Did the NYU officials who Schiffman addressed even bother to check these claims. If they did, where is their evidence? It appears to me they didn't check Schiffman's claims but simply took his word for it. Professor Golb would surely have a claim in a civil court for such abuse, both against Schiffman, and the unnamed NYU officials for allowing the abuse and for neglect of their official duty.
"Prof. Lawrence Schiffman is leaving NYU to become Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Yeshiva University. Big, yet puzzling, news."
The statement is signed by Josh Yuter, a rabbi in New York.
Puzzling indeed, given the professor's history as a department chairman involved in graduate studies. Assuming that the statement is true, it raises a number of tantalizing questions:
is it a move up, or down in the echelon?
a little nudge out the door by NYU?
a prophylactic measure of sorts, in view of a possible investigation?
or, no connection at all with the "confidential" letter?
Amazing! I think certain officials at NYU are sweating. That there was collusion between them and Schiffman must be true. I had just been thinking, it is impossible to believe that anyone could have fallen for these lies. One should look for others fleeing NYU as well as Schiffman.
Yes, it’s true regarding the confidential letter written by Lawrence Schiffman to NYU officials... they just took his word for it, without thoroughly investigating. Maybe he is close friends with the administration. Many times, that's how things work in academia. Perhaps they didn't want to see Schiffman lose his job or allow a halo of suspicion to be cast around him. Finding out the truth may have eventually caused damage to the reputation of the department and school as well. It's also possible that the administration does not like Golb. Of course, being on the faculty of another institution, the University of Chicago, and having written a different theory may have made the difference. The letter does not say how Norman Golb "threatened lawsuits"... by letter, telephone, or e-mail? As Hudson stated here, if Golb did this, where is the proof of Schiffman's claims? Otherwise, without evidence, it may be considered untrue information and a made up story; or hearsay and a rumor that was told to Schiffman through the grapevine or backchannels. True or not true, he would never give up the informant who told him that.
Yes, I also agree with Hudson. It is grounds for civil lawsuit. However, I have read clear evidence on another one of his blogs that shows proof of how Schiffman twisted ideas, put words in Golb’s mouth, did not credit him properly for his original work and recent findings, fabricated ideas and misrepresented himself. It’s taken directly from the articles and books that Schiffman wrote. He incriminated himself in writing! What I've read is terrible. It is very disappointing for someone of this ranking in the scholarly community of the Dead Sea Scrolls. One theory is that Schiffman is perhaps past his prime, his theories are yesterday's news and he could be envious of Golb. This could be another reason took on this new job as a "Provost" versus a “Professor”.
In relation to the comments from "anonymous", I agree with all the points made above. These are possible reasons for why Schiffman left NYU. A salary increase at his new job was another thought, or perhaps enrollment was dropping in his classes now. It is unconfirmed at this point. But he did take on a new job in the same town. Maybe, Schiffman even said things behind peoples backs, which was the reason for the secret letter. It could be private information that he should not be revealing, or was asked never to tell anyone, or something he obtained from third party and he doesn't want anyone to know who it is. The content is very personal and contained statements would not normally say, for example, to the media or in a lecture. As I've said above, it's not true nor entirely correct what he said in the letter.
It is just terrible what happened to Raphael at the trial. I have read the transcripts, particularly the part about the judge's instructions. It's only because of him going to trial this invaluable information is available to the public - Schiffman's testimony of how he never did a single thing wrong in his works, along with Norman Golb’s response to Lawrence Schiffman's confidential letter to NYU, which Schiffman hoped would never be revealed. Boy, was he wrong! Maybe Schiffman said that no one is supposed to know about this because he goes way back with Golb, probably decades, and does not want to say the things he is about to say in this letter. He may either feel obliged to say what he is going to say, since NYU is requiring a reasonable reply, so he has to come up with something "reasonable". He feels this is an appropriate explanation for these allegations. Schiffman states that he is in “fear”, feels threatened even. He knows Golb personally and wishes not to have to say these things, but would prefer to keep this himself. Or, another opinion is that it is half-truths, personal opinions and things that cannot be proven in reality. Schiffman is in fear of retaliation, back talking, or backstabbing. These are things that he would never say to Golb’s face
The last comment Hudson made here is very well possible, a good prediction: the others that conducted the investigation, the administration etc., fleeing New York University now that Dr. Schiffman has left to accept his new job at Yeshiva University. If the NYU officials had not examined things correctly, they could be tied in with Schiffman's wrongdoing. That could be a reason why Schiffman decided to leave. It is suspected now that he left out "fear", obviously for retaliation from what might happen to him if someone found out what he was saying was untrue.
It seems that Schiffman has quite a few wrongdoings, from what I've read. Raphael was brave. It was very commendable to have called Schiffman out on this. There really wasn't any other way at this point in the game. The Golbs tried other polite ways prior to this last resort. Raphael Golb had him called out and I believe it was not for personal gain. It was for true information. Raphael intended to benefit the scholarly community. One thing I researched - when one googles “top dead sea scrolls theories”, Norman Golb’s theory appears on the first page of Google several times. Schiffman twisted ideas, used a lot of misquotes and omitted small details, which were rather important ones, and did not credit Golb properly. Maybe he needs to give a formal apology or at least an explanation, instead of just denying it. His reputation and misdeeds will most definitely follow him to Yeshiva University.
Did the NYU officials who Schiffman addressed even bother to check these claims. If they did, where is their evidence? It appears to me they didn't check Schiffman's claims but simply took his word for it. Professor Golb would surely have a claim in a civil court for such abuse, both against Schiffman, and the unnamed NYU officials for allowing the abuse and for neglect of their official duty.
ReplyDeleteThe following went out today on Twitter:
ReplyDelete"Prof. Lawrence Schiffman is leaving NYU to become Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Yeshiva University. Big, yet puzzling, news."
The statement is signed by Josh Yuter, a rabbi in New York.
Puzzling indeed, given the professor's history as a department chairman involved in graduate studies. Assuming that the statement is true, it raises a number of tantalizing questions:
is it a move up, or down in the echelon?
a little nudge out the door by NYU?
a prophylactic measure of sorts, in view of a possible investigation?
or, no connection at all with the "confidential" letter?
Amazing! I think certain officials at NYU are sweating. That there was collusion between them and Schiffman must be true. I had just been thinking, it is impossible to believe that anyone could have fallen for these lies. One should look for others fleeing NYU as well as Schiffman.
ReplyDeleteYes, it’s true regarding the confidential letter written by Lawrence Schiffman to NYU officials... they just took his word for it, without thoroughly investigating. Maybe he is close friends with the administration. Many times, that's how things work in academia. Perhaps they didn't want to see Schiffman lose his job or allow a halo of suspicion to be cast around him. Finding out the truth may have eventually caused damage to the reputation of the department and school as well. It's also possible that the administration does not like Golb. Of course, being on the faculty of another institution, the University of Chicago, and having written a different theory may have made the difference. The letter does not say how Norman Golb "threatened lawsuits"... by letter, telephone, or e-mail? As Hudson stated here, if Golb did this, where is the proof of Schiffman's claims? Otherwise, without evidence, it may be considered untrue information and a made up story; or hearsay and a rumor that was told to Schiffman through the grapevine or backchannels. True or not true, he would never give up the informant who told him that.
ReplyDeleteYes, I also agree with Hudson. It is grounds for civil lawsuit. However, I have read clear evidence on another one of his blogs that shows proof of how Schiffman twisted ideas, put words in Golb’s mouth, did not credit him properly for his original work and recent findings, fabricated ideas and misrepresented himself. It’s taken directly from the articles and books that Schiffman wrote. He incriminated himself in writing! What I've read is terrible. It is very disappointing for someone of this ranking in the scholarly community of the Dead Sea Scrolls. One theory is that Schiffman is perhaps past his prime, his theories are yesterday's news and he could be envious of Golb. This could be another reason took on this new job as a "Provost" versus a “Professor”.
In relation to the comments from "anonymous", I agree with all the points made above. These are possible reasons for why Schiffman left NYU. A salary increase at his new job was another thought, or perhaps enrollment was dropping in his classes now. It is unconfirmed at this point. But he did take on a new job in the same town. Maybe, Schiffman even said things behind peoples backs, which was the reason for the secret letter. It could be private information that he should not be revealing, or was asked never to tell anyone, or something he obtained from third party and he doesn't want anyone to know who it is. The content is very personal and contained statements would not normally say, for example, to the media or in a lecture. As I've said above, it's not true nor entirely correct what he said in the letter.
ReplyDeleteIt is just terrible what happened to Raphael at the trial. I have read the transcripts, particularly the part about the judge's instructions. It's only because of him going to trial this invaluable information is available to the public - Schiffman's testimony of how he never did a single thing wrong in his works, along with Norman Golb’s response to Lawrence Schiffman's confidential letter to NYU, which Schiffman hoped would never be revealed. Boy, was he wrong! Maybe Schiffman said that no one is supposed to know about this because he goes way back with Golb, probably decades, and does not want to say the things he is about to say in this letter. He may either feel obliged to say what he is going to say, since NYU is requiring a reasonable reply, so he has to come up with something "reasonable". He feels this is an appropriate explanation for these allegations. Schiffman states that he is in “fear”, feels threatened even. He knows Golb personally and wishes not to have to say these things, but would prefer to keep this himself. Or, another opinion is that it is half-truths, personal opinions and things that cannot be proven in reality. Schiffman is in fear of retaliation, back talking, or backstabbing. These are things that he would never say to Golb’s face
The last comment Hudson made here is very well possible, a good prediction: the others that conducted the investigation, the administration etc., fleeing New York University now that Dr. Schiffman has left to accept his new job at Yeshiva University. If the NYU officials had not examined things correctly, they could be tied in with Schiffman's wrongdoing. That could be a reason why Schiffman decided to leave. It is suspected now that he left out "fear", obviously for retaliation from what might happen to him if someone found out what he was saying was untrue.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Schiffman has quite a few wrongdoings, from what I've read. Raphael was brave. It was very commendable to have called Schiffman out on this. There really wasn't any other way at this point in the game. The Golbs tried other polite ways prior to this last resort. Raphael Golb had him called out and I believe it was not for personal gain. It was for true information. Raphael intended to benefit the scholarly community. One thing I researched - when one googles “top dead sea scrolls theories”, Norman Golb’s theory appears on the first page of Google several times. Schiffman twisted ideas, used a lot of misquotes and omitted small details, which were rather important ones, and did not credit Golb properly. Maybe he needs to give a formal apology or at least an explanation, instead of just denying it. His reputation and misdeeds will most definitely follow him to Yeshiva University.