A clarification from Rabbi Malinowitz regarding the previous email exchange regarding the petition supporting OROT
In my e-mail exchange with C, I made mention of those who are "joyful" at what is happening at Orot, since it helps them further an anti-Chareidi agenda.(That point was not necessary for me to have made in order to have refused to sign the petition that I was asked to sign,since the reasoning there was predicated on my opinion that the very demand to sign a petition furthers and validates the canard --which C indeed explicitely writes--that the Chareidi world is responsible for an avirah in which this can happen)
I did not make clear that that point --the joy, the glee, at being able to score political points--refered only to certain political leaders, not chas veshalom to your average, regular, man-in-the-street, which is BH 98% of the olom protesting what is going on at Orot. I certainly regret that I did not make that clear. I would never say that, nor do I think it is so, about the hamohn ahm.
(In fact, I am fond of saying that there really is tremendous unity and achdus in k'llal Yisrael---if only the leaders --almost all leaders----would get out of the way! My proof---think back to any story, any chessed opportunity, any caring, any sharing, where no 'leadership' was involved: everybody is pleasantly surprised at the unity shown!)
Is he actually admitting in his italicized addendum that he too is in the way of achdut in klal yisrael?
ReplyDeleteIs it a coincidence that that is exactly what crossed my mind as I read it...
ReplyDeleteAs usual Rav Malinowitz wrote/spoke before thinking.
ReplyDeleteThe last point he makes is so true, where there's no "leadership" there rarely is politics.
ReplyDeleteActually this is pretty a pretty lame "clarification". Are there really political leaders here who are "joyful" that our children are being terrorized? Who are these leaders? This clearly does not apply to those who have taken upon themselves to "lead" our defense?
ReplyDeleteAre 2% of the "Olom" also full of joy about this? How does the Rabbi know this? Did he do a survey? This would mean dozens of people would be Joyful about our situation.
And, finally, how does R. Malinowitz define his "anti-Chareidi agenda"? Is someone who is opposed to the Mayor's attempt to populate almost all of the new building in Bet Shemesh with Chareidim "anti-Chareidi? Or are they just pro-diversity, pro-the people who founded and built Bet Shemesh?
Rather than trying to wiggle out of a really nasty statement R. Malinowitz should have just apologized and asked forgiveness. Instead, IMHO, he just dug a deeper hole.
Rav Malinowitz refers to the fact that the Chareidi world creates an Avira where something like this can happen as a "canard". That is the problem - it is a FACT, not a canard. It is this denial of responsibility that the Rav is being called out on.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of an Egla Arufa, the leaders of the city have to say "Our hands have not shed this blood". As Rashi states (I believe from the Gemara), nobody suspects that the elders themselves killed the victim; however, they must make the decleration to say that they took all necessary measures to ensure that the individual in question was properly cared for and sent on his way. It is not only enough for them to know that they were correct in their actions, they are obligated to publicly declare what is right and what is wrong. A true leader must know when to take a public stand.
Why all the criticism? I think this is a gracious retreat from what was probably a hastily worded expression of opinion that would have been better left unsaid and unpublished. I think with this clarification, Rav Malinowitz is reaching out to the people who were offended by the earlier post, and it would be appropriate to reach back rather than piling on the criticism.
ReplyDeleteNow let's see an apology for ranting like an idiot in front of his whole shul! It is asares yemai teshuva after all!
ReplyDeletenot such great damage control if you ask me
ReplyDeleteranting in front of his shul?
ReplyDeletewhat did I miss?
Please, even if you do not like his perspective or tone, please try and speak respectfully. The man is a talmid chochom.
ReplyDeleteI think that some people here have clearly crossed the line into Mevazeh talmidie chachamim. If you feel comforteable risking your next world then it probably wasn't such a great portion anyway. Maybe your right but if your wrong you are in big trouble. Is it worth the risk? Watch what you say because doing tshuvah for such a deed requires asking for forgiveness from the person himself. And I bet you won't consider that option even during aseres yemai tshuvah
ReplyDeleteBeing a talmid chochum should command respect.
ReplyDeleteHowever with great knowledge comes great responsibility.
A talmid chochum doesn't have "carte blanche" to do and say whatever he wishes, especially when he is representing HaShem and His Torah. He must be very careful that his words and actions don't turn people away from the very Torah he is considered to have mastered.
The Orot FB page has its share of occasional unnecessary anti-charedi comments. Even so, extrapolating intentions of those writers isn't really fair or appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI stick to judging actions - throwing objects, yelling curses, etc.
Anon 7.59. So if we follow your logic, the Rav will be asking mechila from David Morris any day now. A true Talmid Chochom would do just that-after all, he doesn't want to risk his Olam Haba.
ReplyDeleteRav Malinowitz appears to be shouting out of his שופר.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Rav Malinowitz and he should know many many people support him. Unfortunately, he has received substantial disrespect from posters both here on this blog (on other topics mainly when it comes to child abuse) as well as on the Tzedek Tzedek blog. People claim Rav Malinowitz "hides" child abusers is absurd and slanderous. We stopped donating to L'Eman Achai because of all the abuse heaped upon Rav Malinowitz.
ReplyDeleteGavriel,
ReplyDeleteSo you stopped supporting a tzedaka organization that helps hundreds of your neighbors because...?
Show us even one place where Lema'an Achai has "heaped abuse" on Rav Malinowitz and I will personally make a 1K NIS donation to your favorite charity.
It is the 10 Days...be careful for one day you will have to answer as to why you stopped your support. Many poskim speak very strongly about this subject.
"Many many people"? You're kidding me? The Haredim don't know what to think cos of his crazy politics, DL think he's too fanatic-his only supporters are his self-appointed shul board. Do you see any other Rabbanim being flamed so often or with such venom? And there are many other bloggers who report on him regularly. Wanna know why-because instead of pouring forth Torah, he has overreached his authority and spewed hate. He has turned himself into one of the most contraversial and loathed figures of our community. If you want to make poor people suffer because of this, go ahead-you'll have to answer for it on Judgement Day.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! if anyone missed my analysis of RM from Rafi's previous post, i encourage you to read it. And RM's interest and insistence on, once again, addressing this forum proves that RM feels such a strong need to communicate his point to all groups. Real Chareidi rabbis could care less about what other, separate Jewish communities think about them. it has nothing to do with them. it so distant. and therefore is a waste of effort to address. But RM is on this tightrope trying to prove to all that he is chareidi. This email is saying "I really am just chareidi. I promise. trust me." Sorry RM. you are just not Chareidi. and frankly, there is not real tightrope. Chareidi is all or nothing, by definition. you can't say "I believe in daas torah...but not on this issue or that issue." it doesn't work. He knows that. and that is why he keeps trying to convince the broader public...and himself - that he is chareidi. but he isn't.
ReplyDeleteGmar tov to all Jews!
"My proof---think back to any story, any chessed opportunity, any caring, any sharing, where no 'leadership' was involved: everybody is pleasantly surprised at the unity shown!"-Rav CZM
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why BTYA would be just fine without you.
For those who are so concerned about the criticism of R' Malinowitz:
ReplyDelete1)His outburst(unfitting anyone let alone a rav) on Shabbos against David Morris reveals serious character issues.
2) His kashrus witch hunts resulted in false accusations that closed two local businesses. Motzei Shame Ra l'gamri. I have also heard that he didn't apologize in either case.
3)He openly told women to break the law regarding reporting of suspected child abuse by telling them ("turn off your tape recorders") to come to him rather than the authorities.
4) He uses his personal hatred for David Morris to ban Lema'an Achai from public activity in his shul.
I have never seen that Lema'an Achai accused him of anything and yet he takes his anger out on them and the people they help. How immature.
How can you expect people to respect such a man regardless of his Torah accomplishments?
Rabbi Malinowitz - the overwhelming majority of your shul and the community support and respect you. It is only a handful of some maladjusted individuals who have some personal issues that need to be worked out who are writing all of this distateful invective. The clarification was actually very refreshing and accurate as was the original email (minus the part that needed clarification). The only thing I would have changed is the word "explicitly" which does not contain the letter "e"
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebbetzin....
ReplyDeleteLove ya'
Chaim.
Some of these comments are disgusting. Rafi, you said on your last post that comments are expected to be respectful and that you would moderate comments with a heavy hand. Why haven't you done that on this post?
ReplyDeleteAnon of 12:35,
ReplyDeletePerhaps the tone for comments has been set by a certain person who screamed rasha and jackass on Shabbos in his shul in front of "am vaeida".
That was disgusting and yet there many out here who defend the one who did this and his honor.