The Unity of a People Alone

R' Alter at Gush Etzion (Photo by Yonatan Shai Freedman)

I have to disagree with Merriam-Webster's word of the year. It should not be ‘authentic. The word of the year should be ‘unprecedented’. There have been so many unprecedented things that happened this year that I’m sure it was used more than the word ‘authentic. And I am going to use it again. 

What is happening in the Jewish world today is unprecedented. I’m not talking about the brutal massacre, torture and kidnapping of Jews by Hamas un October 7^th. Nor am I talking about Israel’s response to that in Gaza. Or the increase in antisemitism all over the world -  not seen since the Holocaust. Or the protest that took place in Washington a couple of weeks ago. Or the divisiveness between right and left; religious and secular, both here and in Israel. Or the massive number of indictments of the immediate past President of the United States.

The list goes on. All of which are unprecedented events. I’m sure I’ve already used that word in all of those contexts - and more. What I’m talking about is  the silver lining that this unprecedented tragedy has brought about.

In a world where divisiveness is increasingly the order of the day, I do not ever recall the kind of unity among the Jewish people that I am now witnessing. It is almost as though my dream about the unity of the Jewish people - which I have longed for as far back as I can remember -is unfolding right before my very eyes.

One of the most divisive issues separating the Jewish people is how the IDF viewed.  Both in Israel and here. The Charedi world has long eschewed army service for their young. Instead of seeing the IDF as the defense force it really is (which is now clearly being demonstrated) they have consistently characterized it as little more than a secular Zionist social engineering tool whereby Charedim would be integrated into Israeli society - and ultimately disabused of their religious moorings. 

They refused to say the prayer for the safety of its soldiers because by doing so, they would be giving tacit legitimization to the secular Zionist state they saw as virulently anti Torah.  So opposed are they that even after October 7^th massacre, many Charedi rabbis did not allow that prayer to be recited in their Shuls. Instead - relying on general prayers (Tehillim) for the welfare of all the Jewish people.

It appears, however, that the majority of the Charedi world that had consistently opposed praising the IDF  has changed their tune. They now openly support the IDF. As noted in a JTA article- this attitude has spread beyond the borders of Israel. This is a description of what happened at an Agudah event in the US. 

When 3,000 Orthodox men packed into a New Jersey event hall late last month to mark a milestone in their 7 1/2-year cycle of Talmud study, they added an unusual component to the celebration.

In addition to sermons from prominent rabbis and collective prayer and study, the men watched videos showing uniformed Israel Defense Forces soldiers studying, singing and dancing with haredi Orthodox men and visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 

Charedim in Israel that had up until now studiously avoided military service volunteered to serve in the IDF to the tune of 3000. As noted in the Forward: 

Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, hundreds of Haredim have enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces, a phenomenon widely celebrated as a milestone in the integration of the community into Israeli society… 

In recent weeks some 360 Haredi men, of more than 3,000 applicants, have concluded two weeks of basic training and joined the IDF’s reserves. Israel mobilized about 360,000 reservists after Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in Israel last month, and kidnapped more than 330. 

Many Israelis have noted how Haredi rabbis have refrained from criticizing those who have signed up. The Haredim considered Torah study essential for young men, and Haredi leaders in the past have insisted upon the exemptions. 

This is truly an amazing turn of events. Recall that one of the main issues dividing Israel beofere October 7^th was secular/Dati resentment at exemption from IDF of all able bodied Charedim. That no longer seems to be an issue: 

Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, suggested that these Haredi soldiers could build a foundation for a center-left government that includes Haredi parties.  

In yet another unprecedented event, Rav Shaul Alter, the leader of a a huge and growing ‘breakaway’ segment of the large Chasidus of Ger- delivered a Shiur in the Beis Medrash of Yeshiva Gush Etzion – the Hesder Yeshiva headed by the late Rav Aharon Lichtenstein. Where students alternate Torah study with military service. 

Never thought I’d see anything like that.

While there are certainly outlier Charedi rabbis that still do not value or appreciate the IDF, they seem to be in the minority and have been rebuked by Charedi leaders for expressing those views.  

It’s true that this is a grass roots effort inspired by the events of October 7^th. And it may yet wane once the war ends. As was the case in an earlier tragedy. 

On that score - this is not the first time that the Charedi  world expressed a degree of unity with their ideological opponents in the religious world

Recall that the late Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv who was considered the Gadol Hador by the Charedi world joined the funeral procession of the 8 students murdered by Palestinian terrorists at Merkaz HaRav, the flagship Yeshiva of Religious Zionism. It took a tragedy then. And it took a tragedy now.

Rav Elyashiv’s gesture wore off after a while and the 2 sides went back to business as usual. Where neither side had anything to do with each other and rejected the legitimacy of the other.

But this time is different for several reasons. At least I hope it is. The tragedy of October 7^th is exponentially greater than the one at Merkaz Harav.  It has also  opened up level of antisemitism not seen since the days of Nazi Germany. Jew hatred is directed at all Jews. Religious or not. Left wing or Right.

As Majority Leader, Chuck Schmuuer who although not observant reminded us yesterday in a speech delivered to the senate –We are an Am Levadod Yishkon. We are a people alone. 

We must all realize that we cannot rely on the good intentions of even the friendliest country to the Jewish people in the history of the world. A country I truly love. We must therefore be united in support of Israel at the most precarious time in its over76 year history. Encouraging its leaders not to be deterred from its mission regardless of the pushback by some of the political leaders in this nation its closest friend. To paraphrase the words of Hillel in Avos (1:14) If we are not for ourselves, who will be for us?! 

It is my sincere hope and prayer that all that old animosity between us will fade into oblivion. Never to raise its ugly head again! If there is anything good that can come out of this tragedy - it is that.

Does the Pope Have a Jewish Problem? Or a Liberal Problem?

Pope Francis and Conservative Rabbi Abraham Skorka (Angelus)

Does what the pope does matter to the Jewish people?  The answer is yes. It absolutely does. Not in any religious sense. That should be obvious since our belief systems are incompatible. But in the sense of his influence in the world. Which extends well beyond the Roman Catholic constituency he serves. With a popular pope like Francis, that influence in not insignificant.

He is widely admired for his warm embrace of all people. People of all faiths.  Sinners and saints alike. His liberal approach to Church doctrine has surprised many in the Church hierarchy. 

People with a resume like that tend to be seen as exemplars of high moral  character.  Their views on world events can heavily influence people that admire him outside of the church. He could in theory sway public opinion well beyond his natural constituency.

This is why Pope Francis’s close friendship with Conservative Rabbi Abraham Skorka in his home country of Argentina was a welcome sight for people like me. Historically popes have not been all that kind to the Jewish people. Pre Vatican II - centuries old old church doctrine held that we lost our claim to be God’s chosen people. We were therefore either condemned to hell for not recognizing their god - or targets for heavy handed conversions. Which is what the Crusades and the Inquisition were all about.  

Although that type of heavy handed treatment has waned over the years we were nevertheless seen in the same negative light .Whose special stature as the chosen people of God was lost and replaced by them.

It took a pope of tremendous courage who witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust to change all that. During the Holocaust, before he became Pope John XXXII,  Bishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli had saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish children from the hands of the Nazis. With no religious strings attached.  After he was chosen, Pope John mandated a  change in church doctrine that went from rejection of Judaism by God to acceptance of it as a brother religion to Christianity. His successor, Pope Paul, presided over Vatican II which followed his bidding.

Pope Francis took this new ‘brotherhood’ to a new level.  While still a bishop in Buenos Aires he became close to Rabbi Skorka. They ended up coauthoring a book together in a spirit unprecedented ecumenism. And they have remained friends ever since. It was in that spirit that Pope Francis traveled to Israel twice - one of which included a visit to the Kotel together with his old friend, Rabbi Skorka.

A recent article by John L. Allen Jr. in Angelus questioned how genuine Pope Francis’s affinity toward the Jewish people really is.  Asking whether he had a ‘Jewish problem’!

He based that question on what seemed to be a turn away from sympathy for the Jewish people in favor of sympathy for Palestinians. Allen gave several examples where his concern for Palestinians suffering exceeded his concern for Jewish suffering - on several notable occasions well before the the horrendous massacre of 1200 Jews and kidnapping 250 Jews by Hamas on October 7^th.  As well as at least one time after. The latter of which was described this way: 

The fact that Francis delayed meeting a group of family members of Israeli hostages, an encounter originally requested in October but denied on the grounds that he was too busy with the Synod of Bishops, until he could also see on the same day a group of relatives of people from Gaza affected by the war, created the latest frisson in terms of his perceived pro-Palestinian tilt. 

There were also theological comments by Francis about Jewish inability to receive salvation through the Torah. That salvation could only be received through embracing their god.

Does that mean Pope Francis’s affinity for the Jewish people was fake? Was it some kind of publicity stunt to show how ecumenical the church has become? Was that what his friendship with Rabbi Skorka was all about? PR?

Not that the pope needs me to defend him. But I believe that nothing has changed. First that the pope believes salvation comes only through his church should not surprise anyone. More importantly, however, is the fact that Pope Francis entire worldview is that of the quintessential arch liberal. Who is open to all people. He  sees human suffering and responds to that. The liberal mindset does not look very hard at context. It sees suffering and insists it stop immediately and unconditionally. 

In the case of Palestinians, the liberal mindset sees devastation in Gaza, huge numbers killed, and millions more displaced; with little in the way of sustenance coming their way. All because of Israel’s defense initiative. 

So Francis the arch liberal turns his attention to Palestinians. The liberal sees Israel as the oppressive occupier and Palestinians as the oppressed occupied. people That injustice is what the arch liberal addresses. That is the one that gets their immediate attention. 

Not that he does not have sympathy for the hostages, or the  families that suffered lost loved ones on October 7^th.  But that is all back burner stuff to an arch liberal like Francis. Israel’s assault is uppermost in his mind. As are the sheer numbers of Palestinians that have died or survived in a state of homelessness with nowhere to go. Their numbers by far outweigh the numbers of Jews suffering. So Francis’s sympathy lies there.

That not a single Palestinian in Gaza would have been harmed, had Hamas not done what it did; and that there would be far less civilian casualties had Hamas not imbedded themselves among sensitive civilian populations - such as schools and hospitals - matters to the liberal. In the moment all they see is human suffering on a major scale. So they get the lion's share of the pope’s sympathy.

This ‘Jewish problem’ is not the pope’s alone. It is a ‘Jewish problem for the liberal mind. Which is why liberal Democrats for example are more likely to have a knee jerk reaction to the violence and more inclined to ask for a cease-fire in Gaza - than are conservative Republicans who tend to see the bigger picture.

Liberal concern for the underdog comes from a good place. But it is a ‘good place’ without context. Which changes everything. 

The current pope is about as politically liberal as possible for the head a doctrinal religion like Catholicism. So it isn’t really a ‘Jewish problem. It is a ‘liberal problem’. 

Just my two cents.

Argentinian President-elect Milei's Affinity for Judaism

President-elect Javier Milei visitng the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s gravesite (JTA)

Javier Milei has just been elected president of Argentina. He has been described as a right wing  fanatic by his detractors. And has generated  intense criticism by advocating radical, provocative policies. Like solving their inflation problem by abandoning Argentinian currency and replacing it with the American dollar. Don't know if that will work. But I like the idea since it would strengthen the American dollar’s dominance over world currencies. But I digress.

What fascinates me most about Milei is his strong affinity for Judaism. So strong in fact that he expressed a desire to convert from the Catholicism in which he was raised. He also has strong ties with Lubavitch. One of the first things he did as President–elect was to visit the gravesite of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe.

I don’t know about anyone else. But I like the idea of having someone like that running a country with so many Jews in it. What about the fear that his right wing policies will hurt the liberal democratic nature of that characterizes western democracies? I can’t answer that question.  But if you are a religious Jew that believes in the values of the Torah., I think you should be pleased by his election.

This will of course not sit well with liberals .And there are plenty of liberal Orthodox Jews who are no doubt aghast at someone like Milei who they might see as an undemocratic autocrat that will undermine any semblance of democracy in that country. 

But still, why would any Orthodox Jew be upset at someone whose values are so close to Jewish values?

As I often say my political views I lean conservative. The reason for that is because most conservative values are in line with Orthodox Jewish values  like abortion rights and LGBTQ rights..If you are an Orthodox Jew, why would you not support the candidate whose views are closesst (even if not identical) to your own?

Do Orthodox Jews on the left feel his politicly conservative policies outweigh his strong affinity for Judaism? Would they reject him for that? Doe the anti authoritarianism that is the hallmark of liberalism mean they reject him no matter what?  

The truth after all is that Judaism is an authoritarian religion. Those of us who believe that the essence of Judaism is the Torah are by definition authoritarian. As believers, we follow a set of laws whether we like them or not.  It’s true that there are various different interpretations of the Torah which allows for legitimate differing views about what exactly the Torah requires of us. That has been true ever since post biblical times. The point however is that at the core the Torah is authoritarian.

I think this helps explain the massive degree of Orthodox Jewish support for former President Trump (And if the polls are anywhere near correct he will return to the Oval Office in 2024). They see his politics with respect to religious values being far closer to Orthodox Judaism than are the policies of those to his left. 

The sad reality of this is that they don’t seem to care about anything else. There are many serious issues with Trump that disqualify him from high office. But if not for that I actually liked his mostly conservative policies and would vote for him.   

The same thing can be said for Javier Milei. As far as I know he does not bring the disqualifying baggage baggage to his office that Trump would. So if I were an Argentinians Jew, I would probably have voted for him and would be proud to have contributed to his victory at the polls.

Elon Musk's Antisemtism Conundrum

Musk and Netanyahu at the site of the massacre (JTA)

On the scale of what is important in the world right now, Elon Musk would not seem to rate very high on the Totem Pole of world events. But with the rise in antsemitism, it is worth examining whether this influential multi billionaire actually is one. 

There are two types of prejudice one may have about the Jewish people. One is rather harmless and at times even a bit amusing. It is the type of prejudice that late comedian, Jackie Mason made a career out of: The common stereotypes that  may or may not be true but as noted are harmless. 

Those who do not know us well, might actually believe all of those stereotypes. And in many cases were to be found laughing their heads off (along with Jewish attendees) at one of Mason's concerts. But that does not means they hate us. 

The other type of prejudice is based on hate. The stereotypes they use are anything but harmless. Like the rhetoric that Hitler used against us during the Holocaust. Which is still in use among White Supremacists and the like.

Where does Musk fit in? And does his thinking on the subject reflect the broad view of us by he American people? 

These are important questions as they may help explain why there has been such an increase in antisemitism these days.  

Clearly the increase in anti Israel protests are result Israel's war with Hamas. Those protests are populated by Palestinians that support Hamas as well as people that genuinely (but mistakenly) believe that Israel is committing genocide against civilians in Gaza. I suspect, however, that a lot of them are closet antisemites that have always hated us and have now been given 'permission' to hate us publicly 

What Musk originally did on X was legitimize that kind of thinking. He 'liked' and replied by saying, "You have spoken the actual truth' to a tweet that said Jewish people have been pushing 'dialectical hatred' against whites.

At first glance it would appear that Musk is of the latter approach. Hard to call accusations of Jewish  'dialectical hatred' of whites harmless.

At the same time, there is this - as reported by JTA: 

Elon Musk...visited Israel on Monday and toured the devastation at a kibbutz ravaged by Hamas on Oct. 7 alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...

 Afterward, Musk and Netanyahu spoke live on X, formerly known as Twitter, about Musk’s reaction to seeing Kfar Aza and a video that Israel compiled showing footage from the day of the massacre.

Musk said the experience was “jarring” and that he was struck by what appeared to be “joy” on the part of the terrorists in the video.

“The rebuttal is often made that well, you know, Israel has killed civilians also in Gaza,” he said. “But there’s an important difference here, which is that Israel tries to avoid killing civilians, doing everything it can to avoid killing civilians. And, you know, there’s not sort of joy expressed.”

This  followed  ADL's CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt praising Musk for a tweet promising to donate revenue associated with the war to hospitals in Israel and the Red Crescent - after at first after asking advertisers to boycott X  because of his original tweet.

So which is it? Is he or isn't he an antisemite?

I don't think he is where it counts. That was made plainly evident by his visit to Israel at a time of war, his reaction to the carnage, and by his earlier donation to Israeli hospitals

I do however think that his original tweet was a gut reaction. That tends to reflect an actual belief. Which as noted is far from harmless.

What this means is that all the antisemites of the world will use that as proof of their own views espousing the same 'truth'  about us. And considering the massive increase in antisemitism exposed by all these protests, that is not a good thing. 

I'm happy he went to Israel and said the things he said. I'm happy he donated money to Israel hospitals and the Red Crescent. But if he really wants to do 'Teshuva' he needs to do more. And as CEO of X and with his kind of money, he can do a lot.

Just sayin... 

Is the Mainstream Media Fair and Balanced?

Face the Nation moderator, Margret Brennan

I can’t let this pass. This morning as I was watching the Sunday morning talking heads, I was aghast at what I saw on CBS.  Face the Nation moderator, Margaret Brennan  interviewed Jake Sullivan, National  Security Advisor for the Biden administration... and then UNRWA High Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, about the current situation in Gaza.  I do not recall a time where anti Israel bias was more evident than during those interviews.

First she questioned Sullivan why the President isn’t putting more pressure Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza as well as insisting on the  creation of a Palestinian state as a condition of further American support.

And then she took as Gospel UNRWA’s Lazzarini’s comments that Israel has been blatantly guilty of indiscriminately killing civilians and UN relief workers in Gaza in unprecedented numbers.

The obvious implication in those questions is that Israel is in fact guilty of ignoring Gaza civilians as the reason for the high casualty count. And the US is at fault for not making these demands as a condition of further support - as some members of congress were suggesting. 

The fact that she was talking about saving innocent lives makes it seem like she is articulating the higher moral position. Makes her questions seem eminently fair and caring.

And doesn’t the suggestion that the creation of a Palestinian state is seem like the  most just solution to the conflict?  (As if that was the most moral position to have.) Whether she actually believes that is an open question. But even if she does, it is at best the result of journalistic laziness.  

I am sick and tired of journalistic sloppiness. The unvarnished truth about about the issue of civilian casualties is that no country goes to as great lengths as does Israel in trying to minimize civilian casualties. That it does so in the context of an existential war is even more remarkable.

The  reason that there are so many civilian casualties is that Hamas prefers it that way. They deliberately  place themselves is areas that will maximize civilian casualties. Whom they refer to as martyrs! 

She also deliberately ignores the fact that not every Palestinians casualty is a civilian. Hamas does not wear uniforms. Discovering a body wearing civilian clothing is therefore counted as a civilian casualty. Who know how many of those casualties were actually civilians?!  

She ignores how this war began. Which was the most barbaric attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

She ignores the fact that Hamas has openly promised to have more of these kinds of attacks until Palestine is liberated from the river to the sea. Making this a war for Israel's very survival.

She ignores the fact that the vast majority of all Palestinians support Hamas  and what they did on October 7. 

What about her suggestion that the creation of a Palestinian state should be a condition for US support.? 

First of all, who in their right mind would oppose a Palestinian state that would see the end of hostilities? Where both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security in a spirit of mutual cooperation. One that would become a model of coexistence?  Can anyone imagine a better a scenario than where there would be no more wars; no more suicide bombings; no more Intifadas; and no more attacks like the one that precipitated this war?  

The problem is that that scenario is impossible.  Does anyone in the right mind believe that Palestinians in Gaza will suddenly go from supporting the Hamas to becoming Judeophiles? 

4-year old Abigail Edan is among the latest hostages released by Hamas

If there is anyone that should be aware of all of these facts it should be a mainstream media journalist like Brennan who anchors a weekly broadcast and has covered the conflict for years! But she has either been negligent in determining the above mentioned realities - or she is a closet antisemite? I don’t know if she is or not. But she has not done anything to convince me that she isn’t.

On a more positive note, as I write these words, more hostages have been released by the Hamas. That is cause for celebration. But it is a muted celebration because of all the hostages that remain in the hands of Hamas. And because Hamas has not yet been exterminated. Thankfully the Biden administration has not changed its mind in support of Israel’s mission to destroy Hamas. That must happen for the sake of all the Jewish people – and for the sake of the entire civilized world. 

More Info on Accessing Comments

In the interests of trying to solve the problem some are still having getting access to the comments, I am happy to post this suggestion sent by Michael Sedley a reader and occasional commentator to Emes Ve-Emunah. His words follow:

This has been a problem for me for several weeks - I finally found 2 solutions that work - Rav Harry, you may want to suggest the following in a short post (as by definition, users who cannot access the comments will not see this comment).

When you open the blog, if it opens to:
https://haemtza.blogspot.com/
Delete the "s" at the beginning to access an unsecured version of the site, i.e.,:
http://haemtza.blogspot.com/

If this doesn't work, you can access the comments directly by logging into:
https://disqus.com/

This shows the comments by themselves, without the text of the blog post (which you need to open separately)

Kol tov, (and good to finally have access to the comments again)

Sickened by a Charedi Rosh Yeshiva!

Rabbi Yisroel Bunim Schreiber (Rationalist Judaism)

It’s hard to imagine a more disgusting approach to fellow Jews than is the approach of one respected Rosh Yeshiva in Israel. Rabbi Natan Slifkin notes that he is on the more extreme end of the Charedi world. But unlike Neturei Kara Rabbi Yisroel Bunim Schreiber is not outside of it. He apparently has a lot of respect and influence in that world.

What he said in a filmed interview shocked even me. And I’ve been around the block a few times. I know full well that there are unapologetic extremists in the Charedi world that have a lot of influence. One need look no further than the late R’ Shmuel Auerbach and his devoted students. But Rabbi Schreiber takes the cake. From Rationalist Judaism.

During a recent talk to a group of yeshiva students in Jerusalem, apparently mostly or all from Mir, Rav Schreiber was asked what their attitude should be towards soldiers in the IDF, and whether they should express gratitude. Note that while many charedi shuls in Israel are saying tehillim for “the situation,” very few will actually specify the IDF. Rav Schreiber explains why one need not feel gratitude to the soldiers or even concerned for the injured...  here is a translation of some extracts:

“There’s no need to express gratitude to soldiers fighting in Gaza any more than to street cleaners.”

“The soldiers who draft are nebuchs. I don’t think anyone drafts willingly… if there was no obligatory draft, nobody would join, other than perhaps a few crazy mizrochniks…. They do it because they have to do it…. Why is there any need to have appreciation any more than with a plumber? …If a doctor heals you for free, then you should certainly thank him. But if he charges money? Then very nice, that’s his job! And if he’s forced to heal you, you don’t thank him.”

“ ‘Our relationship to the injured?’ Who says that there needs to be a relationship? What’s your connection to them? Why do you need to have a relationship with them?”

“A ‘community tragedy’ is not if 1200 people were killed… A community tragedy is one that affects everyone.”

“ The Meron tragedy? Lehavdil! Lehavdil! You feel connected because they were your friends, they were your family, they were your people.”

“Acknowledgment of good? For the entity called ‘The State of Israel,’ regarding which it is superfluous to talk about our opinion, there is no ‘acknowledgement’ and no ‘good.’”

I don’t even know where to begin. The idea that he is entitled to his opinion on this matter differs little from an opinion that says Hamas was justified in its barbaric massacre of 1200 innocent Jews. 

Do not misunderstand. I am not saying that they have the same degree of moral repugnance. Of course they don’t. But morally repugnant they both are. It is morally repugnant to not be grateful to those who are literally risking their lives to protect them. It is morally repugnant to say that one should feel pain only when religious Jews get hurt. 

It’s one thing to be opposed to the state of Israel and by default  the IDF. But to tell people they should not care about the life and limb of Jews that are not like him is a level of  insensitivity I would never have expected from a mainstream Charedi Rosh Yeshiva, no matter how far to the right he is. 

In my view, Rabbi Schreiber’s ingratitude for the IDF is so low that condemnation alone is not enough. If the rest of the Charedi leadership does not do more that the mild rebuke that forced him to make a non-apology, then they are not leaders at all. At the very least he should be removed from his position as Rosh Yeshiva

And yet, sure as I’m sitting here, that will not happen. Most rabbinic leaders of the Charedi world are elder statesmen whose Torah credentials make them widely respected. Anyone that would show any disrespect to them along the lines I suggest will be given the boot. They will be considered Chutz L'Machaneh - outside the camp of authentic Judaism! 

Nonetheless, I don’t know how any sane, intelligent, seriously religious Jew of any stripe can ever look this Rosh Yeshiva in the face again, with any degree of respect.\

I doubt that his opinion has any real sway on the vast majority of the Charedi world. Especially the Mir where Rav Chaim Shmuelvitz went out of his way to publicly express gratitude to the IDF. 

I guess he thinks R’ Chaim was a fool. But R’ Chaim was no less Charedi that Rabbi Schreiber is.  And that he has any sway at all on any Jew is beyond troubling.

Off my soapbox.

Unity? Perhaps. But with One Big Exception

Rabbi Moshe Hauer

I am a huge fan of OU Executive Vice President, Rabbi Moshe Hauer. And I wish I could share his optimistic view about the unity of the Jewish people at this moment in time. But Rabbi Hauer must have been wearing his rose colored glasses when he spoke about the two events that demonstrated it for him. Both of which were indeed very powerful – as he noted. Here is how he describes them:

On the National Mall last Tuesday (November 14^th) (…there was a)  massive gathering of Jews… expressing our shared commitment to the future of Israel, to our ability to live without fear as proud Jews in America, and to the plight of our beloved brothers and sisters held hostage. 

Last Monday (November 13^th) was similarly impactful. While we could not see it with our own eyes, we knew that across our entire community people were dedicating extra efforts to tefillah, that shuls and schools everywhere were saying extra tehillim, and that in places like Brooklyn and Lakewood you would have to search to find a minyan that was not reciting the expanded tefillos of Yom Kippur Katan. 

Both rallies were powerful. Both rallies demonstrated with intensity and feeling that every corner of our varied community has a powerful love of Israel and Judaism and a deep concern for the soldiers and hostages. 

This is true. There is not a doubt in my mind that the vast majority of the Jewish people regardless of their level of observance or their Hashkafa are united in support of Israel and the Jewish people - in what is perhaps unprecedented ways. What is not true, unfortunately is what he said after that: 

They showed how the Jewish people today, after its most fractious year in memory, have pulled together to focus on what is most important to all of us. 

I wish it was true that we  - ALL - pulled together. But we did not. Monday’s event was indeed participated by virtually the entire observant community – regardless of Hashkafa. But Tuesday’s event was boycotted by the ‘Daas Torah’ of 5 members of Agudah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. 

It was close to being unified. But close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.

What those rabbis did was the opposite of unity. It was Pirud - separation - from the rest of the Jewish people. Rabbi Aharon Feldman made it clear that the Charedi community should have nothing to do with that rally (for reasons that are beyond the scope of this post).

Unlike Rabbi Hauer who desires  to not focus on that Pirud at a time when unity is so important, I believe this is exactly the time to focus on it for the following reason. 

Agudah is too big to ignore. They are no small organization. Agudah represents the largest and fastest growing segment of Orthodoxy. One of their foundational principles is that disagreeing with their ‘Daas Torah’ (which they attribute exclusively to members of their Moetzes) is tantamount to a violation of the Torah’s commandment not to veer to the  right or the left of Torah law  This is why what those 5 members said on the eve of the March for Israel cannot be ignored. 

Fortunately The Moetzes parted with their tradition of speaking with one voice on this occasion. That allowed for 2 conflicting views about what the Daas Torah about the March really was.  

The problem is that only one voice was made public. The one that insisted on Pirud. 

That the March for Israel exceeded all expectations of attendance (nearly 300,000) did not phase them. Nor did  the multiplicity of Jews from all segments of Orthodoxy. Nor the numerous instances of Kiddush HaShem.  

All of it has thus far been completely ignored. Almost as though it didn’t happen. 

Not a single word about it in any of their subsequent press releases. Which I have received in abundance because of their upcoming annual banquet next week. A banquet that includes a getaway weekend with catered meals fit for for a king. And  numerous Charedi Roshei Yeshiva and many popular Charedi personalities speaking throughout the weekend

Having a banquet like this seems to contradict the somber moment we all feel at a time like this. When the Jewish people are experiencing right now trauma unlike anything since the Holocaust. At best it sends the wrong message at a time when Jewish soldiers - many of whom are observant - are laying their lives in the line for the Jewish people. Some of which have paid the ultimate price, Rachmana Litzlan. 

Now I am 100% sure that the tone of the banquet will be subdued and most of the speakers will be taking in somber tones about these events. Arguing as they always do that the ‘remedy’ for what ails us is stricter observance of Halacha, more intense Torah study, and more prayer.

Which is all fine and good. We need all the help we can get from Above. But I am willing to bet that the idea of having a mass rally in Washington consisting of the tens of thousands of Jews who consider themselves adherents of Agudah’s Daas Torah will not be considered a option for them.

Agudah is calling for the unity of the Orthodox community at this time of travail. But what kind of unity is it that rejects a call for the larger community and instead only seeks religious Jews to be united  in improved personal religiosity?

Please do not misunderstand. I actually support Agudah. It is one of he most active and effective advocacy groups for the Jewish - and especially the religious - community. We all own Agudah a debt of gratitude for all they have accomplished over the years. 

But this does not excuse their Pirud at a time like this. Nor does it excuse their silence over the disagreement in their ranks. That they mentioned nothing about a March for Israel atended by nearly 300,000 Jews of all stripes it speaks as loud as anything they would have said about it in a negative way.   .

When Rabbi Hauer says we should focus on the positive - it is impossible (at least for me) to ignore the elephant in the room. A giant elephant whose prominence cannot be ignored. An elephant whose religious leaders are among the most learned of Torah in our time. You cannot have unity when the Pirud one of the largest Orthodox advocacy group was made so public.

The Problem With Accessing Comments

Frustrated by the inability to see comments?

 A lot of people seem to still be having difficulty accessing comments. Not sure how to fix it other than to repeat what works for me. And if that doesn't work to suggest another way to access them. First let me reiterate why the problem exists in the first place. It is due to the incompatibly of Disqus (which hosts the comments section) and blogger (The website that hosts my blog). 

A while back Blogger ipgraded their website to be secured. It still has the older site that is not secured. Disqus is unsecured. Comments can only be accessed on the unsecured version of blogger. 

As I said in a previous post on this subject - the way I get comments is by googling Emes Ve-Emunah (spelled exactly that way) and then clicking on it. 

The unsecured version will then appear. DO NOT CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THE POST that you want to read. Instead scroll down to the comments of the post you choose and then click on them. The post and the comments will appear and you should be able to read and post comments.

I should add that I have subsequently been told by readers that tried this and it didn't work for them. My gut  feeling is they did not follow the directions  precisely I told them. But who knows. It may also be a browser problem. I use Chrome. It's possible that other browsers won't pick up the comments no matte what you do.

I was informed by a reader who tried my solution and said it didn't work for him, that he switched to Firefox - another popular browser. And he had no trouble getting comments after that. I don't know if that will work for everyone. But it is certainly worth a try.

The only thing i can do from my end is to replace Disqus with another commenting platform. The problem with doing this is that the Disqus comments on all pats posts will disappear. So I am very reluctante to do that.

I apologize to readers that are having this difficulty. But for the moment, this is the best advice I can give.

On a more positive note, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Of Released Hostages and Rabbi Eisenman’s Journey

Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman at the rally

I’m happy to report that a hostage deal has been reached. 50 of the hostages (women and children) will be returned in exchange for 150 Palestinians woman and children currently in Israel prisons. (I suspect that the so-called ‘children’ are teenagers that were not just caught with weed. But are in jail for something a lot more serious.. But I digress.) Hamas will also get a brief pause in the war.(4 days?). 

I am overjoyed that some of the innocent Jews taken hostage by one of the most savage terrorist organizations on the planet. But my joy is tempered by the realization that nearly 200 hostages will still remain captive. 

That is not my only concern. I worry that the pause will enable Hamas to re-group and making it more difficult for Israel to defeat them. And may even may result in more IDF casualties.  

Another thing that worries me is that Israel will  then be pressured to make it permanent. That would be a mistake of tragic proportion. Hamas has already promised to do October 7^th again and again  until they liberate Palestine.

My hope and expectation is that Israel will not lose sight of its mission and finish the job. And then to make sure that no like minded terrorist group arise to rule Gaza in its place. 

On a completely different (but obviously related) matter one of the best (if not THE best) responses to Rabbi Aharon Feldman's explanation of why the March was banned was given by one of my heroes, Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman. In his weekly Short Vort he describes in great detail why he attended it despite concerns over his own health. And the tremendous Kiddush HaShem that unfolded before his eyes. In numerous ways. 

If Rabbi Feldman wants to know why he was so terribly wrong he should read it. The following are some excerpts. But I urge everyone to read it in its entirety. It is riveting! Whether you are observant or not you will not be disappointed. It will make you proud to be a Jew: 

I was thrilled to be informed that there would be a Tuesday morning Vasikin Minyan, Rosh Chodesh Kislev, at the White House.

This was particularly meaningful to me as the last time I davened at the White House- which was for Mincha on Thursday, May 18, 1978- I was kicked in the head by a Secret Service Officer… 

This time would be different. As I was met by the smiling Secret Service Officer, she politely asked me, "Are you here for the Prayer Service? Is so, right this way!" 

It was 6:20 in the morning, and dozens were already present. I entered a spiritual paradise I have never experienced in my over six decades of existence in this perplexing world.

I was met by a crowd that would swell to hundreds of the holiest Jews I have ever had the privilege to bask in their presence. I felt total Jewish unity. Achdus in the truest sense of the world.  We were there to daven at sunrise in front of the house of the most powerful person in the world. 

There was no agenda other than saving Jews and loving Jews. This was not arranged by any political organization or agenda-driven group. Rather, this was a grassroots effort by Jews, some who had risen at 2 in the morning (or never slept) to daven at sunrise and beseech Hashem with our collective hearts. 

The Tefilla was something I had never experienced in my life… I felt sorry for my fellow Jews who did not experience such a davening that was unmatched in the annals of communal Jewish Tefillah. No one cared what you wore or what group you were aligned with. …no need to ask if you were Modern Orthodox, Chareidi, or secular- it was a time when the entire Jewish people were in danger and a time to unite in Tefillah…

(Later at) the National Mall…  I saw hundreds and hundreds of Yidden coming from every direction possible. There were Jews with  headcoverings and many (perhaps most) Jews without head coverings. They were happy, smiling, joyful, and friendly.We all greeted each other with love and understanding…

I met one Jew- tattooed from elbow to hand. I asked, "How long did it take you to get here?" "It took me nine hours!"

 "Wow, that's certainly a commitment to your people!"

He added, "The bus we hired refused to take us when they found out where we were going. So, a few of us grabbed an Uber. It cost us $900."

My face displayed shock and disbelief. Would I spend $900 to sit in a car for nine hours?" Yet, his face displayed disbelief right back at me.

 "Is it not worth $900 to help save the hostages and save additional Jewish lives?"

(T)here were numerous Minyanim for Mincha. Plentiful amounts of young men were offering to oblige many men who were pining to fulfill the Mitzvah of Tefillin, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Young men and women were distributing cards to find a Torah partner. The atmosphere was a total love for the Jewish people and authentic Jewish tradition.

I did not listen to any of the speeches… The point was physically being there…I did not meet one person interested in the content of the addresses or the speakers… Someone told me that a clergyman from a different faith spoke. However, even if a non-Jewish clergyperson spoke, it caused me no concern.

Pastor John Hagee never once mentioned (I listened only on my return to his remarks) even the slightest hint that any Jew should join with him (during) his short nine-minute speech… 

Yet, even his presence, could it be possibly considered wrong? Are we never to court or count non-Jews among our friends? Indeed, did not Agudath Israel of America file an Amicus Brief supporting the Archdiocese of New York's appeal on assisted suicide?

Torah Knowledge Doesn’t Always Produce Torah Wisdom

I just read the explanation by Rabbi Aharon Feldman about why he retracted his support for the March for Israel last week (available here). And I have come to the conclusion that his views do not represent the mantle of Daas Torah that Agudah places upon the words of all their Moetzes members

One may consider these words blasphemous. How dare I say anything negative about people where Toraso Umnaso – The Torah is their lifelong full time job- and are among the most Torah knowledgeable people of our generation?

First let me say that I do not deny they are among the most Torah knowledgeable.  The key word there is ‘among’. But it appears that the wisdom that usually attaches to people like that does not always happen. Sometimes their application of that knowledge is wrong. I strongly believe that this was the case here. It resulted in a message of rejection of Klal Yisroal - the entirety of  the Jewish people. Even though I am sure that wasn’t his intent.

Who am I to say he was so categorically wrong here?  Well the truth is that I am not worthy of debating him. My own Torah knowledge is minuscule compared to his. I do however have corroborating views from his own camp in the person of R’ Shmuel Kamentesky, head of the Agudah Motezes. He apparently not only disagreed with him, but I’m told that he actually encouraged going to it. 

Some Charedi Roshei Yeshiva actually attended it themselves. (R’ Aharon Lopiansky was spotted there.) Other Charedi Roshei Yeshiva (Like those of Chofetz Chaim) sent busloads of students there. As did many Beis Yaakovs (like Hanna Sacks here in Chicago).

It is not enough to simply say that the 4 additional  Moetzes members that banned it along with Rabbi Feldman are entitled to their opinion. Not when the very existence of Israel is at stake, Not when antisemitism is at a post Holocaust peak – all over the world. 

That they did not see this as a Hora’as Shah and a time to act exposes – I my view - a certain inability to properly apply the Torah knowledge they have.

To put it the way Rabbi Berel Wein did in a recodring widely circulated online at about the time of the ban - these Moetzes members are fighting a battles of 75 years ago that no longer exist as issues today. They are relying on decrees of the Gedolei HaDor of that era  - thinking their reasons still apply. That is the only way to interpret R’ Aharon Feldman’s explanation of why he retracted his support.

His retraction is also based on a totally uninformed view of Pastor John Hagee’s motives and a ridiculous fear that his address would be seen as   ‘a step towards interfaith acceptance.’ Hagee’s motives are based on his oft stated belief in the Torah (his old testament) that those who bless the Jewish people will themselves be blessed. Although he would be happy if the Jews would convert to Christianity, that has zero to do with his motives for supporting the Jewish people and Israel. Which is greater than that of even most Orthodox Jews. Support that includes millions of dollars raised for Israel and given to them unconditionally

Besides – Rabbi Feldman doesn’t seem to see it as ‘a step towards interfaith acceptance’ when Agudah partners with Christian ministers or Catholic priests to file amicus briefs to the Supreme Court on matters of mutual concern. 

Another fear he expressed is just as absurd. He said that attending the rally is an endorsement of Zionism (even religious Zionism) because one of the speakers via an online feed was Isaac Herzog, the President  of Israel.  And yet that very same Agudah invited the at the time sitting Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yisroel Meir Lau, to address their 12^th Daf Yomi Siyum in person. You can’t get too much more Zionist that being a Chief Rabbi of the Zionist state.

Those 5 Moetzes members indeed still believe that the Zionist state of Israel is anti Torah. Even though there is currently more Torah study there now than at any time in modern history. More than anywhere else in the world. So much for Israel being at Torah. That - may -have been a legitimate concern 75 years ago. But it is a ridiculous concern now.

He doesn’t like Hatikvah - Israel’s national anthem? No one was forced to sing it. And I do not believe the phrase ‘to be a free nation in our land’ is a rejection of Torah observance. To be free also means to be free to serve God. Free to be fully observant, Free to study Torah full time. But if he dosn’t like the word Chofshi – free, he can substitute the word ‘Kodshi - holy. As DID my Rebbe, Rav Ahron Soloveichik when he sang it..

I will never forget the image (filmed and recorded for posterity) of Jewish refugees in a post war displacement  persons camp when they heard Ben Gurion announce the establishment of the Jewish state after the UN partitioned Palestine. The entire crowd started singing Hatikvah in one of the most emotional moments I have ever seen. Those Holocaust survivors understood what it means ‘to be a free nation in our land’.

I have no influence on who serves on the Agudah Moetzes. But one thing is certain. Torah knowledge alone does not always result in Torah wisdom. That is what Rabbi Feldman’s explanation of the ban said to me.

A Step in the Right Direction

Conservative Rabbi, Daniel Gordis

One of Conservative Judaism's brightest lights is quitting the movement

I have always been an admirer of  Daniel Gordis for his intellectual honesty and the courage to follow his convictions. I find myself in agreement with a lot of what he says. Although we may have some theological and religious differences, his view of the decline of Conservative Judaism is right on target. 

He is of  a piece with other Conservative thinkers like Jack Wertheimer on these issues. If I recall correctly they both lament the fact that synagogue rabbis of the Conservative movement do not focus enough on promoting the observance of Halacha. Which they see as the primary cause of its demise. 

I agree. If as a Jew you do not distinguish yourself from even the most idealistic of your non Jewish peers, then what is it exactly that makes you Jewish other than an accident of birth? Why then even bother identifying as Jewish? Their views on the State of Israel are little more than the  progressive/left values that characterize much of Conservative Judaism's rabbinate. And that devolves into the kind of criticism usually heard by Israel's enemies.

This has caused Rabbi Gordis to abandon his once beloved theological home. Here in part is what he said in a Tmes of Israel article: 

In recent weeks… (on) Ravnet, the email listserv of members of (Conservative Judaism's) Rabbinical Assembly, (there has  been) a lot of absurd anti-Israel rhetoric.... By anti-Israel, I don’t mean “stuff I don’t agree with.” I mean anti-Israel...

When Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City was bombed (about four weeks ago) Rabbi Jill Jacobs, speaking on behalf of the 2300 Conservative rabbis and cantors that make up the membership of Teruah said...

...she mourned the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including many children. (Teruah) called for an immediate, independent investigation into the cause of the blast. 

“As we await independent confirmation of who was behind the bombing, we uplift the voices of Palestinians all over Gaza who are suffering a humanitarian disaster. Nearly 1 million Gazans are children, and the international community has a responsibility to intervene and ensure their safety.... 

“Collective punishment is a violation of international law...  

We echo the many family members of victims of Hamas’s attacks who — even in their grief — are calling for the Israeli government to de-escalate and prioritize the safe return of the hostages as well as humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza, knowing that seeking revenge will only result in more innocent lives lost and more families in mourning.

As most of the world now knows, that ‘bombing’ was the result of a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket that landed – NOT on  the hospital but in the parking lot next to it. And there were a lot less civilian casualties than the 500 reported by Hamas.  But that post is still up at their website albeit with a couple of disclaimers acknowledging that it was no Israel's fault.

 Rabbi Gordis had this reaction: 

THAT is what the Rabbis of Tru’ah are broken-hearted about? THAT is the violation of international law that has them up at night?

Try this edgy thought on for size: rabbis should care about Israel more than they care about Israel’s enemies. Rabbis should care about Jews more than they care about people who despise Jews and seek to slaughter them. I know … so very not PC.  

Could not agree with him more. Rabbi Gordis has a son in the IDF and who is currently risking his life for the Jewish people. The description of what his family is going through right now has moved him to reject the Conservative movement despite his warm recollections of his time at JTS. Which had members of his family on the faculty there.  While he had always been reluctant to leave the movement because of the love and respect he had for his late grandfather who proudly taught at the school, he now believes that radical changes  in the movement – like  those articulated by Jacobs on behalf of the 2300 members of Teruah  would now have made his grandfather proud of his decision.   

The question is, where does Rabbi Gordis go from here? I think that Orthodoxy (at least the left wing version of it) might have a place for him. It is true that I have some serious differences with the Orthodox left. But with respect to Rabbi Gordis that would surely be a major step up from where the Conservative movement is now.  Truly a step in the right direction.

Is ‘Never Again’ a Fading Moral Ideal?

Sometimes I feel like I’m living in an alternate universe. One that sees good as evil and evil as good. It includes righteous indignation about the moral high ground of those beliefs..

While I still have faith in the humanity and essential goodness of the vast majority of the American people, the illogic of those who would  see us – the Jewish people – as did Germany under Hitler is mind numbingly inexplicable.

What makes this even more perplexing is that this kind of perverse thinking is coming out of young people who are supposed to be the best and brightest among their collegiate peers in top universities like Columbia, Cornell, and Brandeis. 

Equally perplexing is the exposure of antisemitism on the part of Elon Musk - one of the  most successful achievers and entrepreneurs in the world! More about him later.

Not that any of this means that we are on the precipice of another Holocaust. We are not. Even though antisemitic incidents have increased to what seems like unprecedented numbers it nevertheless represents small minority of the American people. Although it is surely a lot louder and more intense than ever. 

What is most troubling to me is where the antisemitism is coming from. It is not from typical extremist right wing sources like White Supremacist’s or Neo Nazis.  Although still around and are often violent they are not the ones expressing it now. It comes from the exact opposite direction. The progressive left where many of our young people in academia reside politically these days. People that  believe they are promoting social justice for the oppressed peoples of the world. Most affected right now are Palestinians in Gaza. Whom they see being oppressed by a colonialist occupier, Israel. Whose military might is supplied by the US. The see daily images of death and destruction. And they believe Hamas body count of 12,000. 

These young people have joined Hamas supporting Palestinians protesters in the belief that they have a legitimate grievance against Israel. Not realizing that chants of ‘Free Palestine - from the river to the sea’ is a call for the extermination of the over 8 million Jews that live in Israel. And yet they accuse Israel of genocide.  

They either aren’t aware or ignore the real source of Palestinian misery. Which is the Iran backed and supplied Hamas. It is well established that Hamas uses their people  for the dual purpose of being human shields - or in the alternative - becoming martyrs if they are killed that way. It is mind-numbingly shocking that there is not the slightest recognition of that reality by young people who are supposedly the brightest among their peers. Can it be that they are at the core actual antisemites?

Then there is Elon Musk. One of the most recognizable names on the planet. Usually in a good way. I used to believe this quirky individual was all about achieving good for mankind while getting incredibly wealthy along the way. (Musk is currently the richest man in the world!)

But then, from CNN, this happened:

Agreeing with an antisemitic post on his social media platform X, Elon Musk endorsed the claim that Jewish communities push “hatred against Whites.”

An X post Wednesday afternoon said: “Jewish communties (sic) have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.” The post also referenced “hordes of minorities” flooding Western countries, a popular antisemitic conspiracy theory.

In response, Musk said: “You have said the actual truth.”

When someone like this agrees with a nonsensical antisemitic canard like that, it can only increase antisemitism . Is is reminiscent of another innovator and industrialist from 100 years ago - Henry Ford. Who disseminated an antisemitic pamphlet entitled Protocols of the  Elders of Zion. It promoted a ridiculous conspiracy theory about Jewish ‘elders’ conspiring to subjugate White Christian America and ultimately the entire world. 

Is history repeating itself?

Hard to say. But it clearly has the ominous overtones of  Ford's antimerism. That said it was gratifying to see the following from AP:

IBM, NBCUniversal and its parent company Comcast, and EU among others have pulled advertizing for X

I would remind readers that Musk is not the first prominent personality ty that revealed his deep seated negative sentiments about the Jewish people. Remember Kanye West? (He suffered a similar negative PR fate that Musk seems to be getting now.)

What does all this mean? Not sure. Still, I am gratified to see the corporate and near universal government response to it.  Which was to quickly condemn it and dissociate from it  But in my view there is still cause for concern. It seems the Holocaust may not be the ‘Never again’ moment we all thought it was. 

Is Agudah's Daas Torah Losing it's Grip on Charedim?

Agudah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Agudah website)

I hate to belabor a point. But this is an important one. It cannot be overstated. 

The Charedi world -specifically the non Chasidic world of Yeshivos like Lakewood - seeks the advice of their Gedolim on all matters, big and small. People they consider to be the most learned and devout among them. The older they are the more wisdom is attributed to them.  They consider the advice issued by the  Gedolim of the Agudah Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah  to be Daas Torah - the ‘wisdom of the Torah and the final word on all things that matter.

There is an open letter to Agudah circulating (which can be read here) written by an anonymous resident of Lakewood that challenges the leadership role of the Agudah Moetzes. 

Agudah has – since its inception – asked people who fit the above description of Gedolim to join them on an advisory board  they call the Moetzes Gedlolei HaTorah. In that role their wisdom is treated as the infallible word of God. 

Not that they actually deify them. They do not. They recognize that even Gedloim are human and can make mistakes. But in practice their advice is treated virtually like word of God, since they are deemed the most qualified to express His will. So much so that even as they might disagree, it is  considered practically blasphemous to not follow them. They call it  being Mevatel Daas - negating their own logic or common sense to the wisdom of  people greater then themselves. 

Agudah’s lay leaders and community rabbis of the Charedi world will therefore follow their Daas Torah edicts. If one attends an Agudah event – like the upcoming annual banquet always held around Thanksgiving weekend - you will hear Daas Torah repeated many times by multiple speakers – who will attribute defacto infallibility to them. 

This pretty much sums up the power of the Moetzes in the Charedi world. No one would challenge them and be able to retain their Charedi credentials. In that world, if you are not Charedi, you are at best ‘Krum’ and at worst a heretic!

The latest ‘edict’ issued by 5 members of the Moetzes was something I addressed recently. It was an edict forbidding the Charedi world from attending the March for Israel. One cosigner of that edict actually compared attendance to eating pork! It should also be noted that although the rest of the Moetzes did not sign that edict - their silence about it indicates at least tacit approval its message. 

The abovementioned letter noted that there appears to be a split in the Charedi world between Agudah’s natural constituency - which I call the moderate Charedi world - and those under the influence of BMG (Lakewood) Roshei Yeshiva. Although he didn’t  talk about the infallibility of these Gedolim, that is what seems to be at issue for him.

The truth is that there are huge numbers of Charedim that have privately stopped seeing the decisions of the Moetzes as binding. This has increasingly been the case. No where was this more evident than at that rally where the Charedi world was amply represented. (There were lots of black hats there.) 

The letter writer listed his Charedi bonafides and suggested that the Moetzes has lost much of their influence over people like him - Agudah’s natural constituency. A constituency that accepts the their world view that Torah study supersedes all else,. They are nonetheless actually working. Many of them have college or professional degrees, and generally engage with the world. Lakewood on the other hand has become more insular than ever. In other words there seems to be an unprecedented split in the Charedi world between moderates and right wing Charedim.

Does this mean the end of Daas Torah being seen as the infallible arbiter of all things mundane and holy?

I doubt it. Daas Torah as the Charedi world defines it will probably still wield its outsized influence on the right.  The question is whether moderates, like this letter writer will still see them that way. They will of course still be seen as  Gedolim. But their edicts will not necessarily be seen as the defacto word of God. 

Meanwhile the right flank that Lakewood comprises will indeed still treat them as infallible. Which is why hardly anyone (if any) from BMG attended the rally (There will surely be exceptions on both sides. But I think in the main, that is how it will break down.) The question is which of these two Charedi segments will end up winning the day. Will it be the moderates or the right?  

If I had to guess, I would  say that the right will win the day – continuing to treat their Daas Torah as infallible 

One may ask, ‘What about Modern Orthodoxy (MO)? Are they chopped liver? Truth is that they basically ignore the Charedi world and do not value their Daas Torah at all. Their edicts have zero impact on their lives. That is mostly true about the Modern Orthodox left.  

But to a Centrist like me what happens in that world matters.

That’s because there is practically no difference in lifestyles between Centrists like myself, and the moderate Charedi world. Our Hashkafic differences do not alter how we lead our lives. Centrists are just a tiny minority compared to their numbers. So we have to know which way the wind is blowing. What happens in the Charedi world doesn’t stay in the Charedi world. It affects Centrists too.

Chabad's Mixed Message at the March for Israel

770 today

It’s difficult for me at a time like this to criticize other Jews. Unity is clearly the order of the day.  So before I offer my criticism of Chabad, let me first say that I appreciate their participation in the March for Israel on Tuesday. They are not only part of Klal Yisroel, they have done more than any other Orthodox group to bring observance into the lives of assimilated Jews. This was no less true on Tuesday. (Unlike Agudah who chose to boycott the rally.)

That being said, I found it unconscionable for Chabad to advertise* their views about their long ago deceased Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, being Moshiach.

It’s true that their Meshichism has died down since their Rebbe died. It is rarely if ever brought up publicly by their mainstream.  But it has not disappeared. It is still apparently embraced by the mainstream as at least a hope and possibility that their Rebbe will rise from the dead in a second coming as Moshiach. I doubt that they will even deny it if asked explicitly – even  among those that might concede it is not likely.

To be absolutely clear about that belief, it is pure Shtus - nonsense! ...as my Rebbe,  Rav Ahron, used to say. However it is not nonsense to vast majority of Chabad. The evidence of that is what has been going on  since his death at their international headquarters in Crown Heights. Which they refer to as 770 (their address on Eastern Parkway). To the best of my knowledge they still have signs and posters all over the place declaring their late Rebbe to be Moshiach. They treat his almost as though he were alive. eve now more than 25 years after his death.

I have been told by a mainstream Chabad leader that what happens in 770 does not reflect the mainstream. When I asked him why the mainstream leadership allow this to go on at their international headquarters, he said they prefer not to use violence to rid 770. Removing these fanatics peacefully takes time. And that they were currently trying to remove them legally. That conversation took place years ago. 

To the best of my knowledge, nothing has changed. The overt Meshchists still run the place and exist all over the world. Including right here in Chicago. Mainstream Chabad here has basically banned them from their mainstream Shul and even their schools if I understand correctly. But they have not disavowed their beliefs. 

That these Meshichists decided to use a rally the purpose of which is to show the world the unity of the Jewish people to promote their messianism is, as I said, unconscionable.

Now it may very well be the case that their mainstream did not approve of what those Meshichists did. They may have even been upset by it. But I have not heard a word of criticism about it. 

Bottom line - even though I am pleased to have seen Chabad join in what may have been an unprecedented display of the unity of the Jewish people, using it this event as an opportunity to promote their Meshichist beliefs  diluted that support. Because it indicates a hidden agenda. Whether intended or not.

*Unfortunately, I lost the image of a Chabad tent that was sent up at the March for Israel proclaiming the Rebbe as Moshiach. Searched for it for about an hour and could no longer find it. But it was published on a Jewish news website somewhere. Which is what this post is based on.