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| Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (TOI) |
First let me acknowledge that both Rabbis Meir Kahane and
Shlomo Carelbach were indeed counter cultural figures. Let me also acknowledge that
they both have made a major impact on the Jewish world. And as Rabbi Nataf also
correctly noted they could not be more different from each other. And yet had in common that they inspired a lot of Jewish youth. But their
impact was not purely positive. They both had a very dark side that caused a great deal of harm.
A lot of Jews did become better Jews because of them. Either through the
music and folktales of Carlebach - or the pride of being a strong and proud Jew that Kahane inspired..
Carelbach did indeed have the gentle approach of showering
love upon all kinds of Jews - and even non Jews. Religious and non religious alike. And as is well known his
music has influenced all segments of Jewry, from Reform to Ultra Orthodox. That
latter of which has been so pervasively influenced by his music that it is
almost impossible not to hear it incorporated into our prayer service on any given Shabbos
or Yom Tov. In some cases the Baalei Tefilah (cantors) aren’t even aware they
are using a melody that he composed. So embedded is his music in Orthodox culture.
It is also true that Carlebach is responsible
for a lot of Jews becoming observant. Jews who might not otherwise have ever
encountered anyone from the wide variety of Jewish outreach organizations.
But sadly Carlebach had a dark side. One that sexually abused
some of his female fans. Sex abuse cannot be excused or absolved by virtue of
how many Jews became observant through his efforts. Or how beautiful and even inspiring his music was. No matter how much of a contribution
he made to Judaism, it does not override the damage he did to his victims.
Damage that I believe he never personally apologized for. I therefore disagree
with the picture painted by Rabbi Nataf of Carlebach as a counter cultural hero
of Judaism. Despite the huge impact he has had on virtually all of us, he is
not a hero and should not be thought of as one, much less worshiped the way he
is in some circles.
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| Rabbi Meir Kahane (TOI) |
Then there is Rabbi Kahane. He was one of the most caring and
ehrliche Jews I have ever seen. Like Rabbi Nataf, I too heard him speak in
various locations about his mission to protect the vulnerable. It was through
his efforts that Jews living in dangerous neighborhood in New York were protected
by fellow Jews. Kahane created the Jewish Defense League (JDL). He literally took
secular young Jews off the streets and turned them into the Jewish version of the Guardian
Angels, a group that helps protect innocent people from being assaulted by
gangs. A lot of elderly Jews were spared a great many muggings through their
efforts. Kahane inspired Jewish pride
through strength.
But Kahane had a dark side too. One that caused a lot of
damage to our image. His JDL was involved in some violent acts on behalf of
Russian Jewry. After he made Aliyah he became militantly anti Arab promoting
ideas like shipping all Arabs out of Israel on trucks. Ideas that were reminiscent
of Hitler’s shipping out Jews on freight trains. Not that this was anywhere near
the same thing. But it was still wrong and similar enough to make the comparison.
His anti Arab
rhetoric was so vile, his advocacy of violence so unacceptable that Israel outlawed his political party, ‘Kach’ as racist
- forbidding it to run for seats in the Knesset. I will never forget the
vehemence with which Rav Ahron Solveitchik condemned him. As did virtually
all rabbinic leaders of his era. Unfortunately Rabbi Kahane’s legacy has inspired some terrible violence against innocent Arabs by his philosophical heirs. Like Baruch Goldstein. Or the so called Hilltop Youth.
So like Carlebach his many contributions were over shadowed
by the violence that he inspired. Well intended though it might have been. Which makes Rabbi Nataf’s choice of him as an icon of the Jewish counterculture
questionable.
Both men are in my view tragic figures that had so much to
offer but ultimately failed to reach the status as iconic Jewish role models they
might have otherwise so richly deserved.
