Changing the Paradigm of the Charedi Jew

Photo credit: Israel Sun via Jewish Action

I have just read Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz’s article defending the Charedi way of life as the quintessential way for a Jew to live …and criticizing those who believe that Judaism is not a “one size fits all’ religion. He is entitled to his opinion. And I am entitled to believe he is wrong.  I don’t know how many times I have written about why I think so. Probably too many to count. So I am not going to do it here.

What I will say is that it isn’t just that he disagrees. It is the condescending way in which he does it. It is beyond his understanding that a Rabbi Dov Lipman who self identifies as Charedi can say the  things he did. Things which contradict the Charedi narrative.

Rabbi Lipschutz does a nice job explaining what he believes Charedism is about. It is about 

“basking in the glow of Abaye and Rava, Rashi and Tosafos, the Rambam, the Ramban and the Rashba, the Ketzos and the Nesivos, Rav Chaim and Rav Aharon, as well as the giants of our day.” 

OK. I understand that. Limud HaTorah in his world is exactly that: the joy of studying the minutia of the Talmud and all of its commentaries. It is about trying to understand its subtleties and absorbing its entire corpus and discussion of biblical and rabbinic law - which is the source of Jewish law as we practice it today.  To use a phrase the Yeshiva world uses - it is about the Geshmak of learning Torah.

In the course of extolling the virtues of the Charedi way of life that he cherishes - he attacks those who veer even slightly form that narrative. Only this time it is not the secular or DL crowd. It is Rabbi Dov Lipman who has himself imbibed in the "Geshmak of Torah". He has ‘basked in the glow’ of all those great historic religious figures. As a self defined Charedi he has never really left it. 

I’m sure he still agrees that if one is capable, has the love and commitment to it, he should do exactly that… continue basking in it. Those who have this kind of dedication and discipline are the rabbinic leaders of the future. No matter what Hashkafa one has, there is no question that Torah knowledge is paramount to rabbinic leadership.

Unfortunately Rabbi Lipschutz does not understand that. He sees Rabbi Lipman as some sort of sellout. Why? Well for one thing because he dares to praise as heroes those who are Kovieh Itim and learn Torah whenever they can – but spend most of their time supporting their families.  

Rabbi Lipschutz obviously sees them as second class citizens. They no longer bask in the glow of a R’ Akiva Eiger for example. They must suffice with learning Daf Yomi on a train on their way to work. It’s not that Rabbi Lipschutz criticizes them. Its that he criticizes Rabbi Lipman for praising them as the true heroes.

They are true heroes. They are Moser Nefesh for Limud HaTorah and do so even though they spend a full day working to support their families. Either by waking up early and learning in a Shiur or with a Chavrusa before Shachris… or learning late at night.... or on their way to work on a train. Are these people any less valuable than an Avreich who spends the entire day learning - leaving support for his family to others (e.g. his wife, parents, in-laws, or the Israeli taxpayer)?

He is critical of the philosophy that values equity in army service, claiming that for the first time the status quo agreement reached with Israel’s first prime minister David Ben Gurion  exempting Yeshiva students will be broken. He is critical of Rabbi Lipman for joining in the political party that advocates that. And he is even critical of  Orthodox Jews who have welcomed him into their synagogues to hear his views. 

None are as blind as those who will not see. Rabbi Lipshitz is guilty of willful blindness. The kind that refuses to see or understand that no one in Israel wants to destroy the Charedi way of life (except for some on the fringes of the left).  Least of all Rabbi Lipman. He actually wants to save it by creating a way for Charedim to be more self sufficient and do their fair share.  

Army service is about sharing the burden. It is also about mainstreaming Charedim into the workplace so that they can earn a livable wage and support their families. It is not about desroying a way of life… unless we are talking a way of life that is rapidly descending into a poverty in ways that they will  not be able to overcome.

Rabbi Lipman is not opposed to those who have the potential for rabbinic leadership getting an exemption or being supported.  It is in fact part of his party’s platform to exempt the truly talented Lomdei Torah and give them even more support than they receive now. He is just opposed to a system that insists that everyone ought to do it to the exclusion of all else – no matter what their strengths and weaknesses are or where their true talents lie.

What about the accusation that the army ruins people?  (…meaning taking Frum Jews and making them un-Frum because of the secular environment). That has already been answered by the creation of Nachal Charedi.

But I think it is a canard in any case. The only way the army will ruin you is if you already are ruined - or close to it. Truly committed Jews will not only - not - be ruined... they will come out stronger than they were before knowing that they have done their duty and remained Frum. 

I think that is true even for a woman. And I mean actual army service – not Sherut Leumi – the Chesed arm of mandatory army service for religious women. That may sound absurd in the face of the way female soliders are looked upon by religious Jews. I can understand why they think so.  And do not want to be seen as advocating religious women signing up for regular army duty.

But it is not impossible to be a Charedi woman and serve – remaining not only Frum – but even Charedi while in service and thereafter. If you don’t believe me, just read the story in Jewish Action about one such woman. Not only did she succeed, but she exploded the myth that the army won’t accommodate Charedi women.  They did. She even influenced her colleague female soldiers to become more observant. And eventually completed her army service honorably.

I don’t know how Rabbi Lipschutz sees this woman. No doubt he would say “Nebech” about her choices and claim Yehoreg V’al Ya’avor for any religious woman to try this. They would become ruined. 

Although I do not advocate woman doing regular army service - the Yehoreg V’Al Ya’avor paradigm is no longer valid in my view. Not in this new era of respect for observance by secular parties and with a record number of observant Jews serving in the K’nesset.

I think Rabbi Lipschutz would be wise to take a step back and re-evaluate his view of what is happening n Israel. There is no attempt to undermine Judaism at all. Instead of staying blind to this truth he would do well to open his eyes, see the truth, and then try and convince others in his camp to realize tha. And thereby not only save his world but add to it by making it more self sufficient and more supportive of the real Lomdei Torah - those whose natural desire and diligence for Limud HaTorah will make them future leaders in Klal Yisroel.

An Autonomous Charedi State

Photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 via Times of Israel

According to the Times of Israel the Charedi publication Hamodia has called for establishment of their own  autonomous zone in Israel. The feel that they have been mistreated. Here is how the Times put it:

As the Knesset works on legislation that could see most ultra-Orthodox men required to serve in the IDF or other national service frameworks, and planned budget cuts threaten the community’s already strained economy, Hamodia, the mouthpiece of the ultra-Orthodox Agudat Yisrael party, suggested self-rule was the best answer to unwanted secular intrusion. 

Quoting Hamodia it said: 

“Autonomy means independent administrative rule for internal matters without sovereign political status, with legal and financial independence and police, but without an army or foreign policy,” 

I find this approach to be both intriguing and at the same time very self serving. And frankly somewhat humorous. I have always thought that places like Meah Shearim ought to be given what they want – complete independence from the State of Israel.  They don’t think that the Jewish people have a right to their own state pre-Moshiach? That’s fine. Give them Meah Shearim and they can give it to which ever non Jews they choose to live under. I hear that there are some Palestinians that might be interested.

But this is different. Hamodia isn’t talking about only the rejectionist Jews of Meah Shearim.  They are talking about all Charedim – including those who have in the past worked with the government.

And they aren’t talking about seceding from Israel. They are talking about living there autonomously. They want to build a society of their own. They claim to have the ability to build their own infrastructure. They will have their own judicial system; their own political system; their own electric companies, roads, water works… and everything else necessary for a society to function independently. They look to Charedi  cities likes Bnei Brak and Beitar as their models for success.

Really? Hamodia thinks that a society that does not educate their children in anything but Torah study will enable them to build a society that functions? Where are they going to get people with the expertise to build all of the necessary components of a modern society? The engineers, the doctors, the dentists, the lawyers, the accountants, the urban planners, the police, the judges and the myriad other trained people who will be qualified to do the things that a city needs to function? From Brisk?

But let us grant that they will somehow find a way. Maybe they will change the paradigm a bit to allow some of their students to learn those disciplines so that they can have such a society. (Although I doubt it.)  

But here is the problem. They still want army protection. That is the advantage of having autonomy. You can then eat your cake and have it too. They will graciously allow secular and Dati Leumi Israelis to put their lives on the line for them.

Isn’t this what the whole debate is about in the first place?!

It does not cease to amaze me how clueless some of these people are. How can they think that this would in any way be acceptable? How will this new autonomous entity share the burden?  Maybe they think this is all about money… that their offer to live autonomously means that they will relieve the Israeli taxpayer of the burden of supporting them. I don’t know… that is an enticing concept. But if so, where will they get the money to replace what they receive now? How will this under-educated (aside from Torah knowledge) class with little marketable skills survive?

The only way their sincerity about living autonomously can be tested is if we require them to have their own army. That would be fair. Without it… all this amounts to is formalizing the status quo with respect to sharing the burden. Only they will be doing so in the form of an autonomous state. Why would the government of Israel want to do that?  In my view it would be an act of true humanitarian nature to deny this option to them. Because they will surely fail – even if they are granted protection by the IDF.

What about Bnei Brak or Beitar? I doubt they could exist as autonomous states. Don’t they realize that?

Why Not a (Peaceful) Counter Rally?

IDF soldiers (Nachal Charedi)

I don’t know who is behind this rally. But it is quite clear that those who are sponsoring it do not have any warm or fuzzy feelings for the State of Israel. Yet on this day... when literally millions of Jews in Israel are celebrating the birth of their modern State, it has been announced via Matzav that a rally will take place this coming Sunday in New York City to say Tehillim about the ‘terrible’ Gezeirah (decree) being enacted by the Israeli government. From Matzav: 

Matzav.com has learned that feverish )arrangements are being made for an atzeres tefillah to be held this coming Sunday, April 21, on New York City in light of the gezeiros being enacted by the government in Israel, specifically the implementation of a draft that would remove bochurim from their yeshivos and place them in the Israel Defense Forces. With the threat of the mandatory draft hanging over the yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, and the budget cuts that have slashed funding to mekomos haTorah, the Olam Hatorah in the Holy Land is facing daunting weeks and months ahead. 

“The gathering will not be a protest against the Israeli government,” an event organizer told Matzav.com, “but rather purely a tefillah gathering, for thousands of Yidden to beseech Hashem for mercy at this most trying time. It will not be a political event.” 

A kol koreh signed by leading rabbonim and roshei yeshiva encouraging attendance at the atzeres tefillah is currently being compiled and will be released as early as later today. 

The gathering, to be held in downtown Manhattan, will feature the recital of Tehillim, divrei hisorerus, and kabbolas ohl Malchus Shomayim. The exact time of the event has not been released, though it is expected to be some time in the early afternoon. 

I have to marvel at the way this is being characterized by the organizers. They say it will not be a protest against the Israeli government while practically in the same breath they speak about Gezieros ( …as in ‘evil’ Gezeiros. In their circles when one uses that term, they do not mean it as a compliment.)

Although I have expressed disappointment and opposition to the way this is being handled by rabbinic leaders in Israel and even here, I understand their angst. And their desire to be spared this ordeal. Their emphasis on prayer to God to relieve them of this ‘burden’ is therefore understandable too.

Even though I understand it, I do not support it. Far from it. In my view doing this in the middle of Manhattan in broad daylight is still a loud and terrible statement to be making to the world. The world will not understand that they are not protesting Israel no matter how they parse it in statements like the above announcement in Matzav. They can say all day long that they are not protesting Israel. The fact that they will be out there in the middle of Manhattan talking about Gezeiros says otherwise.

Had they done so indoors in private setting it would be one thing. People can pray for whatever they want in private. Doing so in public does not add to their prayers. It instead speaks to their opposition to the State – protestations to the contrary notwithstanding. Actions like this speak louder than any explanation. And how will news of this feel to those IDF soldiers who risk their lives daily?

I don’t know who the signatories to this Kol Korei will be. But I would urge prominent Rabbanim of any stripe not to sign it. I doubt that God will see any greater value of this prayer rally being done in public over being done in private. The only value it will have is to bring publicity to them. In my view very negative publicity.

Can it really be the case that rabbinic leaders think God will listen better to them if they do so in public? And how will it be seen by the New York City public that will be forced to be inconvenienced by the almost certain traffic jams this rally will cause? Is unnecessarily inconveniencing the public - and making them angry at us - the way to God’s ‘heart’?

If the streets are going to be blocked off for this prayer rally anyway, I would love to see a counter rally in close proximity held by members of Mizrachi where there will also be Kabbolas Ol Malchus Shamyim. But the Divrei Hisorerus and Tehilim will be said for the safety of IDF soldiers instead.  

There should be nothing negative said against the other rally. There should be no bashing of the other side at all. Just a pro Israel rally for the troops and a lot of flag waving… Israeli flags, of course.

This would speak volumes to our brothers and sisters in arms across the ocean risking their lives daily to fight our enemies while protecting our country. Wouldn’t it be nice if some of those attending the other rally would come over and join?  That would be a Kiddush HaShem in my view. Frankly I think God might better appreciate those prayers than the other ones.

Update: (4/17/13) 

It appears the prayer rally has been cancelled. I don't know if it is because of the events in Boston and the police cancelled it... or whether the rabbinic leaders themselves canclled it reacting to Boston. Or if it is because as YWN suggests that an Israeli rabbinic leader -R' Aharon Leib Steinman - opposed it. Or because there was some internal dissent. But whatever the reason - I am at once both  happy and sad.  Happy that it was cancelled but sad that the organizers still believe that such an event was warranted. If on the other hand it was because of R' Steinman or the internal dissenters - that would make me very happy! 

Déjà Vu in Boston

Scene form yesterday's horrific event in Boston - source: Gawker

Yesterday’s terrorist bombing in Boston should make one thing very clear. Something I already know. You cannot kill an idea.

Ever since 9/11 there has been a major effort by the world – in particular the United States – to prevent the kind of thing that happened yesterday. And for about 12 years it has been pretty much successful. But those efforts fell short yesterday.

The Boston Marathon was an ideal target for an attack like this. Lots of people in a relatively confined space.  Very ripe for maximum damage by a terrorist attack. Boston is not a little hick town. It is a major US city that knows how to protect itself. And the federal government via the Department of Homeland Security - I’m sure - put maximum effort into preventing this kind of attack.

I am absolutely convinced that to the best of human capacity no stone was left unturned in that goal. Every modern security innovation was probably utilized in service of that. And yet a terrorist managed to explode two very lethal bombs in that crowd killing 3 people and wounding over a hundred.  Some of them critically. Some of them losing limbs. Those bombs were built with shrapnel in them for maximum damage.

As of now officials are not commenting on who is responsible. Although a ‘Saudi National’ here on a student visa is being questioned – no blame has yet been assigned, or cause identified.  Nor do they know if it was an individual acting alone or acting as part of some group.

Evidence collected so far seems to indicate that whoever did this knew what he was doing. And probably got the know-how from Jihadist websites like ‘Inspire’ that advocate lone acts of terror for their cause and show people how to build bombs for maximum carnage.

This brings me to the obsession the US government has with Al Qaida and like minded terrorist organizations. I truly believe that the government is barking up the wrong tree. I don’t believe that there is one large Jihadist organization (or even a few) that directs their followers from on high. These groups are probably not that organized  and very likely not centralized… or even that big.

But they all do have one thing in common: A form of Islamist extremism that sees glory in death for their cause. This is what they preach and it is why some of the  more devout among them are willing to commit suicide for their cause. This explains 9/11. And it probably explains yesterday in Boston.  The problem is not Al Qaida or other groups like them. It is their ideals and their use of the internet to get their message out to the masses quickly. A message also picked up by non Islamists who have their own goals.

So going after an organization – no matter how big or little should not be the ultimate goal. Subduing Al Qaida or some other Jihadist group will not prevent the next Jihadist attack. It is the idea that must be dealt with.

I don’t know if Islamist/Jihadists are behind this particular event. It could be any one of variety of other fringe groups or people:  Anarchists, White Supremacists, Neo Nazis, crazed environmental terrorists, or just some insane person… who knows. There is no way to ever insure complete safety in this world from people like this – least of all from violent people with psychoses. But that doesn’t mean we don’t try. The US government is trying. But I think they ought to focus more on the ideas behind terror than they do on the people or organizations perpetrating them.

I don’t mean to say they should lighten up current security measures in public spaces that are likely targets. Far from it. They should probably increase security by learning what went wrong in Boston yesterday. But If I were the head of the US Counter Terrorism Unit, I would focus on what they believe rather on than on which group is calling the shots.

Al Qaida is but one of many groups like this. There are probably hundreds like them – all independent of each other.  But they all have one thing in common – an Islamist/Jihadist philosophy that in pursuit of their goals includes death and terror to innocent victims. One terrorist ‘sleeper cell’ in a city like New York or Chicago can exist for years before they strike. Meanwhile they assimilate themselves into society where they hide in plain sight while they wait for the ‘right’ opportunity.

That sleeper cell may be independent or they may belong to Al Qaida or any of the hundreds of Islamist/Jihadists. The point is that it really doesn’t matter if they do or they don’t. Their greater service is to Allah. Not to Al Qaida. They see themselves as serving  God’s goals. That is what really motivates them all. Not the goals of a particular organization. These organizations are about the ideals of Islamism, spreading them,  and how to go about achieving them by any means necessary - including terror.

How does one fight an idea? I don’t know. Nor will successfully fighting it prevent criminally insane people from doing something like this. But we ought to at least realize where most of the real problem lies.

A word about the events of yesterday. For me – as I’m sure was the case for most others - it was déjà vu. The magnitude was not nearly the same as 9/11. But the fact that the US was once again attacked in this way took me back to that September day in 2001. Viewing the scenes of carnage on TV made me recoil in much the same way I did on 9/11. But what I also saw was why America is called the Medina Shel Chesed.

When the first bomb exploded, there were dozens of people who immediately ran toward the explosion instead of running away from it. They saw fellow Americans in distress and in an instant became selfless first responders. Many acts of heroism took place yesterday in Boston by common people who originally came to view a marathon and cheer on the runners. 

These were ordinary Americans whose first impulse was Chesed toward others – disregarding their own personal safety. No doubt many lives were saved because of them.  My hat is off to this magnificent people – the people of the United States of America.

A Bright Light - Dimmed

Rabbi Michael Broyde

What a sad day for Modern Orthodoxy. One of its brightest lights has been dimmed. According to a JTA report - the brilliant Rabbi Michael Broyde has been suspended indefinitely from the RCA’s  Beth Din of America. From the JTA:

“Rabbi Broyde has admitted to behavior that the Rabbinical Council finds extremely disturbing,” said Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, the president of the Rabbinical Council of America, the court's parent body. “We have determined and announced by the Beth Din of America, our affiliated rabbinical court, that he has ceased to serve as a dayan [judge] immediately and indefinitely.” 

What did he do to deserve this? From the expose by Steven I. Weiss in the Jewish Channel Newsdesk: 

The Goldwasser character (Rabbi Broyde’s pseudonym) also joined a professional rabbinic organization that rivals the one of which Broyde is a member, giving the Goldwasser character access to thousands of messages a year through its members-only listserv e-mail discussions and other members-only correspondence regarding its plans and positions. And while the Goldwasser character consistently claimed to be corresponding with that organization from a home in Israel, the Internet Protocol, or IP, addresses attached to those e-mails show they were sent from a Comcast subscriber in Atlanta and from Emory University facilities… The Goldwasser character has also been used for other means, such as commenting on blogs and engaging in scholarly correspondence.

 Broyde has often written or spoken publicly about the members of the IRF and the positions they’ve taken, sometimes expressing strong disagreement or condemnation, and sometimes expressing support for their positions.

Multiple rabbis who would not speak on the record out of concern for their careers said Broyde would occasionally speak about the IRF’s plans and discussions as though he had direct knowledge of them, even though he was not a member. According to these rabbis, when Broyde was asked how he’d obtained the exclusive information, he’d say that he obtained it from anonymous sources. 

At first denying it, he subsequently admitted and apologized. He did so publicly on Hirhurim – where is a frequent guest contributor. Here is part is what he said: 

It was an error of judgment on our part to join any professional organization. We did so in an era in which membership was not verified at all and no fee was charged, but it was still something that my own rabbayim would not approve of and thus I regret. I am truly and genuinely sorry for this.

I regret the occasional “sock puppeting” but it does not seem extremely harmful and is quite common. With hindsight, I am sure that this was a mistake, too – but anyone who has read the comments section of the Orthodox Jewish blog world knows that they are very harsh and unkind. I erred by sometimes saying something nice or validating in order to change the conversational tone. I do regret it. 

This has been quite shocking to me. I was a fan. In fact I still am a fan of his brilliant Halachic mind. I do not consider him an evil person. But I do consider this a grievous mistake on his part. The RCA made the right decision in firing him. My heart truly goes out to this man.  Although I did not know him personally, I have had some e-mail conversations with him and have gleaned from those that he is a man of high moral character. In this one instance (albeit a 20 year long one) he had a moral lapse. I think he admitted that and apologized. For some reason he did not see what he was doing was all that wrong. He says he did not mean anyone any harm. 

But I must add that his self promotion (sock-puppeting) by way of those fake blog comments is more than a little disappointing. I know what he means by the level of conversation being very course in the comments sections of blogs. I suppose one can’t be blamed for trying to avoid them.

But to self promote goes beyond merely avoiding the venom. It is tantamount to seeking Kavod. That is one of the most surprising things to me about this. My conversations with him indicated quite the opposite about his character. He had always expressed himself with self effacing modesty. Always willing to sacrifice himself for the good of Judaism.

But that was not the case here.  Chazal tell us, when one chases Kavod, Kavod runs away from them. Now that Rabbi Broyde has been so quickly and indefinitely relieved of his duties on the RCA Beth Din, his Kavod has been severely compromised.

Aside from the harm this has caused the Modern Orthodox community, no doubt it must be causing him a great deal of personal grief. Not only to him, but to his family. And to his congregation. And to his students. My heart goes out to all of them, including Rabbi Broyde himself.

I still believe that he is a man of integrity who was somehow blind to the lack of it displayed in this 20 year long escapade.

The man made a mistake. He is human. Nevertheless - as  a result he has been dishonored by his own rabbinic fraternity. He is paying the price.

I for one will still be on the lookout for scholarly articles by him in the future. A mind like his is a terrible thing to waste. I still consider him a bright light in matters of Halacha and Hashkafa.

We all make mistakes. Some of us make big ones. The trick is to learn from them and to never repeat them. I believe that will most definitely be the case with Rabbi Broyde. I wish him well

The Winds of Change?

Everything stops as a siren sounds on Yom HaZikaron

Last night I stumbled into a program on public television that documented a historical event I was not fully aware of - the founding of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO). This was a story not only about Israel, but about the Holocuast.

A little known hero (outside of the music world in Israel) by the name of Bronislaw Huberman - a Jewish violin virtuoso - had a vision of creating a world class orchestra in pre-state Palestine. This was in the mid 1930s.  Jews were already being persecuted in Nazi Germany.  And yet it was difficult for them to get into the holy land. Because of a British White Paper small quotas were established.  Certificates were needed for entry.

Limited in number Ben Gurion who headed the Jewish Agency gave out those certificates sparingly. He wanted people who would work the land. He had no intention of giving any to musicians that he thought would leave soon after they came. Long story short, via the efforts of Chaim Weitzman – Huberman not only brought in the some of most talented European musicians to Israel, his perseverance ended up creating one of the finest orchestras in the world. Its first conductor was the world renowned Arturo Toscanini. The IPO maintains its world class reputation to this day.

One of the most moving portions of this documentary was a scene I have seen dozens of times. It never fails to move me when I see. It is the moment in 1948 when Ben Gurion stands up and declares the establishment of the Independent State of Israel. I almost always tear when I see it. As I do when I hear the Israel’s national anthem in this context. It was one of the first pieces of music played by the IPO in the late thirties. Anyone who has even the slightest awareness of what that day means to survivors of the Holocaust should feel the same way. I have no doubt that they do.

There are some who might say that the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is not important to the Jewish people. That cultural achievements are of little significance compared to the observance of Mitzvos and the study of Torah. While I agree that these are of the most paramount importance, I strongly disagree with the notion that cultural institutions like a national orchestra are not significant.

The physical and emotional well being of a nation are important too. Cultural institutions are an important contribution to these aspects of a nation. It is also important what image it projects to the world.

Israel has not only cultural achievements it has other achievements outside the Torah world too. As I have in the past noted the number of Nobel Prize winners per capita in Israel is far in excess than the per capita Noble Prize winners in other countries. Israel’s contributions to the world in the fields of medicine, science, technology, and art were things that President Obama noted as well during his recent trip. This is what a nation of motivated Jews can do – even when they are under constant threat of attack and even annihilation by its enemies.

Today is the 5^th day of Iyar on the Jewish calendar. That is the date in history when Israel was declared a state. Although it is being celebrated tomorrow in Israel for technical reasons having to do with the sanctity of Shabbos - those who say Hallel on Yom Ha’atzmaut as my Rebbe Rav Ahron Soloveichik did say it today.  Israel is today observing Yom HaZikaron – its memorial day for fallen soldiers.

I am proud of what my people have accomplished in this land. Even with some of the real problems in there including but not limited to the Charedi world, it cannot be denied that Israel has grown into perhaps the greatest Makom Torah in the world.

Israel truly has it all. I only wish that those segments who see value only in their own world would recognize the contributions of the other. Although I think the ice is beginning to thaw a little bit in that department.  Not all Secular Jews think Charedim are a bunch of non contributing parasites. And not all Chjaredim think that secular Jews are rabid destroyers of Torah. As has been pointed out here many times, Israelis are far more observant than Charedim have ever given them credit for. From the Huffington Post:

A recent poll (2012, by the Guttman Institute and the AVI CHAI Foundation) found that 85 percent of Israeli Jews say that it is important to celebrate Jewish holidays in the traditional manner; 63 percent don't mix meat and milk, and 35 percent do not watch TV on Shabbat.

What is also true is that many Charedi writers like Jonathan Rosenblum and Moshe Grylak realize that.  And devoutly secular Jews like Yair Lapid have conceded that ‘the Charedim have won’… and said it non begrudgingly. He asked only that they take their triumph and contribute to the national welfare not only in Torah but in sharing other burdens as well.

Which brings me to the rejectionists led by people like the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel. I can’t help saying this but his views on the state of Israel actually make me physically ill. From Matzav - here in part is what he said last week:

Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar this past week addressed the attempts to draft Israeli yeshiva bochurim into the IDF, calling it “a gezeirah worse than the annihilation of the Jewish people.” He said that the supporters of the move are “worse than those who murdered us.”

This was matched earlier this year by brother, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum who:

...called the State of Israel and Zionists “the generation’s Amaleik,” adding that “the Zionists came from the seed of Amalek. There has never been such a sect that caused so much damage to the Jewish people.”

I doubt that the two Satmar Rebbes will observe Yom HaZikaron or Yom Ha’atzmaut… since their uncle R’ Yoel Teitelbaum considers the existence of the State of Israel an affront to God and calls every miracle in all its wars the work of the devil.

Fortunately there are plenty of Charedim who increasingly reject this attitude. Among them a very thoughtful Charedi writer by the name of Mendel Horowitz, a self-identified ultra-Orthodox Jew – complete with beard and peyos. He writes in the Jerusalem Post:

For the first time in my 17 years living in Israel I plan to observe Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, not because I am Israeli – I am not – but because I am Jewish.

For me there was always a difference. Come April 15 I will escort my visiting American students to Mount Herzl where we will hear eulogies for those fallen. We will recite Psalms and grieve…

Then there is another Charedi writer by the name of Avraham Edelstein who writes in the Huffington Post:

Haredim recognize that great miracles were performed in the founding of the State... And that those miracles were followed by the miracles of '67 (especially), '73 and pretty much every war we have been through or suffered under since. We deeply appreciate the enormous sacrifice that the early pioneers made to create the miracle of the land, and I marvel to this day the encroachment of green fields into the Negev. We all derive tremendous benefits from living in a high-tech, well run economy; a thriving democracy where we can all give our utmost passion to our causes (almost) without anyone killing anyone.

Yes, perhaps things are changing. It’s really too bad that there are some rabbinic leaders like the Satmar Rebbes who think that Israel’s founders, current leaders and supporters, are worse than the Nazis. Or Amalek. Hopefully their own Chasidim will reject what their Rebbes say and finally join the growing trend to recognize that what Israel has truly become - a modern day miracle.

Would Anne Frank Have Objected?

Anne Frank - Source: The Forward

I hate to defend a pop icon whose music I can’t stand, but justice demands that I do so.

Justin Bieber has apparently has done something that has drawn a lot of criticism. While visiting the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam he wrote the following in the guest book:  

‘Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber’.

As a child of the Holocaust whose parents were survivors, I stand second to no one when it comes to respecting the enormity of the tragedy and sensitivities of survivors. I am extremely sensitive to the littlest slight.  I have been a long time student of that period of history and my antennae are always up about people who minimize what happened or try to revise history.  But the criticism of Beiber is truly going too far.

While it is true that there should never be any trivialization of any aspect of the Holocaust, I do not consider what Beiber said to have had any demeaning intent or content. The very fact that he visited the that museum shows that he actually cares about it… and is sensitive to what happened back then. Anne Frank was captured by the Nazis and shipped off to a concentration camp where she died. Her diary was the first published glimpse of the horrors of that period. 

There are some issues that should not be put in any context other than one of horror. Any Holocaust story falls into that category. So what Beiber wrote may have been inappropriate. And I emphasize the word 'may'.  However it was made in complete innocence and was probably just meant as an expression of how normal she would have been as a teenager in today’s society. In no way do I see what he said as undermining the horror she went through.

Those who criticize him may be well intended. But they are wrong. Beiber may be a bit eccentric, self centered, and at age 19 a bit naïve, but he is not a bad person. Quite the contrary. My impression is that although a mega-star and multi-millionaire, he is basically a good kid. The media attention to this is way over-board. He ought to be left alone. He did nothing wrong.

I actually feel bad that he has to go through this kind of undeserved negative media attention. But in every cloud, there is a silver lining.  The reaction to what he said in social media was swift and highly critical. Even though I disagree with it, it says a lot about the American people (or at least his fans) that they feel the Holocaust is sacred and ought not be treated trivially.

Bringing Ridicule upon Us in the Name of God

Photo credit - Reddit

There was an interesting blurb in last week’s Mishpacha about a Psak (Halachic decision) by Rav Elyashiv.

When candidate Barack Obama visited Israel in 2008, he wanted to visit the Kotel and asked that he be given access in the early morning hours so as to avoid the crowds. The Kotel Rabbi, R’ Shumel Rabinowitz, felt that bringing a US Presidential candidate, his entourage, and the attendant crush of media people would be disruptive to those who daven K’Vosekin – praying at sunrise. So he asked R’ Elyashiv whether he should accommodate his request.

R’ Elyashiv said that candidate Obama should absolutely be allowed to visit the Kotel at his convenience. Since (then) Senator Obama represented the United States - a Malchus Shel Chesed (‘kingdom of kindness’) – he was deserving of the utmost respect.

Would that all of Jewry have this attitude. Unfortunately there are some of us who have a ‘slightly’ different approach. While the not really the same thing, I can’t help contrasting this with what has to be the latest example of ‘Judaism made to look stupid’… all in the name of Torah observance.

There is a picture of a Charedi looking individual in flight wrapped up in a plastic bag. This picture has gone viral… as has a video* of some young people ridiculing it on some sort of TV program.

What people like this fellow have accomplished over the years is to create an atmosphere whereby their  extremism in the cause of Chumra has brought ridicule upon us.  The ‘Chumra’ of this generation is Tznius. I need not go into how far some of these extremes have taken us into the area of ridicule. Just to mention one example – the time where the Charedi mayor of Beitar Illit was reprimanded because he forgot to photoshop his wife out a picture of a group of people surrounding a snowman they built!

The young pundits on this program thought he covered himself up in a plastic bag because he wanted to avoid contact with the women on the plane. That reaction was no doubt generated by constant barrage of ‘Tznius extremism’ by extremist Charedim brought to public attention by the media. Not an unreasonable conclusion. But it was immediately made clear that that was not his motivation. He was a Kohen and sought to protect himself from Tumah –  spiritual contamination.

Although there are a few exceptions we no longer practice these laws. But Kohanim (those who descend from the priestly line of the first Kohen, the biblical Aaron) - do.  A Kohen must avoid any contact that would make him spiritually unclean. In most cases this means avoiding corpses. There are various ways that they go about this. The laws are very complex. One of those ways is by avoiding being in the same room with a corpse or passing over a grave site. Tumah rises straight up in the open air (it does not spread sideways) and fills up any enclosed area.

This fellow probably feared that there was a corpse on board. (That is occasionally the case as many people who wish to be buried in Israel after they die are transported as cargo on board commercial flights.) One of the ways a Kohen can be protected is by being in his own enclosure. That will prevent the Tumah from entering and contaminating him spiritually. My guess is that this was his goal.

In a vacuum I have no problem with him doing that. But on a commercial fight where normal people are on board, this can only bring ridicule upon our people.  It was not necessary for him to do that. There are better ways for a Kohen to avoid Tumah. Not being a Kohen myself, I am not the one to advise him. But I don’t think there is a single Kohen who has ever wrapped himself up in a plastic bag. And they all take flights. They find ways which are normal to avoid a problem that is specific to them.

Obviously this fellow didn’t care what people said about him. Frankly neither do I. But I do care what people say about the Jewish people.

When a Gadol says that we must honor a political leader in the US because he represents the United States, that is a Kiddush HaShem. When a Jew who appears to the world as the most religious among us act like a fool that is a Chilul HaShem.  That this fellow doesn’t realize what he has done with his foolishness – or worse, doesn’t care – is why I constantly criticize it when it happens.

I wish I didn’t have to. But unfortunately this kind of behavior seems to be on the increase.  Why is this so? I’ve said this before. The insularity in which they live breeds both ignorance of the outside world and contempt for it. In these circles non Jews are at best tolerated. But they are looked down upon. Or worse seen as anti Semites. The attitude I often hear them express about “Goyim” is that they hate us anyway so why bother being decent to them?! They hide their contempt when they seek public benefits. The condescension to non Jews is expressed only among themselves. Trouble is that it is not only wrong but only a ignoramus born of insularity would ever think that they can keep this attitude private.

So now once again, I am forced to disavow and protest that this fellow’s behavior very loudly. It has nothing to do with normative Jewish behavior. No matter what his motive was.

*Warning - images in this video may be offensive to some people.

The Sharansky Option

Women of the Wall - photo source: The Forward

Natan Sharansky has come up with a plan that he feels is a workable compromise between Charedim and heterodox movements. It will enable people to attend egalitarian prayer services (where men and women have equal stature in all ritual aspects of a Minyan) at the Kotel (the Western Wall), Israel’s holiest accessible site. I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu supports it.

There has been a lot of controversy at the Kotel in recent times where some women have tried to buck traditional practices at the Kotel by holding unusual services there. The Women of the Wall (WoW) have tried to have a monthly women’s prayer service there that includes such traditional male modalities as wearing a Talis, and doing Kriyas HaTorah.

This has disturbed the Charedi world since it is such a wide departure from tradition - which has always dictated practices at the Kotel. They complained to the government. The Government responded with new rules about a woman wearing a Talis that has resulted in multiple arrests every Rosh Chodesh when WOW tires to hold its services at the main plaza. It happened again a few days ago.

I have in the past argued against this group because I felt that they were more about demanding women’s rights than they were about serving God in ways they choose to do so. There was no rule against their having any type of service they choose at a different location along the Kotel called “Robinson’s Arch”. But they have chosen to do their service at the main Kotel Plaza and thereby upset the traditional worshipers there who feel that at best they are a distraction.

That these women are sincere in their devotion to God is somewhat undermined by their insistence that they use an area used by traditionalists who have always done their prayer services quietly and individually without drawing any attention to themselves.

The argument by WoW and their supporters is that people should have the right to pray anywhere they choose along the main Kotel Plaza and they insist on doing so to make a point of that.

I have come around to the view that these women should be left alone. As long as they are not disruptive – who cares if they are wearing a Talis… or doing Kriyas HaTorah?!  At the same time if conflict can be avoided – it should be. If WoW  could be given a place that is both free and similar in size to the main Kotel Plaza, I think they should take it and avoid any future  conflict.

Sharansky’s proposal addresses another women’s issue - egalitarian Minyan. This is not WoW. There are no men in their group. Technically I suppose there are no Halachic issues with WoW – other than breaking traditional non Halachic taboos.

But feminism has given rise to egalitarianism in heterodox movements. In order to preserve the peace and accommodate both Charedim and those who seek egalitarian Minyanim – he has proposed that Robinson’s Arch (which is out of view from the main Kotel plaza) be expanded so that its space equal that of the main Kotel Plaza… and that there be free access to it in the future. This would in essence be the actual realization of separate but equal rights for Heterodox movements.

Just to be clear about mixed setting for prayer at the Kotel… I don’t think this is an issue. The only place where there is a requirement to separate the sexes via a Mechitza (partition) is where there is Kedushas Beis HaKenneses. That means that only in a Shul does a woman’s presence interfere with the Minyan. Outside of a Shul women may be present… as is the case at weddings or banquets in hotels where there are ad hoc Minyanim for Mincha and Maariv all the time. Women are present and in view of the men. They are not separated by any partition.

The question about whether the Kotel serves as a Shul has been answered by history. Archival photos show that in pre-state days going back to the 19^th century  - men and women were not separated when they came to pray at the Kotel. I do not therefore believe that the Kotel area can be classified as having Kedushas Beis HaKeneses.

But separating the sexes has long ago become the practice at the Kotel. There is now a Mechitza there. This is how the holiest site in Israel is treated now. I suppose that it is better that way since during busy times like Birchas Kohanim on Yomim Tovim - it can be pretty crowded and having men and women squeeze together at the Kotel is not the best way to Daven. But in my view it is not Halachicly necessary to separate the sexes for purposes of prayer at the Kotel.

And yet, in theory I oppose an egalitarian Minyan at the Kotel. Not because there is anything wrong with men and women Davening in the same place. But because it makes a religious ritual out of it. To put the stamp of religion on the practices which take place in egalitarian Minyanim that are against Halacha (e.g. including women in the count for a Minyan) cannot be anything that a Halachic Jew can agree with. To do so at Judaism’s holiest site just adds ‘insult to injury’. Also, giving heterodoxy any kind of imprimatur by the government lends legitimacy to them which I certainly do not support.

That said I am also a seeker of peace. Opening up Robison’s Arch for egalitarian purposes will help solve the growing conflict between Orthodox Jews and Heterodox Jews. I would therefore not physically protest Israel’s secular government for establishing it. Egalitarian Minyanim at Robinson’s Arch would not disrupt the people who choose to worship in traditional non egalitarian ways at the main Kotel plaza. Each group would have their own separate but equal access to Judaism’s holiest site.

What about standing up for my beliefs? I empathize somewhat with Rabbi Avi Shafran’s take. And like him I still oppose what they do and will continue to say so (as I just have). At the same time public protests at the site would only generate more enmity and I oppose that (…not that R’ Avi has suggested that it should be publicly protested). That is not good for anyone. I will instead leave it for Moshiach’s times to sort it all out. Until then I think it is to the benefit of all to try and have peace among ourselves and not fight un-winnable internal wars.

WoW would hopefully also take advantage of this new site for their own purposes… and Shalom Al Yisroel… we can have peace in our time (at least among ourselves – at least on this issue). Unfortunately there are other problems unrelated to interdenominational differences that may scuttle the deal anyway. Like opposition from the Waqf -- the Muslim body that controls the Temple Mount. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Obligations, Rights, and Culture

The key to Jewish continuity is the subject of Gil’s post today. He excerpts British Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’ book on the subject - who posits that the key is not culture but duty.

I think that’s right. In fact one of Rav Soloveitchik’s most oft quoted statements on the subject is the Judaism is a religion of obligations (duties) not rights. This is what Halacha is.

The common feature of these two statements is that it is duty and not some other value whether legitimate or not – that determines Judaism.

If I recall correctly - the Rav’s statement was made in response to the issue of feminism (what used to be called women’s rights issues). 

Feminism is a legitimate issue. Women should be given the same rights as men. But when it comes to the values of Judaism rights take a back seat to obligation. Obligation is what counts. Rights can only be exercised in that context. If Judaism forbids a practice, no one has a right to permit it. Not for themselves. Not for others. No matter how unfair it might seem. The same thing is true for culture. No matter how positive or attractive culture is, that too takes a back seat to obligation.

It is clear to me that if there is no obligation, there is no Judaism.  Someone who strongly identifies as a Jew culturally but does not obligate himself to any Mitzvah requirement cannot seriously perpetuate that version of Judaism.  Jewish humor, Jewish food, Jewish music, Yiddish theater, or even the Yiddish language are all obviously Jewish things.  But does eating gefilte fish, make one a Jew?

The Reform Movement would have you believe that. They say that if one lives like a Jew, then he is a Jew, regardless of whether he is observant.  Not that they consider doing Mitzvos unimportant. But they are only important culturally and not better or worse than Yiddish theater for example. So that Yiddish theater and gefilte fish are the same as eating Matzah on Pesach.

In theory one can just do all non Mitzvah related Jewish cultural activity and be a Jew in good standing in Reform Judaism.  This was also the ideal of the founding fathers of secular Zionism. Halacha was not defining. It was the culture that mattered. To the extent that rituals played any part was to the extent that they perpetuated the culture. To someone like Prime Minister Ben Gurion - the Torah learned in a Yeshiva was important only to the extent that it perpetuated Jewish culture. He had no personal use for Halacha.

If that is the definition of Judaism, then there is no Judaism.  It is merely faddism. Once the fad changes so too does the definition. The Jewish culture of a thousand years ago that is not based in Halacha will hardly resemble the Jewish culture of today. In order for a religion to maintain its longevity the way Judiasm has, there has to be a system of absolutes that are immutable over time and are a continual part of our lives. In Judaism, those absolutes are obligations given to us by the Torah. They are called Halacha.

At the end of the day, culture has little to do with how we define ourselves. To the extent that it has anything at all to do with it – is to the extent that our religious practices have become part of our culture. The reverse is obviously untrue. Culture does not determine Halacha. Nor do rights.

Heterodoxy seems to put a far greater emphasis on non obligatory things like rights and culture. When they conflict with obligation - rights and culture wins. This has given rise to 20^th and 21^st century innovations by Heterodoxy that have changed the face of Judaism in unprecedented ways.  

But rights based activism is challenging Halacha even in some Orthodox circles. The only difference between left wing Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy is that the former still recognizes the primacy of obligations over culture or human rights. But still - the Halachic envelope is pushed as far as it can be. It is almost as if they are saying that Halachic obligations are an impediment to human rights and our ability to enjoy the culture! But… let us hold our collective noses and do what we must while pushing that envelope as far as we can.

That’s why we are seeing some very strange innovations in some parts of the Orthodox world. But you can’t turn a camel into a horse no matter how much you try. Let’s take Women’s Teffilah Groups as an example. I am not putting them down  - but if you want egalitarian Minyanim – Women’s Teffilah Groups don’t even come close. 

In my view, this attitude is wrong. We need to have a far more positive view of our obligations to God and not see them as impediments to our rights or our ability to participate in the cuture. We need to re-prioritize what we see as important in our lives. Halacha should be number one. Because that is the true key to our continuity.