In his weekly motzei Shabbos shiur, Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita spoke of matters pertaining to Pesach but also veered to the matter of the dangers from the Reform Movement and the assimilation caused by the Reform abroad. The rav cited that the Reform Movement is responsible for the alarming rise in assimilation.
He explained that a number of days earlier he returned from Argentina, adding “They explained to me what the Reform has done there as there is over 70% assimilation, primarily among Ashkenazim. Unfortunately, this has entered the Sephardi community too and they have begun digging in their nails in Eretz Yisrael too”.
Rav Yosef continued, “Did the enlightenment begin in Morocco? No! It began in Europe 250 years ago by a Jew named Mendelssohn who coined the slogan to be a Jew at home and a man in public. In your home be Jewish. Eat matzah, put on tefilin and etc. Outside, remove your yarmulke like all others. Beis Yisrael to be like the other nations.
“This was his banner – the banner of the cursed enlightenment which has attracted tens and tens of thousands of Jews that have vanished after being enlightened and joined the Reform. The Reform and Conservative began in essence from the Ashkenazim and unfortunately, I have heard that this has penetrated the Sephardim. They have places here in Eretz Yisrael with persons far from Torah pulling them in, telling them ‘why go to a place where you are seated downstairs and your wife upstairs, come to use and she can be seated at your side’.
“It is terrible that they are beginning to spread here. They cause terrible assimilation abroad and in Europe where it started, and therefore the Ashkenazim have learned how to combat it and are schooled in this and were very careful regarding their minhagim because of this”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
The Rav speaks the truth. Most of the Reform’s victims likely have a “tinok shenishbah” status, but their leaders are flatly resha’im and ochrei Yisrael.
It didn’t start with Ashkenazim and then spread to Israel, Israel was founded by Ashkenazim.
! vehemently protest the heading. You should have used the positive
“the Ashkenazim have learned how to combat it and are schooled in this and were very careful regarding their minhagim because of this”
Ywn please change the title you disgusting bunch of הולכי רכיל
The reform didn’t start with the ashkenazim, it started with the reform. If the rosha Mendelssohn would have been a sfardi he would still have been reform.
Why did it begin with?
He wasn’t Sephardic he was Ashkenaz it wouldn’t have started with Sephardic
* I don’t think Ashkenaz, Ashkenaz is German I’m not sure we’re there from but I do know it didn’t start with the Sephardic Jewery
#2 Israel was “founded” by the UN the Ashkenazim were the shlechim. By the way you are all ignorant Jews.
You are very right i don’t know much of anything thank you for pointing it out:)
This makes Ashkenazim and Sephardim sound like two distinct religions. The Reform movement was started by a Jew and thereby influenced other Jews. Period. All Jews are obligated in Torah and Mitzvos. Every Jew was given a נשמה יתירה. Every Jew stood at הר סיני.
גוי אחד בארץ.