Modi’in Chief Rabbi David Lau, a contender to become the next Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, insists he is not chareidi. In an interview in Olam Katan, Rav Lau explains that “unlike all the others, I am not affiliated with any sector. I belong to everyone. Enough with the sectarianism. We all share the 13 Principles of Faith of the Rambam. We all share the desire to spread Judaism.”
The rav explains he has never hired the services of a public relations office and has not interviewed in the media in this campaign. It should be noted that the rav has yet to officially announce his candidacy.
Rabbi Lau points out the absolute necessity to become the rav of all of Am Yisrael, which includes all populations. He thinks his example as rav of Modi’in speaks for itself, for the vast majority of residents are non observant. About a quarter are dati leumi.
Do You Recite Hallel on Independence Day?
When asked about reciting Hallel on Independence Day, Rav Lau stated that every year after Maariv he runs to the central stage in the city and moments before the evening program gets underway; he recites the prayer for the welfare of the state and a short message citing the significance of the day. “Afterwards we all sing Hatikvah and only then to the evening’s events get underway.”
Regarding Hallel, the rav explains he complies with the ruling of the Chief Rabbinate and recites the entire Hallel with a bracha.
What Do You Have to Say on the Sharing the Burden Issue?
It has become a political issue. This is a country in which experts turn substantive discussions into debates of merits of people. We only hurt ourselves. Instead of dialogue towards settling disputes we have turned to one-sided decisions and dictating actions. Jews who believe know the value of Torah and one engaged in Torah must continue. One who is not must come out and participate with all the others.
“I am opposed to the phrase sharing the burden, for this is not a burden. Chazal teach us that from 1,000 entering a beis medrash one emerges a teacher. That means to say is we want to have 30 rabbis, we must have 30,000 studying Torah.”
So for one like yourself, who does not spend on public relations, how have you become so popular?
Leave it to the wisdom of voters to discern – to detect the difference between priority issues and secondary matters.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
I don’t know what “label” this Rabbi would be, but I like people like him and Rabbi Dov Lipman that say that this whole concept of labels is ridiculous and are trying to eschew it and bring us Jews together!!
He may or may not be Haredi, but he certainly is a smooth talking politician. He doesn’t say much, but he says it very pleasantly. Not a lot of substance.
#1: Don’t compare Rabbi Lau to Mr. Lipman. While R. Lau is a genuine rabbi Lipman is anything but.
#2: The other guys, especially Stav, are much smoother talking politicos if not pleasant or of substance. At least R. Lau is a genuine rabbi.
Since the definition of Haredi, is fear (of god)
Basically he said that he doesn’t fear god.
I know he doesn’t mean it, bot god made him say these words, so everyone should see what the Rabbanut is.
#3: I will compare anyone that is learned in Torah scripture in the same category. It is responses exactly like that, that are causing separation and Sinas Chinam. I don’t care what their opinions are regarding one issue or another, even if they have controversial opinions. The fact is that they are both Rabbis. (Also, if you’re going to say that Rabbi Lau is a genuine Rabbi and that Rav Stav is a talking politician, don’t even get me started on my opinions of the members of Yahadut Hatorah. They don’t seem very Chareidi to me or seem to care much about anyone except themselves.)
My dear realistic100;
Yirah is fear (or awe).
Charedi is to shake, quiver, or quake.
Hmm Charedi are the Jewish quakers?
Don’t confuse them with the Americans called Quakers – the American Quakers are really a “Society of Friends”.
Lehavdil, they got their name because the “shukkul” when they pray.
#5, #3 is correct. Dov Lipman is a 2 faced politician. Cant refer to him as a “Rabbi” because his master is not G-D but Lapig.
How can a Rabbi claim that “We all share the 13 Principles of Faith of the Rambam” when, according to the great Torah sages, the theology of “religious Zionism”, their good intentions not withstanding, violates the ikar regarding emuna biBias haMashiach?
Rabbi Lau says he “follows the psak of the Chief Rabbinate” and says Hallel with a bracha (and also speaks of the “significance of the day”) in honor of a State that indisputably great gedolim called Kefira and Avoda Zara, not to mention the State’s other issues. One gadol even singles out this issue (i.e. celebrating their “Yom HaAtzmaut”, as well as one other issue) as stand-alone criteria that makes someone an apikores.
Yet he seems to imply that this is universally acceptable (by extension, since he is claiming to be non-sectarian)? Far, far from it, according to many Torah greats. More likely, his theology seems to be “religious Zionist”, but, according to the quotes of his own words, it is certainly not universal, even if he claims to “not belong to any sector”.
Although politics can be argued to be the art of lying well, the sad part is that he is making political statements (as a Rabbi) that involve our holy Torah, not just, liHavdil, politics.
zachweix:
Yeshu and Bar Kochba and Acheir, among others, were also “learned in Torah scriptures”. I’m not, CH”V, comparing Rabbis Lau and Lipman to any of those, but “learned in Torah scriptures” does not make someone acceptable as a rabbinic influence, and one being against “sinas chinam” (a good thing, for sure) is not an excuse to allow that which is wrong. Also, it’s usually not sina and also usually not chinam. But when it comes to opposition to Zionism, it’s likely not sina but certainly not chinam.