Avira- i was not equating the two. I just found it ironic that someone who is willing to make fun of big Talmedei Chochomim because they don’t like their Hashkafah, was making such a big deal about Rav Henkin’s Teshuvah. Also, while i wouldn’t equate Rav Henkin to the Satmar Rebbe; i also wouldn’t equate us to Rav Henkin who lived his life immersed in Torah. As such, there is somewhat of a comparison. See the Gemara in Yevamos (105B) for example, which suggests that there can be some sort of “comparison” between the difference from an ordinary person to Moshe, and from Moshe to Hashem.
I am well aware that Rav Henkin’s name is not known in much of the Yeshivish world. This has no bearings on his Gadlus though. The Chazon Ish was not well known for much of his life; same is true about many great people. I admire many things about the Yeshivish world (being part of it myself); but i believe that the tendency to rush be Mivazeh Gedolim who’s Hashkafos are diferent than theirs, is a tremendous mistake. Most commonly, there is a tendacy among some to call Rav Solleveichik JB, which i think, even you agree is wrong. Point is, with all the Maaylah’s of the Yeshivish world, the fact that the Yeshivish world doesn’t quote him, does not rule out someone as a Talmid Chochom and Gadol.
I know that the reluctance to call Rav Kook Zatzal is because they feel that his Hashkafah caused damage. Once, you assume, however, that leading people to what you believe is the wrong Hashkafah is reason not to call them Zatzal, then you have no Taaynah on Rav Henkin. Rav Henkin held that the state was a big Chesed of Hashem, that Hashem wants us to make Aliyah, to be Mekayyem the Mitzvah which is Shakul to all the Mitzvos. From Rav Henkin’s perspective, it was the Satmar approach which was misleading people to neglect Yishuv Eretz Yisroel, to stay in Galus, and was influencing the groups which hold hands with Arafat, and beat up police officers. You disagree with Rav Henkin’s Hashkafah but Lishitascha, that influencing people to have the “wrong” Hashkafah is enough to warrant disrespect, there is no Taaynah on Rav Henkin.
Incidentally, many of the people who quote Rav Kook to justify things which are wrong, often also quote Rav Hirsch, the Rambam and even the Gemara itself. The whole heretical movement of the Tzedukim was started by Tzadok and Baysis, who were misled by the language which Ben Bag Bag wrote in the Mishnah. In fact, as the Raavad writes, great people were misled by the language of the Torah itself to believe heretical ideas. Ein Lidavar Sof.
No, my Jewish education is not from online; it’s from years of Yeshiva, but as someone who’s naturally curious, I do read articles from online Torah forums, here and there.
Incidentally, you mentioned that you have fond memories of Ohr Shraga; i went to Ohr Shragah for a few years as well, and enjoyed it tremendously. It’s a great camp.