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The recent volt-face on the part of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel regarding recognition of Rabbi Avi Weiss as an Orthodox Rabbi is rather disturbing and sets a dangerous precedent. As the result of a meeting between lawyers representing Rabbi Weiss and the attorney representing the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Chief Rabbinate will now accept letters from Rabbi Weiss attesting to a candidate’s Jewishness in cases where such testimony matters, including, it would seem, the validity of conversions.
Rabbi Weiss has re-invented his brand of Judaism as a social movement, and while doing so has trampled upon both the sanctity and boundaries of Halacha.
His involvement in the establishment of an institution that ordains Rabbis who have written and expressed theological positions that lie in stark contrast to traditional Judaism is one case in point. Leaders of his “Open Orthodox” movement have openly written their thinking about the text of the Bible that parallels the positions of Reform and Conservative Judaism – but not a strictly orthodox one.
Rabbi Weiss’s ordination of women Rabbis contravening thousands of years of Torah tradition and halacha, yes halacha, is a second case in point. Rabbi Weiss has unilaterally declared the statements in the Gemorah and in the Gedolei HaPoskim as merely the reflection of socio-economic realities and forces and not actual halacha. The Gemorah tells us “Isha baAzarah minayin.” Not so, the good Rabbi Weiss. He states, “There are no Halachic barrier that would prevent women from becoming spiritual leaders, spiritual leaders within synagogue whatever the title.”
In celebrating Martin Luther King Day this past Monday, Rabbi Weiss also crossed a line. No one is questioning that Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King was a remarkable civil rights leader who fought racism peacefully, touched the hearts of the nation, and changed the face of America -making everyone a better person. The crossing of the line was that Rabbi Weiss held this celebration within the confines of an ostensibly orthodox synagogue in front of an Aron Kodesh, replete with mixed-gender singing, a mixed-gender choir, and a mixed-gender crowd.
Imagine, for a moment, if Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court of the United States of America celebrated in this manner in the Supreme Court building across from the capitol building in Washington D.C. Certainly the Supreme Court building, with its hallowed halls, bronze doors, and marble facades, requires a certain decorum by virtue of the fact that it is the highest court in the nation and represents the apogee of American judicial jurisprudence. How much more so does a Mikdash me’at, require a sense of awe and majesty.
Such conduct is clearly not permitted in an orthodox synagogue. A celebration of civil rights is a good thing, but a musical singing and dancing ensemble should be conducted neither in the Supreme Court building of the United States nor in a shul. Many Poskim rule that it is not just the building of the shul, but the very air of the synagogue is infused with holiness. The Gemorah tells us that Rav Yochanan used to actually curse those who profaned the synagogue with matters mundane.
This is not Orthodox Judaism. It is a manifestation of “feel-good Judaism” that allows everything and anything to slowly creep into thousands of years of Jewish tradition. It is a brand of Judaism that adopts and incorporates within it the latest trends and fashions of the society around us.
A famous parable is told of two synagogues, each one with a Torah scroll in which the mantle, the cover did not fit the scroll. The first synagogue realized that the mantle was too small and went to a tailor and had him sew and tailor a mantle that would fit properly. The second synagogue decided to take a different route. They cut the Torah scroll down to fit the mantle.
Rabbi Weiss, there is no question that you are charismatic, but I ask of you. Where is the Awe? Where is the Majesty? With such conduct in front of an Aron Kodesh how can you lay claim to the title of “Orthodox Jewish Rabbi?”
And Chief Rabbinate of Israel, I ask of you. How can you recognize as orthodox a man, who although his heart may be in the right place on many issues, continues to assault the very foundations of Torah-true Judaism in his statements, actions, and behaviors?
And where will it end? One can see a new edition of the Hagaddah with commentaries culled from the words and speeches of leaders of various social movements. One can well imagine new scholarly articles appearing in the journals and “Rabbinic” publications of the institutions that Rabbi Weiss has lend a hand in creating. Why can’t non-Jews lead religious services too? Can gentile experts in Jewish history and the Halakha serve on a Beit Din as well?
Great Rabbis of the Chief Rabbinate. Higiya zman. It is time to take a stand for Torah-true Judaism. Im lo achshav, aymasai?
Yerachmiel Katz – NYC
NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.
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13 Responses
Unfortunately, Weiss is not the only “rabbi” inviting Baptists into the synagogue. His long time student, Herzfeld (i shudder to place Rabbi in front of his name) did the exact same thing in Washington DC where he is a so-called Orthodox Rabbi. These guys are dangerous for they act under the cloak of Orthodoxy. I criticized Herzfeld for his actions several years ago, yet he continues to “baptize” his synagogue annually on MLK holiday.
This was politically forced on them
I must make a machoa about calling Mr. Avi Weiss’ house of prayer an “Orthodox synagogue”. It is anything but Orthodox and cannot be described as a synagogue. Rasha apikorus Mr. Weiss himself is not Orthodox.
And the RCA ought to boot its non-Orthodox member if the RCA wishes to be considered Orthodox.
We are not allowed to be silent when we see such horrors in front of a Aron Kodesh.
We must beg the Chief Rabbinate to respond appropriately.
And we must increase our own Tefillos to merit the end to all heresy, and the return to pure Avodas Hashem in the rebuilt Bais Hamikdash.
#1: Mr. Herzfeld and his temple are no longer affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington (the Washington Vaad).
1. Martin Luther King Day is a government holiday, similar to the Fourth of July in the United States, the Queen’s Birthday in England, or Yom ha-Atzumut in Israel. If it would be prohibited from observing one of those days in a shul, most non-hareidim would be in trouble. There really isn’t a prohibition of patriotic observances in a shul. Certainly from a halachic perspective, honoring Dr. King in shul is less offensive than honoring the zionists by saying hallel to commemorate the day they defeated the British (as if defeating a dying empire and starting an unending war was something to say hallel over).
2. Women signing in front of men, as well as other forms of lewd behaivor, are quite common among modern orthodox and religious zionists. Given that the Israeli government has used such lewd behavior to weed possible hareidim from the army’s officer course, the medinah would be hard put to accept this as a standard.
3. Having a government decide “who is Jewish” is the problem. Given that Israel is a secular state, in which goyim and secular Jews form a clear majority, it is a problem asking such people to decide halacha. Frum Jews need to decide halacha for themselves without dependence on, or interference, from the secular government.
Leave it to apukerma to turn this serious issue into his delusional attack on israel. But I digress.
Even I, certainly not an extreme righwinger, cringed when seeing the attached clip on youtube. I tried to look carefully but I did not see any yarmulkas on the heads of the black musicians…..where is the derech eretz, Rabbi Weiss? Additionally, MLK was a great American but have you confronted the black leadership of today that is virulently antisemitic and anti-israel? Haven’t seen any clips on that!
Thank you akuperma. As always, well stated and poignant.
Not sure where the reservation is, but Avi W ain’t on it…
apukernma – you are talking as usual devoid of any historical and census facts. The Medinah, albeit secular, fought 6 Arab countries, with the UK supporting many of them. The Medinah, with secular taxpayers have supported many of the nonworking people and giving them healthcare and social support (yes most docs are secular) as many Haredim still need docs (Oy vey that they are secular). Israel has flourishing Kollelim and Yeshivas that receive stipends and funding from taxpayers (most are secular). The fact that the Medinah needs Torah learning has absolutely nothing do with what you say.
Rabbiofberlin: “Additionally, MLK was a great American but have you confronted the black leadership of today that is virulently antisemitic and anti-israel? Haven’t seen any clips on that!”
Rabbiofberlin, as much as I disagree with Rabbi Weiss for participating in such events in his shul (albeit, I truly believe, coming on his party from a very genuine feeling that it’s a good thing to do), your last statement shows you know absolutely nothing about Rabbi Weiss. R. Weiss has devoted his life to activism on behalf of Wirld Jewry, and that includes a well-documented history of protests against the leading black anti-Semites of our generation, including Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Desmond Tutu, David Dinkins, Lemrick Nelson, and many, many others. He’s literally been willing to be moser nefesh for this, having many times put himself in harm’s way to protest these anti-Semites.
Disagree with him all you want, but I can’t think of anyone who’s done more to oppose black anti-semitisn in our generation.
ROB: are you unaware that no gadol says it’s mutar to say hallel on 5 Iyar? Including Rabbi Soloveitchik, whom the MO think supported all of their innovations? Are you unaware that women singing for men is ossur? Do you really think that a secular gov’t should be deciding halachic matters? Come on.
#11 so call him an ‘activist’ but ‘rabbi’?? rather ‘rah- bi’ (AS in ‘rah-bonim). aka a meisis umadiach