The following observations are completely aside from the actual merits of the Draft Law. I simply wish to point out what I see as the unfortunate reality that plagues us, time and time again.
There is a sad, insidious pattern, repeated so many times that it’s painful to watch.
Gedolim. Daas Torah. Kavod HaTorah.
Words that we, as a frum society, revere. We cherish and respect these sacred bonds of trust and faith in giants of Torah and avodah.
Yet, how tragic it is to witness how certain fringe elements of Klal Yisroel – and, perhaps not so “fringe” anymore – use these words as entirely subjective, defined only by their own arbitrary choosing.
Gedolim? Of course. Daas Torah? Avadeh!
Until they disagree with me.
Then? Under the proverbial bus they go.
The knives come out. The shift is instant: from utmost reverence to “Shem Resha’im Yirkov,” the same phrase we reserve for Hitler, YM”SH.
For these groups, “Daas Torah” and “Gedolim” carry weight only so long as it serves their agenda. The moment it doesn’t, the greatest Torah giants, people who aren’t even in the same universe, let alone a “bar plugta”, are tossed into the ash heap of history, mocked, defiled, and cursed.
These elements of frum society make a lot of noise.
They excel at one thing: eating their own.
What they do not offer are real solutions to the thorny issues that true leaders must face. Solutions, of course, are – in their distorted view – usually “apikorsus.” A deal with the devil.
Thankfully, true Gedolim still stand at the helm of Klal Yisroel. They have the shoulders, the stature, and the responsibility to do what needs to be done.
Solutions. Not endless noise. Not staying stuck in the problem.
I fear that this “eat-our-own” mentality is tearing at the very fabric of frum society.
I hope I’m wrong.
Sincerely,
Z. Weiss
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
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10 Responses
I’ve written about this many times to the local papers. It is absolutely disgusting the way some people act these days. Whether it’s about army or vaccination or plain old tochacha about the way we dress and worship materialism these days, when esteemed rabbis who only have our best interests in mind speak up there are those who will run to throw them in the toilet. But when it’s a topic they agree with they’re all about honoring gedolim. If this is how you are make no mistake that you’re nothing but a faker, you cannot only trust roshei yeshiva on “some things ” and think they’re stupid or being misled in other areas. The fact that some of you even contemplate that they are easily fooled or have low comprehension when it comes to certain things is embarrassing to even write
I think you are wrong, B”H.
First of all, not every well-known Rabbi is a “gadol”, regardless of his prominence. ViAin kan makom liHaarich.
Most importantly, though, Pirkei Avos tells us “Asei liCha Rav”. That’s the bottom line.
So, we don’t run our lives based on what people claim gedolim say. We ask our rav or rebbi who has a real mesorah from a real rebbi…going all the way back. When presenting the question, we make sure that the rav or rebbi is properly informed of all the facts as we know them. The rest is up to G-d.
It affects all of us!!!
We are all ba’alei dvarim!!!!
We, bnei torah of Lakewood DEMAND that the matter of the chok hagiyus go in front of a zabla beis din for a TRANSPARENT diyun. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch can choose one dayan, and the B’nei Torah who care will choose the other, who will together choose the third.
ONLY this way will we get to the truth. Who is behind this terrible psak that the chok hagiyus can go forward? Did he have the facts? What did he know and when did he know it? Was he misled?
DIYUN IS THE ONLY WAY
Endorsed by leading American Roshei Yeshivos who will soon be signing a kol koreh. But they need public support to do so.
Klal yisrael! Wake up! This is the new way!
micro,
Still waiting for you to call out NK for their vile behavior towards the Gadol Hador!
No such thing as Dass torah its an invention by agudahs yisroel. Rabbis are only to deliver Halacha not micro manage ur life.
Rambam Hilchos Mamrim 1:1–2 limits rabbinic authority to:
Issur v’heter
Dinim / legal matters
Interpreting mitzvos
Rambam never writes that a rabbi can dictate your job, your schedule, what house to buy, who to vote for, or any “Daas Torah” lifestyle decisions.
➡️ If it is not halacha, a rabbi cannot obligate you to listen.
HaKatan, your interpretation of the aseh lecha Rav is inane. it does not mean treat every “rabbi” a particular way but to choose for yourself a person who will be your Rav. I would never choose members of Neturai Karta, the eidah hachareidah, satmar, peleg yershalayim, etc.
You have a point, but it has zero to do with the disgusting behavior of the “Neturei Karta” protesters you seem to be referring to. Those guys לכתחילה don’t accept any דעת תורה whatsoever, including Satmar (who kicked them out).
DrYidd,
He’s too chicken to explicitly post this but really means that NK and their deviant groupies don’t hold of the Gadol Hador. They worship a fake god of anti-Zionism and that’s their only “commandment”.
People think that the Torah didn’t cover areas of hashkafa and rabbanim don’t know about the right job, schedule, where to buy house, voting for who, they are brilliant in all areas of life because of their learning experience. Torah isn’t just rules about kosher animals and shabbos rules. People are so off. For example r moshe meir weiss who is a tzaddik gamur with perfect middos, what can you not consult him on? People think the torah has limits but it doesn’t