R’ Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, ZL

R’ Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, ZL (VIN)

I’m sorry to report the passing yesterday at age 96 of R’ Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, the Gaavad (head) of the Eida HaCharedis. Any time a respected leader in Klal Yisroel dies, it is a sad day.

It is no secret that I have had many serious issues with the Eida.  But never did I say that - much as I disagreed with them – that they had no right to their views. They most certainly do. Just as I have the right to mine. My issues were more about the attempts by some Eida activists and/or sympathizers to force those views upon others. Which often took the form of extremist – and in some cases - deadly violence. And the Eida’ s inability or unwillingness to curtail it. It was NEVER about their Hashkafos. Which as I said they have every right to have.

One memorable event that shows R’ Weiss to have been a man of great character was recalled in a short bio by VIN:

In 1939, 12-year-old Yitzchak was sent on a kindertransport organized by Nicholas Winton, a British Jew who succeeded singlehandedly in rescuing 669 children just weeks before World War II broke out. Most of Rabbi Weiss’s family remained behind and perished in the Holocaust. Rabbi Weiss tried to meet with Winton after the story of his rescue became known in the last few years but Winton passed away before he could meet him. In a letter he wrote to Winton’s family, he said that “he had succeeded in saving my life as well as a large number of other people. His noble memory, courage and devotion will be with us forever and can serve as a consolation to you.” 

I believe that in his role as head of the Eida, R’ Weiss was 100% L’Shma. And that his entire adult life was dedicated to fulfilling the word of God as he received and understood it from his forebears and teachers.. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right - Is More Than a Cliché

Scene at the Kotel this morning (JTA)

Why must I get aggravated every Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of a new month on the Hebrew calendar)?  It seems like a never ending battle between the forces of evil - and the forces of evil.

Yes, you read that correctly. Even though calling them both evil might be a little strong, it isn’t that far off. 

On the one side is WoW (Women of the Wall).  This is a group of women led by Anat Hoffman whose stated purpose for disrupting the atmosphere at the Kotel Plaza is to break yet another ‘glass ceiling’ for the greater glory of egalitarianism. 

This was made yet again obvious by WoW’s refusal to relocate to another section of the Kotel reserved for them. They were redirected to that segment but refused to go. Instead they set up shop at in the women’s section of Kotel Plaza in order to publicly assert their rights to worship as they please anywhere along the Kotel. Regardless of how upsetting it is to those who have been doing it in the traditionally acceptable ways it has been done since the Kotel was liberated in ’67.

Up until a few years that custom was observed and honored by all comers, regardless of their level of observance, denomination, or even religion. There was never any protest. Just respect for tradition. Anat Hoffman decided to change all that. She and the rest of WoW have for the last few years actively been disrupting the Kotel Plaza every single month with their own version of worship

That is unfair to Orthodox Jews that come to pray there in traditional ways - and have been for over 50 years. I think it is safe to say that the amount of traditional prayer in which most Orthodox Jews engage daily exceeds by orders of magnitude that of most Heterodox Jews. The sight of WoW praying in such a boldly untraditional way is an unfair intrusion into the intensity of the those that engage in traditional prayer when they are at the Kotel. Even if WoW does so quietly, the mere sight - or even awareness of it is disruptive. 

For Anat Hoffman, egalitarianism supersedes the atmosphere that traditional Orthodox worshippers have come to expect..

I know that some of the participants in WOW are observant. The argument by their supporters is that they do it only because they find it to be spiritually uplifting.  That might very well be true. I don’t really question such motives if they are sincere – even though I strongly disagree with them. But when they refuse to relocate to an area of the Kotel that will not be disruptive - that tells astory about another underlying motive. Which is to break yet another glass ceiling. Their motives cannot therefore be entirely spiritual.   

Which is why they repeatedly disrupt the quiet solemnity of the Kotel every month. The Kotel’s holiness is the same regardless of which part of it they pray at. By now they must know what will take place when they show up every month. Preferring the disruption  they surely know will happen over the solemn atmosphere of another part of the Kotel tells you all you need to know about their primary goal.

That being said, if reports in JTA are anywhere near accurate - those that so vehemently protested it accomplished nothing except turning them into our enemies:  

Thousands of black-attired young yeshiva students, both male and female, swarmed a group of about 100 women and a dozen men who accompanied them to the Western Wall, where traditional prayers were to take place at 7 a.m., ahead of the bat mitzvah of Lucia da Silva, 12, of Seattle, who came to Israel with her parents and godparents to celebrate the event… 

Ushers working for the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, a state-funded institution, attempted to direct the women into a dedicated lane leading to a fenced-in corral but Women of the Wall refused. Instead, they headed to the center of the women’s section, adjacent to the men’s section of the Kotel, as the wall is known in Hebrew, to hold their service.

Clutches of girls dressed in black set upon the women, calling them whores and heretics and hollering that they should burn in hell. When confronted by Women of the Wall activists and asked for their names, three of the girls in unison replied, “I’m a minor.” Others blew whistles to prevent the women from praying out loud. 

Now I have no issue with legitimate protest. If there are Yeshiva  and women’s seminary students that feel strongly about an event, they surely have the right to protest it. But when the protests get ugly, their good intentions can easily pave the road to hell. 

True - it might have only been a few extremists that behaved that way. Or maybe some of them just have got caught up in the moment.  But that is no excuse. Apparently none of their protesting colleagues tried to stop them. That made them all look bad. 

It turns what could have been a justifiable protest into an incident that chases secular Jews so far away from observant Judaism that there’s no hope of their seeing us in any other way except as violent fanatics. Those negative perceptions will only be enhanced by such incidents. Their view of Orthodox Jews as violent fanatics will be permanently imprinted into the collective brains. Secular Jews  will run as far away from us as they can. 

It isn’t only about trying to show them the beauty of an observant lifestyle. Even if they do not become observant, if they see us as a gentle, warm and welcoming community, they will at least have a positive image of us. Being called whores and heretics will instead perpetuate the negative images they already have. The road to Torah is paved with the ways of peace. Not the ugliness that characterized this event.

Abortion for Reasons of Convenience is Not a Blessing

Illustration from Business Insider

Echoing Rabbi Gil Student’s comment about a Reform Rabbi’s abortion, ‘I find this distortion of Judaism is so deeply disturbing.’

It is precisely what Reform Rabbi Rachel Pass said about the Jewish character of her abortion that makes it as ridiculous as it is disturbing. I say this as someone that believes abortion should be a legal medical procedure unhindered by government control. 

My reason for that have been expressed here many times. Although laws against abortion might allow exceptions that are generally the same as Judaism allows, there is no guarantee that they will be identical. Those laws might prevent an abortion deemed permitted by Halacha.  Even though such circumstances might be rare, they can happen. As things stand now post Roe V Wade a great many states have already made abortion on demand illegal – varying in what those exception might be – if any.

However, as I also made clear, much of the argument made by pro choice advocates in favor of abortion rights are as immoral as the very word ‘choice’ implies.  The rights of a woman to do with her body as she chooses that disregards the potential life of the fetus she carries is a far cry from the moral consideration upon which abortion should be considered. 

I have heard pro choice advocates argue that if a woman believes that abortion violates her religious principles, then she shouldn’t get one. But that neither she nor anyone else has the right to impose their religious priniciples upon the rest of society. 

That might sound like a reasonable argument. But it ignores the morality of a national policy that allows the potential life of a fetus to be snuffed out for no other reason than one of inconvenience. There are on the average over a hundred thousand abortions each year in the US. I wonder how many of them were done to save the life of the mother or other serious health reasons. I would be willing to bet that most of them were not.  

As far as Judaism – or any other mainstream religion is concerned killing a fetus because of inconvenience is immoral. A moral country should not be in the business of encouraging them for reason of inconvenience.

True - allowing the procedure to be done without any government interference would in essence perpetuate that immorality. But that is the price of a medical procedure that might be vital to the physical and mental health of those that need it and won’t be able to get it . How we reduce the  high number of abortions as a matter of convenience is a task that is worthy of serious study. However, laws against it ought not be part of the solution. 

This brings me back to Rabbi Rachel Pass. The following are excerpts from Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert’s Business Insider article where Rabbi Pass’s views are expressed: 

Rabbi Rachael Pass says her abortion was a sacred choice — one she is faithfully fighting to help protect for others.  

In 2017, as a rabbinical student in her second year, Rabbi Pass accidentally conceived on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. She took a pregnancy test to confirm her suspicions. 

Pass said her religious study and rituals were central to her pregnancy, the decision to terminate, and finally her decision to have an abortion: 

After much consideration, as she held four misoprostol pills in the corners of her mouth to induce her abortion, she hummed along to a liturgy streamed by Central Synagogue Services, a reform congregation in Manhattan. 

Without access to abortion, Pass said, her life would look totally different. She worries about people who have lost choices for reproductive care and those whose physical and mental health will suffer under new laws… 

My abortion was deeply Jewish...

I think it's really important for people to hear a rabbinic voice who chose to have an abortion," Pass said. "Not because of a horrible medical reason, but because pregnancy wasn't right for me for a lot of other reasons.

 This article is peppered with religious references and Jewish ritual. Such as the following: 

She prayed. She consulted her own rabbi. She studied the religious texts of the Torah, Mishnah, and Talmud for any reference to abortion… 

The very first thing that I thought to do after reading the positive pregnancy test was to say… asher yatzar. 

After her abortion, Pass visited… a mikvah, and ate challah and honey — a symbol of sweeter times ahead.  

Rabbi Pass did not mention whether she is married. But if so, she said nothing about discussing with her husband a decision that clearly affects both of them. There is nothing Jewish about ignoring the father in a decision of this nature. If she did but just didn't mention it means that it does not merit mentioning it in her scale of Jewish values applicable to her ‘sacred’ view of abortion.

The foray into Halachic sources is somewhat curious coming from an adherent of a movement that denies the divinity of the Torah and considers all Mitzvah observance voluntary at best. Her use of a Mikvah and hen eating Chalah and honey is totally irrelevant to her abortion. That it made her feel good is not what Jewish ritual is about. 

What was most disturbing, however, is her suggestion (as a rabbi no less) that abortion for purposes of convenience is a Mitzvah. That is he impression she gives by citing her study of the Torah, Mishna, and Talmud, the consultation with her own rabbi, and all the (irrelevant) rituals she performed, It is decidedly NOT a Mitzvah. Nothing could be further from the truth. What she did violates Halacha. And although I’m sure that in her ignorance of the actual Halacha she believes it - calling it a blessing is the last thing it is.

Is the Republican Candidate for Governor an Antisemite?

Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano (JTA) 

“When you hear hoofs, think horse, not zebra.” The idea behind that logic is that one should first assume the most obvious conclusion about a perception - rather than to look for exotic explanations. True appearances can be deceiving. But most of the time - a Zebra really is a Zebra.

I don’t know anything about far right Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano. But it is difficult for me to believe that he doesn’t harbor some degree of sympathy to the views of Andrew Torba, founder of Gab. Gab is described in a JTA article by Philissa Cramer as a “free speech” platform that hosts content prohibited on more mainstream sites.   

Now I am a big fan of free speech. Which (within the limits of the comment rules) I provide a platform for here. But free speech cannot and should not include hate filled lies based on racist or antisemitic ideologies.  Which is what Gab founder, Torba, is all about. He is what he seems to be: A racist and an antisemite. Something he does not keep al that secret. Instead He trumpets his views - thinly disguised as Christian theology - to the world on his website in an almost clarion call to arms. Here –according to an article in the Jerusalem Post by Tzvi Joffre - are some of the things he said: 

"We are going to build a coalition of Christian nationalists, of Christians, of Christian candidates, at the state, local and federal levels and we're going to take this country back for the glory of God."

"The only way that we're going to win, the only way we're going to gain any ground in the culture, the government, in taking our towns, our cities, our states, our counties and our country back is by putting Jesus Christ first. It's just that simple. There's no other way."

Torba complained that "the establishment" is pushing Dave Rubin, Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro, (adding) "These people aren't conservative. They're not Christian. They don't share our values. They have inverted values from us as Christians. So don't fall for the bait of Populism Inc, don't fall for the bait of this pseudo-conservatism, big tent nonsense. This is a Christian movement...  

"Turn off Ben Shapiro. This is not a Judeo-Christian movement. Those terms are contradictory"

Responding to an article on his comments by MediaMatters, Torba stressed that Jewish conservatives are not welcome in the conservative movement unless "they repent and accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior."

"We don't want people who are atheists. We don't want people who are Jewish. We don't want people who are, you know, nonbelievers, agnostic, whatever... 

Ben Shapiro and other non-believers are not allowed to have a prominent voice in our movement because they don't share our values...They're trying to subvert Christian nationalism. Turn off Ben Shapiro. This is not a Judeo-Christian movement. Those two terms are actually contradictory. 

There is a lot more antisemitic venom quoted in that JP article thinly disguised as Christian ideology Suffice it to say his rhetoric typifies the rhetoric often heard at White Supremacist and Neo-Nazi rallies.  And which no responsible mainstream Evangelical preacher would tolerate - let alone espouse. 

Mastriano seems to have no problem with that - since he uses Gab to promote his campaign. He has even reportedly paid Torba  a $5000 ‘consulting fee’ which has helped generate 38,000 followers on Gab. 

Now he might have claimed that he didn’t know about any of this when he started. But by now he has to know. And he surely should have removed any connection to Gab and repudiated its founder – labeling him the racist and antisemite that he is. To the best of my knowledge Mastriano has thus far refused to do this 

Normally, I would tend to ignore fringe candidates like this. But Mastraino is no fringe candidate.  He is the Republican candidate for Governor in Pennsylvania, a state not known for its antisemitism. It is a state that has many Jewish residents and Jewish institutions Including one of the most prominent Yeshiva high schools in America  - The Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia  (Better known simply as ‘Philly’). And with so many Orthodox Jews now switching their vote to a Republican party which  they see as more sympathetic to the more conservative values of the Torah, this could become a serious problem. 

I don’t think there is much doubt about Matrinano’s tolerance of antisemitic support of his campaign. And as I indicated, it is quite likely that he actually sympathizes with Torba – even if he never said any of those things. 

It  therefore behooves Orthodox Jewish voters in Pennsylvania to know who he is and what he stands for – even if his conservative political rhetoric resonates with them. In fact – even if he does eventually repudiate Torba and severs his relationship with Gab. It is too little too late. The cat is out of the bag. The truth has come out and it should set us all free to reject him in totality. No matter what he says his polices are.                                                 

The Basic Human Decency That is Joe Biden

The President speaking to Holocaust survivors at Yad VaShem (TOI)

Sometimes what had the potential to be a Chilul HaShem turns out to be a Kiddush HaShem. That is exactly what happened a couple of weeks ago in Israel when a female singer, Yuval Dayan, refused to shake President Biden’s hand after he extended it. As an Orthodox Jew she declared that it was against her religion to do that. 

At the time, I noted that that there were many Poskim that allowed for an exception in cases like this one. And that shaking the hand of a member of the opposite sex with no sexual intent by either party would be permissible. A leniency based on a dispute among latter day Halachic authorities about whether the prohibited physical contact between the sexes meant only with sexual intent (Derech Chiba) – or included even platonic contact. 

The rationale for that leniency is that it would prevent embarrassing someone whose hand was left hanging in a attempt to offer a congratulatory handshake - with no sexual intent. Not knowing anything about Jewish law, that individual might feel insulted by such a refusal. Which might constitute a Chilul HaShem. 

But as I noted above the opposite happened. That was indicated by US ambassador to Israel Thomas Richard Nides who according to VIN said the following: 

In a video clip, Nides said that Biden was very impressed with Dayan’s performance and with the fact that she is loyal to her faith and to her own personal beliefs. 

Nides said that “I want to send a message to you Yuval, who performed a special rendition of “Let It Be”. The president was so appreciative of what you did on behalf of the Israeli people and the American president as well as your being true to your religious values. Thank you in the name of the American people for your beautiful singing.”

After Miss Dayan sang last Thursday, the visibly moved president came towards her and offered his hand. Dayan, who is Shomer Negiah, bowed to him but did not offer her hand. 

Visibly moved. Wow. That is impressive. More about that later. I just want to say that this incident does not detract a bit from my initial reaction to it. My view based on what was stated by 2 illustrious students in the name of their Rebbe, R’ Yaakov Kaminetsky, has not changed. When one of the greatest Gedolim of the 20^th century says that a leniency may be relied upon to prevent public embarrassment, there is no reason, in my view, not to use it. Even though not relying on it happened to work out in this case. 

One of the most positive things that can be said about the President is his Mentchlichkeit. His  respect for beliefs of others and empathy for tragedies they may have suffered - is genuine.  That has been demonstrated on more than one occasion. One of which was mentioned in the above mentioned VIN article: 

Previously the president had a similar experience when Rivka Ravitz visited the White House as aide to former president Rivlin. Ravitz also refused the proffered hand of the president, but later he bowed to her after hearing that she was a mother of 11 children. 

It was during his recent trip to Israel that the following also happened: 

US President Joe Biden conducted an emotional visit on Wednesday to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, where he honored victims and spoke at length with two survivors… 

The emotional climax of the visit was Biden’s warm, extended conversation with two female Holocaust survivors, Rena Quint and Giselle (Gita) Cycowicz. The president told the women to remain seated, then crouched on one knee to speak with them.

Cycowicz was born in 1927 in Chust, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. She was rounded up and confined in the ghetto before being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and later to forced labor camps, according to Yad Vashem.  

Joe Biden is a good man, He is kind - and sensitive to the suffering of others. He should be respected for that. If one contrasts Biden’s essential humanity with that of his predecessor, Donald Trump - one would be hard pressed to understand how he can command such adulation by so many American citizens who – at the same time ridicule a man that replaced him. But that, sadly, is the world in which we live. For the record, I reject ridiculing either of them. Even though their differences in this respect are so stark, it serves no purpose to ridicule the leader of the free world no matter who he is. 

That being said, I wish character were enough. But when it comes to policies that affect us all, we need leaders that are – not only of high moral character. but whose decisions benefit the American people and even the entire world. As it pertains to those of us that care about the State of Israel and religious rights, in my view the President is on the wrong track on both issues. 

Not because of any ill intent.  To the contrary. I think he has the best interests of both the US and Israel at heart in all of his decisions. I just think he’s seriously mistaken about some of them. Like the desire to restore the nuclear deal with Iran. Same thing his domestic policies. It is in fact his basic desire to protect the rights of all Americans that motivates him to support abortion on demand and gay marriage – two things that violate his own Catholic tenets.  Which I’m sure he personally adheres to. 

Although I am with him on gun control, and… like him - would have preferred SCOTUS left Roe V Wade alone,  leaning politically conservative as I do, I do not agree with his liberal domestic agenda nor with his foreign policy agenda  with respect to Iran and Israel. I would not vote for him in the next election despite his truly fine character.  

Biden will surely run for a second term despite his current extremely low polling numbers. I hope his opponent is just about anyone other than Trump. Nikky Haley recently implied she might seek the Republican nomination in 2024. I hope she does and wins the nomination. That will make my choice an easy one. If on the other hand Trump is the nominee which, sadly, seems almost certain despite his despicable behavior just before, during, and even after the January 6 attack on the Capital that day, I may sit out that election – and fear for the welfare of this great nation regardless of who wins. May God save us all.

Belz - A Bright Light in Israel

Yissachar Dov Rokeach - The Belzer Rebbe (Wiki)

The fact that I descend from prestigious Chasidic stock may be of interest to those who know of my criticism of that world. The fact is that I have very little to do with the world of Chasidus. Even though my father was raised in it, and was nostalgic for that lifestyle – eventually returning to it after his retirement by moving to Bnei Brak - he did not raise me in any way shape or form as a Chasid of any kind. 

His actual Hashkafa was more along the lines of Hirschean TIDE (Torah Im Derech Eretz). This is why he sent me to Lithuanian type Yeshivos that offered a decent secular curriculum. And insisted that I attend college after high school for purposes of eventually securing a decent job.  

Add the fact that I attended Telshe for the first 2 years of high school (whose educational policies included a decent secular studies curriculum) ...and then the more Centrist HTC for the next 10 years where Rav Ahron Soloveichik was the major Hashkafic influence in my life - and that in the aggregate is the story of how I became the Centrist I am. 

The point of all this being that I am about as far from Chasidus as the Vilna Goan was – despite my Chasidic heritage. 

One of my biggest criticisms of the Chasidic world is their antipathy to a secular studies curriculum for boys. That controversy still rages on in New York. It has  yet to be resolved. Albeit not for all the protagonists and antagonist trying. I am not going to repeat why I believe a decent secular studies curriculum is vital. Suffice it to say that I am troubled more by those that defend their so-called ‘right’ to be ignorant than I am of their actual ignorance. 

That is in America. Particularly in the East Coast. With the Lithuanian world running hard to catch up with them so that their students can become ignorant, too. 

To be clear – by ignorance, I am talking only about the following: 

1) Ignorance of the typical studies that are offered in all public schools including the ability to communicate (speak and write) in the English language without gross errors in grammar, syntax, and the spelling of simple English words.   

2) Ignorance of the people and the culture in which they live – about which they are often badly misinformed. 

In Israel, the anti secular studies Hashkafa is not limited to Chasidim. The Lithuanian/Yeshiva world doesn’t need to ‘catch up’ to Chasidic ignorance. They are already there.  In fact they are more opposed to a secular curriculum than are Israeli Chasidim! 

The evidence for that is in the current dispute within UTJ (United Torah Judaism) between the Degel HaTorah faction that represents the Lithuanian/Yeshiva world and the Agudat Yisrael faction that represents the Chasidic world. Degel HaTorah is reportedly breaking their partnership with Agudat Yisral threatening to run independently as a stand alone political party in the upcoming election. (Which may actually cause them both to not reach the 3.25% electoral threshold required in order to have seats in the Keneset.) 

The quarrel is reportedly in part a dispute about who will head UTJ. But more importantly it  is also about what Belz, one of the leading Chasidic groups in Israel, has done. From the Times of Israel: 

The faction is also said to be irate at an agreement by the Belz Hasidim, part of Agudat Yisrael, to allow the study of some secular subjects in their schools in exchange for increased state funding.

 The spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, the 99-year-old Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, is fervently against any state involvement in Haredi schooling or the introduction of any secular subjects into boys’ classrooms.

 While the UTJ factions have threatened several times in the past to split, they have always managed to overcome their disagreements since reuniting in 2004.

However, several analysts have suggested in recent weeks that the contentious issue of Haredi education could be the final straw in driving the two parties apart.

I recall when the announcement was made in the media about the Belzer Rebbe agreeing to a secular curriculum in Belzer schools. I praised him for his wisdom and courage at the time. I also recall the media later reporting denials by Belz. 

Apparently the announcement about the ‘death of a Belzer secular curriculum was premature’. It is apparently happening.

It has also been reported that the Belzer Rebbe vociferously condemned the damage done to the ‘Light Rail’ by Charedi extremists who protested its planed passage through their neighborhoods. The Belzer Rebbe is reported to have said that he sides with Mizrachi (Religious Zionists) on the issue of physically building up the land of Israel as a requirement for the coming of Moshiach. 

I have heard a lot of good things about this particular group of Chasidim and their Rebbe. And I applaud it all.  Most of all I applaud his courage to install a core seucular curriculum into his schools - knowing full well the resistance he was going to get - with the possibility of the Charedi parties losing all their political clout!

Opposing the Hashkafos of 99 year old R’ Gershon Edlestein – whose views were standard Charedi policy in both the Lithuanian/Yeshiva world and Chasidic world is no small thing.  It takes a lot of courage to do buck a system in ways that he must have known would cause outrage among his religious peers. 

I have a lot of respect for R’ Edlestein. But I obviously disagree with him about this. I agree with the Belzer Rebbe. So, even though I am not a Chasid, I salute this great Chasidic leader. He is a hero in my eyes. 

Hat Tip: WG

Are We Going to Hell in a Handbasket?

Extremist RW supporters of Trump storming the Capitol on Jan 6th (Bloomberg)

Updated* 

It’s sometimes hard for me to believe that they’re brothers. The differences between  R’ Aharon Feldman and his brother, R’ Emanuel Feldman, it seems, could not be more stark.

I don’t know. Perhaps they are more alike than they seem. After all, they were both raised by the same parents and went to the same schools. But I can’t help feeling the differences are glaring based on what each of them at least focuses on. 

R’ Aharon tends to he a ‘company man’. Meaning his focus is more about ‘Daas Torah’. Which is why it makes sense that he is a member of the Agudah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. This attitude was illustrated when, after at first giving his approbation of Rabbi Natan Slifkin’s works reconciling science with Torah – he withdrew it after consulting with R’  Elyashiv.  His explanation amounted to little more than ‘We have to listen to the Gedolim’. And that his previous views about the legitimacy of R’ Slifkin’s works were an error on his part and - according to R’ Elyashiv no longer considered legitimate. In other words he simply accepted it as Daas Torah.

I don’t know how his brother feels about it. But it  wouldn’t surprise me either way. The point is that he does not focus at all on this subject - finding other issues far more compelling.

I mention all this in light of a R’ Emanuel’s recent column in Mishpacha Magazine.  With which I heartily agree. I doubt his brother would ever address this issue– as important as it is.  In fact he might even disagree with him - believing that ‘Daas Torah’ requires the strongest possible response when attacked by those that disagree.  

Here is the  pertinent excerpt from R' Emanuel’s column: 

Although America’s extreme right and left are obviously poles apart, they share one characteristic: They cannot abide anything that challenges them. Those who disagree with them are subject to vitriol, maledictions, riots in the streets, and worse. 

The January 6 Capitol riot because of the “stolen” election was the product of the far right.

The current demonization of the Supreme Court because of its abortion decision is a product of the far left. The Capitol riot that was apparently ready to take over the Congress and that threatened the lives of elected officials; the vicious personal attack on a Supreme Court Justice by the former Democratic presidential candidate in the aftermath of Roe; certain Democrats advocating — with foul-mouthed obscenities — the cancellation of Fourth of July celebrations. 

We pray that these signs of disintegration are limited to the fringes, but the prescient lines of the famous Irish poet William Buter Yeats come to mind: “.…things fall apart, the center cannot hold; the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity….” Written over a century ago, it is even more relevant today than in 1919. The very fabric holding contemporary society together is fraying — with consequences that raise the question if such a society is sustainable. 

Yates words eerily echo those of Chazal (Avos 3:2). More about that later.

Rabbi Emanuel’s point is clear. The extremism of today is based on the ‘my way or the highway’ philosophy of ‘Me-ism’ that dominates the general culture. 

Death threats against conservative Justice Kavanaugh (Catholic News) 

As R' Feldman notes ‘Me-ism’ is the driving force behind the opposition by the left to the SCOTUS decision to reverse Roe V Wade. What we constantly hear from the left are the words: ‘My body, My choice, My rights’. Me, me, me. Nothing else matters. Not even the potential life of an inconvenient pregnancy. 

‘Me-ism’ is also reflective of how certain we are about our views. Whether religious or political.  We have lost any semblance of listening to what the other guy says. We are absolutely convinced that what we have concluded is the truth to the exclusion of all else. What the other guy says is the opposite and by default a lie. Which must be countered and destroyed lest it somehow takes over and the resulting harm caused by its evil rules over us. That is why so many people on both the right and the left are becoming bolder and more violent in how they express dissent. Which on January 6^th was helped along by a President whose rhetoric encouraged it.

This also helps to explain the sometimes deadly violence by extremists in Israel. Whether at the hands of the extreme right of Religious Zionism or the extreme right of the Charedi world. Their sense of moral outrage at their political or religious  opponents has never been stronger, it seems.  Which makes me wonder, what’s next? Is the world going to Hell in a handbasket? Is Judaism going to become so polarized that  religious Jews with different Hashkafos will no longer be able to look at each other without contempt and even hatred?

Please do not misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with having strong political and religious views that one believes are ultimate truths. I certainly feel that way about many of my own political and religious views. Believing that the other guy is wrong is a corollary of that. (How can it not be?)

But at the same time, we must have enough humility to understand that there are some very smart people that disagree with you. And feel the same way you do about their views versus your own. What’s  is missing from our world today is that humility which would make for  respectful disagreement and debate. Dissent should never devolve into violence. When that happens civilizations crumble. 

That is why January 6^th happened. That’s why there were attempts on the life of a Supreme  Court justice. That’s why someone from the Jerusalem faction physically attacked R’Aharon Lieb Steinman, ZTL.

Sure, in some cases the attackers are mentally unstable. But what motivates them to act is the ‘my or the highway’ attitude of the community from which they come.

Rabbi Feldman concludes with the following question - as do I.

Will the sensible middle of society summon the passionate intensity to push back the fringes that threaten to engulf us? Ponder Avos 3:2 (which he quotes earlier and says: Pray for stability in the ruling government, for without respect for it, man would swallow his neighbor alive.) - stay tuned. And pray hard. 

* I have been informed by a close relative of Rabbi Emanuel Feldman that he showed this post to him. Rabbi Feldman offered that he is very close to his brother and would never publish anything he would not approve of. He in fact often passes his articles along to his brother to read before he publishes them. My apologies for any misunderstanding.

The First Case of Polio in a Decade

NY State Senator, James Skoufis (UWI)

The first case of Polio in the US in over a decade was contracted by an Orthodox Jew.

So says the headline in the Jerusalem Post. That drew the ire of NY State Senator, James Skoufis which according to UWI was expressed as follows in a tweet (since deleted): 

Skoufis specifically mentioned yeshivas in Ramapo, a town in Rockland County, has having “a history of non-compliance with the state’s vaccine laws.”

The senator stressed that “Additional enforcement is required in light of today’s news. 

The Jerusalem Post notes that: Ramapo is one of the Five Towns of Rockland County, in which the source said there are over 120 Yeshivas. 

I join those criticizing Senator Skoufis. Among them Rockland County activist Yossi Gestetner who tweeted back calling Skoufis’ tweet “hateful and inflammatory.” 

Perhaps. But there is a reason he singled out this community in his own district for criticism which Gestener actually conceded: 

“People have real concerns about vaccines,” he told the Jewish Week... He acknowledged vaccine hesitancy among the Orthodox of Rockland County, but stressed that this is not unique to that community. 

That others have a bad attitude does not excuse this community from having one. The Jewish Week added the following: 

According to state data, 60% of Rockland County children have received all three doses of the polio vaccine by age 2, the recommended timeline for vaccination. Nationally, more than 92% of children are fully vaccinated by that age. Last year, Rockland County’s rate of completion of the childhood vaccination schedule, which protects against a range of diseases, was 42%, the lowest in the state.  

Since Rockland County is a large part of Skoufis district, his criticism is not all that unreasonable. After all why was it an unvaccinated Orthodox Jew in his jurisdiction that for the first time in 10 years contracted Polio? This case of Polio would not have happened had he been vaccinated against it. 

I have to ask what makes a larger percentage of Orthdodx Jews so quick to embrace this antivax foolishness? Why do they join all the kooks in the world that distrust  mainstream science that has diligently studied vaccines and determined them to be safe and effective? Why would someone choose not to vaccinate a child against a dreaded disease like Polio? Is over sixty years of safe and effective inoculation - nearly eradicating the disease not enough for them? What is it that motivates so many Orthodox Jews be so antivax? 

I have no clue. But allow me to speculate. Perhaps it is a sense that a lot of Charedi Jews simply don’t trust a world whose values are so opposite of their own. Perhaps science has recently  been so vilified by some of Orthodoxy’s rabbinic leaders that they have lost any faith they might have once had. They might not trust a government that has in the past allowed the medical community to be unethical by treatment of minorities that were used as human guinea pigs to test unproven dangerous vaccines and medications. 

I suppose that gravitating to alternative theories about health becomes more attractive to them because of that.  Especially  when they can quote the occasional ‘quack’ with an MD and/or PhD who uses outdated and/or discredited studies to  ‘explain’ why vaccinations are so harmful. Thereby ‘vindicating’ their vaccine hesitancy - rationalizing that the dangers of vaccines outweigh the benefits. 

Like I said, I don’t really know. I can’t explain it. But there has to be a reason that a greater proportion of Orthodox Jews are antivax than the proportion of the rest of the country. It just doesn’t make sense that a people known for their intelligence can be so stupid

With Whom the Fault Lies

Light Rail protester being detained by police  a few days ago (TPS)

When societies do not protect their citizens from violent criminals, the results are tragic Innocent people get hurt – even  killed.  Private and/or public property gets damaged.

There are two places in the world that makes this personal for me. One is here in Chicago, Although it is not happening anywhere near my backyard, it’s happening in the backyard of a lot of innocent - mostly black families in my city. 

Drive-by shootings by gangbangers have become just about an everyday occurrence here.  Rival gang members shooting at each other often end up indiscriminately killing innocent people in the crossfire – including very young children. Chicago’s revolving door justice system where repeat offenders that are arrested for – even for a violent crime - are released on their own recognizance - bail free. Free to continue doing as they please with impunity. 

The other place where violence is a personal issue for me is Jerusalem. That city has its own version of gangs. Only these gangs tend to be observant Jews. Which – as an observant Jew - is what makes it personal. They are not only observant, but they are ‘ultra observant’. Well beyond the letter of the law. 

But they are criminals nonetheless -Charedi extremists that have the same freedom to be violent as do the gangbangers in Chicago. The only real difference between the two is that these Charedi extremist don’t have guns. So they couldn’t shoot anybody. If they did, who know where that would lead!  From the Times of Israel: 

Ultra-Orthodox extremists have reportedly caused millions of shekels in damages to Jerusalem’s light rail during recent protests against a new planned route for the train.

Haredi extremists have been staging protests for months against efforts to expand the light rail in the capital, but they have intensified in recent weeks and have turned violent in many cases. An extremist minority in the ultra-Orthodox community oppose the light rail running through their neighborhoods, believing it will bring with it unwanted intrusions from the outside world. 

The problems in both cities persist for only one reason, the lack of leaders doing anything about it. In Chicago it is the liberal justice system that doesn’t set bail for accused violent criminals in poor black neighborhoods. That amounts to a ‘get out of jail free card’ until an actual trial takes place which could be many months from now – with no guarantee that the accused will even show up.

The extremist Charedim in Jerusalem have a similar ‘get out of jail free card’ in the sense that Charedi  politicians are asked by their Charedi leaders  (like the ‘Eida HaCharedis) to intercede on their behalf when they are arrested. Thus avoiding any jail time at all! 

I am all too familiar with the counterargument. Which goes something like this: Most of the Charedi world condemns these extremists - adding that they do not represent the vast majority of their peace loving members.   

That is very likely true.  What is also true is that the leadership in those neighborhoods could do something about it if they really wanted to. Like making sure that violent extremist are prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Especially the repeat offenders. Which I’m sure most of these extremists are. 

Aside from working with the law, there are other means of dealing with these extremist criminals. There are sanctions their leadership could apply that would make life very difficult for them.  For example they can be put in a state of Nidui which is a kind of Cherem (excommunication) where they would be shunned by their community; barred entry to any Shul or Mkiva; barred from accessing any of their communal charity funds; and their young children not being allowed into their schools. (I’m sure there is a lot more they can do but this is what I can think of at the top of my head.)

Instead these extremist criminals are more or less left alone thereby enabling them to continue being violent and doing damage whenever the opportunity arises.  

The question remains, Why? Why do their rabbinic leaders not do anything? I have heard a lot of their defenders answer that question with the following rhetorical question: What are they supposed todo about it? They have no control over these hooligans! All the condemnations in the world will not stop them. So why bother even wasting their breath condemning them? 

This isn’t about condemnations. It’s about taking substantive actions along the line I mentioned. Why they don’t can only mean that they sympathize with the goals of these extremists if not fully their actions. So they are not going to seek punishment against them.  

Privately, they might actually see these extremists as modern day Pinchases - Kanaoim (zealots) for the sake of heaven. The dangers of secular world permeating into their needs to vehemently protested! Maybe not to the extent of the damaging property. But that’s just a matter of degree. After all, there is a constant harangue by their religious leaders and educators about the evils of the outside world. Why wouldn’t they protest the possibility of that entering into theirs?!

This makes the religious leaders of the Charedi neighborhoods in Jerusalem no different than the liberal judges in Chicago that sympathize with the black gangbanger from a poor neighborhood freeing them from bail they can’t afford.

The result is the same. And so is the lack of accepting any responsibility. Which means that because of the misguided approach by leaders in both, violence will continue in a Jerusalem Charedi neighborhood same as it will in Chicago’s poor black neighborhood. 

The Growth of Chabad and Messianism

Sign posted in several Chicago locations

There is a fascinting article by Joel Hoffman in the Times of Israel that contrasts the fall of the Conservative movement with the meteoric rise of Chabad.

Hoffman was raised – and was active in the Conservative movement. He is was apparently observant by Conservative standards. He identifies as a Rabbi – which I assume means he was ordained by their movement. However, he has switched allegiances to Orthodoxy, explaining his reasons  as follows: 

I left the movement, in part, because I was growing in my Jewish knowledge and observance and I felt it was better for my spiritual growth to be, relatively speaking, a Rasha (wicked person) in the Orthodox world than a Tzadick (righteous person) in the Conservative movement.                                                    

I need not dwell on the Conservative movement’s imminent demise. Which I have already done a number of times. I will, however, cite some of the sorry statistics mentioned by Hoffman: 

 …the Conservative movement… across all the age groups combined slipped (as a percentage of American Jewry) from 43% in 1990, to 26% in 2000, to 18% in 2013, and to 17% in 2020… 

…splicing the data to look at just the 18-29 age group, whereas in 2013 11% of 18-29 year olds considered themselves a Conservative Jew, this number dropped to single digits in 2020 to just 8%. In contrast, 17% of American Jews who are 18-29 years old identify as Orthodox.   

That the future looks a lot brighter for Orthodoxy than Conservative has been obvious for some time now. What surprised me is that in this age group - Orthodoxy has already overtaken Conservative movement - more than doubling their percentage of the Jewish population. 

By contrast - even with Orthodoxy’s growth - Chabad’s growth is astounding! The late Lubavitcher Rebbe was a brilliant and charismatic leader inspiring his Chasidim to create an outreach movement that has spread to the far reaches of the world. Wherever a Jew is to be found, one will find a Shaliach (one of the Rebbe’s emissaries)  reaching out to them. Often successfully inspiring them to become more observant. In many cases becoming full fledged Lubavitchers.  Here are some more statistics: 

…in 1972, and soon Chabad Houses became Chabad’s raison d’etre. Today there are over 1,000 Chabad Houses across all 50 states… 

…many pundits thought Chabad would flounder after his passing in 1994. However, since the Rebbe’s passing the number of Chabad emissaries and institutions has more than tripled. Growing from 1,100 emissary couples in 40 countries in 1994, to today with over 4,900 emissary couples working at Chabad’s 3,500 institutions in 100 countries... 

Chabad’s publishing house, Kehot Publication Society, has disseminated over 100 million volumes in twelve languages, making it the largest Jewish publisher in the world… 

…in the area of social services, Chabad’s Aleph Institute provides chaplain services for 4,000 Jewish prisoners and their families; Chabad’s Friendship Circle for children with special needs is operating in 81 locations with thousands of teenage volunteers; plus Chabad runs 19 soup kitchens throughout Israel which feed 3,000 poor and elderly Jews every day; and Chabad runs a rehab center in Los Angeles… 

( There is  a lot more in Hoffman’s artilce. Which should be read in its entirety to appreciate the gravity of both the demise of the Conservative movement and the growth of Chabad.) 

It seems to me that Chabad is the single most influential group in all of American Jewry – if not the entire Jewish world. They are the fastest growing demographic. Their numbers continue to grow at was seems to be an exponential rate, far surpassing any other segment of even Orthodoxy. Their high birth rate and their extremely successful outreach efforts surely accounts for that.

It is with this in mind that I am concerned about the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Their success means that we should all care about the distorted direction in which they are going in one very important theological area: Messianism.  

At  the end of his life. the Rebbe focused more on that than on just about anything else. He would constantly preach the imminent arrival of Moshiach (the Messiah).  Many – perhaps even most of his Chasidim at the time believed that the Rebbe himself was Moshiach and was just waiting for the right moment to reveal it to the world.  That belief was at a fever pitch.  A lot of his Chasdidm were walking around with ‘Moshiach beepers’ in order tobe informed the moment he made that announcement. But then after at first suffering a  debilitating stroke, he died. 

That should have ended that kind of speculation. But instead it continues to this day in one form or another. Perhaps most telling of this attitude takes place in their flagship institution at 770 Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. 770 is a bastion of Messianism.  They seem to still believe in his imminent arrival That he will either arise from the dead in a second coming or that he is still alive somewhere still laying in wait for the right moment. This seems to be the prevailing attitude today of most Israeli Lubavitchers as well.

Although talk of their Rebbe as Moshiach has died down considerably among most of the mainstream, at some level they still think it as least possible that he will arise from the dead and ‘lead us out of the bitter Galus’ (as I sometimes hear them end a lecture).  Most telling is this attitude is their lack of extricating the overt Moshichists at 770. It’s been about 28 years since the death off their Rebbe and the ‘anti Moshichists’ among them have not been able to remove them from the building and restore normalcy to it. I keep hearing claims by some of them that they are trying via legal means and don’t want to use violence. But after 28 years of ‘trying’ those claims are beginning to sound a bit hollow.

The attitude among most of the rest of Orthodoxy is to ignore them. They consider it relatively harmless in the greater scheme of things. But ignoring a foolishness like this by the fastest growing segment of Jewry is not a good idea. They are too big to ignore and are growing by leaps and bounds. 

Furthermore their successful outreach is a good thing – something we should continue to encourage and applaud. And not do anything that would hinder them. They are by far the most dedicated and successful group of Jews in the world doing it. It is something we can all learn from. 

But with that kind of success comes a price that I don’t think the rest of the world should ignore. Which is why I posted the image of a sign that was plastered in a variety of places in my own neighborhood. There are probably a lot more of them I haven’t seen in other neighborhoods. It was quite aggravating to see a sign with a picture of the late Rebbe and a caption underneath saying ‘Messiah is here’. I have not heard a word of protest from any Chabad rabbi in town.

The problem is I don’t know what anyone can do about it – other than Chabad itself. That signs like this happen at all indicates a degree of tolerance by the mainstream.  Which I suggest comes from their own ambivalence on the subject – although they will deny it if you ask them.

To be clear, I live in their neighborhood and have nothing but admiration and love for the many Lubavitchers I know personally. They are all good people – and kind to a fault. A great part of my day is spent in their main Shul, where I Daven Shachhris daily - and have done so for several decades. It is also where my Daf Yomi has been taking place for about 35 years, now. 

Furthermore, I truly support all of their good works. But I think it’s important to know the truth about the nonsense in which they so strongly believe. And to let them know that they do not succeed in hiding it or denying it. The truth is something I care deeply about. And this is the truth as I see it.

The Rising Popularity of Israeli Extremists

Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir (VIN)

Truth be told, I don’t know much about Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir. What I do know about him is not anything I would support in any kind of leadership position in Israel. In fact I would strenuously oppose it. Wikipeidia notes the following about him: 

He is known for defending Jewish radicals on trial in Israel (and) has called for the expulsion of Arab citizens of Israel who are not loyal to Israel. 

He has also done his own share of inciting Palestinian violence.

His political philosophy seems to approximate that of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane. Whose party, Kach, was banned from running for the Keneset (Israel’s parliament) – deeming it to be racist  for similar views.  Ben-Gvir was in fact a member of Kach youth. However although Rabbi Kahane and his party were banned, Ben-Gvir and his party were not. He is currently a sitting Keneset member.

What makes this significant now is a story reported by VIN.  According to a poll taken recently in Israel by Chanel 13 News, Ben-Gvir’s popularity has soared to the point that if he were to lead the Religious Zionist Party, it would increase its Keneset representnation to 13 seats! That would make it the 3^rd largest party in Israel behind Netanyahu’s Likud (32 seats) and Lapid’s Yesh Atid (22 seats). Shas  would get 8 seats and UTJ (the Charedi block) 7. That would make Ben-Gvir - currently a marginal player into a powerful player in the next Keneset. 

I do not personally have an issue with Religious Zionism. But if their desire for power makes them choose Ben-Gvir its head, it does not bode well for Israel’s reputation as a democracy that treats all its people the same way. it instead would support the accusations made by all of Israel’s enemies and critics about being an Apartheid state. How could it not?! ...if one of its most powerful politicians wants to expel Arab citizens that disagree with Israel’s policies? In what way would Israel benefit by a leader who thinks that inciting Palestinian violence is a patriotic act? 

But that is nothing compared to what else is possible. Violence against Palestinains by some of the hard core settler types will at best be overlooked if not outright praised as some sort of patriotic act. Mass murderer, Baruch Goldstein and Rabin assassin, Yigal Amir will be elevated to hero status for their ‘patriotic’ acts. Ben-Gvir’s ascension to any kind of leadership position would surely inspire even more violence by people like that.  As if we didn’t have enough of that already. That will in turn generate more violence against Israelis by Palestinian terrorists. And more Jews will be killed as a result - God forbid!

I think I understand why Ben-Gvir’s popularity is on the rise. A lot of Israelis are simply tired of constantly looking over their shoulder. They are tired of the very real prospect of being attacked by Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank –  which is happening with alarming frequency. 

They are tired of their country being accused of Apartheid for simply trying to protect itself from terrorism. They want to live in peace and not have to worry so much about those things anymore. And they see hope in the hard line approach of an extremist who promises to ‘get rid of the problem’ once and for all - and not caring what the world thinks.

I get it. I don't blame people who see salvation in a man that promises to rid them of a decades long, life threatening  problem, that has not been anywhere near solved by conventional politicians. Seeking to change from an approach that has never worked to another one that might - is surely a tantalizing prospect. 

But that does not make Ben-Gvir’s approach right. Nor does it even make it particularly effective – even if he could somehow pull it off. By doing something drastic like expelling Israeli Arab dissidents, he will be raising the ire of the entire free world. Now it’s  true that it doesn’t take much for Europe to have its ire raised agianst Israel. But Israel’s most powerful and imporant ally, the United sates will be just as condemning of it as Europe will.   Israel cannot afford to lose American support.

Most important of all, however, is that expelling Arab dissidents is both immoral and unethical. Especially in a democracy like Israel.

I hope this poll is wrong. Because it it is right, I fear that the power hungry politicians of Religious Zionist party will sell their soul to the devil in order to get it. Which in my view would have tragic consequences for Israelis and by extension all Jewry.

The Kollel

Rabbi Moshe Francis and Rabbi Dovid Zucker (Mishpacha)

I was pleased to see a picture on the cover of last week’s Mishpacha Magazine, two of my favorite people: Rabbi Dovid Zucker and Rabbi Moshe Francis. These two leaders are perhaps the most significant contributors to the state of Judaism in Chicago as it exists today. I have nothing but pure admiration for what they have accomplished in the 40 years since their arrival as the Roshei Kollel of The Chicago Community Kollel (CCK). Most of us just call it 'The Kollel' even though there are now dozens of Kollelim here in the greater Chicago area.

Although Mishpacha justifiably credited the late Rosh HaYeshiva of BMG (Lakewood) R’ Shneur Kotler, as the moving force behind the Kollel’s establishment, much of its success is due to his choice as to who would lead it. He could not have made a better choice. But there is a lot more to the story then what was in Mishpacha.

There were some other key players aside from R’ Shneur. One of whom was R’ Yaakov Kamentsky. He who was very involved in its establishment.  But there was another individual – without which the Kollel would have never happened: A Modern Orthodox high school freind and classmate of mine (Class of 64). Philanthropist Rabbi Morrie Esformes. 

It was not smooth sailing at first. There was a lot of resistance to the Kollel  - even from the right. One of the opponents was a prominent Rosh Yeshiva who claimed that Chicago didn’t need a Kolllel because his Yeshiva already that had been established about 20 years earlier.

A lot of Baalei Batim opposed it because they believed it would be a drain on community funds that were sorely needed for existing Yeshivos, days schools, and other religious institutions. Along came my philanthropist friend and personally guaranteed the entire Kollel budget for a full year. I believe I can honestly say that he that he was as much responsible for the Kollel’s success as anyone else. The Kollel would have never gotten off the ground without his generosity. It did not take long for other generous Orthodox Chicago philanthropists to join in that support. 

There  was one very important condition attached to that financial guarantee. The insistence that Lakewood send the cream of its crop as the first ten Avreichim. The first group of these young men made a huge impact on virtually all segments of the Orthodox Jewish community.  Chicago was hooked.  Many of those first  ten Avreichm and many others that followed have become part and parcel of the fabric of Chicago. As Mishpacha correctly pointed out, just about every school has Mechanchim who were first members of the Kollel. 

The schools were not the only beneficiary of the Kollel. Some of the Avreichm are involved in Kiruv. Some have become businessmen and professionals after leaving the Kollel and settled in Chicago. 

Before the CCK, Chicago’s religious character was mostly reflected by my alma mater, HTC.  A school that identified as Mizrachi (Religious Zionist). Students were encouraged to join Mizrachi's youth group, Bnei Akiva - and were sent to Camp Moshava, a coed RZ summer camp.  Board members were mostly Modern Orthodox Jews. Some of them were rabbis ordained by HTC whose Traditional Shuls had no Mechitza.  Although personally fully observant many of their Shul members were not fully observant. 

Those rabbis were advised to take those shuls by their mentor, Rav Chaim Dovid Regensburg, who felt that if they didn’t take those pulpits, they would have been given to Conservative rabbis. By taking them, the shuls would retain as much of their Orthodox character as possible albeit without Mechitzos. 

Those rabbis would also be able to guide the children of those members into Orthodox schools like the coed Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Which those rabbis were successful doing in many cases. But Rav Regensburg's  decision was rejected and bitterly opposed by virtually every other Posek for reasons beyond the scope of this post.. 

The point is that Chicago was about as far away from a Lakewood Hashkafa they could be and still be called Orthodox.

The Kollel changed everything. Their Avrechim were so successful integratang into the Chicago Jewish community that today there is hardly a religious institution in Chicago that does not have at least one former CCK Avrecih.  Including HTC.  

What this Kollel accomplished went far beyond their contributions to Chicago’s schools and shuls. They made regular Torah study by Baalei Batim popular.  some people who once virtually cursed the idea of a Kollel had become its biggest supporter having themselves established regular times for Torah study there. Whether through the variety of classes offered or via being set up with a Chavrusa (Torah study partner). 

It was the Kollel that had the first widely attended Daf Yomi Shiur. That Shiur that spurred many other Daf Yomi shiurim in Chicago. It’s true that ArtScroll’s magnum opus, the elucidation of the entire Shas Bavli  was a major  perhaps even the chief reason for the wide spread study of Daf Yomi. But there is not a doubt in mind that the Kollel was a major accelerant here in Chicago. It was in fact the Kollel in large part that inspired me to do it. (I am now in my 5th cycle.)

Another reason for their success is that the Roshei Kollel and the Avreichim were not judgmental.  They didn’t care what kind of Kipa one wore.  Or which school you sent your kids to.  All were warmly welcomed.

But that kind of success comes with a price. The Chicago of today is no longer anywhere near a the Mizrachi town it once was. It has become an Agudah town. There are a variety of reasons for that. But one of the primary ones is the influence of the Kollel. They brought Lakewood values to town and a lot of people adopted them.

As a card carrying Centrist, this aspect of their influence is not something I would normally support. My Hashkafos are not Lakewood Hashkafos. Chicago has moved significantly more to the right than I would have liked. A lot of innovations have taken place here because of the Kollel’s influence. Just to take one example, there was a time where mixed seating at a banquet or even a wedding was the norm. Even for a Charedi Yeshiva like Telshe. Today one will find separate seating at almost all such events.

But considering their massive contributions to the city of Chicago, it is well worth the pricee. No one is forced to adopt Lakewood’s Hashkafos. Certainly not me. My four children were given the type of weddings they desired. 2 chose separate seating and 2 chose mixed. All in all, I could not be prouder of how my city has developed - thanks in large part to these two Roshei Kollel and their 40 year contribution to Chicago.

Shaking Hands with the Opposite Sex

There has been a lot of discussion about an Orthodox Jewish woman’s refusal to shake President Biden’s hand during his recent visit to Israel.  Halacha forbids physical contact between men and women unless they are married to each other or are a close relative (like a parent). There is however disagreement amongst Poskim as to whether this applies unconditionally, or whether it applies only when it is ‘Derech Chiba’ –  in a sexual way.

The Chasidic community subscribes to the former view and avoids all connect between the sexes – including a simple handshake. 

I have been told by a Rav who stems from the German Jewish community (Yekke) that - accepting the lenient view as the correct one - observant Jews in pre-war Germany had no problem with platonic physical contact between the sexes. He told me that it was quite common to see an observant Jewish man socially kissing a woman in a ‘peck on the cheek’ fashion.  

Many Modern Orthodox rabbis tend towards this opinion as well  Although many others tend to not engage in this practice L’Chatchila - doing so only B’Dieved - as the situation demands. This is generally the practice of the non Chasidic - Lithuanian/Yeshiva community.  

Their approach is as follows. They consider the possibility that the stringent view might be the correct view and generally do not have any physical contact between the sexes. However, they rely on the lenient opinion in order to avoid embarrassing someone. When, for example, someone not familiar with Halacha (whether Jew or non-Jew) extends their hand to shake it with a member of the opposite sex they extend their as well to shake it. This is what R’ Ya’akov Kamenetsky used to tell his students to do. This is my custom as well.  

Unfortunately in our day, this is not well known. The over focus on Tznius and avoiding interaction between the sexes has caused a lot of non Chasidim to refuse shaking with a member of the opposite sex even if someone that extended it first by someone unfamiliar with Halacha. Thereby causing them some embarrassment. Any explanation that follows about Jewish law does not erase the embarrassment that has already happened. 

I am reminded of an incident where the late wife of Chicago Community Rosh Kollel and Posek, Rav Dovid Zucker, was in a situation like that. After addressing an audience at a public event - one of the other speakers went up to her and extended his hand in an obvious attempt to shake it. She refused not being sure about what to do, she thought it was best to avoid contact and did not shake his hand. When Rav Zucker’s wife told him what happened he told her that she should have shaken it and not embarrassed him.  

The woman  in Israel that refused to  shake the President’s hand was not a member of the Chasidic community. But just like Rebbetzin Zucker, she was not aware of the correct approach to this issue. This event has renewed the debate. But as far as I am concerned her attempt to be stringent caused needless embarrassment and need not have happened. Had she known she could have avoided that. 

But this leniency is not well known. Which is why she is being ‘patted on the back’ by a lot of Charedim (who also don’t know) for standing her ground and not ‘violating’ Halacha.. 

But this is wrong headed. Being stringent to the point of embarrasing someone is not the Jewish way. Standing up for Halacha is one thing. Embarrassment not withstanding. Standing  up for a Chumra is an entirely different animal. Applied at the cost of embarrassing someone is unnecessary and just plain wrong.   

This is the problem with an Orthodoxy that is increasingly moving to the right. The over-focus on Tznius and separation has generated a situation where people incorrectly feel they are being ‘Frummer’ by by embracing a Chumra even if it embarrasses someone.

Being unnecessarily ‘Machmir’ harms our image as a  common sense rational people. Even if it is explained in advance. 

And yet that seems to be the direction in which the observamt Jewish community is going This is not progress. This is not ‘growing’ in our Yiddishkeit. It borders on what the Gemarah call being a Chasid Shoteh. That is someone that refuses to save the life of a drowning Jewish woman because she was naked. The way the current climate of RW Orthodox Jewish is going, we are in danger of becoming an entire community of Chasidei Shoteh.