Pashuteh Yid
“…the letter writer expresses the greatest possible derech eretz to Rav Belsky.” please go back and read the letter again a 3rd and 4th time or more, if needed.
the letter writer wrote his opinion that:
facts on the table:
1) Rav Belsky is a world recognized Torah authority -someone the letter writer claims to respect
2) He knows Rav Belsky from earlier days and from more recent times also.
3) the original article that appeared was in a weekly magazine, not YWN
4) He reffered to Rav Belsky as one who made libelous statements, Sheker and motzi shem ra
if the letter writer takes exception with what Rav Belsky stated, the way of derech eretz would been to call the Rosh Yeshiva and ask him why he said it, perhaps even to explain the Chabbad point of view and maybe even ask the Rosh Yeshiva to reconsider what he said and retract what he said. If the letter writer tried this and Rav Belsky would either not talk to him or not step away from his comments, the letter writer could have then sent a letter to the periodical that published the original article, not an alternative news site.
the letter writer wrote: “…But especially during these days when Klal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel is facing an existential threat, it is irresponsible to direct such inflammatory and divisive remarks against a world-wide kehilla of people…” and “It is because of my great respect for Rabbi Belsky that I find his words all the more painful. Rabbi Belsky and Mishpacha Magazine owe the world-wide Lubavitch community an apology.”
I do not see any level of respect in the words or in the vehicle used to state his opinion. To use some of the language of the letter writer it is irresponsible to direct such inflammatory and divisive remarks against a world recognized Torah authority.
The letter writer owes Rav Beksky and the YWN readership an apology.