It is reported on Wednesday afternoon 24 Tishrei that statements attributed to HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita and the Gerre Rebbe Shlita pertaining to not visiting the Kosel are inaccurate.
It is now reported that Rav Kanievsky stated that one may visit the Kosel but one should take the route that has more security, not an isolated or unprotected route.
While this is the entire clarification, one might extrapolate the Gadol Hador feels one should go via Shar Yaffo (Jaffa Gate) and not Shar Shechem, which compels one to walk through the Arab shuk.
Regarding statements attributed to the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman is quoted on Wednesday explaining the Rebbe never said what was attributed to him. He did not add any information.
In the interim, Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita continues calling on Klal Yisrael to come and be mispallel at the Kosel.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
This is a lot closer to the Jewish way of responding to the events.
Readers take note: we cant just blindly follow any statement “attributed to Gedolim” without checking the accuracy of the “issuer”.
YWN: thanks for the clarification.
It may be time for the rabbonim, shlita, to rethink their broad opposition to cellphones and PDAs and consider whether the sakanah from these attacks and the need for constant communication and alerts warrants allowing everyone to carry a device for emergency communication and staying in touch with family. You can debate about the pros and cons of unrestricted internet access but there should not be any yidden walking around with no way of receiving or sending alerts as a matter of pikuach nefesh.
Makes sense.
Anything reported in the name of gedolim is either an accurate report or, often, an inaccurate one. If it is accurate, one must know the context of the statement. Often, a gadol is brought to say things based on a misrepresentation of reality. In the words of Rav Avigdor Miller Z”L, “Gedolim are for lamdanus, not metzius (determining facts/reality).” So sad, but so true.
Rebetzin Kanievsky was a queen that made her husband a king. Words and opinions didn’t just flow out of that house in the name of reb chaim when she was around. You can feel that she isn’t here. I believe one of his gabbaim need to go. They’re making him look smaller than he is. Not only by this psak but by other stuff that they say in his name. I believe that part of the psak was true but twisted as usual by those sharing it and giving it over.
To No. 6
The problem you correctly note is not unique to Kanievsky. As we have read here many times, statements initially attributed to gadolim and chashuvah rabbonim are subsequently dialed back or totally retracted. We later discover one or more of the rav’s gabboim had there own agenda, were seeking to discredit other rabbonim or in extreme cases were taking money on the side to promote a particular product, service etc. In the modern era, it would be good to rotate the position and perhaps bring in younger rabbonim and kollel yungerliet to hold the position for several years and them bring in someone new.