Opinion
A really nice rabbi
Yizhar Hess
Published: 04.04.13, 20:06
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1. In Judaism Halacha Comes First!
Ariel ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim   (04.04.13)
B"H - Yes, In Judaism Halacha Comes First. In the masorti crowd serving in the army, being nice, etc. is more important. That is exactly why this so called movement is not qualified, they simply are outside of Judaism and should stay there until they accept Torah as it is.
2. yeah 'cause first of all you have to be nice and accepting,
not stern   (04.04.13)
3. So true!
Ze'ev   (04.04.13)
4. Libellous exaggeration
Zechariah   (04.04.13)
In strict orthodox tradition Witnesses cannot even gamble and keeping Shabbat has many levels even in the orthodox spectrum eg Shabbos clock.if the courageous hero had worn a Kipppa it would have probably been enough a lot of witnesses in secular marriages are not shomer Shabbos it's waived.
5. This Author is so naive....
Chopper4 ,   CPT, South Africa   (04.04.13)
Orthodox Judaism has a monopoly...Judaism is only orthodox! Masorti, reform, conservative and so on are not true Judaism. Therefore if we are going to be The Jewish State of Israel if they want to introduce any Jewish laws into civil law...then it is a no brainer that it must be Orthodox! Imagine if it were reform the rabinate would be marrying Jews with non-Jews under a chuppah...not that I have a problem with that...anyone is able to do what they like...however they can not say that is true Judaism! I am sure the Tzoar Rabbis are very nice, but it is ridiculous to think that they must circumvent Jewish Law because of that fact. i would think with Tzoar Rabbis at the top...True Judaism will become more appealing to Jews and we will have no need for these fake Judaisms to come about!
6. YES!
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (04.04.13)
" It is the Orthodox monopoly that is threatening the unity of the Jewish people. "
7. This is a stupid article
bentzie ,   ramat beit shemesh   (04.04.13)
It doesn't do reformism any favors
8. Who/where is the FRAUD?
Moshe Z. Weisberg ,   Lakewood, NJ USA   (04.04.13)
Any cursory look at traditional Jewish sources will confirm that If you don't follow Halacha (and certainly if you don't keep Shabbat) you are not qualified to officiate at a Jewish wedding. Torah/Talmud/Shulchan Aruch fact. And If you find the Torah/Talmud/Shulchan Aruch not in accord with “law of Moses and Israel" you really have serious Jewish literacy issues (even if consider yourself a Ra-boy or war hero). And your 'solution'? Go back to the 'pre-Orthodox era'? Is that the Canaanite era? ... the Baal era? ... the Zeus era? Really, who is preaching fraud here?
9. Yizhar Hess, go complain to YOUR chief rabbi in vatican !
2Mad ,   גולה בצרפת   (04.04.13)
10. It's the job of a rabbi.....
Andy ,   Washington, DC   (04.05.13)
to follow Jewish law. Unless of course you are a Reform rabbi. In that case, there is no Jewish law, except advisory opinions that have no binding effect and whatever you think feels good. There is no alternative to the so-called "monopoly" of Torah Judaism. Nothing else makes sense.
11. "in judaism halacha comes first"
oferdesade ,   israel   (04.05.13)
and in islam, koran comes first. and in christianity, the new testament comes second (in order), but first in importance (yes, the word of the lord before the word of his father, whom he ...explains!). that's why a jewish state can be no different from an islamic state or a christian one (well, maybe the latter IS a bit more accepting of human frailty. mix religion with politix and you get discrimination (just like mixing money and politiz or money and religion - you can always be more religious if you slip somebody a fiver - the Borges were the model, i guess).
12. Orthodoxy has always chased Jews away
Mark ,   Cleveland, USA   (04.04.13)
Many credit orthodoxy with saving Judaism in history. None document the number of Jews victimized by arrogant Jews who claim to know the only right way to practice Judaism. The word halacha is used by tyrants to end discussion. Israel should respect all groups of Jews. Most Jews don't want to be orthodox. Even in Israel!
13. My Rabbi also refused to
Mike Devolla ,   Jerusalem   (04.04.13)
marry me to my Jews for Jesus life partner just because he happens to be a horse. This Orthodox/Masorti duoploy must end! Each of us shoud be free to define Judaism any way we want!
14. Ignorant opinion
Mike   (04.05.13)
There is great comedy in your post, though you didn't intend it. Firstly, you're a great spokesperson for the acceptance of 'all groups of Jews'. Of course, your definition of Torah observant Jews as being arrogant, and having 'always chased Jews away' doesn't say much for your tolerance and acceptance. Secondly, your concept of Orthodox Jews is that of an inflamed teenager... just not even maturely derived. A balanced person might write that there is a tension between holding to the halachic tradition and accepting those who attempt to redefine it. You aren't such a person. Instead you wholeheartedly reject any attempt to hold to halacha, instead deeming that "Judaism" is essentially a meaningless term, which anyone can define for themselves, no matter how untruthful this is to the past or the Torah. Thanks for the wisdom.
15. Jewish enough
Daniel ,   Tel Aviv   (04.05.13)
The author is 100% correct. Some Jews aren't Jewish enough for the orthodox establishment. They don't follow Halachic law to the letter so they aren't even Jews to the Orthodox movement. As a person the Orthodox movement would never recognize I can only say I and most Israelis fall under that description. I object to the requirement that I leave the country to marry. I fully believe if I would have been put to death by the NAZIS I have a right to be an Israeli and married in my state. Sadly the state takes the view that only the orthodox movement is worthy to control marriage and be the head of the Rabbinate. I believe that the majority of Israelis have long since left the purview of orthodox Judaism. It is sad that the government and law makers of our country are not remotely interested in the true welfare or the population they are only interested in maintaining their political strength.
16. #1 Not true, in Judaism life comes first
Ze'ev ,   USA   (04.05.13)
After that comes community, and through that we serve Hashem. Halacha is (in Jewish historical terms) a rather recent way of interpreting the laws from the Torah. As such, is a human creation, and thus fallible.
17. The Conservitive & Reform movements
Wise Saba ,   Western Negev   (04.05.13)
are a dire threat to the future of Judaism. Because of them we are loosing more Jewish souls through intermarriage than we lost in the holocaust. The reformed in particular have started their own religion, it's not Judaism.
18. The Author Hates His Heritage
Frank N Sense ,   Nishta Hin, USA   (04.05.13)
Simply put, you hate your heritage. You hate Judaism. As we read on Passover at the seder table, had you been in Egypt you would not have been redeemed. Jewish law is what it is. Perhaps the next time you will create Heavens and the earth you will make different rules for your children to follow, or to be like you and talk about your heritage with abject hate and scorn. You twisted the story in order for you to carry on your agenda of derision. You ought to be ashamed to cast such aspersions.
19. #5, Valid point. Israel can be Jewish by CULTURE.
Michael ,   California, USA   (04.05.13)
Israel IS Jewish by culture and culture alone, namely the ISRAELI CULTURE. All other claims are an imagined hogwash. Orthodox Judaism does not control Israelis, never had and never will. Tzoar will fail, with or without smiling and frowning rabbis. Israelis will continue to get married outside of the country by constantly increasing numbers, if this is what the government and/or rabbinate wants.
20. "Jewish Law" is subjective.
Bob ,   New York   (04.05.13)
I really wish the Orthodox would open their eyes to the fact that their interpretations are highly subjective too. It's not like Moses himself said that electricity is a shabbos violation; or that using a timer then gets around it. Or that women should shave their heads and wear a wig because that's more "modest" than their real hair(that's insane, by the way). What about "selling your chametz" on Pesach, instead of actually getting rid of it like the Torah says? Or Hillel suspending the remission of debts? Or in the diaspora, keeping a second-day of holidays when the whole reason why is unquestionably outdated. Or that using an electric shaver isn't really "shaving"? Or, getting rid of the death penalty for the rebellious son? I could go on. You can do what you want, just don't tell me it's what God intended, because in my opinion, you make God seem like a fool.
21. sadly in agreement
Mink De Ville ,   London,Paris, texas   (04.05.13)
I am ex -orthodox, and now a Karaite. Now when i was full raging orthodox i would have supported this guy. You see ortho think they define everything by their own tormented halacha. However, this is a man made system, which departs from the Torah and Neviim. And this principle applies throughout jewish law. Now I don't know what Masorti beleive, they deny the Torah but still follow Talmud.
22. whose unity? yours or mine?
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (04.05.13)
There are rules in everything. Like building a building, no matter how great the builder is, even if he saved your life once, he can not build unless he meets certain requirements. so it is in everything, driving a car, operating machinery, and also in getting married. Accept it and we all can live. Don't accept it and we have your form of unity: anarchy where every one has no rules.
23. #5 chopper - garbage
solomon ,   bklyn   (04.05.13)
One man wanted to decide who is and is not a Jew- I will not say his name. But a secular can be Jewish. There are many kinds of Jews, not just one kind. I am Conservative, most of my family died in the Shoa, and most of the fighters in 1948 were secular. They are, and were, Jews, whether you like it or not. Sorry to burst your sick bubble.
24. What about Mosaic Law?
(04.05.13)
25. Orthodox arrogance and blasphemy
Avi   (04.05.13)
They denounce all other strains of Judaism instead of living in peace with them. They will put walls and barriers to keep a distance from them. They will call them parties of goyim and outside the realm of Judaism. We see it in remarks from Shas. We see it in Orthodox neighborhoods, and we see it even here in this comments section. The Orthodox do not play with others and feign a high ground where they and only they are Jews and the other 70% are goyim in disguise. Add that to their refusal to work and disloyalty to the state and you've got an intolerant, arrogant group and as far away from God as one can be.
26. Man is not judged by his deeds but by his jewishness!
Jew1 ,   Ashdod   (04.05.13)
This article is so true! I hope our rabbanim are couragious enough to amend the unjustified laws .....
27. Circumcision = bad comparison
Avi Billet ,   Hollywood, FL   (04.05.13)
Whether easy to understand the attachment to circumcision or not, the process and certainly result is the same for everyone. All that is required for a bris is a Jewish child and a competent circumciser. Unfortunately the same simple rules don't apply elsewhere, where halakha has much more to say about a process. It is nice of this rabbi to paint the tzohar rabbi as a nice guy who actually stands for something behind his teeth and demeanor. But claiming that orthodoxy has no answers and that masorti has all the answers begs the question of whether the author stands for anything other than orthodox bashing. Sad indeed.
28. The headline
Sagi   (04.05.13)
"A really nice Rabbi". I often wonder if there is such a thing. I have never come across one.
29. The Torah and religion
Sagi   (04.05.13)
and all religions and all "isms" no matter where or when are by the hand of Man. Everthing in this world that is not of a physical nature has been conceived by Man, written by Man and promulgated by Man. When it comes to those who maintain that we are losing our heritage my answer is first of all that the Haredi way of life has nothing to do whatsoever with our heritage, it was invented in the middle of the 18th century and today has been turned into a cult, nothing more nor less than a dangerous cult. In other European cultures the practices and mores of the middle ages are well known and documented and yet are not practiced today as they are regarded as inhumane and undesirable. Enlightenment has escaped the orthodox community. Worshipping a "God" is one thing, putting upon one's self impractical and stupid constraints is another. When these constraints are also demanded of the general public then this is authority being weilded by those who have no authority.
30. The author is blatantly lying.
Amy ,   off rt 40, Israel   (04.05.13)
I've been to secular weddings (relatives) and have seen chareidi rabbis officiate and totally secular eidim (witnesses) and the only kippa in sight being my husband's and the officiating rabbi, and it's never been an issue. But I'm sure this article will go over well for the fundraising campaign his denomination will surely begin ...
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