A commenter recently expressed his view on an issue I posted about and lamented ‘If only our opinions mattered.’
Well, they do matter. We now have an unprecedented medium. Blogs are revolutionizing the way people get their news and opinion. This is as true in the Torah world as it is in the rest of the world. The more we speak out, the more people will listen to what we say…including people who are in positions to change things. Blogs are changing the world and that includes the Torah world.
There are a tremendous number of Charedim, many of whom are in positions of leadership who agree with the kind of thinking expressed on this blog. I meet people like this all the time and they have confirmed their agreement. Those who are in positions of leadership have kept silent because of the type of zealotry often expressed by the type of people who used to be able to crash this blog and trash everything said on it. But their views are based on a childish and myopic version of a Torah Hashkafa, despite their ranting to the contrary.
No longer will opinions be formed by the Yateds and Hamodias who publish and embellish supposed bans signed by Gedolim. No longer do Charedim need to keep their collective heads buried in the sand. Bans are increasingly being ignored. The more bans there are the more they will be ignored. For example most Charedim observe the ban on the internet in the breach. Bans like this have basically proven to be useless. Thank God. It is the internet through responsible blogging that can and does change Charedi hearts and minds. Blogs like this one are opening up this formerly closed world and telling it like it is. No longer will people be blinded to the fact that the emperor is naked.
People now have a voice like never before. And the more that people rise up and realize that the 'emperor has no clothes' the more likely things will change for the better.
There are potential Gedolim out there who can actually lead. But Kaanaim, the zealots and fools like the ones who tried to trash this blog in the recent past are the very same ones who can trash and ruin careers and prevent such people from achieving their full leadership potential.
It will not be these Kaanoim who will inherit the world. They will inherit the wind. It will not be those who ban, ban, ban! ...who will be the leaders of the future. It will be those who know how not to ban.
And with the help of God and through this new medium, more people than ever are able to be reached and see the truth. And that will make a difference.
