Amalek's Quest (audio)

Reflections on the eternal lesson of Amalek.


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"Orthodox-Feminists"-The Disease Within

• Feminism has as much in common with Jewish values as Blu Greenberg has with Satmar chasidim.
• Feminism perverts Yahadut and destroys generations of Jews.
• Feminism blurs the distinction between men and women. It is immodest.
• Feminism is an infection which must be eradicated from the collective Jewish body.

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Baptists In The Synagogue

Martin Luther King Day at the Hebrew Institute- January 2010

Those Jews with their heads screwed on right will instantly recognize this for what it is. A pagan ceremony. An astounding chillul Hashem. How else to describe a Baptist reverend and his church choir performing in the Beit Knesset of a supposedly "orthodox" synagogue? (Albeit, one that now has a female "Rabba", and that has at least on one occasion featured a female cantor leading the Kabbalat Shabbat service. Personally, I don't consider them orthodox, nor have I for some time now.) My understanding is that the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale has been hosting this interfaith-concert for years. As seen in the screen capture below, they continued the tradition this year. I couldn't find this year's concert on the internet, but I'm quite certain that it will make its way there eventually. Thanks to technology, every outrage can now be shared with millions across the world.

Now why, you may ask, is it necessary for an orthodox synagogue to hold this function? Isn't it enough to recognize the legacy of Dr. King, and treat all people with dignity and equality? You my unenlightened friend obviously don't understand "open-minded, modern-orthodoxy." The liberal, modern-orthodox, Jew feels a burning need to atone for the sin of x-tian slavery. And what better way to engage in this "tikkun" than to host an annual church choir in the synagogue? They even had Neshama Carlebach singing niggunim.

Can you feel the holiness? I can't. 

For some time now, Avi Weiss has trampled upon his Rebbe's p'sak Halachah regarding interfaith-dialogue. Rav Soloveitchik (of blessed memory) prohibited Jews from participating in any form of interfaith-ceremony, religious discussion, debate, or dialogue with members of other faith communities. His classic essay "Confrontation" is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the Rav's definitive position on the matter. (Many of the Rav's misguided detractors falsely portrayed his stance as a radical one. The Rav's position was deeply rooted in the normative Jewish approach to interfaith matters. He differed with Rav Moshe Feinstein (of blessed memory) and the other gedolim on the question of whether it was permissible to engage in dialogue with members of other faith communities, on non-religious issues, that affect society as a whole.)  Avi Weiss's actions are merely the next logical step of one who doesn't really believe in any separation from the goyim. If your Judaism is so influenced by goyish values that you extol the benefit of interacting with priests and "moderate" imams, the next step is to take down the barrier. Enter the Baptist choir into the synagogue. 

The x-tian faith is a rejection of the Noachide covenant. Maimonides maintained that they are idolaters. (No posek denies that for a Jew it constitutes idolatry.) If Weiss wants to sanctify The Almighty's name, he should introduce his  friends to the 7 Noachide Laws. This is the real meaning of Tikkun Olam. To bring the knowledge of The Almighty to Jews and non-Jews. Not to host interfaith concerts that not only involve serious Halachic and Hashkafic violations, but also come across as patronizing carnivals of liberal Jewish guilt.

Racism is repugnant to Judaism, and Dr. King deserves to be remembered for his struggle to end legislated discrimination. But not with interfaith-concerts in a synagogue, where a preacher calls upon his Jewish brothers and sisters to "clap their hands together and let him hear it", to the rhythm of a church choir. I'm sure many of the deluded Jews and gentiles in the audience truly believed that they felt something "spiritual" that night. So do the animists who pound on drums and wear death masks. The pagan drive is strong. Music is a powerful but dangerous medium. (Unfortunately, many talented, religious Jewish musicians allow their emotions to shape their deot, and not the opposite.) 

No religious Jew should ever attend an interfaith concert. Not in a synagogue, or on the beach, or in a night-club. Even if it means missing a rare opportunity to hear a Baptist preacher sing, "L-rd, Get Me High" with Neshama Carlebach. (And what about the kol isha prohibition?)  Ironically, the song was written to bring Jews back to the fold. Considering the setting and the participants, renditions such as this latest one, will surely send many Jews away. And Heaven forbid, they may never come back.


The only way to truly get "high", is to elevate the soul with the intellect, by studying the Torah. The Rambam speaks about a supremely elevated state whereby a perfected man becomes almost "lovesick" (so to speak) for Hakadosh Baruch Hu. This should be the model for the authentic "spiritual experience", unattainable as it probably is, for most of us. An elevated level where one is totally immersed in the knowledge of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Not some "mystical" experience of goyish paganism. Shabbat Shalom.

A Pop Quiz For The RCA

Disclaimer: The following post should not be taken as an attack against individual rabbis within the RCA. My problem is with the organization itself, which purports to represent  a segment of the "orthodox Rabbinate", and then releases a statement that is contrary to Halachah. A rabbinical organization has an obligation to formulate a statement from a Torah framework, without resorting to the kind of politically correct nonsense that one expects to hear from the Anti-Defamation League. Naturally, I have zero confidence in the RCA, which leads me to my next point. If there are individual rabbis within the RCA who disagree with the official position, I believe they have an obligation to publicly state their opposition and then rescind their membership. In this manner, they will be able to distance themselves from an egregious desecration of The Almighty's name. As a general rule, in the interest of maintaining respect for the Torah, one should accord respect to the individual rabbis within the RCA (Most of them anyway. Some have gone off the deep end.), despite the collective chillul Hashem of the organization's statement, which cannot go unanswered. Yahadut maintains that whenever there is a desecration of G-d's name, one cannot remain silent.


As Ricky Ricardo would say, the RCA has some "splainin to do." I'm still waiting for a comprehensive Halachic statement from the RCA which addresses the issue of renting and selling property to non-Jews in the land of Israel. After all, they were the ones who interfered when several Tzfat Rabbis stated the Halachic prohibition of selling or renting property to Arabs  in Israel. According to the RCA, the issue is more "complex", yet in their entire statement they neglected to mention even one Torah source. Somehow, I don't think that Rav Soloveitchik (of blessed memory) would have authored such a statement (whatever his position would have been). So much for their commitment to "Halachic Man." So I'm waiting for something more substantial from the RCA. Something with meat in it. Perhaps there are sources that the Tzfat Rabbis are unaware of. I want to see these sources. Don't lecture us, without giving us a proper shiur. 

No. There were no Torah sources, but there were a lot of tired cliches from the PC obsessed RCA. Instead of Halachah, we were lectured on the need to show "special sensitivity to societal realities, widely-held ethical principles, and historical injustices." The RCA noted that, " it is wrong and unacceptable to advocate blanket exclusionary policies directed against minorities of other faiths or ethnic groups. Of all people, Jews should know that such practices are beyond the pale, having ourselves suffered from them in the past." Very moving of course, but what about the Halachah? 

I'm not finished with the RCA. I've got a pop quiz for them. Open book, in fact. It shouldn't be difficult for anyone who underwent the rigors of semicha (rabbinical ordination). The questions may seem a bit disjointed, but I assure you they were chosen with great deliberation. I wrote them because I am concerned with the theoretical mindset behind this recent RCA statement. The purpose of the quiz is to get a sense where they are coming from. Obviously, the "7 Nations" are not around anymore (see question 1) but a response to the question will tell us a lot about the hashkafah of the individual members. To ascertain if they are more modern than orthodox. To gauge their perception of yahadut. (I'm considering emailing this quiz to the RCA, with a request to take my test. I don't expect that any of them will oblige me. Of course, my readers can also print up this post and hand it to their local RCA affiliated Rabbi. With respect of course. Always with respect.) 

The Jewish Fist Pop Quiz: Answer the questions as detailed as possible, citing any and all classical Torah sources that are available. Feel free to bring in the Acharonim.

1. What was the Halachic mandate regarding the "7 Nations", when the Jews first entered Israel? 
2. What were the Jews required to do with the rampant idolatry (temples, altars) ?
3. What is a ger toshav? What are the criteria for becoming a ger toshav?
4. What is the Halachah regarding selling or renting property to non-Jews in Israel? (What did you expect, that I wouldn't ask this?)
5. What is Judaism's classical approach to individuals who want to convert Jews to another faith? 
6. May Jews date or marry non-Jews? 
7. What is a milchemet mitzvah? How does the Halachah instruct us to treat the enemy, during a milchemet mitzvah?
8. In your opinion, was Matityahu, the Hasmonean priest, correct in slaughtering the idolatrous Jew in Modiin? If yes, what halachic justification can be cited for killing a man without following the standard halachic procedure of justice?
9. The Torah speaks of an ongoing war "from generation to generation" against the nation of Amalek, including an eventual final showdown where Amalek is obliterated. How do you rationalize the original mandate (as well as any implications for the future) which calls for collective annihilation against seemingly innocent members of society? In your understanding of the issue, will the future war with Amalek require us to slaughter men, woman, and children? 
10. Is Israel's current democracy consistent with the Halachah? Theoretically, would it be proper for an Arab to become Prime Minister if Israeli demographics were to change? What should a religious Jew do when the secular state of Israel engages in actions that contradict or violate the Torah? May one evict Jews and tear down Jewish homes?

Oh, and one last thing, before I forget. I expect Torah answers to these Torah questions.

Shmuley's World (audio)

A recent Chillul Hashem in Shmuley's career.

Reflections on Shmuley Boteach's recent article in which he expressed support for evangelical x-tians, and lambasted religious Jews for being "ungrateful" of the massive sums of money they give Israel.  Shmuley needs a lesson on the basic principles of Chanukah. 


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Female Rabbis? "Open-Modern Orthodoxy" Officially Closes The Door On Torah

Orthodox woman to get title of ‘rabbah’ | JTA - Jewish & Israel News (click link)

A tragic day for the Jewish people. I predicted this many years ago about Avi Weiss, The Hebrew Institute, and more recently "Yeshivat Chovevei Torah." (What a sick joke. If this is a yeshiva, then JTS is one as well.) Common sense and logic indicated that this was where this "open-modern-orthodoxy" (or whatever the hell they call it) was heading. After many years of absorbing and perpetuating the Hellenistic notions of feminism, pluralism, and progressive values, Avi Weiss has finally stepped off the cliff. By officially recognizing Sara Hurwitz as a "Rabbah", he and his followers, as well as all the institutions affiliated with him, have officially severed themselves from the camp of those who believe in the revelation at Mount Sinai. What can I say? Ordaining women as "rabbis" has always been a basic indicator in the Torah world. It indicates a clear break-off from Halachah.

"This will make it clear to everyone that Sara Hurwitz is a full member of our rabbinic staff, a rabbi with the additional quality of a distinct woman’s voice," said the statement issued by Weiss' office.

I was wrong about one thing. I never thought that he would have the courage to take the final leap himself. At least not until he was very old and out of the public eye. I guess by giving him the benefit of the doubt, I misjudged his "courage" to follow the distorted logic of his arguments and carry it through to it's conclusion.

There are those who will find my words troubling based upon feelings they have for Avi Weiss. They will cite his many actions on behalf of Jews over the years, and question our right to attack the man. As if the one justifies the other. Let me just say that as opposed as I am to many of Avi Weiss's beliefs and actions, I respect his past activism on behalf of Jews (not Arabs!), despite the fact that his efforts were guided (or misguided) by such un-Jewish principles as pacifism and pluralism. Unfortunately, all too often he was a vehicle for perpetuating these foreign ideas on the world stage and presenting them as Jewish. Furthermore, each time gentiles harassed him during the course of his activism, and he responded like the accursed decrepit idolater Gandhi, G-d's name was disgraced by the image of weakling Jewish pacifists being knocked around by anti-semites. Nevertheless, I will not deny his intrinsic Ahavat Yisroel (love of fellow Jews), even if it was and is terribly distorted and misunderstood. I can't dismiss the fact that too many Jews, (religious and otherwise) ignored and continue to ignore their brothers and sisters. Obviously, this is a far cry from Rav Kahane's authentic Torah -based love of Jews and his mind-boggling mesirat nefesh (self-sacrifice), but nevertheless, it is one which we are forbidden to deny.

Of course this is completely irrelevant to the issue I am addressing. The other side of Avi Weiss can also not be ignored. The side of the public distorter of yahadut, who engages in the most repugnant forms of interfaith-dialogue, and dare I say it, worship. The corrupter of basic Jewish ideas who strays from the Halachic path and goes the way of the feminist who thinks the Torah is some outdated chauvinistic manual. The side of a man who has essentially created another Jewish sect, that just snapped off the healthy Jewish body and went it's own way into the abyss. In this sense, Avi Weiss has gone the way of "rabbis" Yitz Greenberg and David Hartman who made careers out of distorting Rav Soloveitchik's words. Way off the deep end.

I will never apologize for my zealous indignation when The Almighty's name is disgraced. As a general rule, I hate to bash Rabbis who have undergone Rabbinical ordination from "orthodox institutions". Even if I vehemently disagree with them, if the contrary position is grounded in Halachah and the Rav is committed to Yahadut, I will stick to the issue and not condemn the man. But there is a point when one goes to far. At this stage, the gloves come off. Some real life examples of the kinds of actions I am talking about. When an "orthodox Rabbi" 1) enters a church, 2) calls Jesus (may his name and memory be erased!) a "Rabbi", or ordains a woman as a "Rabbah."

Today's prominent poskim (Halachic decisors) must not let this unprecedented desecration of The Almighty's name go unanswered. Now is the time for a loud and unanimous declaration that this and similar actions are against the Torah. The first institutions to condemn this should be the Orthodox Union and the RCA. The Hebrew Institute should be bounced out of the OU. I'm waiting with bated breath.

Thanks to "The World's Biggest Houston Rockets Fan" (I don't know if he wants me using his real name) for forwarding me this article. It's not a happy article. But evading the issue (as well as other "uncomfortable issues" (as Rav Kahane referred to them), is the essence of Jewish cowardice and intellectual dishonesty. It's a sad day for those who care about Am Yisroel.

"Understanding" Shlomo Riskin

I missed an email on 12/31 from Shlomo Riskin's "Account Executive" (whatever that means). You see what happens when you don't check your email often enough? The email included Riskin's response to his latest public disgrace. I'm assuming the gentleman didn't read my follow-up post the day after his email which addressed the so-called retraction. See Shlomo Riskin Makes A Retraction: Again! Nor do I think he sat through my audio post The Rambam's Legacy-Part 1, or read the more recent Shlomo Riskin's Insane Statements. Below is the letter in it's entirety, with my own commentary following each paragraph in blue.

Daniel-

Below please find Rabbi Riskin’s response to the controversy surrounding his remarks in a recent YouTube video. It is my understanding that you have been involved in discussions about this video. I hope that this statement clarifies the intent behind Rabbi Riskin’s remarks for you.

STATEMENT FROM RABBI SHLOMO RISKIN REGARDING YOUTUBE VIDEO

DECEMBER 30, 2009

It has come to my attention that comments I made on the character of Jesus in a recent interview have been misunderstood. Allow me to clarify.

The filmed interview in question (given to a group of Christians) was edited carelessly and posted on YouTube by an organization that omitted a significant part of my message. The fundamental differences between Judaism and Christianity, which I always emphasize in my talks with Christian groups, were completely absent from the edited version. In the segment of the film that was spliced out I made specific reference to the fact that Jews can never accept Jesus as the Messiah – anyone who does so is ipso facto not a Jew - and that for us every human being is a child of G-d (and not any one specific individual); no one single person can ever claim that unique status, which G-d bestowed upon all of humanity created in His image.

The Jewish Fist Commentary: Right from the start Riskin avoids the most important issues. 1) Why is he even speaking with people who see converting Jews to their faith as the most important task in their lives? 2) Why is he surprised that such people would omit and edit his words to further an insidious agenda? 3) How does he have the gall to engage in interfaith-dialogue with members of other faith communities, which his rebbe (Rav Soloveitchik) staunchly opposed?

Riskin's assertion that he always emphasizes the differences between the two faiths in his speeches, begs the real question. Why is he doing this at all? Furthermore, his explanation for why Jews can't accept "Jesus" as the Messiah (which he maintains was "spliced" out) is fundamentally inaccurate. He's still playing games with dangerous x-tian semantics that only gives them more material to distort. "Child-of G-d". Judaism's problem with this absurd and idolatrous notion is not that it contradicts the idea that we "are all children of G-d." Our problem is that the notion of a true "child of G-d" is the definition of idolatry. The real issue that gets lost in this jumble is Riskin's troubling need to engage in discussion with those who want to steal Jewish souls. A proper analysis of the man would surely expose the real driving force behind his actions. A man who has been influenced by Hellenistic notions of pluralism and humanism which are inherently at odds with Judaism.

I would certainly never praise the Christian representation in whose name Jews have been slaughtered and persecuted throughout the years. That was not my intention at all, and I regret putting myself in a position where my words could be manipulated. Indeed, my comments referred to Jesus the historical figure, the man who was not a “Christian,” who did not hate Jews but rather was himself a committed Jew. In order to emphasize this point to a Christian audience, I referred to him as “Rabbi” Jesus, the Jewish historical Jesus as many historians such as Professors Joseph Klausner and David Flusser have proven him to be. However, let me be clear: While I refer to Jesus poetically as “Rabbi” Jesus, he was not a rabbi in the classical sense of the term. It was used only to explain to a Christian audience the Jewish Jesus, and in hindsight, the term was an inappropriate one to use.

The Jewish Fist Commentary: More pseudo-history from Riskin. Whoever the true historical Jesus was (separate study in itself), he certainly wasn't a committed Jew. Riskin should read what Maimonides had to say about him. He was a heretic whose influence led to the slaughter of millions of Jews throughout history, and the loss of untold numbers of Jewish souls.

As far as his regrets go, Riskin regrets putting himself in the same position that he regretted the last time he made the exact same mistake, several months back. Evidently he learned nothing from the past. Nor does he seem to appreciate the responsibility that being a rabbi entails. These are not minor mistakes. These are gross incidents that betray a faulty understanding of the most rudimentary elements of Judaism.

Tragically, innumerable horrors were inflicted upon the Jewish people in his name. I always emphasize this point to Christian audiences and they always respond with great empathy and sincere pain. For me, one of the true signs of the unique period in which we are living is that for the first time in 2000 years, the Christian world has held out a hand of peace to the Jewish world. Even more: leading Catholics (notably Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II), important intellectual Protestants like Dr. Robert Jensen and Dr. Petra Heldt and virtually the entire Evangelical community worldwide have asked for our forgiveness, have made serious revisions in their theological positions, and are standing squarely behind the Jewish people in the State of Israel.

As an Orthodox rabbi, I deeply believe that there is a need for mutually-respectful dialogue between the Jewish and Christian worlds. This dialogue must express our common commitment to a G-d of love, pluralism and peace, but must at the same time never gloss over the very different faith commitments of our individual respective religious communities. Dialogue between Jews and Christians is especially crucial now for the political future of the nation of Israel as well as for the security of the free world in the face of the rapidly spreading Islamic Fundamentalism which is terrorizing humanity. Only the G-d of love and peace which we share with the Christian world can overcome the false G-d of Jihad and terrorist bombers. From a Jewish perspective it is clear that such dialogue can only be conducted in accordance with the principles of our Torah philosophy and the faith commitments which are the foundation of our sacred traditions.

Shlomo Riskin

The Jewish Fist Commentary: The x-tian world hasn't changed at all. Today the sword has been replaced with the olive branch of the evangelical x-tian. Now they are our "brothers", and they speak of a "shared heritage." A fictitious Judeao-x-tian ethic. There is no shared heritage with the worshipers of the dead Jew. There is no "god of love, pluralism, and peace." That's not the G-d of Israel. That's the golden calf of Heschel and Buber. Riskin may be searching in fear for an ally against the scourge of Islam or what he absurdly calls "Islamic Fundamentalism." We don't need any allies. We have The Almighty. If Riskin understood this, he'd be a very different man.

I don't want to hear any more excuses from this clown or his cronies. When he decides to repent properly and publicly, I'll be willing to listen to what he has to say. I'm not holding my breath, though. I'm just waiting for the next "misunderstanding" which will disgrace The Almighty's name and endanger the souls of more vulnerable Jews. And when it happens again (and it will), I'll be there to explode at him again, without any consideration for the modern-orthodox minions whose pluralistic feathers I am sure to ruffle.

Shlomo Riskin Makes A Retraction: Again!

Shlomo Riskin recently retracted certain statements about "jesus" and x-tianity. Again. This is his second apology in under a year's time, for words that were "misinterpreted." Remember the first time he spoke like a bona fide missionary? The first video featured a smiling Riskin gobbling about how the x-tians are "grafted" onto the Jewish branch, and some other insane ramblings about "resurrecting god." Statements right out of the missionary textbook. Absolute heresy.

His explanations are predictable. The same garbage about how he was taken out of context, and how his full statement was altered. We're supposed to buy that his words were taken out of context? What does he expect from missionaries when he uses the term "rabbi jesus"? (May his bones be ground to dust!) Nothing he says should change anything. Knowing what makes Riskin tick, I say with certainty that he'll do it again in the future.

This is too serious an issue to chalk up to carelessness. Riskin is an educated man who learned under Rav Soloveitchik, with the logical and analytical framework of the Brisker Derech. He knows how halachically problematic his statements are. The only logical explanation there is, is that he's doing it on purpose. He must like the attention he's getting for his radical views that are out of the ballpark of conventional Jewish thought.

So let's give him our undivided attention, those of us committed to the basics of yahadut. Here's an opportunity to show the world "achdus" (unity) in action, by uniting on an issue that should be understood across the Torah divide, from the soup kitchens of the Satmar community to the halls of Yeshiva University. If Riskin can't accept the fundamentals of Judaism which reject x-tianity as an idolatrous weed, then he needs to be vomited out from the Torah committed camp before he contaminates more Jewish souls.

In his latest video, Riskin babbles about his interest in religion in general and x-tianity in particular. Perhaps he should start with some basic history, about those heroic Jews in the times of the Crusades who slaughtered their families and themselves, rather than kiss the cross. Hysterical fathers with tears in their eyes and broken hearts did the unimaginable to protect the Jewish soul, when they placed the sword upon the throats of their loved ones. Such mesirut nefesh (self-sacrifice) epitomizes the only authentic Jewish approach in a time of shmad. Fawning over idolaters is akin to spitting on the Torah and the legacy of these martyrs.

A most grotesque desecration of The Almighty's name was committed by the "Chief Rabbi of Efrat". An abomination which was captured on video (just like the first) and posted on Youtube. Now it's out there on the world wide web. Forever. (As an aside, it really raises some troubling questions about the possibility for proper repentance. I'll save that discussion for another time.)

Shame on you, Shlomo Riskin. Every Torah committed Jew understands that something is wrong here, everyone besides yourself. If you can't act like a Rabbi, why don't you resign from your post and join the Hartman Institute, where you're words won't be misunderstood. I'm sure Duvie will welcome you with open arms.

Shabbat Shalom.