KOTZK BLOG 30– Musings on the teachings of Kotzk
Rabbi Gavin Michal
Follow more Kotzker teachings on Twitter @Kotzker_Rebbe
NOTE TO THE READER
In these blogs, I have tried to present as accurately as I can, many of the teachings of the Rebbe of Kotzk that have absolutely captivated me personally. These teachings appear in bold font, and many of them (to the best of my knowledge) have never before been translated into English. I have attempted to be as true to the original text as possible.
The interpretive and analytical aspects of the blogs, however, are my own, and the reader is invited to share, disagree or remain indifferent to them.
SOME ULTRA ORTHODOX JEWS ARE REVOLTING
The crazy events of the past few weeks and months in Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem, where small groups of Chareidim took to the streets – (and burned garbage and spat on young Modern Orthodox Jewish school girls who simply wanted a normal religious education) - have become most perturbing. Some of these Chareidim do not even want to ride in the same busses as women and are calling for segregation of the genders in some public spaces.
It is perturbing for a number of reasons:
How can ostensibly religious people behave in this manner?
This type of behavior is (not so) slowly becoming more and more acceptable to many segments of our very own community.
Not enough people are speaking out against this deplorable trend.
Does it not remind one of other communities in other parts of the world, who espouse similar sentiments?
The irony is that today, if an orthodox person does or says something just slightly left of center, he is very rapidly castigated by people with loud voices. If he speaks about, say, a possible theoretical reconciliation between Torah and evolution, he gets excommunicated. But if he stones, fights or spits, at best he is regarded as a misguided ‘defender of the faith’, and is free to fight another day.
It is no longer acceptable for t hose of us who are embarrassed and shocked by the barbaric behavior of some of these men in black coats, to glibly shrug it off by saying that this is just the work of an insignificant and tiny minority (as we have always done in the past). If one follows the news stories one quickly realizes that this trend is swiftly on the incline.
Unless our leadership (if it still exists) does something fast to stem the rising tide of religious extremism, both in Israel and abroad, I fear we may be staring down the barrel of a new phenomenon…a Jewish Taliban.
Sociologically, such rancid behavior can only be a result of a ‘group’ or ‘cult like’ mentality, taking over what once was the preserve of the strong, intellectual religious individual.
A hundred and fifty years ago, the Kotzker warned that Judaism was laying the foundations of its own destruction, by encouraging the emergence of religious mass movements, which were gaining popularity all over Eastern Europe.
Like-minded people make a positive contribution to their society. Like clad people, however allow the preeminence of the individual human, (responsible for his actions, and aware of consequences), to be overshadowed by others (who because of allegiance have no concept of consequence).Weak people can now hide behind the coat tails of other weak people. And generally the group will deteriorate to the lowest common denominator.
He further warned that even someone hiding within the very walls and inner sanctum of the Beit HaMedrash, the Study House, may in truth be absolutely vile and despicable.
“The Talmud says: ‘If the Menuval or despicable one comes to mislead you, drag it to the House of study’. This is generally understood as referring to the evil inclination, which gets subdued when brought under positive pressure and influence.
However the actual term used is ‘Menuval zeh’, which seems to indicate a person rather than a concept. Therefore don’t be fooled into thinking that just because someone looks holy and spends time in a holy place, that he is actually holy.
He may be in the House of study but he can still be despicable.”
(Emet VeEmunah p20, par 2)
Let us be bold enough to acknowledge and recognize the existence of people who do despicable things in the name of Judaism.
Let us speak out with sufficient force against these people, before instead of being a ‘light to the nations’, we simply become just like them.
Yishkoach, Rabbi, well
Yishkoach, Rabbi, well said!
It's time someone spoke out about this behaviour. Unfortunately, though, the moderate voices tend to be drowned out by the mob.
You say: "Unless our leadership (if it still exists) does something..."
Surely it is up to the leadership of the Chareidim to take a stance? Those stone-throwers aren't likely to listen to anyone else. They would probably even sneer at Rav Elyashiv. The Chareidi leaders need to learn about sinas chinam and teach their disciples its consequneces.
Turning to the local scene, I think there needs to be far more emphasis on middos and bein adam lechaveiro within the kiruv movements. The dictum that derech eretz kodmah letorah seems to be forgotten in the rush to embrace chumras.
It's always puzzled me that, in many cases, so many baalei teshuva locally behave so badly when their rebbeim exemplify derech eretz and love for their fellow Jews.
Like this blog post very much
Like this blog post very much
Yet another exceptional
Yet another exceptional blog. I think those who pretend to be pious are worse than those who are openly honestly not so. At least the latter lives truthfully.
Absolutely, but don't lose
Absolutely, but don't lose sight of the fact that most all of those who seem pious, are actually very pious.
"Pretend" is the key word in your statement.
Definitely. Pretend is the
Definitely. Pretend is the key word.
As for Anonymous, he should be careful not to generalize about the "ultra orthodox". Some are just keeping mitzvot and keeping to themselves. Ultra Orthodox seems to have become a slur on MyShtetl lately. Look at all the references in the comments. It's always negative.
Secular Jews could also be slurred as ultra, but on te other extreme. Our moderate Jewish position is to keep mitzvot, not to be breaking them! I often hear the nastiest things been said by secular Jews about Orthodox Jews too.
Don't shut out a perspective with slurs. All Jews matter.
Thank you so much Elisheva:
Thank you so much Elisheva: all Jews matter!
Lion613
Before some politically
Before some politically correct libtard pipes up, yes, all PEOPLE matter too.
LOL, and someone who swears
LOL, and someone who swears to much is a cusstard, or is that when people eat too much custard! Okay... going dark before Sam slings hellfire and brimstone at me for going off topic... uh oh! Am I hearing the Resident Evil movie soundtrack playing somewhere... must be the crazy amount of snow here right now!
I hope you all noticed that Hareidi who slung a slur at the IDF lady who did a Rosa Parks on the bus is now banned from using public transport in Israel!!! That'll teach him. Now he'll definitely have to walk on Shabbos, rather than taking the bus to a corner just out of sight of his shul!
Without the mitzvah, the idea dies - Rabbi Berel Wein
At the risk of sounding like
At the risk of sounding like a broken record (anyone remember records?), you have a problem, in fashion-conscious communities, when religious observance becomes fashionable. You have an even bigger problem when the community is made up predominantly of highly competetive individuals. Fortunately or unfortunately Jews are generally highly competative, and in a wealthy community religious observance, fashion and conspicuous consumption come together to create a toxic mix - I am frumer than you, it costs a fortune, but I can affford it!
Unfortunately in a community like that, members drive each other to ever greater demonstrations (demonstrations in the form of exhibitionism) of "piety". How many owners of Ponzi schemes became big donors? (Don't put up your hands, its too boring for words!)
Unfortunately, Rabbi, our rabbis have to take some responsibility for this state of affairs. A lot of the shift to the right which we have seen across the spectrum in the last two decades has been rabbi-driven, and at first glance this seems to be an achievement which we - and the rabbis - should be proud of: but when you get ganovim falling over each other to make the biggest donation to the shul and thus taking a short-cut to heaven, and rank-and-file members driving each other into a froth of religious observance way beyond that which the average Jew of King David's time could conceivably have achieved, and bizarre legends of the exaggerated piety of sages in days gone by being taken and emulated literally by Jews in the present time, then you have a big, big problem!
Pinchas ran a sword through an impious Jew and a Midianite woman for doing what was admittedly a very bad thing, and his deed was regarded as praiseworthy: so far the Haredim of Beit Shemesh have not taken to carrying swords but if the present state of affairs continues no doubt they will do so at some point and when they do, I shudder to think of the consequences!
Lion613
scary point - soz - couldn't
scary point - soz - couldn't resisit :) In my defense, this is a chirp forum is it not?
But seriously... I recomend the book by Rabbi Yom Tov Shwarz called 'Eyes to See' !!!
I agree totally with what is
I agree totally with what is said in the article. Even in our local Jewish community, the ultra religious see themselves as better Jews than the secular ones - they are constantly judgemental of our dress and behaviour and believe we still 'havent seen the light yet'. And when they fall from grace for one reason or another - fraud; adultery etc - which is happening more and more often in the ultra orthodox circles - they hide behind the premise of 'we are only human' and the community doesnt castigate them because we dont 'speak losh n hora'. Its about time these ultra orthodox got off their pedestals.
Great Blog once again
Great Blog once again
Hi.I live in Israel.There
Hi.I live in Israel.There are many things which have been left out in your article.
1. The small groups of Chareidim, number an approximate 200 people. To write a whole article putting down Chareidim based on these people, is misrepresentation.
2. The entire debacle was ignited by an Arab funded campaign to oust PM Netanyahu and break his Shas-backed coalition. It is known that the same group sponsored students of Bar Ilan University systematically to set up cameras and situations to cause a fire to flare.
3. Almost all media in Israel is funded and run by the left wing. That is why every report that comes out, is biased towards the secular group.
4. Research over the past 30 years has shown that Chareidim have the highest percentage of Chesed institutions; the lowest divorce rates; the highest percentage of outreach programs; the lowest levels of alchohol, drug and women abuse.
5. Latest statistics show that the overwhelming majority of Chareidim are working people.
6. Even when the Bar Ilan University set up interviews and cameras, they were shocked to see that over 97% of the 450 Chareidi women interviewed, were absolutely happy about their status and regarded themselves to be treated even better than men, in their circles.
7. The Chareidi leaders including Rav Elyashiv, Reb Chaim Kanievsky, Reb Aharon Leib Steineman and Rav Moshe Sternbuch all lambasted the extremist behaviour. However, they also recognised that this was a planned secular attack on the Charedi lifestyle, and should not be looked at superficially.
The Halocha is that one must certainly judge a righteous person. Charedim by and large keep Mitzvot very carefully and in many cases are involved in the learning of Torah all day. To say that they have transgressed Sinat Chinam without doing full investigations of the conext of this debacle, is an affront to the above Mitzva of judging righteous people favourably.
One must also consider that the leaders of the Charedi world were people such as Rav Moshe Feinstein, Reb Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, the Brisker Rov, the Chazon Ish but to name a few. It is very hard to assume that they and their disciples got it wrong, without having significant basis.
Hi Darren, At the outset,
Hi Darren,
First and foremost, let me state that we are an all-Jewish website with an all-Jewish editorial policy, from Chareidism to Reform. Well, almost all, we don’t publish Reconstructionist content. We would welcome accommodating a weekly blog from you, are anyone else, to espouse your views to our large audience.
You may want to take a look at this story we published this week referencing a NEWSWEEK cover story last week before being too vexatious.
I am responding to your numbered points:
1. When you refer to “your article,” I assume you realised (as clearly stated) that this was a blog by Rabbi Michal who translates and offers comment from the Kotzker on current issues.
2. Are you alleging that rabbi Michal and/or Newsweek have been taken in by this Palestinian-funded agenda? This would make good reading and we would be happy to peruse and publish anything you can offer to this effect.
3. Agreed. I don’t believe this to be an exclusively Israeli situation. In its watchdog role, free media worldwide tends to focus its eyes on the government of the day. But Israel and the world Jewry also has less-secular media available.
4. Point taken. This is true of most fundamentalist and ultra-religious groups worldwide.
5. As in point 2: If you believe that Rabbi Michal, the Kotzker, Newsweek and/or Dan Ephron quoted bad data, this too would make good reading and we would be happy to peruse and publish anything you can offer to this effect.
6. Point taken. Personally, I would never presume to, or say, otherwise. They are there because they want to be there. They are free to leave if they choose. But again, please understand that this acceptance of their status is not exclusive to either Israel or Jewry. We need to be mindful that this fact is as true of most women who “modern societies” would consider to “lack human rights.” I won’t waste your time pointing out examples as I absolutely agree that Chareidi women are happy women and want to be where they are.
7. I can’t comment on who planned the situation or what their objectives were. I do, however, personally take offence if reports that Chareidi women spat and swore at modern Orthodox girls. As much as I would never presume to deny Chareidi communities the right to practice as they see fit, so, too, I believe that they should respect the rights of others to practice as they see fit.
With regard to your concluding paragraphs, I would personally like to believe that amongst our incredible and all-encompassing Mitzvot, there must be something that also considers the affront of one Jewish mother spitting at, swearing at and calling another Jewish mother’s child disgusting names.
Whiole I respect your qhoted Rabbonim, I also think that teachings of the Kotzker, his own teachers and his disciples deserve to be respected.
Shabbat Shalom in the Holy Land
Ant Katz
The situation in Ramat Beit
The situation in Ramat Beit Shemesh was certainly not initiated by the 'left wing media'. In fact, the situation in Ramat Beit Shemesh was largely ignored by the media, until the spitting story. The situation in Ramat Beit Shemesh is purely a result of Chareidim enforcing their chumrot on the Modern Orthodox community in the city. Shop keepers have been intimidated into putting up signs demanding adherence to certain tzniyus standards, and into allowing mashgichim to deface the packaging of cosmetics that have pictures of women on them. Young kids were beaten for walking through a chareidi neighbourhood http://www.rationalistjudaism.com/2010/04/someone-is-going-to-be-killed..... Rocks were thrown at girls on their way to school. These instances had nothing to do with 'Left Media' but everything to do with Chareidi enforcement of their power over the city. A simmilar thing happened in Beitar Illit 20 years algo, though this was not publicised by the 'left media'. The fact that not a single Chareidi Rav in the community spoke up against them indicates that, while not willing to do what these people did, certainly are pleased with the outcome, namely the 'ethnic cleansing' of non chareidis in Ramat Beit Shemesh. The concept here is 'shtikah kehodaat dami', they did not speak up, hence we can assume they agreed with them. Oh, and dont think that the chareidi newspapers from where you get your 'facts' are any less tainted with propaganda and agendas. Instead of wining about the 'blood liable' against the charedim, the Chareidi leadership should end its crusade against non chareidim in their neighborhoods and cities. If you are interested in what really is going on in Ramat Beit Shemesh check out: http://www.rationalistjudaism.com/2011/12/spitting-on-girls-is-not-main-... and other blog entries by Rav Natan Slifkin who happens to live in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
A reply to Darren
A reply to Darren Levian.
Darren, I would say that generally speaking whenever there is something negative to say about Israel and its inhabitants, no matter what the issue is -whether they are too frum or not frum enough- Jews in the Diaspora take some type of comfort that Aliyah is not an option, and that things are better in chutz La'Aretz.
Unfortunately this is especially true of Orthodox movements.
There is never a mention of the spectacular growth of Torah Judaism in Israel, even with pre-school children.
What a pity that Diaspora Jewry in general still act as the spies of the generation.
Hi Darren Thanks for
Hi Darren
Thanks for interacting.
You write an elegant defense of Chareidim. However it is misplaced as a comment to this blog, because if you read it again, you will notice that the strenuous objection was directed ONLY against SOME Chareidim.
I must thank you, though, for enlightening me as to the number of wayward participants. I had heard from a Chareidi friend of mine who lives in the area that the number was around one, not two hundred. Had I known that I may have been less gracious.
For that number of people to have passed through good Torah institutions and behave like this, is in my humble view, a shocking indication that someone did indeed get something very wrong.
Finally I take great exception to the implication that any embarrassing hooliganism would, in any manner or form, have been tolerated by any of the Gedolim you mentioned.
They would tell you that extreme Chumrot (like the bus debacle and many others) may be practiced by individuals, but never be forcibly imposed upon the masses. (Incidently, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein gave a teshuva many years ago, permitting men and women to travel together on a subway).And even if he hadn't and someone felt too lofty to ride in a bus then let him get out and walk!
Hi Rabbi Michal I am a bal
Hi Rabbi Michal
I am a bal Teshuva, who has been exposed to amazing warmth and generosity from Charedim. At the same time, I still have wonderful and close friendships with people who have chosen differently from me.
I was very upset by your title and your article in general. Until you have absolute clarity on the two separate issues i.e the tiny number of extremists on one hand VS defending an organised left wing battle against Charedim in Israel,all you have left readers with, is a misreprensentation which amounts to nothing less than Moytzi Sheim Ra on a sect in Klal Yisroel.Aside from this being against Halocha as is clear from Sefer Shemiras Halashon, you've gone against the first principle in Pirkey Avos -'Hevu Mesunim Bedin.'
With regard to your reply, I think you may have misunderstood the comment by 'Darren' regarding the modern day Sages. The point was that Charedim follow these leaders, and it is lacks rational reasonability to group extremists with the whole crowd of Charedim. For example, had you investigated the Ramat Bet Shemesh incident properly, you would know that this was the act of a group which is mainly made up of Netura Karte extremists, against whom these Gedolim have spoken out.
As a Halachic point, you may want to look at the last Biur Halocha in Orach Chayim 339, where the Chofetz Chayim gives his opinion on mixed weddings. Look further in Sefer Ahavas Chesed in the Mitzva of Mesameach Chosson Vekalla, to see what he says about mixed events. In addition, you may want to read up on a certain Telzer Roshe Yeshiva who sent the wife of a donor home from a wedding, for coming to a wedding unsuitably dressed - it is quite different from the portrayal of Telz Yeshiva that some people wish to give.
To be frank, as one who follows the writings of the Kotzker myself, I think he would have been disappointed at your publishing such an article.
Dear Rael I notice that
Dear Rael
I notice that nowhere in your comment do you denounce the acts of these "so called Chareidim". I call them "so call Chareidim" because just as someone who breaks the laws of shabbas is not a chareidi, neither is one who behaves with such little Ahavat Yisrael and with such little disregard of causing a Chillul Hashem.
You have stated that you follow the Kotzkers teachings, but I doubt this to be true as the basis of so many of his teachings is the hypocrisy of those you claim to serve Hashem and the way they hide behind the veil of frumkeit.
I hope that the rabbi who you quote who "sent the wife of a donor (Obviously could not have been a very important donor) home from a wedding, for coming to a wedding unsuitably dressed " , did not do so by spitting on her but rather through a kind gentle manner otherwise the Rosh Yeshivas actions would be equivalent to the embaressment caused in the event of Kamtze and Bar Kamtze.
By the way I too am a Baal Teshuva. I respect those living an ultra orthodox lifestyle. I respect them when their inner service is congruent with the way they look.
Someone who has obviously learnt much Halacha as can be seen from your response should be used to analysing each and every word. But you conveniently decided to ignore the word "SOME".
'SOME' implies a significant
'SOME' implies a significant portion. 200 extremists out of 500 000 Charedim does not warrant. Thats the problem with the headline.
Regarding the Halochas mentioned,again you missed the point.
We see that to have mixed ventures is not as simple as you may think Halachically. It is obvious that one can't spit on another person. Aside from common sense, its a Mishna in Bovo Kamma 91a. I specifically said to separate extremism from the regular whole.
You see what you want to see.
As i said above, Shtikah
As i said above, Shtikah Kehodaat Dami! If Chareidi Leadership does not publicly and unequivocally denounce the acts of these thugs, then it implies that they agree with them; if not with their actions then certainly with their intentions and the results of their actions, namely the ethnic cleansing of non-chareidim from newly established chreidi neighborhoods. Dont be so naive into thinking that the Gedolim dictate policy in the chreidi world, its the people around the Gedolim, the askanim, that decide whether its policy to have Tznius police patrolling the streets and beating up girls who dont wear stockings (the vast majority of violent incidents in Ramat Beit Shemesh were not reported in the 'left wing' media!)! It is the askanim who decide who gets put in cheirem (there have been incidents where Rav Eliyashiv's signature has been forged on a cheirem)! There are politics at play in the chareidi world which is sensored by the propogansised chreidi media (just as is done in the main stream media).
Thanks for that Rael.
Thanks for that Rael. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the definition of SOME is "being an unknown, undetermined, or unspecified unit or thing". Clearly Rabbi Michal did not specify the number,he merely stated that SOME ultra orthodox Jews are revolting, this is factually correct.
IF ALL THE OTHER CHAREIDIM DENOUNCE THE REVOLTING BEHAVIOR AND DISSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS THEN ALL CHAREIDIM WILL BE WONDERFUL. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE CASE.
Rael, I propose a question to you. Who is more of a chareidi Jew?
a) An individual who keeps shabbas, kosher, wears the correct garb, can quote passages from the gemara appropriately to justify many situations but does not treat his fellow Jew with Ahava and is not worried about creating a Chillul Hashem OR
b)A Jew who dresses modestly but who doesn't stand out, who keeps kosher, shabbas and tries their best to treat others with love and respect and thinks about the way their actions represent their nation.
Which one do you prefer?
BTW, you can quote any Gemara to justify anything. The Gemara is not a code of laws, it is a series of arguments. Lessons taken out of context serve no use.
AS THE KOTZKER REBBE SAID, SOME PEOPLE CAN EVEN HIDE DESPICABLE THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOR BEHIND PAGES OF GEMARA.
I was very embarressed and
I was very embarressed and ashamed this week when non-Jewish work colleagues came up to me and asked me why Jews were spitting at women.
Should I have referred them to "the last Biur Halocha in Orach Chayim 339, where the Chofetz Chayim gives his opinion on mixed weddings"???
Surely not!
Like all Jews should do, I condemned these actions and was embaressed at the Chillul Hashem which was caused.
We are supposed to be the light unto the nations. The halachos were formed to assist us in this goal. As Daniel said many modern day observant Jews forget this. There are many halachos concerning mixing men and women, but the purpose of these laws is to bring us to a higher level of morality...many seem to lose sight of this and are willing to use revolting means in the name of the Jewish religion. To these individuals, stop hiding behind the veil of divine worship. Its bad enough to act in this revolting way, its worse that you are dragging the name of the Jewish religion down with you.
I am a frum Jew and this week I was embarresed.