My first reaction was ?מה לכהן בבית הקברות
What's a rabbi doing with this אבי אבות הטומאה - the head-"Galach" of a leading עבודה זרה?
Then I did a Google search and was even more shocked to read an article in the LA Jewish Journal (from 2001) informing us that Rabbi Wolf studied "with such luminaries as the revered Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson and the Dalai Lama"
(And did Leibl really study "bechavrusa" with those gentlemen? Hard to believe.)
I am sure that Rabbi Wolf knows of the hundreds - if not thousands - of secular and uncommitted Jewish kids caught in the net of the Buddhist religion all over the world. Giving his "hechsher" to the leader of this 'klipah' makes matters much, much worse.
Thank you AJN Watch for allowing me to vent.
Gotta say, your subject line "Ma leCohen beveis hakoros?" is a beauty(and apt).
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard it for a l-o-n-g time
I wonder if the Lubavitcher rebbe zt'l would've approved of his chassidim also 'studying with' ovdei avodah zara.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I doubt it.
What surprises me is that Ajnwatch reports and often criticises lapses of acceptable behaviour by some of our well known rabbis and lay people.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago there would not have been a need for a blog to undertake such reaction. Then we still had a few serious rabbis who were not afraid to open their mouths - even against colleagues - if they felt that they had gone too far. These days no one says a word about anything.
Sorry, I almost forgot. There is one person who can get them to jump up and down and even spend a small fortune paying for huge ads against him.
Who? Rabbi Meir Rabi, of course.
Far worse shkotzerey by some of the signatory rabbis themselves goes unreported and of course uncriticised, but RMR is the permanent whipping boy.
I have no doubt that the reason is that some of the 'leading' rabbis are concened that their kashrus monopoly is being harmed.
I don't necessarily agree but I suppose business is business. And kashrus these days is big business.
So I think the observant community owes a vote of thanks to the individuals who created and operate this blog. Chazak ve'ematz!
Levi, despite the fact that i often disagree with viewpoints of ajnwatch, you make a good point. we need our voices heard against the ruach hazman which seems to have captured the hearts of most of our religious leaders.
ReplyDeleteI even miss the days of rabbi Zaychik (who I must say wasn't exactly my type of rav) who was fearless in coming out against anyone who he thought was diverging from acceptable standards.
yes, he wasn't always right, but at least some of the weaker rabbis thought twice what they were doing, not wanting to be included in Rabbi zaichyk's next shabbos sermon.
So while sometimes I think ajnwatch goes too far, it is [referable to having no voice at all for genuine observant Aust Jews
I think this 'issue' is a long bow to stretch. It is common for leaders of Religions to meet with each other and in some famous cases, go out of their way to do so.
ReplyDeleteRecently we know that the Chief Rabbis of Israel spent time with the Pope (A"Z) and we didn't suggest that this was providing a hechsher.
In addition, we know that Rabbi (Lord)Jacobovits was a confidant of the Queen, while other high profile 'Frum' Rabbonim attend her garden parties and sit with her in conference. She is of course the head of the Church of England (A"Z)
Finally, you will find historical references, possibly the most famous is when Rav Sonnenfeld went out to greet the Kaiser of Germany while he rode through Ottoman ruled Yerushalayim. The Kaiser of coarse was a rabid anti-semite and one of the key figures in the Lutheran church.
Levi Krantz, I believe that you are mis-informed when trying to connect this specific scenario, the general lack of leadership by the Rabbonim and Rabi
1) You are correct that the Rabbonim are weak in their responses to communal issues in an attempt to appease the largely non-religious members of the community
2) The Rabi affair is the only case in recent history where they have grown a backbone. They werevindicated recently when Rabi was outed as a muckracker in the letters sent by Rabbi Shechter in OU
AJNWatch - keep up the good work. Unfortunately I believe in this case you are off the mark
did you consider just asking rabbi woolf instead of goggling and then quoting another journalistic piece from a decade ago?
ReplyDeletei find it odd that you didn't just email him for a please explain. i did that after i saw this in the exhibition.
another query: is there any difference with this rabbi meeting the DL or the chief rabbis of israel meeting the pope?
just asking....
the DL is himself an AZ - not so the pope
ReplyDeleteOdd, what's to ask? leibl Wolf runs after the holy dalai every possible opportunity.
ReplyDeleteit is a shame a disgrace and good on ajnwatch for bringing it to the forefront