Where Is The RCA?

Caution: Reading "The Jewish Week" can be hazardous to your soul. Proceed with caution. Rabbis Set To Rumble Over Rabba? - (Jewish Week Article)

A friend directed me to the above article. As a general rule, I rarely post a link to any of "The Jewish Week's" articles, which are usually a forum for federation influenced Hellenists to bash religious Jews and distort Judaism in general. Occasionally, I read it online (I would never pay a cent for that rag) to get a sense of what's going on in the world of secular American Jewry. I found this article interesting, because I have been calling on the RCA to oust Avi Weiss from their organization, due to his numerous "progressive" actions that pose a threat to Halachic Judaism. The most notable examples within the last year have entirely crossed the line. First there was his unprecedented ordaining of a woman as a "Maharat" (a "rabbi" for all practical purposes, but at the time they were still trying to insist that it wasn't the case), and more recently, when he put aside the charade and made her a full member of his synagogue's rabbinical clergy, under her new title of "Rabbah".

If what the article is positing is true, (and I hope it is) then the RCA should stop dawdling and expel him immediately, while they still retain some semblance of credibility. Avi Weiss has been barking up this feminist tree for years without any consequence. (The RCA considered throwing him out years ago, but they backed off, due to pressure from certain individuals from within the organization.) Enough is enough. Ordaining a woman as a "Rabbi" is antithetical to the most basic concepts of yahadut, and a direct assault on Halachic Judaism.

The RCA needs to follow the lead of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, who recently came out with a statement condemning this abomination and declaring outright that, "Any congregation with a woman in a rabbinical position of any sort cannot be considered Orthodox." (There are a great many issues that I disagree with when it comes to the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah. This is not one of them.) The RCA needs to throw him out before his contagious belief system spreads and creates another version of the heretical conservative movement. They have already waited too long.

It will speak volumes if the RCA allows Avi Weiss to remain. In my opinion, the RCA is facing a critical decision today. The Hellenists are on the march and they need to make a decision. Will they show courage and come out with an unequivocal statement fighting for Halachic Judaism even if it means that they lose the support of the more "pluralistic" members of the organization? Or will they shirk away from the issue and desecrate The Almighty's name as Halachic Judaism takes another gut shot?

Years ago, when the Lubavitcher Rebbe (of blessed memory) passed away, prominent Lubavitch personalities and organizations faced a similar moment when they neglected to condemn the heretical/idolatrous messianics in the movement, either due to similar convictions (in the majority of cases) or fear of taking an unpopular stance. As a result they lost credibility among those who have any understanding of the heresy that transpired. How the RCA responds (and silence will also constitute a response) will also resonate for years to come. The RCA needs to decide. Will they stand up for yahadut, or become partners in the continued erosion of the mesora?

Personally, I have no confidence in the RCA (or any Jewish organization for that matter). My gut tells me that they're going to bury their head in the sand and let this abomination slide. I hope they prove me wrong.