Could this happen here
Question
I was very distrught over a halachic question that a Lubavitch Rabbi refused to answer for me. I understand that Lubavitch rules differently on many subjects so I felt it was important to ask the question of a Lubavitch Rabbi. (It was a question of "how does Lubavitch rule in regard to a specific kashrus issue). Not wishing to embarrass anyone involved and being that I am personally tongue tied when asking shailot of Rabbis on the phone, I decided to email my shaila to AskMOses.com. In my shaila I did not mention any names, the name of my synagogue or what state I live in. I chose an anonymous "chat" name. I poured my heart out in the email, I was quite upset at what I had seen and even more upset that I could not get an answer to my halachic question from the Rav Hamachshir. I did not know that Askmoses.com "traces" the email address and prints as a header the name and address of the sender for the answering Rabbi to see. I found this out the hard way because my very personal and heartfelt shaila was sent via email from the askmoses.com Rabbi to the Rabbi who was involved (the Rav Hamachshir about whom I wrote) with all of my identifying information. The Rabbi involved forwarded my very personal email to the caterer about whom I was asking the shaila!!! This caterer has previously called my house to threaten me and my children, and has sent his Gentile employees into the office where my daughter works which I had previously informed the Rav Hamachshir about in writing! The caterer faxed my very personal shaila to the President of the Board of the Synagogue which I attend in order to "show him what a problem he has with one of his members". The President of the synagogue called my husband and told my husband that I embarrassed him and the synagogue and that I do not have a right to publish "articles" in the name of the synagogue!!!! My husband became angry at me until I asked that he please have the President of the synagogue fax the "article" to him. You can imagine how I felt when I saw my very personal, emotional shailah from AskMoses.com faxed back to me with the trail of all of those who saw it with my personal identifying information!!!! Now, I did not say anything that I feel is untrue or that I am ashamed of. This was a kashrus shaila and not a more personal hashkafa or family matters question. This is a good thing because the entire Board of Directors of the Synagogue we attend will see a copy of my shaila at their meeting this week unless someone can talk this President out of making a public issue out of the contents of my personal shaila. (I do not think that he understands that this was not a letter that I was trying to publish or something, that it was SUPPOSED to be a personal communication about a halachic question with a Rabbi. I did email it as a private message and even specified that it was not designated for publication on the AskMoses.com message board, even with all the identifying information removed). I really appreciate being able to ask shailot online. I find that my questions are clearer, I understand the answers much better and I print out and keep copies of my questions and the answers around my kitchen for reference. I feel as though the existance of this website has been a great boon to our family's observance. I am terribly upset that my private emailed question with my personal identifying header has been forwarded to so many people in my community. Is this something that could EVER happen from emailing Rabbi Abadi or Kashrut.org?????? Thank you so much for all that you have done for all of us. I have once again stopped to count our blessings as a Jewish community that we have the Abadis as accessible, honest and honorable Rabbeim.
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiYou can't trust many people. The only ones who can see your mail and/or email address on kashrut.org are the Abadis and our webmaster. We don't sell lists and we do not post without permission. It is certainly unethical of the Rabbi you complained to who just passed it around. His motives were clearly political and not based on "Yiraat Shamayim." THis is the Kashrut Industry you walked into. What did you expect?! AA