Emes Ve-Emunah: Apology and Correction

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Apology and Correction

In an earlier post that in large part dealt with LGBTQ+ issues, I had misrepresented the views of YCT Talmud Chair, Rabbi Ysoscher Katz. He informed me via email that I was grievously mistaken and that was not his view at all. He then proceeded to tell me what his view actually is. I have corrected that post accordingly - quoting him verbatim. It should be re-read here.

My sincere apologies to Rabbi Katz for any pain this has caused him. I ask for Mechila. It was never my intent to misrepresent him or hurt him in any way.

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My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.