Unwarranted Criticism

To the Editor:

I recently had the opportunity to read Adam Moses’ editorial opinion in the 7 Shevat 5758 issue of the Commentator. Let me preface my remarks by saying that I am a student of Rabbi Svei, and as you can well imagine I see the matters which you address in a somewhat different light. In addition let me say that I will do my best to respond to your article without the sarcasm and anger which lie inside me after reading your piece. If some of the emotions sneak in, I ask you forgiveness in advance.

I must begin by saying that I do not believe you have personally heard or read a transcript of Rabbi Svei’s speech. You write that, "Rabbi Svei took exception to Rabbi Lamm’s failure to explicitly acknowledge contributions the ‘yeshiva’ community has made to Orthodoxy during the RIETS address." If this statement of yours would come anywhere close to reality, I would agree with your assessment that his response was particularly contrived. In actuality, as you are in all likelihood well aware, Rabbi Svei was reacting to the infamous "caveman" portion of Rabbi Lamm’s address. In my humble opinion the legitimacy of your whole editorial is wiped out by your failure to even vaguely mention this issue. Had your response to Rabbi Svei been, for argument’s sake, that the "caveman" remarks were taken out of context and blown out of proportion by Rabbi Svei (an analysis that I have heard from many ‘mainstream’ members of orthodoxy), and therefore by no means warranted such a "repugnant outburst" from Rabbi Svei, - I for one would still disagree with you - but at least you would have addressed the issue. By glossing over this issue and making it sound as if Rabbi Svei was simply complaining that he was not getting a large enough portion of candy, you have failed to issue a serious response to Rabbi Svei.

In addition, another item struck me when I finished your article. I imagine that your commentary is based on the principle of "Torah lishmah with service to the Jewish community." How ironic is it, that while your editorial is permeated with references to Shakespeare, Orwell, Kant and even a recent Hollywood release, you did not find it necessary to add one Rabbinic source to bolster your assertions that encouraging conciliatory discussions among our splintered people is an objective that is so highly held above all else. In my estimation, Rabbeinu Yonah, from whom Rabbi Svei obtained the expression "sonay Hashem," by far outweighs any popular cultural values that would dictate so-called appropriate behavior. I welcome you to join me in a "seder" to analyze this particular portion of "Sharei Teshuva" so that perhaps you might see this matter from Rabbi Svei’s perspective.

I would like to add one final item. Did you really find it necessary to so personally and vehemently attack those of us who choose to follow the way of our fathers and malign us so fiercely as photocopies!? Come now! You cannot possibly believe us all to be of such low intelligence. Such invective only further cheapens the substance of your article.

Very truly yours,

Joseph Taub