3 tzivo nishta // Aug 15, 2007 at 11:27 pm
May he share the same fate at his prophet mohammed - piss be upon him
4 Mazeartist // Aug 16, 2007 at 12:55 am
This meshumad no longer resides in Yerushalayim, baruch HaShem. He should know that a convert to Islam is still treated with suspicion by most Muslims. To them, he will always be seen as a Jew, as will his children. No matter how hard he will try to behave Islamic.
Look at history- Jews who converted during the Inquisition were still accused of disloyalty. Card-carrying communist Jews were still accused of holding Zionist sympathies.
Some converts, like the late Cardinal Lustiger of Paris, tried to form bridges between Jews and Christians. Instead of trying to bridge cultures, this Muslim convert acts like a total jerk with his anti-Jewish behavior.
5 MW // Aug 16, 2007 at 2:55 am
I saw his channel on youtube. He is a disgrace to the jewish world and will one day get his!!
6 Hesh // Aug 16, 2007 at 3:11 am
May allah give his 72 Virginians.
7 Norma // Aug 16, 2007 at 3:47 am
Wow! What a moving and inspirational story….
8 Hesh // Aug 16, 2007 at 3:50 am
Your kidding right?
9 Norma // Aug 16, 2007 at 4:05 am
No, I’m not kidding at all. While I may not agree with his views, when i look at what he has sacrificed for what he believes in is really stirring. Mesiras nefesh like that you seldom see in the frum community.
10 jennthejewess // Aug 16, 2007 at 4:21 am
Wow Norma Im still trying to form a cohesive comment in reaction to what you wrote…Its sickening. Using the words “mesiras nefesh” and its connotation in our culture to describe this sicko is total sacrilege. I dont know if your frum or not or if you care for that matter but your insensitivity is pretty disturbing,
I see the point you are trying to amke but I really dont think it holds up. Your reaction to the video should be anger and disgust not finding the beuty in his actions
11 MW // Aug 16, 2007 at 4:26 am
Yeah, what Jenn said!!!!
12 NAK // Aug 16, 2007 at 6:44 am
What this man Yusuf Khattab (nee Joseph Cohen) did is marvelous. He moved to the Holy Land in order to seek truth, and he found it. It makes him happy and content. We may not agree with his decision, but it seems as though he is willing to debate his religion with us.
How many of us can honestly withstand public scrutiny of our religion in the same manner?
13 Norma // Aug 16, 2007 at 11:53 am
Yes Jenn, I am frum a proud Jew. And unlike you apparently, I know how to have a non-biased conversation and view of our religion. Ok, maybe “mesiras nefesh” sounded a little confusing to you since it’s a Hebrew term. So instead I’ll just say it in English. SELF SACRIFICE. You have to look and see the beauty and forfeit that anyone forgoes in his or her life. I’m just saying that what Joseph Cohen and his family sacrificed for what they truly believe in is truly something to take pride in. Do you think you could show similar forfeit in yourself for Judaism?
14 mazeartist // Aug 16, 2007 at 2:08 pm
In the video, the man praised suicide bombers who killed not only Jews, but also other Arabs. Even the most objective of viewers should find his statements reprehensible. What surprises me is that his wife and children also converted, with no second thoughts.
15 Hesh // Aug 16, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I understand and agree with what what Norma and Nak are saying he does display a cool comfort with his devotion to his religion, which is hard to find in the more ultra orthodox sects of Judaism.
The one problem I find is that his Interpretation of Islam is way off and he has been convinced that killing innocent people is what the Prophet had in mind when he created his religion. Kind of like saying- the Niturei Karta display such vgor when carrying out what “they” say is in line with Judaism.
I am sure you could fins thousands of muslims who feel exactly the way he does- and are devoted to killing innocent people for their Jihad-
Is his devotion to extremist Islam really devotion to the actual religion , or are all radicals devoted to their causes?
16 rebelwithacause // Aug 16, 2007 at 7:07 pm
@Mazeartist: I am sorry you are wrong. I spent some of childhood years in a Muslim country and I have witnessed that Muslims love converts. As you can see from the video the more extreme the converts are the more they love them.
@NAK and Norma. Do you think praising someone who blew up herself and saying it’s good for children to die so they’ll go to heaven is a religion? I think this man is psycho and he found another psycho wife and this is the end result. They both should have been locked up in a mental institute. I hope some rocket hits their house. Pigs.
17 flatbush gal // Aug 16, 2007 at 10:37 pm
i dont get why hes so sure of himself, its obviously just a central focus for his life thats totally diff then an old life he resents.
18 MW // Aug 16, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Its true that the muslims like converts. Its great for them, more pple to blow themselves up!! And who better then a former jew!!! Its their ultimate dream-jews blowing up jews!!
Sisk sick pple!! I am refering to the muslims, this phsyco and all of you who think his story is inspiring!!
19 Frum Funky Fab (slightly eidel) // Aug 17, 2007 at 4:45 am
This dude is on crack but basically he feels he was ignored by his parents and so frum jews are therefore evil in his mind. Notice how he kissed his kids on the head? He wishes his parents would have done that for him. He probably never learned real Torah judaism, he probably was told to shut up when he asked questions.
We have to be so careful how we treat out kids. I hope Hashem knocks some sense into this guy sooner rather than later.
What is up with his wife? I want to hear what SHE has to say.
20 Disgusted // Aug 17, 2007 at 2:26 pm
“….what Joseph Cohen and his family sacrificed …”.
HIS FAMILY??!?!? I know his wife and she’s a HOSTAGE along with the rest of his children. Don’t be fooled by the kisses on top of the head. They are threatened with their lives if they try to leave. A mother will do anything to protect her children…..
21 Yakov // Aug 17, 2007 at 3:59 pm
OK, SOme of this may come as a shock to you…But i will sort of side with Norma.
I hate & despise this mine for praising and siding with murderers, fascists and suicide bombers - But I respect the fact that he didn’t follow a path he was forced into…
I don’t know much about his family - But I’m going to make the “assumption” that he grew up like 70% of orthodox jews who are not given a chance in life. Most frum parents confuse their children into accepting a burden which some cannot bear.
My rabbi used to tell me that all Christians, catholics and Muslims are murderers, for some reason I believed him…..Until i grew up a bit and traveled the world a bit. I have many Muslim, Christian and other friends… And I never put myself above them.
We are all human beings, Some of us born into a life we do not want to live.
Some of us live life the way our parents want us to.
Some of us live life because we want to live it the way our parents taught us.
Yet some of us live life they way we see fit based on our own decisions.
My life hasn’t been a “silver spoon - choose your way” life. But they effort my parents put into me that I should appreciate the gift I have been given to be born into a wonderful nation hasn’t been easy.
My parents were nearly shot for arranging my bris. My father spent 2 years in Prisons, Psychiatric Wards and labor camps for being Frum - And i will never stop appreciating that.
(I was born in communist Russia)
22 Chaya // Aug 17, 2007 at 5:32 pm
At first I thought it was kind of funny to watch this misguided guy sound like a total idiot.
But then I remembered that he is a Jew, and the thought made me sad. Watching our brother (a Jew is a Jew, even if he converts) speak such terrible words hurt.
He obviously had a hard time in life. He could not have been a happy man. He even said himself that he met the guy in a chat room “and tried to knock him off”. This man was a fighter, and aggressive fellow. I think he has a lot of hurt and anger stored inside, and this is how he expresses it.
It is so not fair. Why are there so many people out there who don’t get a fair chance to be happy and functioning people? Why was there no one who cared about this man enough to speak to him on his level. He obviously didn’t understand Judaism at all (because if he did and didn’t agree with it, he wouldn’t left long before he was married with kids).
Where were his teachers when he was in high school? His Rabbis? Where was everyone?
Such a shame.
23 Yakov // Aug 17, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I just found out that he was a baal teshuva he isn’t an ffb - So disregard some of my previous statements.
Some guy who has an adjacent office to mine knows him personally and even attended his wedding and his sons bris.
24 Joseph // Aug 19, 2007 at 1:56 pm
To Norma, to say his story is inspirational is sick. What “self-sacrifice” was there? He moved to East Jerusalem? Its not that far. You are inspired that a man who was frum now hates Judiasm and let alone practices it. You think its beautiful that he now wants you and your family dead including woman and children.
I think it is quite obvious that the Arabs are using him as a mouthpiece and have trained him what to say.
I think the jewish people have shown enough messiras nefesh over the years. I personally take offense that you say “Mesiras nefesh like that you seldom see in the frum community.” I think my grandmother staying frum throughout the Holocaust is a heck of a lot more messiras nefesh than moving a few miles away.
To Nak, You say he found the “truth,” he didn’t.
To Yakov, I wonder what research you have made that you have come to the conclusion that”70% of orthodox jews who are not given a chance in life.” Im sure you haven’t just picked an arbitrary number because of your personal expierience.
I have also heard that his wife is being forced to be there and orginizations are working to rescue her. I don’t know whether or not that is true.
I think either you are not jewish (which I hope) or society warped what is now considered politically correct. We now have to praise people who leave the path of Judiasm even if they would like nothing more than to ruthlessly kill every man, woman, and child of the jewish people.
25 Anonymous // Aug 21, 2007 at 2:02 am
Do you guys really beleive that he’s a jew? What chosid from BK has an accent like that? I smell an impostor!
26 heshman // Aug 21, 2007 at 2:19 am
Happens to be that one of the posters above commented that he is a BT- hence the non-yiddisher accent.
27 Truth // Aug 21, 2007 at 1:42 pm
This man is not worthy of our attention let alone praise. I am absolutely astounded by what Norma and some of the others have said. I never like to generalize but, if a Jew can apreciate a Meshumad that not only abandoned his people but also has become an enemy to them!
If any of you ever bother to look into the history of the Muslim people and their religion you will immediately find no room to sympathise with this meshugenah. They forced their cokameme religion upon the masses at sword point! Muhamad and his ASS (literally) are the only witnesses to his “prophecy”. He even writes that Haman was one of Pharohs advisors! Any one who converts to islam is ignorant to the utmost extent. A Jew is special and is held up to a high standard. Now he supports murderers of babies and women and men. You appreciate his “self sacrifice”?
and yes, the extreme example of one damned to eternal hell is this man! Jesus also didn’t quite fit in because he was a Shtuki (one who couldn’t name his Father) so he damned himself to eternal hell as well! I dont think anyone will argue about that!
May we all merit a clear and pure mind.
28 Yakov // Aug 21, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Joseph, I read it in a study conducted by some Org in NY, I cant remember which org tho.
29 THE LOAN RANGER // Aug 22, 2007 at 1:34 am
Three strangers strike up a conversation in the airport passenger lounge in Bozeman, Montana, awaiting their flights.
One is an American Indian passing through from Lame Deer. Another is a
Cowboy on his way to Billings for a livestock show and the third passenger is a fundamentalist Arab student, newly arrived at Montana State University from the Middle East.
Their discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon, the two
Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout, radical Muslim and the conversation falls into an uneasy lull.
The cowboy leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine
table and tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside is blowing tumbleweeds around, and the old windsock is flapping; but still no plane comes.
Finally, the American Indian clears his throat and softly he speaks, At
one time here, my people were many, but sadly, now we are few.”
The Muslim student raises an eyebrow and leans forward, “Once my people
were few,” he sneers, “and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?”
The Montana cowboy shifts his toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says in a drawl, “That’s ’cause we ain’t played Cowboys and Muslims yet, but I do believe it’s a-comin’.”
30 Ignotz // Aug 22, 2007 at 1:59 am
Disgusted,
If you know his wife personally, can you please explain why his wife gives lectures to Muslim women? Why did the family move to Morocco and obtain citizenship through his wife? Why didn’t Yad L’achim suceed in convincing the Israeli govt. to take his kids away and save his wife? Did you know that they took Yousef’s wife out of their house in front of the children to the police station on Salahideen St. in Mizrach Yerushalayim, offered her a home and had frum yidden there to help break their family. His wife said NO and returned home to her loving husband and 4 kids. After living in perfect peace in Palestinian territory in the West Bank the al-Khattab family moved back to there mothers hometown and place of birth of Tetouan,Morocco. The Moroccon govt. and the Palestinian Authority (both Hamas & Fatah) were and still are very good to this family. Interesting enough all of they above governments are aware that the al-Khattab family finds them against the teachings of Islam, but yet they still respect them because they speak what they believe. I am from a frum family and I am in close contact with this family,even eating in there Mizrach Yirushalayim home. You can visit the al-Khattab’s website http://www.al-buruj.com and contact them direct there. From this family’s experience I myself have been interested and studying Islam for the past 4 years.
Blog Gezunt,
Ignotz
31 NEW YORKER // Aug 22, 2007 at 2:05 am
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT ISLAM I LEARNED ON 9/11
32 hypocrite // Aug 22, 2007 at 4:10 am
if this Jew, and you Ignotz have converted and are delving deeper into the religion of a madman, than tell me: what is your reason for survival? learn the Torah, study it in its proper order, only then can u delve deeper. to study random peices and string them together is what leads to misunderstandings. think about any argument youve had and go to its root. you have a problem with G-d? any muslim will tell you there is one G-d we all worship him the same. each has his own level of devotion but you cannot have only a surface knowledge of something before you declare it untrue.this post makes no sense. im too distraught to be coherent.
Religious Jew
33 zahava // Sep 2, 2007 at 6:44 am
The story about the high school in Brooklyn seems to have gotten less interest here, but it led me to do a little digging around. Don’t believe the bad rap about the school though, there are good, sincere people behind it.
34 Mikeinmidwood // May 11, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I cant believe you people look up to this sick guy. The torah says we can learn things from everyone but not a heartless jerk, really are you people jewish?
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