Apologies in
advance to readers who must by now have tired of the 'painful saga', but an article in this week's JC underscores an aspect of the
ensuing fallout that has yet to be fully appreciated. It demonstrates the
seismic shifts taking place in frum London, if not the UK, effected in large
measure by this very saga.
For the first
time in living memory, a spokesman for the United Synagogue (and not merely
individual dayonim acting in their capacity as 'NW London rabbonim') has gone
on record criticizing the UOHC. The significance of this cannot be
overestimated, especially as the criticism relates not to the UOHC's
financial probity, general accountability or its (lack of) democratic mandate
but on issues of chupa and kidushin. The US lecturing the Stamford Hill
establishment on yiddishkeit may not be quite like North Korea lecturing the
USA on human rights but in the Adath’s eyes it must come scarily close.
The story of
Orthodoxy, if not Judaism, in the UK, as well as the world over, during the
last few decades has been to a large extent the seemingly inexorable ascendancy
of the Charedim. Their growing numbers have been accompanied by an increasing
confidence not only in expressing their views, but in policing the limits of
acceptable rabbinic thought and behaviour amongst those to their left. UOHC
rabbonim alongside their stable mates up north have been frenetically ferreting
out the slightest whiff of heresy in their backsliding 'mainstream'
counterparts. Whippers-in like good old Joe have made it their job of propping
up the rear (where many of their heads are firmly ensconced) from his perch in
Anglo Orthodoxy's organ and through the presidiums and presidencies that have
fallen his way.
Whether it
was the near-career-ending furore over the mischievous leaking of the Chief
Rabbi's letter to the late R. Padwa over Hugo Gryn's memorial service or the
auto-da-fe that ensued over the Chief's 'Dignity of Difference', God's
self-proclaimed inquisitors were always on the case. In halachic matters too,
from the brouhaha over the NW London eruv to the excoriation of Dayan Lopian
for his overly liberal approach to yom tov sheni, any overt deviation from the
Stamford Hill cum Bnei Brak line was swiftly and harshly condemned and without
the adjudication of an ad hoc Beis Din.
Although this
condemnation did not always lead to a retraction on the part of the offending
party, the bearded bearers of 'Torah True' principles became the force to be
reckoned with on Judaic matters. This self perception of the 'Adath' rabbonim
was widely in accordance with how they were viewed by the Jewish public at
large: uncompromising adherents to unchanging principles.
And it is
here where the tectonic shifts are taking place. Without repeating the sordid
allegations of 'the curious incident of the rov in the night-time' with which
readers of this blog will be well versed, it can safely be said that the
reputation of the UOHC rabbinic leadership has taken a pounding. It will take a
long time if ever before anyone outside their insular citadels will look to
them for guidance or authority on anything, never mind issues pertaining to the
status of women, sanctity, marriage or education. In the immortal words of Rav
Padwa, "the solution doesn't lie with the police," and it definitely
does not lie with the self-appointed UOHC religious and modesty cops.
It is no
coincidence that the UOHC has chosen to keep its counsel while mainstream Anglo
Orthodoxy has been undergoing a mini-revolution of its own. From the
appointment of a 'yoetzet halacha' in Kinloss to the election of women onto the
boards of Federation shuls and as presidents of several United Synagogues; from
the expansion in the number of women's megilla readings to increased contact
with rabbinic personalities from New York's Yeshiva University, a not-so-subtle
snub of Charedi norms has been gaining traction while the guardian angels have
been looking less than beatific.
Of course
this has not all come about as a result of the UOHC's recent failures and the
LBD is still firmly ensconced in black-hat territory. What has changed,
however, is the deterrent factor the UOHC and its allies once represented.
Whereas in the past, R. Sacks felt the need to offer an abasing response when
he was called to account by the late Rav Padwa, a similar demand from the
current UOHC Head (were it not to be retracted on the same day) would likely be
greeted with a mixture of scorn and bemusement.
Rather than
cowering in fear as they may once have done when facing an attack from their
exposed right flank, mainstream Orthodox leaders would more likely be on the
floor in fits of laughter. It will be a long time indeed before the rabbis of
the United Synagogue are prepared to take lessons from their Charedi
counterparts on what should be considered a 'deviation' from our sacred
mesorah.
And it is not
just external forces that are weakening the UOHC. It may be imploding
internally too as their predominance on their home turf is being eroded and
they concentrate their efforts on modesty squads and the like. While In the
past hell would erupt at the change of hechsher of a mere yoghurt supplier,
nary a peep has been heard from Kedassia officialdom in response to the tanks
of a rival butcher shop parked firmly on their lawn. Since the ba'alei
machshirim are a Stamford Hill Rov with the backing of a large kehilo and an
ex-Stamford Hiller in out-of-reach Edgware, there is every reason to believe
that the eyes and direction of the newbies are firmly set east. Were Belz to
establish its own meat in Stamford Hill Satmar would have no option but to
follow suit. The absence of the revenue provided by a profitable meat
production would mark the practical end of the UOHC.
It would be a
mistake to attribute the decline in the Union’s ‘footprint’ solely to recent
events. If Rav Padwa's inaugratory address on a decapitated calf didn't raise
doubts on the leadership quality of the victor at the funeral coup d'état, then
by the time of his incoherent discourse on nobody-quite-knows-what at the Siyum
Hashas, he had richly earned his nickname as the 'Moro D'saster'. This latest
saga has however metamorphasised the headless calf into a headless chicken and
shown the emperor to have no bekitshe and barely a loin cloth. And for this
they have a certain resident of Bridge Lane to thank.
What was the yom tov sheni issue?
ReplyDeleteDayan Lopian made some Piskei Halocho regarding the keeping of yom tov sheni in Eretz Yisroel which were perceived to be munificent in their leniency by the learned gentry of N16.
DeleteI understand the Chabad Shulchan Aruch HaRav permits chutznikim to keep one day yom tov when in Eretz Yisrael. Other Poskim permit it if you have a home in Eretz and/or spend three festivals a year in Eretz etc. Those with stiff necks from looking over their shoulder objected on the grounds of 'Why be lenient when you can for the same price be stringent'. Each person must ask his own Rav.
DeleteDayan Gershon Lopian is of true Litvish stock. Always a stickler for adherence to halocho the Dayan is known, nevertheless, to be tolerant of Chassidus. Personally, I doubt that the Dayan allowed the Shulchan Oruch Horav to inordinately influence his responsum.
ReplyDeletePS. I hasten to add that which I omitted in my earlier comment. Lenient or strict, Dayan G Lopian puts the N16 mob in his back pocket, in the fields learning, paskening and yiras Shomayim.
If Heineken made Poskim, they would make them like him; probably.
and you - Yossi heller - are no doubt well enough versed in the fields of learning, paskening and yiras shomayim (as well as being intimately acquainted and knowledgeable about the people involved)to make the judgement that dayan lopian puts the n16 mob in his back pocket.
ReplyDelete'anijustnaive' -
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to be as good as Gareth Bale is at football to know that Steven Gerrard is a world class player.
So you've got an illogical 'tayneh'.
no, but to judge someone's knowledge vs someone else's, you have to know what they both know.
DeleteAnon, Yossi made a judgement on the abilities of DL vs The union Rabbonim. It's one thing saying that one or the other is a big Talmid Chochom, it's quite another to make a judgement or compare them, something Mr Heller is definitely not qualified to do. (yes I am qualified to judge Mr Heller)
ReplyDeleteIts a very sweeping statement you made about Dayan Lopian, Yossi, and while he is a talmud of r' moshe, I dont know where you know the rest from; and while I cant argue with it,I'd like to know on what you base yourself.
DeleteMy thanks to Anonymous for standing up to my detractors.
DeleteWhy am I not surprised that 'shalom' defends the honour of the dishonourable? Attempting to qualify himself by disqualifying me, yet failing to even attempt to substantiate either part of his claim.
Lastly my a friend from yeshiva. Very few who do understand these matters would argue with it. I could substantiate my words in numerous ways, but the easiest of all would be to ask him outright. He will try to wangle out of giving any reoly, but his reply will be truthful.
and by the way yossi, to refer to the stamford hill mob is a bizoyon hatorah and is a terrible indictment of a mokom which has got a lot of kedusha in it. This is not the place for a shomer torah umitzvos to insult munhigim. Which only proves my view that you are not qualified to say who is greater than who.
DeleteMy friend. I do not intend a bizoyon hatorah c"v nor its munhigim. I used mob for its double meaning (a) crowd (b) Mafia.
Deletethe Chacham Tzvi in his teshuvois paskens that not only may one keep 1 day in eretz yisroel but to keep 2 days whilst there would be oiver on Baal Toisef.
ReplyDeleteThe Shulchan Aruch Harav also points out that if a family come over to CHu'L they should indeed keep 2 days.
DL bases hios pesak on the Chacham Tzvi, who was the father of reb Yoinason Eibishitz and the Zeida of the Divrei Chaim from Tzanz.
The Chacham Tzvi wasn't the father of Reb Yoinason Aibeshutz, get your facts right. In fact he was the father of R' Yaakov Emden who was I guess I will not say of R' Yoinason Aibeshutz.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, who gives a flying f....
ReplyDeleteGet a life z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z..z.z.z.
ReplyDelete