Hating Yeshiva University

I am not a Talmid of Yeshiva University. I never attended. But I am an adherent of their Hashkafa of Torah U’Mada. That said there is much room for improvement in the school. And there is much dispute by their Roshei Yeshiva as to where and what that improvement should be. Needless to say the same thing can be said about any Yeshiva.

But that is not the way a certain Rosh Kollel and popular advisor to young people seeking to get married thinks. He believes that one must hate YU. And he says this in the name of Daas Torah. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail exchange from a young woman seeking his advice that is making the rounds on the internet. Ezzie posted it on his blog, SerandEz:

Q: Ive found that with the majority of boys that Ive dated, they often focus just on learning and not on middos. For example, several boys Ive dated have spoken pure lashon harah onthe date about different sects of klal yisrael. Often, boys bash YU. Im not AT ALL the YU hashkafah, but even if I dont agree with the hashkafa I would never speak lashon hara, and bash a sect of klal yisrael.

A: Who paskined for you that it is lashon harah to speak against YU? YU goes against the accepted Daas Torah of Gedolei Yisroel and there is no issur at all to speak against them! You simply aren't adequately familiar with the halachos of lashon harah!!

Q: To me its pure sinas chinam and bashing yiddin, no matter what their hashkafa, drives the shchina away.

A: TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY WRONG!! Rabbeinu Yona writes very clearly that anyone who isn't willing to HATE those who go against HaShem, is a bad person!! YOUR hashkafa here is way way off.

We’ve heard from this fellow before. I wrote about him last year. His comments then were bad enough. As Ezzie points out, he considers those who do not stay in learning to be lesser human beings – sub par.

Now we have this fellow saying it a Mitzvah to Hate Yeshiva University - a Mitzvah to speak Lashon Hara against it because it goes against what he believes is his Daas Torah. In the name of Daas Torah he considers YU’s Hashkafos comparable to hating God!

It completely sickens me that this fellow is still around giving advice on a medium that his own Daas Torah has forbidden. I guess if one bashes YU than one is exempt from that ban.

Based on the tenor of the questioner in this e-mail exchange he seems to command quite a bit of respect. That sickens me even more. How on earth does a fellow like this rise to any level of respect? Can you imagine how many people he has turned against YU? He takes people who are already opposed to YU’s Hashkfos and tells them that’s not enough. One must HATE YU.

This young woman in this e-mail exchange had an honorable approach. Although she did not agree with YU’s Hashkafos it bothered her that her ‘dates’ bashed YU so much. But that wasn’t good enough for this fellow. One must BASH Yeshiva University. One must speak Lashon Hara against it. Not doing so is against Daas Torah - comparable to hating God!

I don’t know what to do about people like this. I know they exist. Some of them post here. But this fellow has a huge following and a good reputation for giving good Shidach advice. He influences vast numbers of young people to think along these lines. Even to lie about them in negative ways!

I do not believe that is the current Daas Torah in the Charedi world. I know they do not agree with the Torah U’Mada model. I know that they oppose it as Krum. I also realize that they do everything in their power to discourage attendance there. But I seriously doubt they think it is permissible to say Lashon Hara about them or that they equate it to hating God. I have heard many negative statements by them about YU. But never anything like this.

There are apparently a few individuals who take it that far and this fellow is one of them. Unfortunately he is in a position of great influence. .

It is evident that Yeshiva University suffers greatly from this fellow and others like him. Their venom has spread and continues to spread rapidly. It does great damage to the already serious Shidach crisis.

I know many young women who are desperately looking for Shiduchim who will not date young men who attend YU, no matter how Frum or even if they are Masmidim in YU’s Beis Hamedrash. I know far too many young women who went to YU’s Stern College for Women, whose are as Frum or even Fummer than any Bais Yaakov graduate. They both seek the same type of Shidach. But they can’t even get t fist base. No Lakewood boy will even look at a young woman who went to Stern. If it ever does happen it’s rare. In one case I know, the young woman was made to quit Stern before he would consider the relationship seriously.

These are quality people. But this Rav thinks the school that was Mechanech them is worthy of hatred. HATRED!

And he is not alone. In one case I know from a few years ago, a young man who learned Lakewood – a nice young man who did not impress me as overly zealous or extreme in any way turned down a Shadchan’s recommendation to date the daughter of one of the top Roshei Yeshiva in YU. Why? Because her father was a Rosh Yeshiva at YU!

People like this fellow are responsible for this attitude. One must ask, for every successful Shidach he facilitated how many others were ruined? And in so many other ways much damage is caused to Klal Yisroel by people like him!

People like this fellow are responsible for this attitude. One must ask, for every successful Shidach he facilitated how many others were ruined? And in so many other ways much damage is caused to Klal Yisroel by people like him!

The Obama Administration

What would an Obama administration look like? We can’t really know for sure but if one can judge another by the company he keeps we may actually have some insight into possible candidates.

The last few days for Senator Barack Obama must have been grueling ones; among the worst days of his campaign. In fact I no longer think his nomination as the Democratic candidate for president is all that assured. I still think he has an edge, but he hasn’t nailed it yet. Far from it. And that is a good thing. Because I do think that one can judge another by the company he keeps.

So who are his friends? Let us start with the most obvious, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr. No need to rehash the obvious. By now all but the most isloated know what he believes about the US and Israel.

While Senator Obama repeatedly disavows Rev. Wright’s comments, he has yet to completely cut himself off from him. Considering that he has a 20 year relationship with Wright as his pastor it would be hard for him to do that convincingly. Such relationships can’t be dismissed with a wave of the hand. They cannot disappear overnight.

No matter how much Senator Obama denies any knowledge of his pastor's controversial statements it stretches credulity to say he was not aware of his reprehensible views on the United States and Israel.

Nor has Senator Obama satisfied questions about his support of Israel, though he has tried mightily to do so in lengthy meetings with Jewish leaders and the Jewish media. In answer to questions about that support he always qualifies it with “but we have to listen to the other side too.’ As if what is holding up peace in the Middle East is due to US unwillingness to listen to Hamas.

If your taste runs to the likes of Reverend Wright, then you may well approve of his other freind, William Ayers. Who is that? Here is a quote from the Washington Post:

The former Weatherman, William Ayers, now holds the position of distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Although never convicted of any crime, he told the New York Times in September 2001, "I don't regret setting bombs...I feel we didn't do enough."

The Weatherman for those too young to remember was a domestic terrorist group of the 1970s:

The Weathermen, as they were known colloquially, conducted a series of bombings against the US government throughout the early 1970s, bombing several federal buildings.

Senator Obama has not disavowed his association with Mr. Ayers or his wife and former Weatherman associate, Bernadine Dohrn. Who is that?

Dohrn is a principal signatory on the group's "Declaration of a State of War" (1970) which formally declared war on the U.S. Government, and completed the group's transformation from political advocacy to armed resistance.

And who is one of his key advisers on Foreign policy, a man who endorses the Obama campaign, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was Ex-President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy advisor. For those too young to remember Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy triumphs – think Iran. His Presidency is pretty much responsible for what we have there today. Brzezinski is one of Israel’s harshest critics whose views closely resemble those of Jimmy Carter’s today! The same person Jimmy Carter who just met with Hamas and hugged their leadership… the same Jimmy Carter who blames Israel for everything.

So there you have it. These are Senator Obama’s friends. He can say he disagrees with them all day long. But with friends like these…

For those who still support this man, I cannot imagine why. Even if the economy is foremost on everyone’s mind and his ideas on how to improve the economy are good ones - the most important aspect of any Presidency is foreign policy. That is what determines whether we can continue to live in peace and freedom - protecting us from our enemies.

If his advisers and public statements on these issue mean anything, an Obama Presidency will be a disaster for both the US and Israel. He seeks to talk to our enemies in spite of members of his own party disapproving. What point would there be in doing that other than giving them legitimacy? He thus opens the door to appeasement. Can anyone spell Neville Chamberlain?

So with all this in mind here is what an Obama administration might look like:

Vice President: Russ Feingold

National Security Advisor: Wesley Clark

Attorney General: Lawrence Tribe

Homeland Security: Harry Reid

Secreatry of State: Zbigniew Brzezinski

Defense: Chuck Hagel

Labor: Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Housing and Urban Development: Jeremiah Wright, Jr.

Education: William Ayers

Interior: Al Gore

Health and Human Services: Howard Dean

A Thousand Words

Matza Brawl. That's the title of the article. That same article included a picture of a Charedi riot and the following caption: Haredim riot in Jerusalem's Mea She'arim neighborhood.

Yet another Charedi riot? Not exactly. In fact there was no riot at all. Just a file photo of some past riot. Neither the title, the photo, nor the caption had anything to do with the article. If one just glances at the title and looks at the photo one will think that another Charedi riot took place over yet another of their religious issues. Which of course, it didn't. This kind of reporting is worthy of the worst of tabloid journalism. Only it wasn't a tabloid. It was the respectable Jerusalem Post! And that is unconscionable!

As I’ve said in the past, I believe that, generally speaking, the accusation that there is anti Charedi bias in much of the secular Jewish media is way over blown. For the most part stories are fairly reported. As was this one in the Jerusalem Post. Sometimes errors are made but they are usually honest errors. And though there is always some bias in the report it is minimal and presented as fairly as humanly possible. And the Jerusalem Post is generally among the better media outlets in restraining bias. In fact I think that is still for the most part true.

But not this time. This time the bias was flagrant. And I am appalled by it. Yellow Journalism at its most insidious. Both subtle and sinister. The photo and caption accompanying the article speaks louder than its words.

The article describes the situation I wrote about recently about an observant judge's interpretation of the Chametz law. Her ruling permitted the sale of Chametz during Pesach by restaurants and stores as long as it was indoors. This obviously upset religious legislators.

I believe it was fair and factual article and did not make Charedim look bad at all. But to title the article as a Matza 'brawl' and the display of a photo of rioting Charedim does not serve truth. It serves only to perpetuate an untrue and unfair stereotype of the Charedi world as violent and reactionary.

Charedim are not by nature violent people. Those Charedim who do riot are the extremists among them. And I have strongly criticized them when it happens and have even suggested possible causes related to the type of Chinuch these individual extremists get and the reluctance by Charedi leadership to forcefully condemn these individuals and to follow that up with strong sanctions. But it was extremists - not mainstream Charedim that were actually violent not the general Charedi populace.

This time no Charedim rioted. Not one. There was no brawl. Nothing even remotely close. But that didn’t stop the Jerusalem Post from smearing them that way. What was the point of putting a picture like that into the article?

The message sent is that Charedim are by nature a violent reactionary group. Charedim are associated with riots because – well… let’s face it - that’s just who they are!

That is a bold faced lie. It’s disgusting. It’s wrong. And the Jerusalem Post ought to apologize for photo and caption that on their front pages. And they ought to fire the employee responsible for it.

Worthless

Yom HaZikaron, the day of remembrance for those who have fallen in defense of their people is about to be observed in the State of Israel. And as seems to be the case in almost everything else the State does, it is fraught with controversy. In this case it is the moment of silence. Rabbi Rabbi Hanania Tsfar has called that worthless.

I don’t know who this gentleman is or what his standing in the Torah world. But his standing with me is poor, if judged by this one statement.

I understand his point. He says that a moment of silence is not a Jewish mode of observing memorials to the dead. That’s true. A more fitting Jewish way of doing it would be reciting Tehilim- Psalms. I can’t really fault him for feeling that way. But I can fault him for his characterization of the current mode - practiced by almost the entire population of the country - as worthless.

We aren’t talking about a meaningless event here - or one that happened to our ancestors millennia ago. Nor are we talking about a mode of observance that is a new innovation. We are talking about a custom that has been in practice since the founding of the state six decades ago. We are talking about a custom honoring the memories of people who died in all the wars and battles - memories that are fixed forever in the hearts and minds of living people about their sons, brothers, and husbands - all who gave up their lives so that others could live and prosper in a free and protected democracy wherein Torah flourishes like no other.

How someone can have the insensitivity to publicly call that moment worthless is beyond me, even if he believes it.

It does however give light to an unfortunate phenomenon that occurs on that day every year. Most of the country observes that moment of silence – religious and secular alike. Some of the religious who don’t necessarily approve have enough common decency and respect for those who do - to join them in the moment, stop what ever they are doing and sit or stand in silence – so as not to insult them.

But there are some who openly and purposely ignore it. When the sirens go off in Israel and everything stops - they keep on going. These individuals go about their way flagrantly ignoring the moment – as though it were a Mitzvah to insult the memories of those who died and step on the feelings of their families.

They too feel that the moment is worthless. And they are going to let everyone know it! When a Rav comes out and says it publicly, it re-enforces their arrogance and disdain.

I therefore take very strong issue with this Rav. That moment is not worthless at all. There may be no source in Halacha for it. But neither is their any Halacha against it. Nor does Rabbi Tsfar even claim that there is. He just says it's worthless.

It is not Chukas HaGoy to stand in silence and reflect on the meaning of the moment. To the best of my knowledge there is no religious source to this custom. It is just the common way that civilized man has come to pay respect to the memory of a loved one in a public way.

This is how it is now observed in Israel. Had it never started, there might be room to debate whether it should be. But now that is an established custom we ought to respect the feelings of the secular Jews who know no better and see this moment as solemn.

It must tear out the heart of a mother who lost a son in battle to see a religious Jew going about his way indifferent to the pain she must be feeling in that moment. And following the pain she surely must feel comes anger at the Torah world for producing the likes of these people.

I would not change this custom at this point. Sure, saying Tehilim has always been the way we commonly express our connection to God. Many say that by reciting Pslams for the dead we elevate their souls in heaven. For many religious Jews this is the only fitting memorial.

But for many secular Jews, saying Psalms and connecting to God is not what they seek in that moment. They just want to remember and grieve for one moment along with the rest of the country. I can easily understand why that has meaning to them. They do not want to focus on Tehilim. Why take that moment away? Why denigrate it? What purpose is served?

If the Torah world wants to have a mass Tehilim at a given time every year for this purpose let them do so. If that is the most meaningful thing for them, let them establish it: One hour set aside every year at a given time where all who are so inclined can say the same Psalm or set of Psalms. No one will stop them. It would in fact be laudable. The secular world would appreciate and perhaps even admire that. But it should not at this point replace that moment of silence. That would be cruel.

The Sodomite Judge

There has been much discussion about an interpretation of the Chametz law by Israeli judge Tamar Bar-Asher Zaban. It has allowed for the limited sale of Chametz on Pesach in areas of Jerusalem.

I had not even known that such a law existed. If one listens to the typical bashing by Charedim of the secular Israeli government in Israel one would have thought such laws were an impossibility - the government being so anti religious. But - one would be wrong. Such laws do exist. It is forbidden to sell Chametz in public in Jerusalem on Pesach.

But thanks to a novel interpretation of the law as written, a Judge has ruled that Chametz may be sold in stores and restaurants as they are not considered public. I doubt that the ruling by this judge had anything to do with anti religious bias. It probably had more to do with her sense of interpretation of the law. In fact Judge Asher Zaban is herself observant and sends her children to religious schools

But that is not how it is seen by everyone.

This has caused an up-roar un certain circles. It has stirred up the typical bashing by some of the more extreme elements of the Charedi world against the ‘anti religious’ secular government. One such group is the Edah HaCharedis. And thus is the enmity between Charedim and the secular Jews in Israel perpetuated.

Before anyone accuses me of advocating the sale of Chametz on Passover in the holy land - I don’t. I think it’s great that there is such a law on the books - especially in a country that is supposedly governed byand for people who are anti Torah. How anti Torah are secular Israelis? Consider this. The vast majority of Israelis avoid eating Chametz in Pesach.

How many people knew that?

Most Israelis though not religious by Orthodox standards, do in fact follow various religious observances including this one. In an article in cross currents on this subject, Jonathan Rosenblum came up with the following statistic: 70% of (Israelis) do not eat chametz on Pesach, according to a recent Yediot Aharonot poll.

And the point of his column is well taken. Symbols of Pesach like not allowing Chametz to be displayed is an important feature of the national identity of a Jewish State, as he noted in the opening statement of his article:

This time Tzippi Livni got it exactly right. “Davka because I am not a religious person, I want to preserve something in Tel Aviv that symbolizes the Chag; something in the public square that does not coerce anyone to do anything or refrain from doing anything in the privacy of his home,” she said in a recent discussion of the Chametz Law.

But as he also noted, seeing Chametz on Pesach is not prohibited by Halacha. As long as it is not in your possession or owned by you, seeing it in the possession of others is not a violation of Halacha.

The Edah’s protest is vastly misplaced and in my view does more harm than good. (What else is new?!) Furthermore, reactions sourced in zealotry can lead some unbalanced people to do some really weird things.

What is their motive? Is it to paint the Zionists as evil incarnate every chance they get? That’s what it seems like from their statements on this issue. Consider the following quote from one of their newspaper – Haeda - in Ha’aretz:

"When the Sodomite judge, may the name of the wicked rot, decided to allow chametz on Pesach openly and in public, and found the necessary arguments and her brilliant theories, it is clear and simple that this should shock every Jewish heart everywhere, without exception."

Sodomite judge? May the name of the wicked rot?

This is a great way to win over the hearts and minds of the Jewish people. Calling a fellow Jew who was not raised religious a sodomite is perverse and disgusting. In my view it is more disgusting than her novel legal interpretation of the Chametz Law. The fact is that the law will probably be re-written properly and will restore the status qou ante. That is precisely what the religious members of the Kenesset plan to do:

Trade Minister Eli Yishai of Shas or MK Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism promise to pass a law that will bypass the ruling of Judge Tamar Bar-Asher Zaban

If I had to pick one segment of the Torah world most responsible for extremist behavior it is the Edah HaCharedis. Do they think calling a secular judge a sodomite whose wicked name should rot will instill calm in their members?

There may be many things and people preventing the arrival of the Messiah. But the Edah has to be included among them.

Upated: 4/24/08 4:45 PM CDT

Being Frum at the Expense of Others

Why is it always a bearded Jewish man wearing a black hat and a long black coat? Yet another Chilul HaShem was perpetrated by a Jew whose appearance is supposed to indicate the most religious among us - those whose actions are supposed to be the epitome of a ‘a light unto the nations’, those whose actions are should inspire other Jews to emulate him instead of chasing them away.

In what has to be the height of Chutzpah this man decided ‘to hell with all the passengers and the flight crew. To hell with the rules! He was going to stand up and Daven Mincha on a plane full of people - ready to take off.

And of course once he started, no one was going to interrupt him. His two and a half minute Shmoneh Esreh was so intense…his Kavana so focused that he was oblivious to pleas from the flight crew to get back into his seat.

The result was that he was kicked of the plane by the flight crew.

Good for them!

This man’s behavior is not the exception unfortunately. It happens all the time. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on an El Al fight to or from Israel or on any other carrier where Orthodox Jews are present. There is always going to be an ad hoc Minyan on board – usually at the crack of dawn. Flight attendants tend to look the other way and put on a friendly face – but they generally don’t like it. And it makes us look bad.

Orthodox Jews of all stripes will pick themselves up, go to the back of the plane and commandeer that area for Tefillah B’Tzibur. Little if any thought is given to what the rules are - or if it inconveniences the flight crew or other passengers. These people are going to make a Minyan! How thoughtless.

People are putting on their Talesim, hitting nearby seated passengers with flying Tzitzis, praying at the top of their lungs, blocking the bathrooms, and generally making nuisances of themselves to other passengers who in many cases are still trying to sleep . Do they really think this is how God wants them to behave? Does God want a Minyan in these circumstances? Do they not have any concern for the secular Jews on board who see this and thank God they are not Orthodox?

When will some people learn that one should not make themselves comfortable at the expense of others?

Instead of asserting ourselves in questionable religious observances we ought to follow the Psak of many Gedolim on this issue: Stay seated and Daven there. This is the what many Gedolim rule including, Rav Moshe Feinstein. I’m told – that he paskin’d that not only may one sit while they Daven on an airplane, one must sit.

So did Rav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner. From a Jeruslam Post article of several years ago:

Friday, April 16, 2004 -- Stewardesses will no longer be exasperated by in- flight minyanim (prayer quorums) blocking the aisles, if Orthodox travelers heed a new ruling by leading halachic authority Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Wosner. Responding to a query by El Al rabbi Avshalom Katzir, the nonagenarian sage delivered a halachic opinion to El Al president Amos Shapira prohibiting the practice of large numbers of passengers gathering together for a prayer service in one part of an airplane.

It is also the Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach. From a 2006 cross-currents article:

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, (Paskin'd) (Halichos Shlomo vol. 1, pgs 95-96) that people on planes should daven in their seats. Shemonah Esreh should be said sitting in place, and not standing in the aisles creating a disturbance for others.

My advice is to avoid this Chilul HaShem. Next time someone on a plane asks if you want to make a Minyan at the back of a plane – turn him down - and convince him to sit down as well.

I hope that fellow learned a valuable lesson by being kicked off the plane and does not repeat that behavior again. In fact - I hope we all learned that lesson.

Scared to Death

Scared to death. This is what I’m told by people who are close to some of the prominent Charedi rabbinic leaders: They are scared to death. When I express my incredulity at that, it is usually followed by, 'Harry, you have no idea!'

I have always said that most of the rabbinic leaders in the Torah world today are good and decent people who are very knowledgeable in Torah and generally have great compassion for Klal Yisroel. And it is often the case that they spend countless hours of their very valuable time in service to Klal Yisroel …more so than most of the rest of us. But is that enough to make someone a rabbinic leader?

Is it enough to have great Torah knowledge and compassion while working very hard for the Klal? Not if they live in fear of asserting their views at the expense of their reputations. Though such fear may be understandable and even justified, it undermines their authority - if they succumb to it.

Who exactly are they so afraid of? I’m told that they are afraid of Askanim - community activists. They are afraid of what the Askanim will do to them if they say or do anything they don’t like. Because this fear is so real, it has a corrosive effect on their leadership and on the cohesiveness of the Torah world.

Good Charedi people are beginning to reflect some of the same attitudes I have. Like the one Jonathan Rosenblum did in an article entitled Bans are not Chinuch.

Because of this fear, the intimidating Askanim have assumed a defacto leadership position. They are the ones calling the shots now.

Issues are left unaddressed by Charedi rabbinic leaders who seem to focus on ‘the insignificant’ at the expense of ‘the significant’. As a result we have strongly worded condemnations of religious concerts and very little addressing of issues like child molestation.

I think part of the reason that Askanim have become so successful is because there are certain rabbinic leaders that actually agree with them. They shout from the rooftops the same messages that these Askanim do… haranguing on an agenda item of their choice. Askanim feel free to intimidate those who disagree since they have backing from a few Kannoistic rabbinc leaders themselves.

Those rabbinic leaders who are more inclined to be moderate and show the kind of caring shown in the past by leaders like Rav Pam - are threatned by the strident militancy of these Askanim and the Kannositic Rabbanim who support them. Where are the Rav Pams today? They may have his compassion but they do not have his courage to express it!

They are ‘scared to death’. I have heard that phrase so many times that it’s moved me to ask publicly, ‘Who is really in charge here?’ The answer is obvious. It is the Kanoistic Rabbanim and Askanim. It is not the good and decent rabbinic figures who disagree but are in such fear of their views.

How can anyone be considered a Gadol if he is afraid to do or say the right thing because he fears of personal consequences from his own community activists? Is there not any one left who will stand up against these people?

An Apology for Sex Abuse

* How wonderful it is to finally see a religious leader of this magnitude speak in such humble and apologetic tones. Finally a mea culpa. Decades of sexual abuse by members of the clergy whose many victims suffer to this day have finally heard an expression of remorse and an apology from their greatest religious figure.

Not only did he apologize - at his own request he met with some of the victims. Of course it doesn’t come anywhere near enough to simply apologize but it is a major step forward. It shows a deep and sincere understanding and real compassion for the victims. It is one thing to have compassion privately which I’m sure this religious leader has. It is another to humble oneself and meet publicly and express it to the victim. It took a lot of courage to do what he did and he deserves a lot of credit.

I only wish it was one of our religious leaders who had done this. Unfortunately no such public meeting took place between any of our religious leaders and victims of abuse - to the best of my knowledge. The religious figure I’m talking about here is Pope Benedict.

I wasn’t going to post anything controversial today on the eve of the Passover holiday. But a convergence of two events precluded that for me. These are matters that cannot be ignored and deserve to be addressed as soon as they happen. The heart cries out for justice! And the contrast between these two events is too stark to ignore. The other event is the plea bargain and light sentencing of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko.

When it comes to matters of Arayos- matters of illicit sexual acticity - it should be obvious to anyone that the Torah world’s standards are very strict compared to that of most of western culture. Charedi leadrs are not reticent about this. Just look at the recent concert bans due to fear of a boy and girl meeting. Or the general preoccupation with the mingling of the sexes – minimizing it to almost nil.

And yet when it comes to situations where Halachos of Arayos are violated in the extreme in ways that have harmed innocent people - children in many cases – silence! We turn out backs on the victims and favor the violators.

I am not going to second guess the US system of justice here. But the plea bargain deal granted to Rabbi Kolko is very troubling. He received no jail time. Instead he got three years probation.

One can only speculate what went on behind the scenes. But what ever it was, this sentence seems mild in comparison to sentences of Catholic priests who committed similar crimes. Was this a just verdict? Are our rabbinic leaders happy with this result?

There is speculation that Attorney General Charles Hynes deferred to perceived or real pressure from the Charedi community to go light on Rabbi Kolko - and that is the reason he got off with a slap on the wrist!

A slap on the wrist for over 20 years of sex abuse?! Abuse that destroyed lives?! Rabbi Kolko’s behavior far exceeded anything found at a separate seating concert. I don’t get it!

There has yet to be any public expression of remorse by a great rabbinic leaader. I do not recall any Gadol meeting publicly with any victim to express his remorse at what happened to them. Not even in a symbolic way.

This reticence to make any public statements of guilt or apology stands in stark contrast to Pope Benedict.

It is also in stark contrast to what a group of Rabbinic leaders in Baltimore did. They issued a profound statement of guilt and remorse when their community was rocked by similar accusations against one of their own - a rabbi who for a decades had abused young boys sexually.

Their Mea Cupa should have been the stimulus for a similar if not stronger mea culpa in New York where an Avreimal Monderowitz and a Yehuda Kolko have been inflicting sex abuse for decades causing extreme emotional pain and suffering to countless numbers of victims. In some cases for the rest of their lives.

Instead there is silence and coverup …hiding behind Halachic claims of requiring it be swept under the rug. Lives ruined! Claims left un-redressed! All in order to save face. But did they succeed in saving face? I don’t think so.

Where is our rabbinic leadership? Why are they silent? How can the victims be ignored? Why is Rabbi Kolko being allowed to get away with his crimes? If the Torah world needs to ignore abuse victims in order to save face, what exactly are they saving? By their silence are they furthering more Torah observance or more sexual abuse?

* originally posted on Passover eve.

Blessed is the Promise Keeper

Baruch Shomer Havtechaso L’Yisroel. Blessed be He (God) who keeps his promises to Israel. That is a declaration made by the Haggadah.

Strange indeed. Is there any doubt that God keeps his promises? What is the point being made by the author of the Haggadah? R’ Baruch HaLevi Epstein author of the Torah Temimah answers this question in his Haggadah, Baruch SheAmar.

The Israel in this phrase is not referring to the people of Israel. It is referring to the patriarch Jacob – also called Israel. And we thank God for fulfilling his covenantal promise through the patriarch Jacob. This assures the people of Israel will be the beneficiaries.

The covenantal promise made to Abraham’s offspring was not yet a guarantee that the people of Israel would be the final beneficiaries. That’s because Abraham not only had our patriarch Isaac as a son, he had Ishmael. The promise could have gone through him.

So God had to re-promise Isaac. But that did not guarantee it either. Isaac not only had Jacob - he had Esau. The promise could have flowed through him and not Jacob.

It is only when God re-promised his covenant with Jacob, that the people of Israel would have that guarantee. We rejoice at that and express praise God for keeping his promise to … Israel, Isaac’s son.

Taken From Torah L'Daas

Here are past contributions – all suitable for the Seder:

* Lifichach and Hallel

* Saying Amen as a Hefsek

* Yochel MeRosh Chodesh

* The Sipur requirement for women

* Fulfilling our Chov – Pesach, Matza, Maror

Chag Kosher V’Sameach!

The Torah is Not in Heaven

When we recite Dayenu at the Seder we say the following: Even if You (God) would only have brought us to Sinai and not given us the Torah, it would have been enough.

Really? Isn’t Torah what Judaism is all about? The answer is - of course it is. So how would it be enough to bring us to Sinai and not give us the Torah? What would have been the point?

There are many answers given to this question. But my favorite is the one offered by the Aruch HaSulchan in his Haggadah, Leil Shimurim.

There is a famous story in the Gemarah (Bava Metzia 59). It involves a question of Tumah with respect to a certain oven - the Tanur Shel Achnoi. It is about a dispute between R' Yehoshua and R' Eliezer as to whether that oven was Tahor or Tameh. R' Yehoshua Paskined that it was Tahor and he represented the majority opinion. R' Eliezer said it was Tameh and was so sure he was right that he held his ground. But he was losing the battle against the majority, so he called for a Bas Kol. - a direct communication from Heaven expressed in an echo type voice.

He got one. And indeed he was right. God agreed with him. But R' Yehoshua stood his ground as well. He stood up and said, 'We do not listen to a Bas Kol.' 'The Torah is not in Heaven.' We have received it from Heaven and it is here on earth. We have been told the rules of Psak. In this case the rule is Acharei Rabbim L’Hatos. We follow the majority when there is a dispute. R' Eliezer was put into Cherem after that.

This is the meaning of that line in the Dayneu. Even if we were to have been brought to Sinai and given the law via a direct oral transmission from God to us – Nevuah - that would have been enough. How much greater is the gift of Torah that provides us with the ability Paskin Halacha for ourselves.


Taken from Torah L’Daas

The Pope Goes to Shul

On Friday afternoon, the eve of the Passover holiday a historic event will take place. The leader of the Catholic Church will pay a visit to an Orthodox Shul. He has been invited and accepted an invitation from Rabbi Arthur Schneier to address his congregation, the Park East Synogogue on East 67th Street in Manhattan.

I’m not sure whether there are Halachic issues involved here. Is a leader of a religion which we consider Avodah Zara permitted to address the Jewish people in a Beis HaKenesses? I don’t know the answer to that. I’m not even sure where to look for it.

I suspect, however that it is not an issue - if it is not a theological address. It is probably OK if it is done to show respect for the Jewish people and the Torah as I believe is the case here. At least I hope it is. I don’t remember any Halachic issues or protest the first time this happened - when Pope John Paul visited an Orthodox Shul in Rome.

Leaving aside any Halachic problems and assuming there aren’t any – is this a Kiddush HaShem or a Chilul Hashem? I’m not sure. It could be looked at either way. Or perhaps somewhere in-between.

At this point in time I personally have no problems with this event. In fact I think is good thing. It is just another step in the right direction along the lines of Vatican Two which changed the direction of the Catholic Church almost 180 degrees from their previous approach to the Jewish people.

I am sure that there are many people who are opposed – even outraged - by this historic visit. They see a 2000 year history of anti-Semitism that can almost directly traced to the Church’s attitude toward the Jews. Pogroms which included the slaughter and torture of Jews throughout the ages can either directly or indirectly be traced back to the Church.

Whether it was the Crusades, the Inquisition the Chmielnicki massacres of Tach V’Tat, the pogroms and blood libels of Christian Europe against the Jews and grand-daddy of them all - the holocaust. I can surely relate to the last one as my parents and brothers are survivors.

While the holocaust was not a church related event, it was certainly aided and abetted by a 2000 year old tradition of Jew hatred that can be traced to the Church. And carried over in the reformation by Martin Luther and spread to reformist Christian denominations. Furthermore there is the role of the Catholic Church during the holocaust which is at best controversial. I therefore do not blame those who are upset.

But I have a different view. I really think that this is homage being paid to us. The Church has acknowledged a sordid past and is now – trying - to do Teshuva. They may not have done enough, but at least they changed direction - and trying. While the Church hasn’t given up hopes that Jews will ultimately ‘see the light’ and accept Christ, I do not believe that the Pope is using this as an occasion to do it. That is not the purpose of this trip. Since Vatican Two, they no longer consider actively missionizing the Jews to be appropriate.

Bearing that in mind, it does us no good to reject a gesture of friendship from the titular head of billions of religious people around the world. They influenced their flock for bad for 2000 years. But now with acts like this, the Pope is influencing his flock for good. I think we ought to accept that with a friendly countenance.

One may ask, if this is acceptable, why wasn’t a visit by a group of cardinals to YCT acceptable. The answer is that there us a difference between a friendly gesture of friendship by a single leader in what is largely a public relations event, and sitting down with the princes of the Church and teaching them Gemarah during which interfaith dialogue takes place. Interfaith dialogue is wrong. Especially when it is between young impressionable students and elders of the Roman Catholic Church. That is not what happening tomorrow.

We live in a world where the real threat is found in Islam which ironically is not considered Avodah Zara. It is their petro-dollars that fuels world wide anti Semitism. We also live in a world where anti-Semitism in academia is rampant. And it is fomented by misguided leftist notions of political correctness - which always sees the underdog (Palestinians) as victim and the powerful host nation (Israel) as oppressor - without regard to historic causes or reasoned analysis.

We ought to accept and even welcome this opportunity. No matter what our feelings about the history of the Church, we ought to accept this extended and very public hand of friendship. It is a fait accompli. And we can use all the friends we can get.

Kol Dichfin

The Seder begins with the cryptic phrase: Kol Dichfin Yesei V’Yeichal; Kol Ditzrich Yesei V’Yifsach. All who are hungry let them come and eat; all who are in need, let them come and celebrate Pesach. What is the connection of this to the Hagadah? The Gemarah in Taanis (20b) tells us that the Amora Rav Huna used to invite people to his meals this way regularly not only on Pesach. What is it about this phrase that connects it to Pesach Seder?

Rav Soloveitchik provides us with an answer.

This is an expression of Cherus the status as a free people that we are required to feel. Inviting people to join in a meal helps establish that. Only a free man can invite others to join him for a meal. A slave cannot do that. He does not ‘own’ a meal that he can invite anyone to. There is a Halachic principle of Ma SheKoneh Eved, Konah Rabo. What ever a slave takes possession of - automatically belongs to the master.

The Vilna Gaon adds that there is an element of Tzedaka involved here. That of Moes Chitin a Halacha mentioned in Talmud Yerushalmi. By inviting the ‘those in need’ to a meal one fulfils this Mitzvah.

With respect to the second portion of that phrase, there is a Mitzvah to count others into a single Korban Pesach. This is called a Chabura. The Rambam tells us tht even though one may shecht and eat the Korban Pesach alone - one should avoid opt for shechting and eating it with a group of neighbors or friends.

This is what the second part of the phrase makes reference to. It does not apply to the p[oor the way the first part of the invitation does. It applies to everyone as a reference to the preferable method of eating the Korban Pesach in a Chabura.

Rav Solovetchik explains that fourth question of the Mah Nishtana is better understood this way. The word Mesubin, which refers to reclining is used in the context of a Chabura. That is the way that word is used in a Braisa in Meseches Brachos (46b). There it states that one should not sit (Yaseiv) in a Chaburah of Amei Ha’aretz. So here too it is used in that way: Mesubin in a Chabura.

Updated: 3/28/10 - 6:47 PM CDT

Weaker Generations

Niskatnu HaDoros - today’s generation is spiritually weaker than the last. Chazal tell us that the further each generation is removed from Sinai is the weaker it is. This is true of the common man. And it is true of Gedolim.

VIN has a post containing an angry sounding message from Rabbi Yisroel Belsky. Here is the pertinent excerpt:

The exact wording of the kol koreh—which itself was partially plagiarized from other protest proclamations—contained a key phrase that banned all concerts of any form, not just the Shmeltzer event. This led to the misconception among many community members that the signatory gedolim agreed with this startling and impactful ban, one with major communal and economic ramifications.

It was this misconception that Rabbi Belsky has forcefully taken head-on, clarifying in no uncertain terms that the ban to which he was a signatory only applied to The Big Event, and in no way banned all types of concerts. In his newly-released public letter, Rabbi Belsky explains that the text of the final proclamation containing his and others' signatures contained wording that he was not shown—specifically, the phrase banning all concerts.

Rabbi Belsky issued his letter to assert that while all the rabbonim did in fact sign the ban, their intention was only to block The Big Event for reasons explained in the letter, not all concerts in general.

I appreciate Rabbi Belsky’s clarification and honesty. Leaving aside the fact that I totally disagree with his ban on that particular concert, at least he admits that there are Askanim – community activists - out there that are deceptive and nothing but liars. And that they will stop at nothing to achieve their ends.

But those who signed the ban are not completely absolved of liability here. The question must be asked, why did they trust the fellow who got them to sign? Was it because he looked Frum? ...because he had a beard? ...or wears a Kapote?

And exactly who are those people who signed? Aside from a few recognizable names, most of those people I never heard of. Did they sign because they relied on the ‘bigger’ names who already signed, as was admittedly the case when Natan Slifkin’s books were banned? Or perhaps they signed because they were given the honor of being included among those more famous names? Was this ultimately about Kavod – chasing honor?

Unsubstantiated speculation? Consider this. A wonderful Talmid Chacham and Rebbe in a Yeshiva confided in me several years ago that a famous Rosh HaYeshiva told him the following: The Nesayon – the heavenly life test - for the previous generation of Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshiva was Kavod. In our day the Nisayon is Arayos - illicit sexual temptations. He told me this at about the time that a few prominent Roshei Yeshiva were caught being involved in infractions of Arayos – in one case involving an Eishes Ish - having had sex with a married woman!

Perhaps that Rosh HaYeshiva is right - considering the number of incidents of sex abuse by such figures in recent times. The guilty plea by a pedophile rabbi a couple of days ago underscores that.

But I don’t think the Kavod chase has been eliminated in our day just because there is an Arayos chase. For some it’s Arayos. But for others it is still about Kavod. Getting onto the Agudah Moeztes is a big plum for these people. One way of doing so, I suppose, is being asked to sign a Kol Korei along with members of that Moetzes. That brings them a step closer. It is considered an honor to be included in such an august group.

Aside from all this, Rav Belsky’s letter also shows who's running the show. Not the Kol Korei signing Rabbanim, but Askanim! With all due respect to Rabbi Belsky’s understandably angry letter, it does little to restore any confidence I have in these Rabbanim.

This did not happen in the previous generation of Gedolim. How many Kol Koreis did Rav Moshe Feinstein or Rav Soloveitchik sign? ...or any other Rav from that era?

The bottom line is this. Today's Gedolim are too quick to sign Kol Koreis! If I were Charedi, I wouldn't trust the next KK any more than I trust a used car salesman, no matter whose signature is on it!

Heseibah L’Ikuva

I have established a tradition here preceding every Yom Tov of offering some Divrei Torah pertaining to that Yom Tov. Pesach is certainly no exception. Only instead of doing it Erev Pesach, I do it now - a few days before to maximize the opportunity for all to see before Pesach begins. Time permitting, I will post additional Pesach Torah during the next few days.

The following based on the Torah of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik* - as I understand it.

One of the important Mitzvos is that of the rabbinic requirement of Heseiba (reclining) while one eats Matzah or drinks wine. The Shulchan Aruch (472:7) Paskins: One who is required to recline while eating and drinking and does not do so is not Yotzei - he has not fulfilled the requirement. He must eat or drink again while reclining.

HaGaon, Rav Shlomo HaKohen of Vilna (Cheshek Shlomo) asks why this is necessary. Let one simply skip eating Maror and go straight to Korech - the Matzah/Maror sandwhich. He can then fulfill his reclining requirement by eating it B’Heseibah and be Yotzeh both the requirement of eating Matzah in the reclining position and the requirement of eating Maror simultaneously.

The reason that one cannot eat Matzah and Marror together in the first place is based on the Gemarah Pesachim (115A - Tosphos and Rishonim). Matzah is a D’Oraisa - a biblical commandment. In our day Maror is only a D’Rabbanan - a rabbinic requirement. The rabbinic requirement of Maror is becomes a Reshus – a non required but permitted act in relation to the D’Oraisa of Matzah. By eating them together - the D’Rabbanan of Maror will then void the D’Oraisa of Matzah.

But once one has eaten Matzah without reclining – all that is left is the D’Rabbanan of eating it while reclining. Matzah and Maror are now equalized. Both are now D’Rabbanan. The D’Rabbanan of Maror cannot void the D’Rabbanan of eating Matzah while reclining.

In a related Gemarah (Rosh Hashana - 28B) we are told that if one is forced by others to eat Matzah one has fulfilled his requirement - according to opinion in the Gemarah that Mitzvos do not require Kavana -intent. Here too the question arises: How can one be Yotzei? Again, there was no reclining? And even if he was forced to recline, doing so under duress is not Derech Cheirus - the way of free men - which s the whole point of reclining. Futhermore, according to Rishonim who say that one cannot be Yotzei eating the Korban Pesach, Matzah, and Maror without saying the three paragraphs of Pesach, Matzah, and Maror, what about the fact that he didn’t say those three required paragraphs?

The Mitzvah of reciting Pesach, Matzah, and Maror is explained in a Mishnah. It is based on the Pasuk of V’Amaretm Zevach Pesach – say the Pesach sacrifice. Tosephos connects Matzah and Maror to the Korban Pesach… and Rabbenu Chananel points out that contained within the Mitzvah of Matzah is the Mitzvah of Lechem Oni SheOnen Alav Devarim Herbeh - ‘bread’upon which many things are answered.

There are then two distinct requirements Matzah: The Mitzvah of ‘B’Erev Tochlu Matzos’ which is primarily the eating of the Matzos and the Mitzvah of Lechem Oni upon which many things are said which requires an act of saying the appropriate paragraph.

Eating the Korban Pesach has similar aspects. There is the requirement from the Pasuk of of VeOchlu Es HaBasar BaLailah HaZeh – and eat the meat on this night, and the requirement of VeAmartem Zevach Pesach.

These Mitzvos are tied together with the Mitzvah of Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim via an act - as indicated by Rashi and the Rashbam. It is the act which gives the indication of Geula - redemption.

And it is for that reason that Matzah requires the act of Heseibah. Just as the Rambam explains that dipping the Maror into Charoses is the act by which Maror is reminds us of the mortar. In all three cases- The Korban Pesach, Matzah, and Maror, this is how Sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim is fulfilled.

Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim is tied into each one of those three requirements. Therefore if one is forced to eat Matzah, one is only Yotzei the ‘B’Erev Tochlu Matzos’ but not Yotzei the Lechem Oni SheOnen Alav Devarim Herbeh.

It appears from this that the two Chiuvim are independent. One is Yotzie each independently even sans the other. It is possible to be Yotzei B’Erev Tochlu Matzos even though one was not Yotzei the Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim that is tied into it. So when one is forced to eat Matzah one is Yotzei B’Erev Tochlu Matzos but not Yotzei Lecham Oni SheOnen Alav Devarim Herbeh because one did not say Pesach Matzah and Maror.

Similar to that is the case of Heseibah - the basis of which is Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim and is tied into the Mitzvah of Matzah. When eaten without Heseibah, one must eat it again with Hesiebah to be Yotzei the Sipur tied into it.

So in a case where one forgets to recline after one first eats Matzah… if he then eats Matzah again with Maror, he was already Yotzei the basic eating of ‘B’Erev Tochlu Matzos’. He just hasn’t yet been Yotzei the Lechem Oni of Sipur Yitzias Mitzrayim. So as far as the eating itself goes, it is entirely a Reshus with respect to the Maror whose basic eating requirement is still unfulfilled. It is only the Sipur that is missing and that is unrelated to Maror.

Based on this understanding we can now answer why Rav Shlomo HaKohen’s solution won’t work. The primary mitzvah of B’Erev Tochlu Matzos was already fulfilled. The second eating is a din in Sipur which makes it a total ‘Reshus’with respect to Maror which is a still a Chiuv D’Rabbanan. By eating them together, the Maztah of Reshus now comes and voids the eating of the Maror.

*Taken from Harirei Kedem

More Than Four Questions

Once again, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz hits the nail on the head. As indicated in one of his multiple choice answers, he deserves a great deal of credit for addressing matters that need to be discussed. So too does Mishpacha Magazine for having the courage to publish it in its Pesach edition. It is posted on his website today.

Rabbi Horowitz poses some interesting questions. Many of them are on issues that are often discussed here. I think they should make us all think about our own personal prejudices and their impact on how we see the world. With his permission and without further comment - here they are:

1. Most secular Jews worldwide personally interact with charedim …
a. often
b. not very often
c. hardly ever if at all

2. When secular Jews worldwide see charedim in the media, they usually see …
a. the finest charedim
b. average charedim
c. people who are less than flattering; those who do not represent the majority of charedim

3. Secular Jewish newspapers, such as The Jewish Week in America and Ha’aretz in Eretz Yisrael – and to some degree, media overall:
a. are very biased against charedim
b. are slightly biased against charedim
c. just report the news. It is just the nature of media to focus on negative news.

4. Assuming that the media is portraying charedim in a negative light, this …
a. has little effect on our children as they don’t partake in secular media
b. has some effect on our children
c. does adversely affect some or many of our children

5. The entire matter of our public image/public relations is
a. not very important in the scheme of things
b. somewhat important
c. should be an issue of significant concern to members of our community

6. Assuming that the media is portraying charedim in a negative light …
a. it is hopeless to try and improve things, as their bias is too ingrained to ever change
b. we might make some headway, but things are unlikely to change
c. things can always improve, and we ought to be seriously thinking about what we can do to make that happen

7. Charedim who live in insular communities – where the vast majority of the other residents are charedi, are …
a. more likely to portray a positive image of a Torah lifestyle than are charedim who live in more integrated communities
b. less likely to portray a positive image of a Torah lifestyle than are charedim who live in more integrated communities
c. makes no difference

8. Boisterous protests in response to violations of halacha or injustices to the charedi community …
a. are effective ways to convey our feelings when our Torah values are challenged
b. are partially effective in conveying our feelings
c. often distort the Torah values that the protesters are championing

9. The ‘average’ secular Jew thinks that the ‘average’ charedi is …
a. a deeply spiritual person, one who is to be admired for living with a profound moral compass
b. a person just like him/her, just with different religious standards.
c. a judgmental person who looks down on others who don’t share his/her religious standards.

10. Reading this questionnaire makes me …
a. committed to reflecting about what I can do to improve relations with secular Jews
b. frustrated at how misunderstood our charedi society is by the secular media
c. upset that the impression is given that this is somehow our fault

11. Rabbi Horowitz, you …
a. deserve a great deal of credit for addressing matters that need to be discussed
b. make me uncomfortable by giving credence to those who regularly disparage us
c. should apply for a job at The Jewish Week or Ha’aretz

A Messianist Concert

Would anyone attend a concert sponsored by false Messianists - if it featured two very popular Frum singers?

A few of posts ago, I wrote about how sad it is that Askanim have taken control over the world of Charedim … how sad it is that an Askan tried to undermine a concert featuring two very popular performers.

Now I’m told that the sponsors were Chabad Meshichists. That’s OK?! No problem?! I knew that Chabad sponsored it. And I also know that most of Chabad in Israel is Meshichist. What I didn't know is that this fact was part of the concert's promotion. Perhaps I should have.

Why wasn’t the concert banned for that reason? Why do two mainstream Frum performers consent to participating in such an event? Why did Rav Yosef give his approval to that? According to posters advertising the event, Yechi was proclaimed and the fact that Rebbe continues to live in the fullest physical sense.

As one individual put it in an e-mail, 'Isn't it wonderful that an event proclaiming posthumous false Messianism will have a separation between men and women?' Apparently the dangers of a promoting a false Messiah is nothing compared to the dangers of attending a Frum separate seating concert.

Putting Askanim in Their Place

There is a event that occurred back in the days of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld that truly shows his greatness and once again emphasizes the difference between the Gedolim of yesteryear and those of today. It involves a story that almost duplicates one that occured in our time just a few years ago. Most people readily will see the similarity.

Back in the early days of Zionism when pioneers were physically building up the land of Israel there was tremendous animosity to Torah. The early pioneers were mostly socialists and atheists. They tried there level best to eradicate Torah MiTzion.

When it came to setting up schools they did so without offering any Torah education at all. Rav Sonnenfeld was duly alarmed by this and tried to set up an alternative system of Torah schools. But virtually every attempt was thwarted.

R. Sonennefeld was not deterred and eventually succeeded. He hired a certain Dr. Auerbach to set it up. A curriculum was devised that incuded 2 hours per day to secular studies - all with the full approval of R. Sonnenefeld. Aside from the standard religious studies, the curriculum included Arabic, math, history and science. The material studied was of course all Kosher by Charedi standards. Nothing like evolution was taught. One can debate the propriety of that, but that is no my issue here. The point of this story is that secular studies were mandated with the approval of R. Sonnenfeld despite a long standing ban against it.

But then came an Askan. He told R. Sonnenfeld that the science portion of the curriculum was heretical. Alarmed, R. Sonenfeld approached Dr. Auerbach. He was assured that there was absolutely nothing there that was controversial and showed him the texts, which were of course Kosher. R. Sonnenfeld then went to the Askan and told him words to the effect that if he wanted to spread his lies - he should go do so elsewhere.

Shades of Rabbi Natan Slifkin! Oh that today’s Gedolim would do what R. Sonnenfeld did instead of just listening to an Askan, taking his word for it, and then issuing a ban.

The latest ban precipitated by Askanim is the one against concerts. A concert was supposed to take place in Tel Aviv yesterday. It featured performers Mordechai Ben David and Yaakov Shweckey. I assume all went well. But not for lack of some people trying to disrupt it. Askanim once again reared their ugly heads and pressured these performers not to participate.

What kind of pressure? From Rafi’s blog:

MBD (was) directly (threatened) saying if he does not cancel his participation, they will forbid the music stores from selling his albums, they will ban his concerts and any personal appearances before Rabbonim, they will teach children in schools about the horrible stumbling block he took part in.

What about those who attended? Again from Rafi’s blog:

…anybody who shows up to tonights concert will be photographed. His picture will be passed on to the relevant parties, be it Rosh Yeshiva, Seminary head, etc.

And people wonder why I call them Rotzchim?! I wonder how many attendees will now have to pay a heavy price after being photographed… at a religious concert! And will they now carry on their threats against MBD?

Fortunatley there is one Gadol who is not afraid to speak his mind publicly, Rav Ovadia Yosef. He has explicitly - in writing - permitted Yaakov Shweckey to participate.

In a radio interview prior to yesterday’s concert Yaakov Shweckey spoke his mind about these people. Again from Rafi’s blog:

"These people will never be happy. … It is all shtuyot." "If somebody can find a psul in the concert of me and MBD, either he has a problem, or somebody is deceiving him.

I think he’s right!

'Lying' for Kiruv

A couple of weeks ago, Marty Bluke posted what I thought was an astute observation about how certain Kiruv organizations work. I believe that what they do is dishonest and in the end can be counter-productive. It is one of those circumstances where one can technically actually tell the truth and yet mislead at the same time. I don’t often do this but Marty’s post is so on the money, it bears repeating in its entirety I could not have said it better myself.

Aish Hatorah published an article Women at Work which claims that Orthodox women can work at any job that they want.

Let's get something perfectly clear: Jewish women work. One of my neighbors is a nuclear physicist. I'm a zoo veterinarian...

And nowadays, like women all over the Western world, they work in every field. Some run their own businesses or are part of a larger corporation. Here in Israel one of my neighbors is a nuclear physicist. Another is a school principal. Several good friends are lawyers. One's a pediatrician. Two are successful artists. I'm a zoo veterinarian...

My point is, little is forbidden to us. We work in the fields we want. We have open choices. We can choose to work part-time or full-time.

If Aish Hatorah was a Modern or Centrist Orthodox institution then these statements would be perfectly true and not misleading. However, Aish Hatorah is a Charedi institution and its goal for its students is that they join Israeli Charedi society. The fact is that if Elizabeth had been born to a Charedi family she would not have had a choice to be a veterinarian, a nuclear physicist or anything other then a school teacher.

University study is strictly prohibited. In Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak even getting a high school diploma is prohibited (see this post No Bagrut for Beis Yaakov girls?). All the women that she brings as examples fall into one of 2 categories:

1. Baalei teshuva

2. They grew up in modern homes

None of the women cited grew up in a Charedi home in Israel, because if they had they would not be where they are today.In addition to the issue with secular education and university, there is an issue of tznius. In many parts of the Israeli Charedi world women are not allowed to drive a car because it is not tzanua. There are many seforim published in the last few years on tznius which prohibit women from working in any non-religious workplace. Therefore to state little is forbidden to us is misleading if not an outright lie according to Aish Hatorah's hashkafa.

I find it very offensive when Charedi kiruv institutions use examples of Baalei Teshiva or people who were brought up in a more Modern home. Using these people as examples of how well religious Jews can fit into society is very misleading when the institutions themselves don't believe in that hashkafa. According to Charedi hashkafa, Modern Orthodoxy is pasul and University study is prohibited, yet those are the examples they site when trying to be mekarev people.

None of the faculty at Aish Hatorah in Yerushalayim send their daughters to university and their daughters do not have the ability to do what they want. They will be kollel wives who support their husbands by teaching or being a secretary, cashier etc. They have absolutely no choice to be Veterinarians, Nuclear Physicists, Lawyers, etc. To say otherwise is simply a lie.

An Apology to Rabbi Brody

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the post ‘The Folly of Embellishment.’ A few people have called me on the issue of Lashon Hara about Rabbi Lazer Brody. After reflecting on it, I now regret identifying Rabbi Brody by name.

I did not follow my own self imposed rule not to use names when being critical of people and events. Had I to do it over again, I would not have specified any individual in my post. But the horse is out of the barn. I can’t unsay what I said.

Additionally I used the word ‘lie’ a lot in the the post. That word is mostly used when there is deliberate intent to mislead. I did not use it that way, but understandably that is how many people took it. I simply meant that as the story was told, it wasn’t true. In that sense it was a lie. I did not mean to imply that Rabbi Brody knew it wasn’t true and deliberately lied when he told the story on his blog.

At this point all I can do is apologize. So I apologize to Rabbi Brody publicly for this and I hope he will forgive me. All I can say in my own very poor defense is that when Judaism in any way is made to look bad, it makes me angry and I tend to lash out. I never said I was perfect. I am very human and very fallible. So, again, I apologize.

But as far as underlying point of the post itself goes, I stand by it. Any time exaggerations about an individual’s greatness are made - especially posthumously even if unintentional – and then the truth comes out which it almost always does - it ends up being a Chilul HaShem. Instead of increasing sympathy and admiration for the individual, it diminishes him, and it diminishes all of us.

Saving the Torah World from Itself

I’ve been down this road before. Many times. But every time it comes up, it strikes a sympathetic chord. Columnist Meirav Arlosoroff of Ha’aretz has written a thoughtful criticism of the Israeli education ministry. The charge is that they have somewhat of a double standard when it comes to funding their schools. Charedi schools get funding without even the most minimal requirement for teaching their students basic living skills.

This is counter to their overriding concern that these kinds of standards are met on the secular side. It is a standard which the article points out leads them to abhor home schooling. And they are very strict about that. If and when they allow it they require parents to submit a planned study program to ensure that the child receives those skills:

If the ministry doesn't like the parents' proposed curriculum, it simply won't provide the hoped-for home-schooling permit, even though the parents aren't asking the state for a budget.

But when it comes to Charedi education as things stand now, they are given a free pass. Their defense for this policy in part is as follows:

(With respect to Charedi education) we cannot ignore that it is methodical study which has no inconsiderable educational value," the ministry wrote in its brief to the court.

Of course that’s true. I would go even further and say that Charedi education does an excellent job in teaching most of its male students how to think. In many ways it is superior to what secular students get. The problem is that this is not enough. They are taught to think like Lamdanim. They are not thought to think like providers.

They are not taught the basic skills necessary to compete in the real world. And for that reason, I too fault the ministry for the blank check the give to the Charedi educational system. I would insist on standards. At least in line with what Charedi students in American Yeshivos are taught. Not that Charedi secular education in the US is that great. But at a minimum it teaches at least some of the basic skills needed to have a chance in the outside world. Israeli Charedim get none of that.

It is understandable that Israeli Charedim take this approach to education. They do not view their schools as preparing their male students for a life outside of a Beis Hamedrash. Theirs is the ‘Torah Only’ school of thought. Educating for Parnassa is of secondary concern. They believe it should not be part of the educational process. But as is increasingly becoming evident the Charedi world cannot perpetually sustain itself in its present incarnation.

There are far too many people among them who live in poverty taking charity as the primary means of survival. It is not a sacrifice of choice in all cases as many contend. It is a sacrifice of no choice. In far too many cases, they have no other way out. They are stuck in a society not of their own making. They live in a culture where learning full time is the only way to go no matter how limited one's abilities are. Working is at best a second class option.

Until recently this was compounded by the army service requirement that did not allow entering the workplace until one served. This was a major impediment to getting a job. But this is no longer the case. Nachal Charedi and the Tal Law has (or should have) eliminated most of the major objections to army service and has made the path to getting a job a lot easier.

The irony of all this is that the hated Israeli government actually helps to fund the ‘no secular studies’ Hashaka. They actually facilitate it without prejudice.

But I agree with Arlosoroff’s criticism. The education ministry has abdicated their goals of training all Israeli citizens in basic life skills… skills that will enable them to function in a world outside of the Beis Hamedrash.

It would be a battle royal if the education ministry would insist on inserting even the most modest of secular studies curricula. As in the past Charedi leadership will cry foul and accuse the government of anti Torah discrimination. They will claim their system is at least as deserving as their secular one and demand equal funding.

But as far as I am concerned this is not a fight about anti Torah discrimination. It is a fight about saving the community from itself. Ultimately inserting minimal standards will help perpetuate the world of Torah by giving it a better financial base. The more Charedim that work, the better off those who remain to learn will be. A true Yisachar - Zevulun partnership will prevail. Those who should be learning will continue learning. And those who should be working will work and help support those who learn.

I don’t think this is going to happen, but it should. If a fight ever erupts again where the education ministry wants to make funding contingent on some sort of minimal curriculum - instead of listening to the pleas of the rabbinic leadership who will curse the government for cutting funds, let people side with the education ministry. Let them insist that a curriculum be devised in conjunction with their own rabbinic authorities, one that resembles the Charedi system in the US. If there would be such a grass roots campaign, the leadership would be hard pressed to ignore it. And it’s the right thing to do.

The Folly of Embellishment

Hirhurim had a post on a couple of days ago about one of the Merkaz HaRav victims that made my blood boil. There is new information on a story about him which was circulated just after the massacre.

For those who may not know about Doron Mahareta – his story is unique. It is special. It is a gut wrenching and yet inspiring story that was originally posted by Rabbi Lazer Brody in his blog, Lazer Beams.

I didn’t post about it because it because it had such wide circulation on the internet. I thought a post by me would just be over-kill. I did not want to be guilty of milking that tragic event for purposes of writing my own blog post.

The story briefly is as follows. Doron was an Ethiopian student whose background in Torah learning was minimal… not enough to earn him entry into the Yeshiva in which he longed to learn. But he was determined to somehow be involved so he got a job working in the Yeshiva kitchen washing dishes. In his off time he spent every spare minute learning Torah.

Long story short - he convinced the Rosh HaYeshiva to test him, which he did reluctantly. Doron passed with flying colors and was immediately admitted as a full fledged student. From there he rose to great learning heights. This young man was described as a modern day Hillel who had done virtually the same thing 2000 tears ago. Then suddenly in his very young life he was cut down in a hail of bullets. On that fateful day he and 7 of his colleagues were brutally slaughtered in the library of the Yeshiva, where the Masmidim spent their leisure time!

Doron's story made the rounds including cross-currents and various e-mail lists. It circulated to thousands of private e-mails where it was forwarded over and over again... tugging at the heartstrings of countless numbers of people.

The problem is the story is false. Here is what Dr. Jeffrey Woolf said about it on his blog, My Obiter Dicta:

Yesterday, I received a phone call from a young member of the Merkaz HaRav faculty (the son of one of my oldest friends), who told me that aside from Doron being a big Lamdan, the story was untrue. He actually was a graduate of Kfar HaRo'eh and was, ab initio, a regular student at Merkaz.

This is an outrage. The tragedy at Merkaz HaRav was bad enough. It needed no embellishment from anyone. That this young man’s death was used in this way is wrong and besmirches the memory of a man who gave his life Al Kiddush Hashem - as false praise always does. He was a Masmid murdered in his prime along with 7 fellow students. Was this not tragic enough? Did it need an embellishment of lies? Lying only compunds the tragedy and in the end dimishes it. Kol HaMoseif Gorei'ah.

Because of this lie, Doron became the subject of focus and it reduced focus on the other victims.

Why the lies? What can be gained from embellishment? Instead of generating sympathy, it generates doubt ...doubt about the veracity of the Jewish people. Who will ever believe us again if we are caught lying at a time like this? What kind of people takes advantage of tragedy by exaggerating it to gain sympathy or make Hashkafic points?

It brands us all as a bunch of opportunists! It casts doubt on every tragedy that ever happened to us as a people. It even gives fuel to those who say we exaggerate the holocaust.

I don’t know who Rabbi Brody is - or anything about him. I will even grant that his intentions were good. Perhaps he heard the story from someone he considered a reliable source and simply reported it on his blog as he heard it. Or he may have misunderstood or misintepreted information he got. Or he may have embellished - thinking - what's so bad about embellishing someone's stature in a eulogizing post. People exaggerate all the time in eulogies. Acharei Mos - Kedoshim.

But it's wrong and in the end a Chilul HaShem resulted.

Modified: 4/13/08 1:51 PM CDT

Tzvi Gluck and the Battle for Isaac

My hat is off to Zev Eleff. Thanks to some marvelous reporting by him in Yeshiva University’s student newspaper The Commentator we now have more details and better insight into the truth. He has provided the public with heart warming account of the ordeal of Isaac Hersh. It sheds much light on an event that occurred just a few weeks ago …one that involved a battle between father and son; Gedolim and Gedolim. And nothing less than Isaac Hersh’s mental and physical well being was at stake, in both body and spirit.

It was like watching a fictional drama. All the elements were there. By the time I read the final sentence of this story, my eyes were tearing.

For those who didn’t get a chance to read my posts on this subject - or somehow missed it in the news - 16 year old Isaac Hersh was kidnapped at the behest of his father and sent to Tranquility Bay, a facility that literally tortures its inmates in order to change their behavior. Apparently this was done with the full approval of the father’s Rebbe, a prominent Rosh HaYeshiva who is a member of the Agudah Moetzes.

According to original reports other Gedolim who also serve on the Agudah Moetzes were contacted and told of Isaac’s ordeal. They urged that Rosh HaYeshiva to get him out. He responded by telling them to basically mind their own business.

That post generated a lot of comment both condemning that Rosh HaYeshiva and defending him as hero who apparently knew more about it that anyone else and felt that Isaac belonged there.

But now we know more of the facts. This boy was not incorrigible as was speculated by some. He was in fact quite well adjusted and doing well - living with a family in Houston. Who were they? They were the family of Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, director of the Torah Outreach Center of Houston.

From the article:

Isaac attended Robert M. Beren Academy, an Orthodox day school affiliated with Yeshiva University. Although nobody contended that Isaac did not struggle academically in Houston, contrary to his father's allegations, all agreed that his behavior was stellar at Beren Academy.

"Isaac was a fine and upstanding citizen of the school community," wrote Head of School Rabbi Ari Sigel in a letter. "He was warm and friendly to everyone he encountered and we did not, at any time, have discipline issues with him."

This should put to rest any thought that Isaac was some kind of reprobate deserving of behavior modification techniques of a near Nazi-like concentration camp.

The rest of the story is about an Askan. This term - used frequently here in the negative - is not in an of itself a negative term. It means community activist. Not all community activists are the kinds of character assassins and liars that surround some of our elderly Gedolim.

In most cases an Askan is someone dedicated to the community who will work very hard to do doing the right thing. Such a a person is Brooklyn investment banker Tzvi Gluck. He took it upon himself to do something about it.

With the financial aid of his employer a private flight was arranged for a group of individuals to fly to Jamaica where Tranquility Bay was located. The group included, Gluck, Rabbi Wolbe and his father, the Rabbi Avrohom Wolbe of Monsey, and internationally renowned psychologist and trauma expert, Dr. David Pelcovitz. After at first being impeded Dr. Pelcovitz managed to meet with Isaac and evaluate his situation. As stated in the article:

In one of the easier diagnoses of his career, Dr. Pelcovitz confirmed that Isaac had been physically and mentally abused at the camp.

After another series of impediments, young Isaac Hersh was safely brought home to an undisclosed location.

This harrowing story is told in greater and riveting detail in the article. It is the stuff of successful novels and movies ...hard to believe it actually happened! Thank God for heroes like Tzvi Gluck, dedicated Rabbanim like the Wolbes, professionals like Dr. Pelcovitz, and those Gedolim who interceded on Isaac’s behalf. It truly warms the heart.

It also makes me very seriously question the activities of another member of the Agudah Moetzes. How could he have allowed it? How in good conscience could he have told others to stay out of it? Was he oblivious to the facts? Did he just believe the father? That does not speak well of his wisdom. Because that ‘wisdom’ prolonged this young boy’s suffering!

I will end with the final lines of the article which made my eyes well up:

And with a cell phone attached to his ear, sixteen year-old Isaac Hersh spoke to his grandparents, themselves survivors of a Holocaust over 60 years ago, for the first time in almost a year.

"Zayde, now we're all survivors." Isaac cried.

And some of us are superheroes.

Romeo, Juliet, and the Gedolim

How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art, If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

So said Juliet from her window to Romeo as he spoke to her in Capulet’s orchard.

A version of these words could easily have spoken by a very young Charedi woman to her own 'Romeo' whom she recently married. Her family was as opposed to him - as was Juliet's to Romeo.

The drama played out in Jerusalem this week is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s famous play and West Side Story - a 1960’s broadway musical loosely based on it.

It had many of the same elements. But it was real, not fiction. Two young people who met in Israel and decided they wanted to get married. The bride’s father is a wealthy Charedi philanthropist who had sent his daughter to study in a seminary in Israel.

According to the article in Ynet, the father opposed the wedding because he claimed the Chasan was a "shababnik" (a yeshiva dropout). I have no idea if this is true. But it wouldn’t be the first time an unwanted future son in law was accused by a future father in law of such things.

But let us for a moment take the side of her father and imagine a very possible scenario. He sends his daughter to study in Israel. Somehow she meets a young, good looking boy. One thing leads to another and before you know it they get engaged and set a date for the wedding. The father is outraged that his young daughter so suddenly and without warning gets engaged to a boy he never met.

The father can easily believe that his sheltered and impressionable young daughter is vulnerable to a gold-digging dropout who is interested only in her father’s money. So he does everything in his power to prevent it. Including getting Gedolim to Assur the wedding! It’s nice to have that kind of money. Posters were plastered all over the city. According to Ynet:

Leaflets slamming the marriage were hung in haredi neighborhoods, carrying the signatures of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, Rabbi Nissim Karelitz and Rabbi Michal Yehuda Levkovitch.

Addressing the groom's father, the rabbis wrote, "After hearing from important scholars that your son is about to marry a girl as opposed to the Torah's wishes, we demand that you prevent this marriage which will not be held according to our dedicated Jewish law.

"Who can tolerate such a marriage with such great sorrow on the part of the daughter's mother and father? It is a defamation of God to marry a person from the street considered problematic like the groom."

Who can blame a distraught father from trying to prevent his daughter from getting into a bad marriage? I would do everything in my power to prevent my own daughter from getting into a bad marriage. The only question is, are his fears warranted? Is this young man as bad as he is being painted?

I don’t know about this one. My gut feeling is to side with the father here. I don’t blame him for trying to get Gedolim involved. This marriage seemed to have taken place a little too suddenly. The traditional Charedi paths in making Shiduchim were not taken. And the bride was most certainly brought up in a sheltered climate which can make her easy prey for an unscrupulous suitor.

But is this an accurate reflection of the facts? Or is this just a case of two innocent young people who wanted to get married? But because of the opposition of a wealthy father, the Chasan’s good name was besmirched? I don’t know. Either scenario is possible. But the Halacha is clear. The marriage is valid. They are now husband and wife. I wonder who the officiating rabbi was.

One might be tempted to say that since Gedolim got involved, one should just trust what they said. But based on past experience, I have to ask how well they knew this young man? Did they actually meet him? Or were they fed information by Askanim? If so, did the Askinim present information in ways to achieve a favorable outcome for a wealthy supporter? I don’t know the answer to this question either.

Unfortunately we can no longer automatically assume that statements and proclamations of today’s Gedolim are based on accurate knowledge of the facts. That they personally met and spoke with this young man is highly doubtful. And yet the information they received from their Askanim was enough for them to call for protests. And that led to violence. I guess that is 'par for the course' these days.

Postscript
I have received a note from an attendee at the wedding. Danny Schoemann is a Charedi friend of mine who has allowed me to quote him in the past. In the interests of truth and with his permission I am attaching his slightly edited e-mail. It provides some missing pieces to this story.

The Chosson is my wife's first cousin and the Gedolim were snowed into making a fuss. The Kalla's father is a mini-tycoon and was upset that his ex-wife and daughter didn't consult with him.

The Choson's father is a Talmid Chacham of note and got approval from those very same Gedolim to go ahead with the engagement, until money took over.

Since all Rabbonim were scared stiff to officiate, the Chosson's father did the Kidushin.

The son is not a shababnik - though 3 years ago he went slightly Off The Derech - he decided to start working for a living! He WORKS for a living so he can't be any good. He no longer wanted to loaf around a Yeshive! The Kalla also works! Gevalt!

Let's not forget that the SA paskens (actually the REMO - but nobody argues) that a kid may get married against the father's will - so why are the HALOCHO-MEN getting involved? Since when does money trump SA?

It was a beautiful wedding - very leibedik because the people there were close friends - as opposed to hungry Yeshiva Bochrim.

Updated: 4/9/08 10:52 PM CDT