Well, he is using his reservation to have you listen to “el hashofet asher yihyeh bayomin haheim” – the Torah sages of every genaration (see beggining of Parshas Shoftim, Rashi there V 9, See also Sefer HaChinuch Mitzva 496 “MiShorshei HaMitzva…”).

I didn’t comment previously on this thread, because I came to the painful conclusion that ostensibly frum Torah- Jews have a startling lack of Derech Eretz and a not even a modicum of Hachna’ah for Gedolim.

I don’t take these YW commentors as necessarily representative of the frum world, but like you, I am beginning to wonder if the seamy side to Klal Yisrael has nothing to do with NK or other such obvious aberrations from the norm. Naturally, it feels good to curse and shriek about the NK; at the same time, we squirm at even a hint of the need for self- examination of ways in which we ourselves do not give Nachas to HKB”H.

So thank you for your comment- I second it.

In order to concretize my own reaction to what I have seen written here, I would like to take upon myself to strengthen my family’s Derech Eretz and Emunas Chachomim at our Friday night table, through story and discussion.

I would be interested in seeing others’ ideas to address this topic in our families and communities.

However, Chazal openly say “ES (i.e., with) Hashem Elokecho tirro – l’rabos Talmidei Chachomim” (English: Chazal instruct us to fear Talmidei Chachomim, similarly to the way we fear Hashem.)

Yeah? Well, it’s facts like these that make me want to bury *my* head in shame.