Social Engineering

Ad for the Convention

The bi-annual Midwest Agudah Convention was held in a Chicago suburb over the weekend. I was unfortunately unable to attend. But I have been told what some of the discussion was about. And it was no surprise to me that one of those subjects was about what is happening in Israel.  I fully expected that to be the case.

One of the speakers who is a member of the Agudah Moetzes made the claim that the Israeli government’s attempt to draft Charedi Yeshiva students into the army and all the other things they are planning to do to is nothing more than a cynical attempt at social engineering.

I’ve heard it so many times: ‘Drafting Yeshiva students into the army has nothing to do with military need.’ This fact is used as proof that the government is out to destroy the Charedi world. Which Charedim define as the sum totality of Yiddishkeit.  Everything else is secondary (B’Dieved) or ancillary. A world without Charedism is a world without Torah. This is why they call it a Shas Shmad.

What about Yeshivos Hesder or the various versions of Nachal Charedi? Not good enough.  Those are all B’Dieved at best! The ideal of full time Torah study for everyone for as long as possible is the only thing that is recognized as God’s primary path for us.

I find it curious that they use the term social engineering in a pejorative manner. Because Charedim have been doing exactly that for the nearly seven decades since the Holocaust!

Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of a group of people into doing things they otherwise might not do. The Charedi world that I grew up in was very different than it is today. My formal religious education began in the mid 1950s in Detroit’s Yeshiva Beth Yehudah.  This was an Agudah oriented Yeshiva led by pioneering educators sent by Torah VoDaath Rosh HaYeshiva, R’ Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz. Although the term Charedi was not in use then, this day school was clearly in that category.

But the Charedi world then looked nothing like it does now. There were no black hats then. The clothing worn by the students in both elementary and high school those days were not black pants and white shirts but the same as everyone else’s. The idea of full time Torah study was not pushed on everyone. It was reserved for the few who had the intelligence, drive, and desire to do it. Everyone else was expected to become a Frum Bal HaBos (layman) and support his family. Although Torah study was clearly advocated as a most important Mitzvah it was never promoted as the only Derech (path) for a Ben Torah to the exclusion of all else.

The community Kollel did not exist. Lakewood Yeshiva was in its infancy. And even its founder, R’ Aharon Kotler never expected it to become what it is today.  All he wanted to do was recreate intact – the European model. Which consisted of an elite group of students that would dedicate themselves to full time Torah study.

What has happened since then can only be defined as social engineering. Somehow Lakewood became the model for every single student in every single Yeshiva in America. No one was forced to think this way. But psychological pressure has resulted in the world we live in today. A world that was socially engineered by Mechanchim who saw R’ Aharon Kotler’s Hashkafos of full time Torah study as the utmost fulfillment of the word of God – and implanted that idea into the brains of their students.

The Charedi metamorphosis in Israel was quite similar. But it had some additional baggage which made the their lifestyles even more married to this ideal. When the Chazon Ish  and Ben Gurion agreed to exempt full time Yeshiva students, the numbers were indeed small representing the elite of elite in Charedi Israel. They numbered in the hundreds. There is also the fact that the Chazon Ish (with some justification) saw the draft destroying that small community of Torah students -thus destroying the very concept of full time Torah study. He felt (again with some justification) that the mindset of those early pioneers was to assimilate all factions of Jews into a prototypical Israeli – which did not necessarily include being observant. The Chazon Ish rightly believed that this agreement saved the system from extinction.

But it did a lot more than just  that. It socially engineered a society whose reaction to the government today is based on the fears of the past – fears that are no longer valid. At least not anywhere near to the extent that they once were. While it’s true that there are those in the government that would love to destroy the Charedi world in its entirety – it has long been the case that it is not so. The government as a whole is no longer interested in that and see it as an impossible goal in any case.

All they want is for the exponentially growing Charedi world to become more contributory to the state’s welfare and to become more self sufficient. There is no real attempt  by anyone to destroy a single Yeshiva despite their protestation to the contrary. The opposite is true. They are happy to leave this world as is - provided they accomplish those two things. If this were not the case, there would be no Nachal Charedi in any of its incarnations. And Charedi schools would not get a dime even if they had a core secular curriculum. But the facts prove otherwise. Shas, the Sephardi political party founded by Rav Ovadia Yosef ZTL, has agreed to that mandate and will therefore be fully funded.

If this is social engineering, I am in favor of it. The claim made in Agudah may be a valid one. The government of Israel is trying to socially engineer change. But the change is for the better. If social engineering was valid when Charedim employed it – it is just as valid now because it will produce a change for the better. A change that is sorely needed without requiring even the slightest change in the Hashkafos they teach their young or the lifestyles they will lead.

The Sephardi community realizes it. And I would be willing to bet that in their heart of hearts many members of the Agudah Moetzes in America know that too. Including the speaker at that convention. 

Why Ami Magazine is a Failure

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter

Once again Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter has written a disgusting piece of trash he calls an editorial in last week’s Ami Magazine. I am not going to bother commenting on the substance other than to say that it shows Rabbi Frankfurter is an utter failure at what he is trying to accomplish. Instead of being a voice for the Charedi world, he is increasingly becoming an embarrassment to them. In his editorial labeling Rabbi Asher Lopatin  a heretic - where one is not allowed to answer Amen to his Bracha or violate Shabbos to save his life - he has set back his own agenda of fighting the left. I am not going to argue with him. I will leave that for others to do if they so choose.

What I will say is that when a magazine editor and publisher like this is responsible for the content in a magazine - it shows. Ami has steadily deteriorated since its founding. The only viewpoint published in Rabbi Frankfurter’s  magazine is his own. He has set himself up to be the voice of Charedi Jewry. But as this editorial plainly shows, he has failed miserably at it.  

After consulting with several prominent Charedi personalities, they have all come to the same conclusion. Rabbi Frankfurter should be ignored. Anything coming out of his mouth (or pen) is not worth the paper it’s written on.  His sole purpose is to sell magazines and set himself up as a martyr for his cause.  With editorials like this, he has only set himself up for ridicule.

Ami Magazine contains little of interest. They have few writers of substance. Ami once boasted Rabbi Avi Shafran as both a contributor and editor. Agree with him or not, his opinion pieces were always thought provoking. He is a brilliant writer. But Rabbi Shafran is no longer associated with Ami and the magazine is much poorer for it. And no one of any substance has replaced him.

I am not going to advocate boycotting Ami. I am not a fan of boycotts and bans. I would only say that buying this magazine is a waste of money unless you’re looking for some high quality paper to line your birdcage with.

Rabbi Moshe Grylak

If you are going to spend your money on a Charedi magazine, then I would instead strongly recommend Mishpacha. Its editor, Rabbi Moshe Grylak is a man of integrity and grace; thought and substance. I don’t always agree with him but I respect his views. He is not the unstable attack dog that Rabbi Frankfurter has proven to be. 

Mishpacha also boasts several opinion writers of substance. Like Jonathan Rosenblum and Eytan Kobre. Although I generally disagree with both substance and especially tone of Kobre’s pieces, he is an intelligent writer most of the time. Add to that a rotating group of prominent writers and thinkers that include among others, Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman, Rabbi Dr. Jerry Lob, Rabbi Henoch Plotnik, and Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, and you get a pretty decent picture of the real Charedi world – both moderate and extreme.

Just comparing the two editorials in each magazine this week is reason enough to recommend Mishpacha and not recommend Ami.

Rabbi Grylak is in the middle of running several editorials on young Charedi girls who have been virtually thrown into the streets by their parents.  These young adolescent girls rebelled against their upbringing to the point of complete intolerance by their parents. He is doing this because of a chance encounter with a true Charedi hero (of Sephardi heritage) by the name of Rabbi Yair Nahari. Rabbi Nahari has single handedly created a home for these girls. One that is staffed with mental health professionals.

Rabbi Grylak asks a question that many of us ask. How is it possible for a parent to expel a child from their home and abandoning them to the streets? No matter how rebellious a child is, is it even possible for a parent to do such a thing?!  And yet we all know how serious the problem is. It is one that seems to be growing exponentially.

That Modern Orthodox Jews have this problem too and that it may very well be in much bigger numbers - is beside the point. This is not some sort of competition or a numbers game. How much good does it do a Charedi parent of an OTD child to say, ‘Well at least my community has less OTDs than MO!’ I further suspect that more Charedi OTD children get ‘tossed’ into the streets than MO children.  But that too is irrelevant. The relevant question is why does this happen? And what can we do about it?

I am not going to speculate about this particular issue here – although it deserves attention. Perhaps another time.  My purpose here is to compare the two editorials as an illustration of why I think Mishpacha has succeeded and Ami has failed . And why I think Rabbi Frankfurter ought to be fully rejected by his readers; advertisers, and his own rabbinic leadership.

As the World Turns...

Guest Post by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer

Rabbi Bechhofer

Orthodoxy across its entire spectrum is in upheaval. One must go back to the triple pincer challenge of Reform, Haskalah and the Emancipation to find similar turmoil. Then, however, because of the state of civilization at the time, cataclysmic catalysts took longer to have an impact and the responses could be formulated and implemented over a longer period of time, affording some measure of the leisure of contemplation and analysis. Today's civilization compacts, and therefore devastates all the more. We are all reeling.

But we are in a crucible, at high, rolling boil. It will take time – I do not know, of course, how long, but I suspect much less than the seventy-five or so years it took us to successfully adapt to those challenges of the early 19th century.

I do not foresee, at this point in time, that my generation – those of us who came of age in the 70's through the 90's or so – will be the heroes who successfully contend with the elemental forces at work. We were not brought up to be heroes.

The two generations that preceded us were heroic – in maintaining Torah through tribulation and tragedy, in fighting off the new challenges of secularism and Conservative Judaism, in establishing yeshivos and kollelim as axiomatic and widespread institutions.

When we came on the scene, there was – and is, to be sure – more of the same to accomplish. But it takes the form of another community Kollel in Chicago, another yeshiva in New Jersey, another Bais Yaakov in Monsey, an alternative community in Atlanta, another program to get Ba'alei Battim to learn, another lomdishe sefer on Bava Basra, etc.

We were also rendered timid – sometimes indirectly, sometimes directly – by the pioneers who preceded us, who were our Rabbeim and Roshei Yeshiva, our Rabbonim and the pillars of our community. They were men and women of vision and idealism, and we were along for the ride, and were given to understand – again, implicitly and explicitly – that we were to follow. They had more than enough creativity and leadership, and those were not our jobs.

There are so many clear manifestations and ramifications of our failure to overcome that timidity and passivity, the real and imagined limits and limitations in intellect, in spirit and in accomplishment.

The Internet has given us – somewhat belatedly – the ability to gripe and snipe together, to grumble and complain – but social media will not help us in the long run, but hinder us, as we mistake blog postings and Facebook comments for agents of growth that require the concrete rather than the ephemeral, the interaction of souls rather than their typed statements, the power of conclave rather than the curious notion of virtual reality.

We are outstanding at kvetching. We are utterly incompetent at doing.

Rather, in the absence of some major metamorphosis in my generation's collective heart-and-mindset, we are relegated to the role of any sandwich generation. We can and must maintain streams of thought, perspectives and influences of earlier times, to serve as a resources for the generation that inevitably will arise someday to bring redemption to Orthodoxy. 

I, personally, try to keep figures and writings that have moved me, at the disposal of our society, lest they be forgotten, compelling some future culturally primitive generation to reinvent a more deficient and imperfect wheel. This keeping of the flame is, in itself, an important mission. Especially when the seething cauldron might, at any moment, boil over and extinguish the flame. And thus we too will have played a role in bringing that redemptive time to pass, howsoever long this period of epic turmoil persists.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch ztz”l

Guest Post by Paul Shaviv

Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch

Paul J. Shaviv M.A., M.Phil is the headmaster of The Ramaz School. Ramaz is a coed  Modern Orthodox day school located on the the upper East Side of Manhatan.  On the occasion of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch’s upcoming Yahrzeit, he has submitted this essay. I am honored to publish it here. His words follow.

Away from home, and invited to speak at Seudah Shlishit, I did what I always do in such circumstances – check whose Yahrzeits occur a few days before or after Shabbat!  This week, there is a veritable roll-call of figures.

But Monday, December 30 -- 27th Tevet – is the 125th Yahrzeit of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch ztz’l, who died in 1888.  

Hirsch was probably the most original, profound and revolutionary figure in modern Orthodox thought.  (Does Rabbi Jonathan Sacks hold the promise of being his equal?)  Whether aware of it or not, almost every reader of this blog is, in part, indebted to him.  If you attended both yeshiva and college; if you daven in a shul where the derashot and the shiurim are in English; or if you are observant and enjoy general culture without feeling guilty, he is your man. If you read the commentary in English in a chumash, or use any halakhic manual in English, he is your man.  

He was the first to conceptualize, and implement, a positive theoretical and practical vision of traditional Judaism and Jewish community in a post-Emancipation, intellectually open, world – one in which most Jews would naturally speak a European language, dress like the society in which they lived, and as a matter of course receive a general education. 

His mantra ‘Torah im Derech Eretz’ made it clear that his vision was to see Torah Judaism functioning in a relationship of synthesis with modern society and modern knowledge.  (The Chatam Sofer, whose brilliant insight was that the new freedom of Europe included the freedom to opt out of it, prescribed cultural self-isolation as the alternative strategy of Orthodox survival in the modern world.)

You can read diametrically opposite interpretations of his personality, hashkafa and vision in two excellent biographies.

In the best biography ever published by Artscroll, packed with fascinating and meticulously researched detaii, Rabbi Eliyahu Klugman gives a staunchly traditionalist perspective on Hirsch (“Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch:  architect of Torah Judaism for the Modern World”).

By contrast, an earlier book by the late Rabbi Dr. Noah Rosenbloom (“Tradition in an age of Reform”)  is a radical interpretation of Hirsch, including a very convincing, but very controversial, biographical account, and an analysis of Hirsch’s philosophy.

I am not going to rehash the controversy of whether Hirsch intended his views as emergency measures for his time (le’shaah) or as a permanent ideology for all similar circumstances (le’dorot), but ask instead some “What if…?” questions.

The first revolves around trying to predict Hirsch’s reaction to the rise of Nazism and the Holocaust.  Hirsch was a fierce German patriot – embarrassingly so, in the light of subsequent history. How would he have dealt with Germany’s total betrayal of its Jewish citizens?  Would he have changed his disapproval of early Jewish nationalism?  (He did not live to see the organized Zionist movement.) 

Paradoxically, some of his most successful disciples and followers were the “Yekkes” of the Yishuv and the early State of Israel  -- able to fully participate in Israeli society in academic, professional and commercial/industrial life in a way of which their post-Holocaust diaspora peers could barely dream.  The religious kibbutz movement also contained strong Hirschean influence.

The second question is whether the same dire circumstances would have led him to change or suspend his opposition to cooperating with non-Orthodox Jews in Jewish communal endeavor - the Austritt philosophy which he embraced in his final years in Frankfurt. (A strategy that even at the time drew fierce criticism from his fellow-Orthodox in Germany itself.) 

The third is how he would have reacted to the social situation of Jews in twentieth / twenty-first century America or other western countries?   Would he have still pursued ‘Torah im Derekh Eretz’, or would he have rejected the idea?  Certainly, current adherents of classic ‘Torah im derech eretz’ are few and far between.

Even though Orthodox views of Hirsch focus almost exclusively on his Frankfurt years (1851-1 1888), his earlier years suggest a more flexible personality than the common stereotype suggests. He was a fabulously original thinker – currently out of fashion, but his life and work still deserve study.  I am not a Hirschean, but recognize the greatness of this under-appreciated personality. On his yahrzeit, we can only yearn for someone of his vision in our contemporary community.  Yehi zichro baruch!

The Rebbes Are Coming

Satmar Chasidim protesting Israel on Christmas Eve

The Belzer Rebbe, the Gerrer Rebbe, the Sanzer Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbes, Rebbes of Biala, Modzitz, Sadigur and Boyan… all these Chasdic Rebbes are coming to America on January 7^th.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. But the current so-called crisis facing the Charedi world in Israel has motivated the Chasidic Rebbes of the Israeli Agudah Moetzes to come to America and protest what is happening there.

Based on my cursory understanding of the dynamics, this is being supported by the non Chasidic rabbinic leadership too. Both here and in Israel. But I sense that support of this event is at best lukewarm and not entirely universal . Not that they disagree with the motives. They too strongly oppose what the Israeli government is doing to the Charedi world. But I sense that even though they do not buy into this tactic… because of the respect they give to leaders of great masses of Chasidic Jews and the fact that they do agree with their goals, they have lent their support to this event.

The primary focus in this visit is their opposition to drafting Charedi Yeshiva students.  This is universally opposed by every Charedi rabbinic leader. But I don’t see how coming to the US and protesting Israel here will help them.  They plan a mass gathering in Brooklyn on January 7^th and are reserving Brooklyn’s  Floyd Bennett Field. They are also constructing a tent for 50,000 attendees. I predict they will get an overflow crowd of mostly (but not exclusively) Chasidim. How they think this will get Israel to change their minds about the draft is beyond me.

Perhaps they believe that they can pressure government officials in the spirit of American democratic values. They may make the argument that just as when America had a draft, divinity students were exempt, so too should Israel have the same draft structure – one that they had up until now.

But I don’t see how they can make the argument that the entire Charedi population base should be exempt. This is not the same as a divinity exemption where an individual decides he has a calling and joins a seminary to become a member of the clergy. This is an entire class of people indoctrinated to believe that they must attend Yeshivos and Kollelim for as long as they possibly can. America’s divinity exemption was never meant for an entire class of people.

Now it’s true that American government officials have a great deal of respect for religious figures. Including Chasidic Rebbes. If they ask for an audience with a Senator or any government official, I’m sure that the Agudah will get it for them. I would love to have Rabbi Zweibel’s Rolodex (or his speed dial list - in 21^st century terms).  He has access to a great number of prominent politicians. He will no doubt do his best to secure meetings for them. But once they get there, what are they going to argue?

Most of congress supports the State of Israel. And they love Netanyahu – as was evidenced the last time he addressed them. I don’t see them agreeing with these Rebbes that Israel is discriminating against them. There is also the perception by many government officials via media reports that the ultra-Orthodox in Israel are religious extremists. Which is easy to understand when they read the stories about the harassment of 8 year old girls and calling them whores because they dress they way most children in America dress. Or beating up women on a bus because they won’t move to the back… and other such incidents including one former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly criticized them for.

Just  a few days ago, mainstream Satmar Chasidm from Kiryas Joel protested on Christmas Eve carrying placards accusing Israel of hating authentic Jews and being anti Semites. These Rebbes, I’m sure, are sympathetic to these messages. But even if they are not, these are the images that they are associated with. I cannot imagine them saying anything that will counter it.

This trip will surely not help them. I do not see them addressing anyone at that gathering on January 7^th who does not agree with them in the first place. They will be preaching to their own choir.

These Rebbes are hoping for participation from the non Chasidic Yeshiva world. I’m sure they will get some. But I hope they don’t get any. In my view any Agudah Moetzes participation in this event will surely lessen their influence in other matters important to American Jewry.

This entire ‘crisis’ is a non issue for me, as I have said many times. It is a ‘crisis’ based on a mistaken view of what will really happen… or worse - a mischaracterization of it. They say the draft and other ‘negative’ acts against the Charedi world by the Israeli government will destroy it. But other than yelling that at the top of their lungs they have yet make their case. All the so called indicators for them that this is all a ruse to secularize the Charedi world just does not hold water in face of the facts

Yes their world will be altered. But it will be altered for the better. It will not be destroyed. Not any more than the Torah is destroyed by the Hesder program. Torah will still be learned. There will be divinity exemptions for the truly elite that have the potential for greatness. The only change will be that young Charedim that are not the most elite will have to take a couple of years off to serve their country in some way. And in many cases receive some valuable training for the workplace along the way.  

And their service will not be at the expense of their Charedi values. This will be written into law. That it seems unaffordable is a technical issue that can in my view be worked out by people of good will on both sides. The bottom line result will look something like the American version of the Charedi world. How all these rabbinic leaders can say that this result is the destruction of the Torah world is beyond all reason.

What about the fear that once they are out of the Beis HaMedrash they will never return? All that means is that they are not really of the caliber to do that in the first place.  That the only reason they would have stayed is because of inertia and peer pressure.

Is this what the Charedi rabbinic leadership sees as the will of God? ...to psychologically force them into a life of poverty, mediocre Torah study, and the shirking all responsibility to the state?  Is exempting them from learning how to provide for their families which often results in family dysfunction really a Godly mandate?

This is not in my view what God wants of His people.

An Attitude - and a Kiddush HaShem

Photo credit: Aish

Comedian David Steinberg (an alumnus of HTC) was a regular guest on the old Tonight Show back when Johnny Carson hosted it. He once told a humorous story about how his immigrant father would look out the window on Christmas day and hope it wouldn’t snow. When it did, he would say in resentful tones, ‘They got their White Christmas!’ Carson laughed.

I bring up this story to point out how some Jews view Christmas. They resent it. I can understand why. Until the mid twentieth century, and certainly prior to the Holocaust, Christians were not all that kind to us.  They considered the Jews to be eternally responsible for their god’s death. And Jews have suffered at Christian hands since the founding of their religion. Sufferings like pogroms, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust. The resentment is clear - but in our day misguided. Christianity has had an unprecedented about face in the 20^th century – starting with Vatican II. And their attitude has only improved since then. This includes not only Catholics, but Protestants as well. Especially Fundamentalist Christians who number in excess of 50 million people in this country. I’ve been though all this before. But never in the context of Christmas.

The truth is that in years past, I felt pretty much the same way.  As an American who loves his country and all that it has done for me, my family, and its Jewish citizens I have always felt like I was part of this great experiment in democracy called America. Except on Christmas. During this time of year with all the music, decorations, and “Christmas Cheer” in the air, I felt like I didn’t quite belong. Not that I ever agonized over it, but I did have this somewhat uncomfortable feeling about it.

Over time, I have come to realize that Christmas as it is now celebrated in this country is more about the warm fuzzies of family, big meals, good wishes, and gifts than it is about anything religious. The theme is one of brotherhood, good will, and peace on earth. Perhaps the biggest symbol of this day is a fictional character in a red suit that hands out presents to people who have been good. The religious aspects of this holiday are left inside the church. One hardly ever hears about these religious aspects outside of it.

So when I hear Christmas music now and see the department store Santas, it does not bother me at all. Nor does it bother me when I see a Christmas tree or houses adorned with Christmas decorations (otherwise known as Sukkah decorations, especially in Israel). I think my attitude can be summed up with the following rather famous anecdote. (video below)

During Supreme Court Justice Elana Kagan’s confirmation hearings, Senator Lindsay Graham -knowing she is Jewish - asked her what she did on Christmas day. She responded “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.” 

This really is the kind of positive attitude we should all have. It is not our day and we all do our own thing on it without any sense of being lesser Americans. We ought to respect the fact that the vast majority of Americans are Christians and celebrate this holiday in the most positive of ways. Unlike pre- Holocaust Europe, there is no intent by any of them to blame us for anything. That the world around us celebrates this holiday and we don’t does not mean we are any less American. That is built into the constitution. We ought to recognize that.

In fact I would go a step further. I agree with Rabbi Benjamin Blech who actually sees Christmas as a positive day for Jews. And that we should actually feel good about this day! Even though we have separation of church and state - America is a religious country.  Most Americans believe in God (and the bible to one extent or another). ‘In God we trust!’ is printed on our currency. And as Rabbi Blech points out: 

The United States identifies itself as “one nation under God.” Belief in a higher power has been the source of our divine blessing. And as Jews I think we ought to recognize that today the greatest challenge to our faith is not another faith, but faithlessness. Our greatest fear should not be those who worship in a different way but those who mockingly reject the very idea of worship to a higher power…

Living among Christians who demonstrate commitment to their religious beliefs to my mind is a far better example to my coreligionists than a secular lifestyle determined solely by hedonistic choices. 

I think he’s right about that. It is long past the time to reject all the old notions about the ‘evils’ of Chrstmas and instead be happy that our Christian neighbors have religious values without any of the antiSemitism that accompanied it back in pre-Holocaust Europe. Instead of all those old negative feelings we should be happy that they still celebrate their religious beliefs.

In a somewhat related way, I want to conclude with a Berl Wein ‘Christmas story’ by Jonathan Rosenblum that was a huge Kiddush Hashem.

Rabbi Wein was once invited to meet with the Christian editor of the Detroit Free Press.  The editor proceeded to tell him about his immigrant mother’s experience as as a domestic maid for an Orthodox Jewish family where the father was the president of his Shul. The family had left her to take care of the house while they went on vacation during the Christmas season. 

Not knowing anything about Judaism the young girl noticed that there was no Christmas tree in the house. She was so bothered by this that she ended up spending her own money on a Christmas tree and other decorations for the house - inside and out. When the family came back, they were needless to say shocked by what they saw. How would they ever explain this to their Jewish neighbors?! Here is the rest of the story:

The head of the family entered the house contemplating how to explain the Christmas tree and lights to the members of the shul, most of whom walked right past his house on their way to shul. Meanwhile, Mary was eagerly anticipating the family's excitement when they realized that they would not be without a Christmas tree.

After entering the house, the head of the family called Mary into his study. He told her, "In my whole life no one has ever done such a beautiful thing for me as you did." Then he took out a $100 bill -- a very large sum in the middle of the Depression -- and gave it to her. Only after that did he explain that Jews do not have Christmas trees.

When he had finished telling the story, the editor told Rabbi Wein, "And that is why, there has never been an editorial critical of Israel in the Detroit Free Press since I became editor, and never will be as long as I am the editor."

The shul president's reaction to Mary's mistake -- sympathy instead of anger -- was not because he dreamed that one day her son would the editor of a major metropolitan paper, and thus in a position to aid Israel. (Israel was not yet born.) He acted as he did because it was the right thing to do.

That's what it means to be a Kiddush Hashem, to sanctify God's Name. It is a goal to which we can all strive.

Could not agree more.

It's a Lie!

Rav Chaim Kanievsky

Rav Chaim Kanievsky is one of the most respected rabbinic leaders in the Charedi world. He is the son of the Steipler Gaon. And the son in law of Rav Elyashiv. He has written many Seforim on Halacha and Hashkafa. His mind is encyclopedic.  His advice is sought everywhere.

In matters of public policy, I have disagreed with him. I believe that in some issues he is not fully informed before he makes decisions. Although I think he probably believes he is.

Copy of Letter - Photo credit: Kikar Shabbat

But every once in a while something is said (or in this case published in writing) that is so outrageous, that I have to assume it is an outright lie. There is no way that Rav Kanievsky could say this. Not if he knew the actual Metzius (reality) of the situation. I have to assume that anything he said along these lines is either a completely lie, or a gross mischaracterization of what he said, or a complete misunderstanding of the Psak.

Rafi’s ‘Life in Israel’ blog features a photocopy of a letter by someone named Aharon Feinhandler who heads an organization called, Vaad L’Tohar Hiskashrus. In it he claims to have received a Halachic ruling from Rav Kanivsky about people who own any device that can access the internet. From Rafi’s blog:

A person cannot be a witness at a wedding or at a divorce, and one who did act as such a witness will invalidate the proceedings, even bdieved (after the fact) . The wedding should be performed again, and the get should be given again. This means that there are thousands of adulterers, eishet ish, mamzerim walking around out there without even knowing it.

Rav Feinhandler, director of the committee for purity in communications and the person quoting Rav Kanievsky, also said that such a person cannot build a mikva (i.e. do the hashaka process of connecting the mikva water pit to the mikva pool), and a woman cannot supervise the immersion in the mikva if she has an iPhone.

And, he adds, in many places, such as in Jerusalem, mikvas are built by, and weddings and divorces or officiated by, the Rabbanut and religious councils, and they don't ask such questions, so they cannot be relied upon - i.e. their mikvas, weddings and divorces must be assumed to be invalid. (source: Kikar)

So, we have eishet ish, mamzerim, passul mikvaot, boalei nidda and children of unions with nidda.

Rafi is right. If this were to be the case, then in its most serious ramification there would be thousands of invalid Gitin in the world. Which means the children of remarriages would be Mamzerim, and their parents will have unwittingly committed biblical level adultery.

Every single person reading this blog that ever witnessed a Get, know that you have increased Mamzerus in the world.

This Psak would include people like Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, executive vice president of Agudah, Agudah spokeman Rabbi Avi Shafran and most of Agudah’s membership – including (I’m sure) some of their more prominent rabbis.

Half (if not more) of the Charedi Mechanchim I know have smart-phones. It would probably include the entire membership of the RCA.  I could go on, but you get the picture. There is no possible way Rav Kanievsky did this. This Feinhandler fellow is either lying to us, or he lied to Rav Kaneivsky.

Oh… I’m sure he asked him a question along these lines. But, Rav Kanieavsky or anyone of his age and stature wouldn’t know what a smart-phone was if it was staring them in the face. In light of that I strongly suspect that the question went something like this:  Is a person who uses pornographic devices permitted to be a witness on religious documents? Since every single senior rabbinic leader in the world has come out so strongly against using  such a device he probably considers them to be Mumrim L’Hachis – people who purposely violate Halachic directives of the rabbis. Such people are invalid witnesses.

Rav Kanievsky only knows what he has been told and reacted to that. Same as Rav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner at the Internet Asifa a few years ago. He has been told that there is an alarming number of Frum internet users that have been destroyed. Marriages have broken up. Children have gone OTD unprepared to handle the Apikursus they encounter… all because of this device.

Even those who don’t want to access the porn will eventually see it inadvertently. And the Apikurus is there at the click of the mouse. The slope is very slippery from there.  So that even as they are told that the internet has some positive value, the bad so greatly exceeds the good, such devices should be completely banned from use and anyone using them are to be given the strongest sanctions.

If I knew nothing about the internet and someone came up to me and told me all that, I might feel the same way. Their understanding of the internet is that it a virtual Playboy Magazine - only worse. And that those who continue reading Playboy (even if it is only for the articles) knowing full well that the rabbis forbade it are Mumrim L’Hachis and to be treated accordingly.  

Of course those of us who do use these devices know how ridiculous that understanding is. Most know how valuable it is…and how indispensable it has become. Eventually it will be more vital to our lives than the telephone. And most Charedim know that too.

One way or another, these Rabbinic leaders have been completely misled. I therefore fully reject this letter as either a complete lie or a Psak based on false information. It is not possible that a rabbinic leader of any stature who actually understands the reality of the situation would have ever said this. 

The Consequences of Blind Faith in Leadership

Charedi soldiers in training - Photo credit: Jewish Press

The folly of blind faith in what rabbinic leaders say is that it can lead you deny clear facts and your own sense of logic. The response in opposition to current events by most Charedim is therefore irrational. As long as they see it through the rabbinic Charedi eyes… all is fair. You are fighting for Torah!

Israeli MK, Rabbi Dov Lipman has thus been vilified. How, they ask, can a Frum Jew join a party that is anti-Religious and out to destroy the Torah world as we know it? How can he join a party that – for example -supports gay marriage which is expressly forbidden by the Torah? It must be because of self aggrandizement. He has sold out to the devil just so he could be in the Knesset.

What about his Charedi credentials like his attendance at Ner Israel, his Semicha from Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg, his publications on Torah subjects published by Charedi publisher Feldheim, his attendance post high year in Israel, at Merkaz HaTorah - a Charedi Yeshiva, his years spent in Kollel, and the simple fact that he self identifies as Charedi?

None of this matters. He sold out. What he was in the past is no different than what Elisha Ben Avyuah was in the past.  He is now a Rasha out to destroy Torah via his joining the ‘anti Charedi’ political party Yesh Atid. A party that supports drafting students into the army, supports reducing government stipends to large families, and insisting that Charedi elementary and high schools have a core curriculum in order to receive government funding. So they take statements he has made out of context or in exaggeration to make a point – just to prove how anti Charedi he is.

One may ask, how can it be that every single Charedi Rav characterizes Rabbi Lipman this way? Do they really believe he is that evil? Can they all be so naive? The answer to that question is somewhat complex. But let me try.

I think there are two things going on here. One is that the rabbinic leadership sees any change at all as impermissible since it is a Shas HaShmad. So even if they might otherwise make some concessions along these lines (and I’m not saying they necessarily would) they see even the slightest change in that context. The Halacha is well known. There are 3 Mitzvos that one is required to sacrifice his life for: idol worship, murder, and biblical level adultery. But when a government is trying to eradicate Judaism (Shas HaShmad), one is not allowed to violate even the simplest Mitzvah and must give up his life. They have repeatedly been saying this is a Shas Shmad. So they will not allow even one Yeshiva Bachur to serve in the army!

Secondly, the fact that they believe it so strongly prevents them from listening to any argument against it. When anyone tries, they will quickly retort, that it’s all an excuse. All the government wants to do is to destroy Torah Judaism. I am thoroughly convinced that they are mistaken. Historically that may have been true in places like Czarist Russia. When the Czar tried to introduce secular studies into Russian Yeshivos so as to better educate its Jewish citizens - it was widely understood that there was an ulterior motive was to completely assimilate Russian Jewry out of their Judaism.

Charedi rabbinic leaders see the same thing now in Israel. And they point to phrases like ‘integrating Charedim into society’ as proof that these Reshaim want Charedim to assimilate out of Judaism – when the truth is that all they want is to assimilate Charedim into society without disabusing them of their Charedi values. All explanations by the government are seen as lies.  I am virtually certain that this is their mindset. But the facts dispute them.  This applies to virtually everything they are fighting now – even though they refuse to see it.

Rabbi Dov Lipman has published an article in the Jewish Press that blows up the myth about one of their issues, the draft (emphasis mine):

The law says nothing about haredim going to jail. It says the army has specific goals for how many haredim will serve. As long as those goals are met, there is no mandatory draft of anyone who is in yeshiva. The law actually begins by doing the opposite of drafting yeshiva boys; it says that anyone who is over 22 when the law is passed will be completely exempt from any service. This frees them to enter the work force or continue learning. 

The law then sets out its goals. Among those 24 and under, the goal is for 3,200 haredim to begin service between now and July 2014. Two thousand would serve in the army and 1,200 in national service. Army service can be done in Nachal Chareidi, an exclusively haredi unit with minyanim and time for learning, or in Shachar Kachol, which teaches its participants trades like computer and electric engineering which they can then use for a livelihood after their service.

The national service includes a variety of options – some are security-oriented (police, etc.) and some involve civil service in medical and other areas of need. Service is for two years.  If we analyze the tens of thousands who are currently in yeshiva learning, there are most certainly 3,200 who are not learning day and night, and all the roshei yeshiva have said that anyone not learning day and night should serve in the army.

Between July 2014 and July 2015 another 3,800 would begin service – 2,300 in the army and 1,500 in national service. The final goal is to have 5,200 begin service by 2017 – 3,000 in the army and 2,200 in national service.

Considering the fact that every year around 7,500 haredim reach the age of 18 and that many roshei yeshiva have said that 50 to 60 percent of the boys in yeshiva should not be there long term, these goals are very reasonable and preserve the value of Torah study for those who are truly cut out to do so day and night. According to this plan, 35,500 would continue learning day and night while 17,000 would the country for two years in a framework geared to haredi young men – 10,000 in the army and approximately 7,000 in national service. 

I have to ask, ‘Why does the rabbinic leadership say this is Shas HaShmad?’ No one is being forced to violate a single Halacha… or even a  Chumra for that matter.

And why do they continue to vilify Rabbi Lipman? In fact they shoudn’t even be vilifying Yesh Atid. Their insistence that Yesh Atid is anti Charedi has yet to be proven. And yet it is an article of faith with them.

What bothers me the most is that none of this matters to Israeli rabbinic leaders and their followers. The Rabbonim have spoken. Rabbi Lipman is a Rasha. Don’t believe a word he says. End of conversation!  Whatever happened to rational thought and seeing the facts for what they are instead of seeing them through the colored eyes of other people?

Without Gratitude - There is no Leadership

Protesting Charedim - Photo credit: Jewish Press

In last week’s Parsha  (Shemos – 3:13) we have the unlikely scenario of Moshe Rabbenu asking his father in law, Yisro permission (as Rashi explains) to go to Egypt and fulfill the word of God.  The obvious question is, why would Moshe do that? Why not go immediately to the task at hand? Is he not delaying the word of God thereby disobeying Him to a certain extent? The answer is given by the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (…not the late Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir but his ancestor, for whom he was named). It was precisely for this character trait that Moshe was selected to be the leader of his people. The chacter trait of Hakoras HaTov (expressing gratitude). Says, the Alter, without this trait, he would not have been worthy of being the leader the people of Israel.

We are told that Yisro was an idol worshipper. One of his many names was Putiel, which Rashi tells us indicated his ‘job’ (so to speak) was to fatten cattle for idol sacrifices. This name is mentioned in this week’s Parsha (Va’erah- 6:25)  in the context of describing lineages. Putiel was not only Moshe’s father in law, he was also Elazar’s (Aaron’s son) father in law.

When I saw this Dvar Torah yesterday, it reminded me of a Siyum on Shas I attended last year. It was given by one of my Mechutanim - the father in law of one of my daughters. During his Drasha, he mentioned the old joke about people who prayed to God to save them from a rising flood. It goes something like this:

Some people found themselves on the top of a house during a flood. A series of 3 rescue attempts ensued. And with each attempt they rejected the help saying that they were waiting for salvation form the Lord. Of course they ended up drowning when the flood reached the roof they were on. When they approached God in the next word, they asked Him why He didn’t answer their prayers for salvation. He answered. I sent you help three times and you refused it!

Theodor Herzl

My Mechutan compared that joke to God sending us Herzl to found modern Zionism. Herzl, he said, was sent by God to save the Jewish people - persecuted throughout the ages since the second Temple era - by giving them back their land. He followed that up by asking  why is there no recognition in certain religious circles of that help? Yes, Herzl was not religious in the traditional sense of the word. But that does not absolve them of both recognizing him as God’s messenger and expressing Hakoras Hatov to both Herzl and God for sending him. We don't know why God chose this secular Jew as His messenger. But we do know that it was God who sent him.

The Torah teaches that without acknowledging gratitude to those who have helped you – you are not worthy of leadership… even if the individual that helps you is an idol worshiper!

The attitude of the Charedi rabbinic leadership in Israel – not only does not express gratitude for what Herzl created, they condemn him as an evil man whose mission was to destroy the Torah. The same thing is true in how they treat his spiritual heirs, the current Israeli political leadership. Until relatively recently, this government funded their schools, and exempted all of them from the draft. They have also provided protection of their lives via the IDF. They have also provided the infrastructure that gives them modern conveniences they might otherwise not have. Roads, super-highways, bridges, tunnels, clean water, a sewer system, sidewalks, affordable health care, a 21^st century communications network… I could go on. But you get the idea.

Poster declaring the draft to be 'Gzeiras HaShmad' - Photo credit: Jewish Press

What was their response to all that? Aside from a few very positive statements from Gedolim like Rav Chaim Shumlevitz and Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, there was - and is - mostly condemnation. They have taken all that Israel has done for them in the past for granted with the attitude of, “What have you done for me lately?!”

I understand that they now feel under siege. I completely disagree with their perspective on this. But I guess if you get used to being treated a certain way, it is not going to sit well with you if some of those expected things get taken away. 

But that does not take away the responsibility of a leader in Klal Yisroel to express Hakaros HaTov for what they have always done for them.  The fact is that for a great number of these leaders, there is no HaKoras HaTov. Instead they are fighting Israel as though they were living in 1492 Spain.  One fellow, Moshe A.,  got himself arrested as a martyr for the cause. From the Jewish Press: 

Moshe A. was following the command of Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, leader of the Jerusalem Lithuanian Haredim, who declared the effort to recruit yeshiva students “gzeirat shmad,” tantamount to the medieval church’s attempts to convert Jews by force. 

Rav Shmuel Auerbach

They called it a kidnapping by the government into a military prison! I do not believe that Rav Auerbach is in any way living up to his father’s legacy.  I don’t know how Rav Shlomo Zalman, his father, would have reacted to the current situation. He probably would have been on board with opposing what the government is doing here. But one thing I am sure of.  He would certainly not have reacted the way his son did.

Charedim: Heed the words of the Alter. Without Hakoras HaTov, there is no leadership in Israel. Be keenly aware that what is happening today is the opposite of that.

Protesting a Kiddush HaShem

Nachal Charedi soldiers during their morning prayers

I am saddened by the following development.  From Matzav: 

 The trip was decided upon as the Moetzes of Agudah met in Yerushalayim yesterday. 

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah has signed a kol koreh together with the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel calling on the government to do away with the draft law and threats of incarceration, and asking Yidden to beseech Heaven for Mercy.

The desperation on the part of the rabbinic leaders in Israel is clear. Even warring factions like those who support either R’ Aharon Leib Steinman or R’ Shmuel Auerbach are one in their opposition to drafting Charedim. The war is only about tactics. The same is true about the Yeshiva world and the Chasidic world. They too are so divided that it has caused them to split into 2 political parties. But they are united in that same opposition to the draft.  So much so that rabbinic leaders representing all factions are planning what I believe is an unprecedented trip to the United States to lobby the American Charedim in support of their cause.

I find this trip to be a bit curious since the American Moetzes is already on board with the Israeli Moetzes.  I suppose the Israeli leaders feel the threat more acutely and do not believe there has been enough done by the Americans to fight it. But I’m not sure what they will accomplish. What do they expect the American leaders to do? They have no more influence with the Israeli government than the Israelis do.

Are they going to call for more protests and demonstrations? I don’t see that influencing anyone. Are they going to petition political leaders in America to intercede on their behalf? I don’t think Senator Schumer or any other government official will be all that sympathetic to people they perceive to be shirking their military duty. Especially with the kinds of stories coming out of Israel where Charedim are perceived to be misogynistic. Even though they will deny it, and say that it is all about separating the sexes for moral reasons, it won’t matter. Perceptions are reality. Ask former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who famously condemned what she perceived was discriminatory behavior on the part of the ultra Orthodox in Israel.

Do they believe they can threaten them with their bloc voting capabilities? I do not see Senators Shumer of Gillibrand who will both likely win future elections overwhelmingly - caring all that much about how Boro Park, New Square or Kiryas Joel votes. The majority of Jewish voters are not religious in any Orthodox sense and would probably oppose what these rabbis are asking for, anyway. 

My guess is that ‘the evil decree’ by the government  will go forward as planned. No matter what they do here. The only thing to work out will be the details of service. And as time goes on it is becoming clearer that a certain amount of favoritism toward Charedim will still prevail. Charedim will be given a choice to serve in a Sheurt Leumi (national service) type structure that basically does Chesed. The rest of Israel citizens do not get that choice. When they enlist, profiles are done and they are told how and where they are going to serve. Sometimes that means combat where they put themselves in harm’s way. Those who do national service won’t have that problem.

And yet Charedi leaders want to tear Kriya over this. It is as though their entire world will collapse if even one of their Bachurim (young unmarried students) is forced by the government to do Chesed for them. They are willing to go to the ends of the earth to prevent this. They see it as social engineering and fear that their Bachruim will no longer be religious if they become subjugated to the authority of the secular army.

I wonder sometimes just how impervious to reality these leaders are. The army is bending over backwards to insure that any Charedi serving their country will be fully accommodated to their Chumros.  This has been made clear time and again - as it was in a Cross Currents post from about a year and a half ago. Although there are times where a Charedi recruit is somehow mistreated by a superior officer, I believe that is the exception rather than the rule. If it were the rule, the following two stories would not be possible:

From the Jewish Press: 

Nachal Chareidi, the Ultra-Orthodox combat unit, has won the prestigious General Staff Award for their exceptional operational performance. 

And from Matzav: 

Nearly 1,000 people attended a Yerushalayim ceremony on Wednesday honoring charedi civil service volunteers. During the ceremony, five volunteers were awarded with honorary plaques for their outstanding service. 

If the government is so anti Charedi and out to ‘get’ them, how are they presenting awards to them for outstanding service? How are either of these two stories indicative of ‘Gzeiras HaShamd’ (forced conversion to another religion) or similar appellations?

I think their opposition is about something else entirely. There is nothing Halachicly or Hashakficly wrong with what anyone in either of these two groups are doing. In fact I believe both groups are making a tremendous Kiddush HaShem.

I also believe these two stories speak volumes about the government’s intent… or at least what it is not: anti Charedi. Instead of pointing to these two events and Shepping Nachas from their own, rabbinic leaders are off to America to see what they can do to prevent their people from participating in any of this.

The problem is that when Charedi rabbinic leaders in Israel speak, that is the end of the conversation as far as the vast majority of Charedim are concerned. They will tell you that since every rabbinic leader is against it, they must be right.  Therefore no argument to the contrary will be listened to. It will instead be characterized as either naïve or outright prejudice against Charedim.

This is not anti Torah. It is pro-Torah. It will not destroy Limud HaTorah if most Charedi Bachruim (but not all since about a third of all annual Charedi draftees will be completely exempt) have to give up a couple of years doing Chesed as part of their day. And the legislation the government is looking to pass will even allow them to defer service to age 23 if I understand correctly. This is anti-Charedi?!

Wouldn’t it have been better if the rabbinic leaders would have all attended those two ceremonies with pride instead of flying off to America to protest them? What a Kiddush HaShem that would have made!

When the Eyes Are Off the Prize

Father and daughter: R' Shlomo and Neshama Carlebach

Neshama Carlebach  just declared herself a Reform Jew. The daughter of famed composer of Jewish music, Shlomo Carelbach explains why in an article published by JTA. My first reaction was that her father is probably turning over in his grave. But at the same time I’m not so sure he would have been surprised had he lived to see this. At least he shouldn’t have been. Shlomo Carlebach embraced a form of Judaism which I believe has today morphed into a new-age post denominational movement called Jewish Renewal.

In theory I would love it if we could all be post-denominational in the literal sense. Let us do away with labels and become a people defined by our faith in God and His Torah. And not our level of observance or our personal understandings. This is what most of the Sephardi world does and we should take a lesson from them.

But this is not what Shlomo Carlebach embraced. He focused on Kabalah, Chasidism, music and meditation like practices – and not on Mitzvah observance. One can say that Shlomo Carlebach’s attitude and behavior epitomized this kind of thinking as he evolved into the charismatic personality he eventually became. Despite his problematic personal behavior that was strongly criticized by religious leaders of his time - he turned a lot of people on to Yiddishkeit.

Ms. Carlebach actually makes reference to the fact that her father actually danced with these movements:

My late father, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, raised us in an observant Orthodox household. Our lives were filled with beautiful ritual and we celebrated the wonder of a familial spiritual connection. That said, we also danced along the fine line of progressive Judaism. 

I think even the casual observer saw that. I can understand how someone like Shlomo Carlebach could evolve into this kind person. His emphasis was on the spiritual. Although he never abandoned Halacha, he sought ways to infuse lives with a spirituality that goes beyond the performance of Mitzvos which he maintained was more often than not performed in a rote manner. I think he was right about that.

His music and story telling was his way of achieving that spirituality for the people who followed him. But when the focus on Mitzvah observance is secondary to some sort of amorphous spirituality, it can easily take on a life of its own and even supplant Mitzvah observance in some cases.

This is in fact what the theology of the Reform movement was. They initially believed that Mitzvah observance in the form of ritual was designed to produce ethical behavior. Since we all know what that is in our more enlightened era, we no longer need the ritual to teach or reinforce it.

In the early days of Reform Judaism ritual was completely rejected as a requirement of Judaism. I remember one Reform rabbi in Toledo back in the fifties requiring anyone who entered his Temple to remove their Kipa. He surely saw ritualistic Mitzvah observance as outmoded - even primitive. 

That has changed. While there still exists die hard liberals who resist any change from the original doctrines of the movement… the tide is certainly turning the other way. They now embrace Mitzvah observance and encourage it as much as possible – albeit on a voluntary basis. There is ample evidence of that.  They have even revised their Siddur to include more Hebrew and have restored traditional prayers that were deleted in the past.

So if you combine these facts with Ms. Carlebach’s Orthodox upbringing… and the rejection her father got from Orthodoxy - it is not too difficult to understand what has happened here. She described that rejection as intolerance, cruelty, and ostracism. She suffered along with him. As she still does in her current role as a female singer – of which Orthodoxy does not approve.

But that is not how Reform Judaism treated her. She was invited to perform at Reform Judaism’s biennial convention. Here is her description of her experience:

I had no idea how extraordinary Reform Judaism was. The tikkun olam mandate is so strongly bound up with the movement, and in the most joyous of ways. I was overwhelmed by the music, by the davening (prayer) and yes, my Orthodox friends, by the ever-present light of Torah.

Now I’m relatively sure that she will not abandon Mitzvah observance in the new Reform climate of encouraging it. But that does not make what she did, OK.

I can only blame her father for this ‘transformation’. This is how he raised her.  She feels at home in a Reform movement that endorses the kind of pluralism her father preached and lived. They warmly embrace her without reservation. What she apparently does not realize is that her Reform Judaism is not post denominational. Reform Judaism is a denomination with its own principles and values. By so strongly and publicly rejecting her Orthodox identity she is in effect rejecting the Torah itself. Even if every Reform Jew would start practicing all the Mitzvos of the Torah, it would still be a denomination that rejects the Torah.

Voluntary Mitzvah observance goes against the very essence of the Torah. As a pundit once put it in the context of ten of those Mitzvos, ‘It’s called the Ten Commandments - not the Ten Suggestions. I would substitute the number 613 in place of ten. The Torah commands. It does not suggest.

It is one thing to embrace the culture of Tikun Olam which is the hallmark of the Reform Movement. One can justifiably say that Reform Judaism has taught us about the importance of this Mitzvah and that we Orthodox do not do enough along these lines. Her father did that. But in my view he overdid it to the point of minimizing Mitzvah observance. In the eyes of his fans and followers, ‘Reb Shlomo’ (as he is loving called by them) was all about Kabalah, Chasidism, music and meditation. The price of that is unfolding before our eyes in the person of his own daughter. Shlomo Calrelbach would have never done what she did.

I feel bad for Neshama Carlebach. But her father’s well intended love affair with progressive Judaism has ultimately led her astray.