OCT 4 2002

Famous Yahoo Group "H-N" Shut Down

By "The Redner", HasidicNews.com reporter

Brooklyn, NY – Hundreds of members and subscribers of the Yahoo group "H-N" (Hasidic News) were amazed recently to see their popular group suddenly shut down.

The group posted messages at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/H-N_Newsgroup/. It featured mostly Satmar members, discussing communal matters in rather liberal ways, as well as all the gossip about the Aaron-Zalmen conflict. It thus came under intense pressure from some elements in the Satmar community in Williamsburg.

Specifically, HasidicNews.com learned that the modesty watchdog organization "Vaad Hatznius" was involved in the shut down. This organization is known to use blackmail, threat and even physical force to achieve its goals. Its primary objective is to enforce "modesty" within the community. "Bachurim" found to be engaging in acts deemed inappropriate for bachelors, have been routinely threatened and beaten by members of this organization.

It comes as a surprise to learn that they have shifted their work and are now concentrating on a "cyber watch". We are investigating the details of how Vaad Hatznius managed to pull the H-N group of the Internet, and will post those details as soon as they become available.