Showing posts with label Avi Weiss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Avi Weiss. Show all posts

Friday, September 18, 2015

Rebbetzin

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ וילך/שבת שובה תשע"ו

From Dictionary.com...

reb·betz·in

[reb-i-tsin]
noun Yiddish.
the wife of a rabbi.
Also, reb·bitz·in.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
And as cliché as including a Wikipedia entry may seem, it makes sense to do so here, especially as it includes a contribution by those who have been mis-educated to misuse this title,...English-speaking "sem" (religious women's school) students. (I have added the red highlighting.)

From Wikipedia...
Rebbitzin (Yiddish: רביצין) or Rabbanit (Hebrew: רַבָּנִית)
The Yiddish word has a trilingual etymology: Hebrew rebbə "master", plus the Slavic feminine suffix -itsa and the German feminine suffix -in.
In many Chassidic courts, Rebbetzins are considered to be spiritual counselors, and give blessings. In circles such as the Chassidic dynasty of Belz, the girls schools are run by the rebbetzin. There are also several recorded instances of female rebbes, who while technically rebbetzins, were full-fledged rebbes in their own right. One such famous case is the Maiden of Ludmir.
The rabbi's wife plays an important community role, especially in small communities. In many ways, she is called on to be as knowledgeable as the rabbi in the realm of woman's observances: in this manner, for something that does not require a psak (ruling), she can be approached when a woman does not feel comfortable approaching the rabbi, or where the rabbi maybe should not be approached. For instance, the rebbetzin may often be the "mikvah lady" and help with more mundane questions regarding the laws of niddah. Part of it, certainly, is that she always has the rabbi's ear, and that she would know if the question needs to be asked, in order to get a psak.
When a rabbi is a "pulpit rabbi," (versus a teacher or a "lay rabbi") his wife becomes something of a first lady of the community and performs social tasks and "outreach" roles, freeing her husband to attend to rabbinical duties.
With the growth of independent scholarship among Orthodox women, some women have informally received the title on their own merit, irrespective of their husbands.
Reviewing the history of the page, I find that the category of "rabbis" was removed in April 2008.
(delete sentence that fails to clarify how this issue relates to the use of the English word rabbi (as against rav)) (undo)

added chassidic rebbitzens- rebbes wifes, July, 2007
 Same day as dreation
(Category:Judaism and women is better)
Created December, 2005 
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
The misapplication of the term "rebbetzin," mostly by English speakers, is a relatively recent phenomenon.

The movement of so-called "modern orthodoxy" in this direction is no surprise.

However, within many English-speaking, Litvak communities, these "rebbetzins" being treated more and more as defacto rabbis, in this is nothing less than the result of feminism and other galuth (exilic) influences, sneaking into these quasi-Haredi communities.

The instruction of men in achieving shalom bayis (peace in the home), directly or indirectly, by "giving his wife whatever she wants," and "told to stick his nose back in a sefer where it belongs" is a major contributing factor to this completely Western and anti-Torah attitude toward women.

Furthermore, simply placating ones wife in this manner, instead of discussing issues of her concern with her, is not in the least bit respectful.

At least in the liberal modern orthodox world, they are straightforward about their Western, "do what they want" attitude about Torah. Find an obscure, if not completely irrelevant, source to support your views, then you're good to go!

Wait a minute. Isn't that the "Conservative" movement?

But, I digress...

I do not blame whoever added this statement of revisionist history to the Wikipedia page. I blame those who educated them, allowing them to believe the feminist notion that "rebbetzin" means defacto female rabbi, instead of "wife of a rabbi."

A "rebbetzin," in addition to being a term of respect and endearment, signifies a women who is not only married to a rabbi, but one who makes it possible for her husband to be involved with Torah, as much as possible.

There are plenty of women who I would and do call "Rebbetzin," and they are all women who do not allow themselves to be called "Rebbetzin" in public.

All of these so-called rebbetzins need to take a lesson in anavah (humility) from these other women.

I do not care how much of their physical bodies are covered up, some of these women also need a serious lesson in tz'ni'uth (modesty), the more important mitzvah (Torah commandment) a woman has.

The Toldos Aharon Rebbetzin is a rebbetzin.

The Belzer Rebbetzin is a rebbetzin.

Shaina Hayah (nee Levine) Eliashiv ztz"l was a rebbetzin.

Brakha Qapah ztz"l, the late widow of Rabbi Yosef Qapah ztz"l, the Yemenite Gadol HaDor was a rabbanith.

A teacher as a "sem" is to be compared to these women?? I have no doubt that their are some righteous and wise women at some of these institutions. But, why are their students being led down this path?

Many of the women who have had this misnomer of a title thrust upon them need to make more of an effort to dissuade their students followers from applying this word inappropriately.

Avi Weiss
Who needs "female rabbi-maker" Avi Weiss, and his egalitarian crap, when this weed's seed was sown ages ago, deep within Western/assimilationist galuth (exile)? 

"some women have informally received the title on their own merit, irrespective of their husbands"

Seriously??

(eyes rolling)

When you think about it, the only difference between some of these so-called "rebbetzins" and the Women of the Wall or Kolech or other such organizations, is that the latter groups of women are open about their feminism.

We should all take this to heart, during these 10 Days of Teshuvah

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Avi Weiss Steps Down! Or Does He?

ב׳ לחודש השמיני תשע״ה

Avi Weiss, [too] Modern [for] Orthodox[y] rabbi, has announced that he will be stepping down from his "pulpit." But, don't worry, the havoc he has reeked across segments of the Torah-dedicated community will surely continue.

Rb. Pinchos Lipschutz provides us with the best, overall summary of Weiss's unfortunate contributions to Modern Orthodoxy, as well as a brief history of the influence various trouble makers have asserted on Judaism over the years, and concluding with a scenario of the potential, final downfall of Modern Orthodoxy, and how it might be prevented.

I highly recommend reading his Lipschutz's entire piece. Below, I have listed a few tidbits from it.

Rabbi Avi Weiss
Rabbi Avi Weiss to Step Down

Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, October 22, 2014

Rabbi Avi Weiss, founder of Open Orthodoxy’s flagship institutions, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Maharat, and a vocal proponent of granting semichah to women, announced on Shemini Atzeres that he is stepping down from the pulpit of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale (HIR). He had previously given up the presidency of Chovevei Torah....

...Weiss said he is not retiring, stating that he will still serve as rabbi-in-residence at HIR, adding that he would continue speaking and mentoring rabbinic students...

In his speech, Weiss called “Rabba” Sara Hurwitz - who he ordained - “my hero” stating that “although Rabba Sara is spending more time as the dean of Yeshivat Maharat, an institution which grants semichah to women, her contribution in the Bayit (HIR) has been historic, and it continues to be indispensable. A woman’s voice in the spiritual leadership of our Bayit as a full member of our rabbinic team is crucial to our future success....”
...In rejecting a geirus performed by Weiss, the Israeli Rabbanut explained, via its legal adviser, Harel Goldberg, “The Chief Rabbinate has been contacted by various rabbis known to the rabbinate, some of whom hold positions in the RCA [Rabbinical Council of America], who claim that Rabbi Weiss’ halakhic positions, as expressed in various incidents and under various circumstances, cast doubt on the degree of his commitment to customary and accepted Jewish halakha....”

Click here to read the entire article.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Hag vs. Hag: Rabbi Avi Weiss Should Referee

י"ט לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ד

Who remembers Mad Magazine's comic strip "Spy vs. Spy?"


Well, it looks like we have a similar situation developing in Jerusalem.
Hag vs. Hag
at the Great Wall of China, the only
wall where they should be allowed to pray
Life In Israel: Women of the Wall Splinter Group
January 13, 2014

The Women of the Wall have officially made it in the Jewish world - they now have a splinter group. a break-away minyan.

Now on every Rosh Chodesh, it seems, there will be three minyanim - the standard minyan[im], the Women of the Wall and O-WoW (Original Women of the Wall)

The new group, called O-WoW is upset that WoW has decided to negotiate a compromise with the government and accept an alternate location, one that has come to be known as the Azarat Yisrael. O-WoW will hold its first organized services at the Kotel this Friday. According to the article it will be marking Tu bShvat, though Tu bShvat is really on Thursday so i am not sure how that works.

I feel really bad for Ronit Peskin and Leah Aharoni, founders of Women for the Wall, who will now have to lose some focus as they fight two separate groups, and possibly no longer once a month. If the two groups decide on different monthly days for their services, Women for the Wall might have to bring out the masses on multiple days, which might not be as simple a task.

Then again, if they stay divided, and if it is true that most of the members of O-WoW live abroad in the USA, they might not have services all too frequently. They might not get a minyan, and they might go unopposed because of it.
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Rb. Avi Weiss
Minyan? Let me be absolutely clear about this. They NEVER get a minyan., which is comprised of 10 kosher, Jewish men.

Well, I say, why don't we get Rabbi Avi Weiss, who appears to have received "Discommendation" from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, to come over and referee?

Avi Weiss "made" a female "rabbi," called it by another name, and then promised never to do it again. Sorry, but the damage has been done, and as long as "rabbis" like him continue to confuse goyshe-developed, Western values and sensibilities with Torah values and sensibilities, there is no undoing it..

Just look at the Kotel now!

Plus, there are many other examples of Frankenstein's Bride which you helped to create.


Sunday, March 24, 2013

The "Women Of The Wall" Are Not The Problem

י"ג לחודש הראשון תשע"ג
Arutz 7: 'Armed with Tallits,' MKs Join Kotel Women, Prevent their Arrest
Leftist female MKs donned prayer shawls and joined Women of the Wall for provocation at Kotel.

Gil Ronen, March 12, 2013

Leftist female MKs donned prayer shawls Tuesday morning and joined the Women of the Wall for a prayer session at the Kotel. The MKs' presence prevented the arrest of the Women of the Wall by police.

MKs Stav Shafir (Labor), along with Tamar Zandberg and Michal Rozin (Meretz), joined the group, which regularly holds prayer sessions that challenge the traditional Jewish division of roles between the sexes, next to Judaism's most holy place. (cont.)

Why Gil Ronen (or his editor at Arutz 7) chose to call them "Kotel Women," I have absolutely no idea.  The honorific "Kotel" belongs to those righteous Jewish women whose prayers are disrupted by the so-called "Women Of The Wall."

My guess is it's the same ol' credo "Sometimes we're Torah flag wavers; sometimes we're 'objective' journalists." Whatever.

Anyway, as the title fo this piece states very clearly, the so-called "Women Of The Wall" are not the problem.

Let's take a look at who and what ARE the problems.

R' Yuval Cherlow
1. Mamlakhti (undying State loyalist) "Rabbis" like Yuval Cherlow of the Petah Tiqwah Hesder Yeshivah believes in accepting the so-called liberal movements of Judaism, as legitimate denomination of Judaism, it seems. Since when Judaism is supposed to be  "reformed," "reconstructed," or (only partly) "conserved," I have no idea. And maybe I should give Rabbi Cherlow the benefit of the doubt, by assuming that he knows NOTHING of these so-called "movements," let alone how they play with, ignore, or rip apart the Oral Torah. (Note: When I searched for images of R' Cherlow, several of the images which popped up were those of Shlomo Aviner, who was prohibited to rule on issues related to Tohorath HaMishpahah by the Beth Din, convened by R' Mordechai Eliyahu ztz"l, and included R' Avraham Shapira ztz"l, R' Dov Lior, and R' Ya'aqov Yosef. That alone should be enough to pasul Yuval Cherlow.)

R' David Stav
2. Rabbi David Stav, who is "...waging a public campaign to become the next Ashkenazi chief rabbi and wrest control of the institution from the ultra-Orthodox" (Daniel Estrin, Times Of Israel, February 13, 2013).

Yes, but what does that mean? Rabbi Stav's Tzohar organization is well-known for its undying State loyalism. If state loyalism is to replace the so-called "ultra-Orthodox," who at least claim to put Torah before the State, then I want nothing to do with it, nor him. Although, Rabbi Stav is against women being considered "rabbis," what roles will he be pressured into allowing them to enter? Will democracy enter into the picture when Rabbi Stav will be asked to look into a halakhic (Jewish legal) matter, perhaps a stand of the government? When Rabbi Stav becomes the next Chief Ashkenzi Rabbi of Israel, will the fact that his salary will be coming from the very Israeli government known for its lack of concern for halakhah influence his (or ANY "Chief Rabbi's") decisions? What happens when the Israeli government decides to give up MORE of God's Promised Land? Will he have the courage to stand up to the opposition like the previous Bostoner Rebbe ztz"l or Rabbi Herschel Schachter ztz"l?

Shimon Peres
Rabbi Stav believes in seeking out those non-Jews in the country for quickie conversions. This will do nothing but create more Erev Rav (false converts). Now, how exactly will THAT help Am Yisra'el? That brings us to No. 3 on the list, the King of the Erev Rav, Shimon Peres. The role of the the Erev Rav, among other things, is to battle against the Torah. 'Nuff said about King Shimon Peres.

PM Netanyahu
4. Prime Minister Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is, of course, part of the problem. Or is he? After all, he's either misguided or just doesn't care or both, right? HaShem will take care of the likes of him. Nonetheless, we are required to point out the truth,...and the lies. Before that disgraceful "apology" to Turkey for the IDF's self-defense, and Obama tuchas-kissing, we saw Bibi's larger contribution to the problem, when he praised his Mamlakhti (undying "religious" State loyalist) lackeys.

R' Avi Weiss
5. Avi Weiss who makes a female "rabbi," calls it by another name, and then promises never to do it again. Sorry, Avi, but the damage has been done. Just look at the Kotel now! Of course, there are many other examples of Frankenstein's Bride which you helped to create. (See below)

Naftali "Where's my kippah?" Bennett


6. Naftali Bennett Keeping the Haredim out of the government was a popular (and strategic) move for now.  Sha"S may waver up and down with its mandates.  Amselam and Likud ...  But UTJ gained a seat, and they will gain one of two more in the next elections, slowly but surely showing that patience and we will end up with the Haredim being in control, just like everyone is so "afraid" of in the first place, why Meretz instills fear in the Religious Zionist communities to get them to vote for non-Haredi candidates, even if they have little to no connection to Torah in their lives at all. Now, it appears that Naftali Bennett will be the Minister of Religious Affairs. Looks like Rabbi David Stav got his wish. The so-called "ultra-Orthodox" (Haredim) will no longer have all that power he has been crying about. Now, he will have all that power, once he gets "elected" as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. He will have Minister Bennett and his entire ministry for minyons to collaborate in pushing his agenda.

7. The K'nesset (Israeli Parliament)
8. Israeli Supreme Court
This is democracy for you, or in Israel's case, deMOCKracy.

But, the real problem is that such individuals actually believe that democracy has anything to do with the running of a truly, Jewish government, in the long-term at least.

Other contributors to the problem include the late David Hartman,
his son Doniel Hartman,
women like "she who must not be named,"
Popeye's Sea Hag
and last but certainly not least,
the hags of Kolech.

And so, we all must decide, will we be part of the problem? Or will we be part of the solution?

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

With "Zionist" Rabbis Like These, Who Needs Neturei Karta?

28 of the Fifth Month 5769
Tensions at Bnei Adam; Waiting for Rabbi Levinger
Hillel Fendel, 23 b'Av/August 13, 2009, 5:16 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Despite reports to the contrary, former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu has not issued an opinion on whether the residents of Bnei Adam should go along with the decision to remove three caravans from their outpost.

On the other hand, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, one of the leading rabbis of the religious-Zionist camp for over 40 years, has ruled that they should.

The residents themselves do not feel bound by this decision (GOOD!), however, and have gone to consult with Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hevron instead. “I don’t believe he will say that we should leave,” said long-time Yesha activist and settlement pioneer Daniella Weiss, “as it is clear what this would mean in terms of [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu’s plan to allow a Palestinian state to be established here.” (Read more....)


Everyone is now waiting with baited breath for Rabbi Levinger's ruling.

C'mon! It's not rocket science. Our own Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah [Kook] ztz"l sure didn't think it was.

One must do everything in order to delay and prevent the evacuation of Jewish strongholds.
- Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah Kook ztz"l

When I little known rabbi in Ofra, Rabbi Elitzur HaLevy Seg"el, quoted this back in 2002 in response to the IDF's expulsion of Jews from Havath Gil'ad on Shabbath, there was great outrage. Even though Rabbi Sege"l, too was a student at Merkaz HaRav Yeshivah, while Rabbenu Tzvi Yehudah was the rosh yeshivah in the 1980's.

Who the heck is he?

I've never heard of him?

Of course, one may only learn the teachings of Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah from Rabbi Tau, Rabbi Aviner, or Rabbi Druckman.


Who the hell made up that rule? I'll tell you who: The students of Rabbi Tau, Rabbi Aviner, and Rabbi Druckman, selectively leaving out Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Zalman Melamed, and Rabbi Moshe Tzuri'el.

How convenient. But it gets worse. They have also attempted to hijack the works of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhaq Kook ztz"l by stating that one may only learn his Torah from his son, and thus only from the rabbis mentioned above. Some of Rav Kook's work was suddenly discovered in the Merkaz HaRav Yeshivah, after certain rabbis had left the yeshivah. It is no coinsidence that some of this work appears to contracict much of comes out of the Mamlakhti camp.

When Rabbi Dov Lior (Hevron-Qiriyath Arba) and Rabbi Zalman Melamed (Beth-El) four full years later, no one was as courageous to shoot down the statements of two of Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah's very prominent students. Then Shlomo Aviner came along, and insisted on declaring that Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah never explicitly said "to refuse orders."

Although Rabbi Melamed walks a very careful line Beth-El for the sake of "shalom" in that town, he could not stand idly by after this statement of Aviner's. In the b'Sheva Hebrew weekly, he made the following statement, without mentioning any names.

"Rabbeinu Tzvi Yehudah did not have to say 'refuse orders,' as he said 'everything.' Anyone who ever learned by him and knew him should know that." (paraphrase)

During the last days in Azza, Rabbi Aviner and other like-minded rabbis were stationed in Neveh Deqalim synagogues keeping an eye on residents who were unknowingly being prepared for their final expulsion (Deep inside, Neveh Deqalim residents could probably feel what was coming). It is crucial to keep this fresh in all of our minds.





Rabbis Lior and Melamed, on the other hand, were barricaded on the roof of the synagogue in K'far Darom. Only when they heard that they were the last ones standing. I believe this was not a caving into the government, but rather like the decision of Rabbi Yohanan, who, acknowledging the reality of the situation, knew that Jerusalem had fallen and the there was nothing left to be done, save for damage control (Avoth d'Rabbi Nathan).

Some have suggested that we all have "our own rabbis."

So, then which rabbis would you follow?

The ones with the money, the publicity machine, and the cameras and microphones constantly at their heels, who see no contradiction between Torah and Israeli Law?

Or ones who place Torah Law before all else, contradiction or not, the ones whose "rulings" are supported by halachic sources, and hold up to scrutiny?

Here is a final note, regarding the B'nei Adam stronghold itself. In this video, Zambish Hever, head of Amana, encouraging the residents to leave B'nei Adam, instead of encouraging them to stay, like you would expect those connected with the Yesh"a Council to do.

Those hold up in the structure slated for removal are yelling various things at him, including, "You destroyed Gush Qatif!" "Put your head down!" and "Take off your kippah!"



Could the tide be changing? Could Jews be waking up, seeing who is a traitor, and fighting back? Or is this attitude still limited to the outposts surrounding Hevron and Shchem?

Update:
Bnei Adam Clash Dissipates – For Now
Hillel Fendel, 26 b'Av/August 16, 2009, 1:33 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hevron ruled that a fight for an outpost can’t be waged without the agreement of the residents – who haven’t decided yet. (Read more...)

I suppose that is a reasonable ruling,... on the surface. Now we will have to see who appears on the seen to try to influence the decisions of the residents.

Cross-posted on The Israel Situation.