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Nov 29, 2010
Interesting Thoughts From The News
1. I find it interesting that a result of the ongoing war Shas and Rav Ovadia are waging against Rav Haim Amsalem is the support Rav Amsalem is seeing form the general public. I don't mean it is interesting they they are supporting Rav Amsalem over Rav Ovadia. I mean, suddenly everybody in the country (well, probably not everybody) is talking about which rabbi is right, and saying how this rabbi needs to be more prominent, everybody is becoming an expert in the RAMBAM that is being quoted regularly regarding working and learning, and the like.
People who would normally just say - eh, a bunch of rabbis, go get a room and argue it out there and leave us alone - it has nothing to do with us. This time, all these people are writing articles, taking sides, showing support for one rabbinic position or the other.
I find that interesting.
2. I saw a news item in the newspaper that the government passed the new law of funding for avreichim that will allow the current funding to continue but in a different format, with slight alterations. Along side the article discussing the law that was passed was an item that the government will now begin funding all Torah study equally.
The government will provide the same funding for a number of "secular yeshivas" that have sprouted up in the past few years, in which Torah is studied, but without the religious or orthodox influence - all from a secular standpoint.
This had been discussed once before as a possibility, and the haredi MKs opposed it at the time saying Torah study can only be done properly based on rabbinic teachings and through the traditions of Judaism, and a secular yeshiva would not be studying Torah properly, but would be bastardizing the interpretations.
It seems that despite the haredi objections, a number of such institutions have been established - the paper said there are 22 such batei medrash under the auspices of I think 4 different organizations. And now, the government will be providing them with some funding.
Interestingly, the statement made from a government official was that the State regards Torah study in all its forms by all the people as being of the greatest importance, and will therefore provide funding for these institutions as well.
I did not see any response from the religious or haredi MKs or spokespeople.
People who would normally just say - eh, a bunch of rabbis, go get a room and argue it out there and leave us alone - it has nothing to do with us. This time, all these people are writing articles, taking sides, showing support for one rabbinic position or the other.
I find that interesting.
2. I saw a news item in the newspaper that the government passed the new law of funding for avreichim that will allow the current funding to continue but in a different format, with slight alterations. Along side the article discussing the law that was passed was an item that the government will now begin funding all Torah study equally.
The government will provide the same funding for a number of "secular yeshivas" that have sprouted up in the past few years, in which Torah is studied, but without the religious or orthodox influence - all from a secular standpoint.
This had been discussed once before as a possibility, and the haredi MKs opposed it at the time saying Torah study can only be done properly based on rabbinic teachings and through the traditions of Judaism, and a secular yeshiva would not be studying Torah properly, but would be bastardizing the interpretations.
It seems that despite the haredi objections, a number of such institutions have been established - the paper said there are 22 such batei medrash under the auspices of I think 4 different organizations. And now, the government will be providing them with some funding.
Interestingly, the statement made from a government official was that the State regards Torah study in all its forms by all the people as being of the greatest importance, and will therefore provide funding for these institutions as well.
I did not see any response from the religious or haredi MKs or spokespeople.
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"I don't mean it is interesting they they are supporting Rav Amsalem over Rav Ovadia. I mean, suddenly everybody in the country (well, probably not everybody) is talking about which rabbi is right, and saying how this rabbi needs to be more prominent, everybody is becoming an expert in the RAMBAM that is being quoted regularly regarding working and learning, and the like."
ReplyDeleteThe most irritating thing about the controversy is that Rav Amsalem said nothing different than what Rav Ovadia has said in the past. Rav Ovadia said that only unique individuals should be studying Torah exclusively; the rest should learn a trade. Don't forget that Rav Ovadia supports the Charedi College which was founded by his daughter.
This had been discussed once before as a possibility, and the haredi MKs opposed it at the time saying Torah study can only be done properly based on rabbinic teachings and through the traditions of Judaism, and a secular yeshiva would not be studying Torah properly, but would be bastardizing the interpretations.
ReplyDeleteThe Charedi MKs will oppose anything that isn't their form of Torah. As it is they really oppose MO, DL and Mizrachi hashkafos as well. They will generally oppose anything not like them...unless of course there is some funding involved.