Who Is At Fault?

To the Editor:

I read your article in the last issue of The Commentator, "Deconstructing Haredi – Rabbi Svei and his culture of Hatred" and find that your article is based on a distortion of the facts, not only of Rabbi Svei's speech, but of Dr Lamm's speech as well. I find it necessary to respond to your misstatements.

1) Rabbi Svei, in his calling Dr Lamm a "soneh Hashem," was referring to Dr. Lamm's proclamation that "Those who advocate it are told: go back to your cave." No one disputes that this was directed at Bnai Torah that are totally dedicated to torah learning, whether they learn in YU, i.e.: Rabbi Shachter, Rabbi Bronspiegal, etc. or the Kollel man in Lakewood. His words were based on Rabbaenu Yonah's interpretation of what constitutes a "soneh Hashem." The occasion of Dr Lamm's speech was only second ary to the content of his speech.

2) You talk about "Traditional battle lines have been redrawn in preparation for a return to legitimacy jihad's that pit vanquishing rabbinic ayatollahs against infidels with the audacity to spout the value of moderation." When "moderation " is substituted with modernization, when compromise is offered at the cost of halacha, how dare we stand by and watch our mesorah uprooted in the name of "Orthodox Unity"!!!

3) Where in Rabbi Svei's speech does he ask Dr. Lamm to acknowledge the contributions the Yeshiva community made to Orthodoxy? I don't think that Rabbi Svei needs Dr. Lamm's acknowledgement of their contributions. The Orthodox world bears the stamp of the "Yeshiva" proudly with all its different organizations, be they Agudah, Torah U'Mesorah, Seed Programs, Aish Hatorah, Ohr Somayach, Lev Leachim, Bikur Cholim etc...

4) With reference to the Neeman Commission, I don't know to whom you are referring when you state that The Neeman commission is the position of much of mainstream Orthodox Jewry. All the leading Orthodox Rabbonim in Israel, including the Chief Rabbis, have denounced the Neeman Commission. Almost all Orthodox rabbonim in America have denounced it. Rabbi Gifter in a speech 10 years ago denounced Dr. Lamm on these same issues (the Denver Proposal).

5) The fact that Rabbi Svei considers the Neeman Proposal an unacceptable capitulation, to you - "Is indeed surprising since the Neeman Commission does not purport to have the authority nor the intention to modify halacha, but on the contrary wishes to propose pragmatic solutions to denominational conflicts that are amenable to all Jewish groups." You state further that the Commission, "Must be viewed as nothing short of a communal imperative employed in the pursuit of the laudable end of engendering conciliatory discussion among the ranks of our splintered people." Rav Moshe Feinstein ZTL in his Igros Moshe said it is forbidden to form any kind of organization that legitimizes the Reform or Conservative movements. By having this Commissio n we are allowing the Reform and Conservative movements the foot in the door that they so desperately want, for the legitimacy they so desperately need down the road. Those that support such discussion do in fact display animosity toward G-D.

6) In reference to the RCA statement. Rabbi Rubinstein himself admitted that at the time he sent the letter to the Agudah he actually never heard Rabbi Svei's speech basing all his knowledge on hearsay.

7) I think your point of contention with the Yated Neeman would have been valid if you stated only that "The only English Publication many rightist Orthodox individuals will permit themselves access to." But to blame the Yated for the resentment of Modern Orthodoxy is pathetic. I don't think it is resentment but rather it is pain over the blatant destruction of our Mesorah by the leadership of the Modern Orthodox. No one stood up and denounced Rackman for his statements and his so called Bais din. N o one

denounced Dr. Shapiro at the Feminist debacle for defaming the Rambam. How do you expect us to even consider respecting the Modern Orthodox? As far as reading other English Publications I don't think I need my children reading other "Jewish" Weekly's to learn from a prominent Orthodox Rabbi if our President was "Over" any issurim by his latest scandal.

8) Last but certainly not least. Your statement, "The hegemony of the Shtetl master reigns supreme" doesn't even warrant a response. To make a statement like that about the Jews that have accepted the "Da'as Torah" of our Gedolim for thousands of years, is unconceivable. Look in the mirror and ask yourself "Maybe it is the Modern Orthodox who are "Exacerbating their resentment of 'Haredi' Orthodoxy" and not vice versa?"

I think you owe Rabbi Svei and the many millions of mainstream Orthodox Jews from Moshe Rabainu through modern times (those that have accepted upon themselves the "Talmudic photocopy culture") an apology for your maligning them and their leaders. Your blatant misrepresentation of the facts is inexcusable.

I sign for the sake of Kavod Hatorah and its leaders.

Daniel Goldstein

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