Monday, December 28, 2009

That Notorious Rabbinical School

My Ner Yisroel friends told me to read The Eye of the Storm: A Calm View of Raging Issues by HaRav Aharon Feldman. Well, I finally got a chance to get ahold of it, and, out of curiosity, flipped to Chapter 28, entitled 'Homosexuality and the Torah.' I burst out laughing at one section for the very simple reason that I love Yeshiva University.

Why do I love YU? Here's why. HaRav Aharon Feldman writes, in the course of his treatment of homosexuality:
    There are several "Orthodox gay" Internet discussion groups, as well as social groups in various parts of the world. Although it is commendable that many homosexuals now have a way of overcoming their isolation and loneliness through these groups, many individuals have used them as a vehicle for advocating homosexual behavior, supposedly within the framework of halachah. At least one of these refers to himself as a rabbi, having passed the requisite courses for ordination at a rabbinical school notorious for its minimal spiritual requirements.

    ~page 230
Did you read that? "A rabbinical school notorious for its minimal spiritual requirements." By this, I assume, the Rav refers to Steve Greenberg and RIETS. While I understand Rav Feldman's not liking Steve Greenberg's opinions, the slur on RIETS is hardly necessary...And I love YU for not only ensuring that we have this book in our library but actually advertising it (it's on the 5th floor bulletin board) because it demonstrates the intellectual honesty I think every place of learning should uphold.

Long live and God bless Yeshiva University!

Update: I discovered on pages 200 onward that Rav Feldman wrote a letter of approbation to Dr. David Berger, who wrote (according to the mistranslation in the book) The Rebbe, the King Messiah (which is in truth titled The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference) and who also happens to be the Dean of Revel. So even if I am correct in my assumption and Rav Feldman objects to RIETS, he likes Revel's Dean!

18 comments:

Malka said...

Are you sure he meant YU? There are other Orthodox smicha programs that could fit that description.

Anonymous said...

Listen to the gedoylim, especially a Ba'al Mussar who gets paid a lot of money to talk down to everyone, who doesn't seem to mind the kavod.

No yeshiva can be blamed for its students who go bad.

Surf Ner Israel on the internet and see what you find.

Chana said...

Malka,

I'm not sure. I just thought it would be pretty funny if that was who he intended.

Malka said...

Yes, I am definitely amused.

the apple said...

I don't think he's referring to YU at all.

elizabeth said...

it seems pashut pshat that he is referring to
Rabbi Greenberg, and thus to YU.
What other Ortho smicha men are out and still practicing Judaism in some frum form?
(to be fair, it also sounds like a fine description of what some of the Ner Israel RYs same about YU to their students)

Anonymous said...

Wasn't his smicha revoked?

Anonymous said...

http://theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/43925/SHOCKING+VIDEO:+Rabbi+Riskin,+Chief+Rabbi+of+Efrat,+Praises+%27J%27,+Refers+To+Him+As+%27Rabbi+J%27.html

Anonymous said...

I don't know why anyone would be shocked if RIETS was described as having "minimal spiritual requirements." I am an avid fan of YU and RIETS (3 close famuly members are musmachim) and 95% of musmachim are true yirei shamayim as well as true lamdanim. The top there are the top anywhere, but there is no doubt that RIETS is more lenient than some yeshivos (not all nothing avsolute here) in who it allows to recieve smicha, both with respect to "spiritual requirements" as well as abilities in learning. Nothing new there. Just ask some of the musmachim who memorized answers to the practical halachos bechinas (some of whom have admitted they couldn't understand the Hebrew of all the questions). Although this is much better than it used to be in my time.

Azi said...

Berger only became dean recently, years after his book on the Rebbe came out. At the time of his books publication he was a prof at Brooklyn College.

In his book, Prof. Berger writes about Rav Feldman's actions against the meshiachists(?).

He lists him as the only brave rosh yeshiva.

Anonymous said...

He looks like he enjoys being mean. He seems to enjoy being mevatel others, a true gadol in his own mind.

YUngerman said...

I don't think it's a mistranslation, it's just the hebrew title of the book.

Anonymous said...

Your assumptions of who or what an author may be referring to without due diligence to contact him first (or its equivalent research) is unbecoming of one who aspires to intellectual honesty and seriousness. It is, as ironic as this may seem, really inappropriate insofar as it suggests a willingness to judge others before understanding them properly.

Anonymous said...

December 29, 2009 11:39 AM:

Your assumptions of who or what an author may be referring to without due diligence to contact him first (or its equivalent research) is unbecoming of one who aspires to intellectual honesty and seriousness. It is, as ironic as this may seem, really inappropriate insofar as it suggests a willingness to judge others before understanding them properly.
Wow! And you sound so righteous and proper. Imagine that.

Chana said...

Anon 11:39,

Are there any other homosexual people who associate themselves with the Orthodox community, are rabbis and have graduated from a different rabbinical school? I have not heard of any; perhaps you can tell me what other school it could possibly be. But of course I'd be happy to change this if this is not what R' Feldman meant.

harry-er than them all said...

he didnt write anything differnt than what (maharat) sara horowitz said about semicha programs in general not being up to par
(re:your notes on her lecture)

yosef said...

He may not necessarily like Revel's dean, just his opinions about Chabad.

Anonymous said...

I don't see how you can argue hat YU has very lenient semicha requirements. This is not to say that it as minimal as YCT or others. At the end of the day it depends on each musmach!