Sunday, October 23, 2005

Another step towards universal brotherhood

Haarets quotes Yeted Neeman, quoting remarks of Harav Aharon Leib Steinman, a 'Litvish' gadol:

"In Haredi terms, Steinman is a symbol of moderation. A few weeks ago, Yated Neeman published remarks made by Steinman at a rally at the Hebron Yeshiva in Jerusalem in honor of the Jewish month of Elul (which this year coincided with September). "Most of the world is evil," said Steinman, "especially the gentiles, most of whom are robbers, murderers, thieves and all the bad things. They have no justice or integrity."

--- So, Harav Steinman said it and Yeted apparently had no qualms in quoting it. Of course, had a non-Jewish leader ( eg the Pope - can you imagine??) said anything even remotely similar about Jews, the cries and protests would be deafening.

Questions:

1. Has R'Steinman spoken to, or met, any non-Jewish people in the last 50 years?

2. Why do I feel, at the age of 56, that I have nothing in common with this Orthodox world any more?

3. Given that I feel like that, why am I stilll taking any notice of these appalling statements, let alone allowing them to upset me? Should I not have grown out of this by now?

4. Why does the Haredi world continue to tolerate, let alone idolise, these characters (Ovadiah Yosef is in a similar category)? Any minor politician who said anything similar would put their career in jeopardy.

5. Why can't I get more enthusiastic about Edah?

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