מחזק את הנגיד ר' שלמה רכניץ

Perhaps the speech given by Mr. Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz touched an open wound and uncovered a timely myth, something akin to the false notion of papal infallibility. We consider ourselves a little smarter than that, and gave it a new name, Daas Gedolim.

Our sages in their wisdom and Kedusha realized the breadth and depth of the Torah Hakedosha, and so we have differing opinions, and gleaned much knowledge from each other. We have a Bavli and a Yerushalmi, and more recently something to which we can all relate. The Chofetz Chaim found it appropriate to quote the Razash, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the Shulchan Aruch Harav and the Tanya. The Torah has seventy faces.

Rashi brings seemingly contradictory opinions on the same verse and reconciles them. The sharp pen of the Rayvad was used freely to criticize and question Rambam , who was beloved by many who recited “MeMoshe vaad Moshe…” .

Differing opinions and approaches to Halachik issues based on Torah true sources has been openly encouraged. We have Nusach Askenaz and  Nusach Sefard etc. In the same town we can find Shuls who read different Haftorahs on the same Shabbos, and we find the Aruch Hasulchan, and not a chassid, questioning why the majority of communities do not follow the minhag of the Razash   i.e. (Chabad) when it comes to Hagbah. Is only one way the right way, and the other wrong? Diversity in Yiddishkeit is not discouraged, and mutual respect is of another Jews minhagim is respected.

Surely someone who has impacted the world of Torah with his support of Yesomim and Almonos r”l and numerous Yeshivos and Mosdos Torah around the globe deservers the courtesy and acknowledgment that there may be of lot of Emes in what he dared to say. Is it his signature on the check that he signs the only way certain individuals can recognize the man for who he is?

Maasei Chesed is part of Torah life. Take a moment to check out the Gemorah that explains why Abayeh outlived Rova ( Rabba) by 20 years. It was his merging of Torah with Maasei Chesed. People who perform these acts of kindness have a right to express their opinions and to be heard.

We are a generation with few leaders who can match up to those in previous generations. We encourage our present day leaders to open a dialogue with individuals with whom they share a common goal, even though they may have a different approach. We need to share and start talking openly about how we deal with our problems, and not shoot the messenger, an honest man with a message who can and does make a difference. With respect to our Rosh Yeshivos and leaders, I ask you not be afraid to listen and engage.

We are hemmoraging in the frum community. Do we have to read in the secular papers about the drop -out rates from Yeshivos and religious institutions. Does the Torah leadership see the escalating number of kids from divorced homes and yes, so many kids  “freiying out”?

Mr Rechnitz had the courage to say out loud what people are afraid to say in public. I and many other frum (beard ,black hat and showing Tzitzes) are part of a very large silent majority who says Chazak vAmatz, Mr Rechnitz.    Signed, Ben Aaron