Emes Ve-Emunah: The More Things Change...

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

The More Things Change...

Chardal has a must read post today. If only there were more Gedolim like Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, a man of courage, conviction, and character who was not afraid to tell the truth and who actively tried to rectify injustices. Today the opposite is true. Injustice is ignored, or worse, tolerated in a never ending pursuit of Kavod. And what better way to get it than to be asked to sign a ban together with Rav Elyashiv! How can any self respecting Kavod seeker refuse to do that just because he doesn’t know what he’s signing?

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My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.