Yechi - NO! Jesus YES! - Melbourne Jewry welcomes a fan of Rabbi Jesus!

Caulfield Hebrew Congregation warmly welcomes

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin

celebrated Chief Rabbi of Efrat

(formerly of Lincoln Square Synagogue, New York)

as our scholar in residence for the Shabbat of 4-5 June, 2010 Parshat Shelach

We are pleased to invite the community to hear this innovative thinker and dynamic speaker at the following times:

Friday 4 June, Mincha 5.00pm followed by Kabbalat Shabbat 5.45pm 

“The Conversion Conundrum”

Saturday 5 June, Shacharit 9.15am  

 “Is the State of Israel Still Vital to World Jewry?”

Saturday 5 June, Mincha 4.45pm followed by Seudah Shlishit 

 “Is There a Future For Modern Orthodoxy?”

Don’t miss this rare opportunity!

JBD and the Werdiger family  cordially invited you to a lunchtime lecture in the city by

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Efrat, Israel

Where there is a rabbinic will, you can always find a halachic way.

Is this true?

Time: 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm (followed by Mincha)  Date: Wednesday 2nd June 2010

Rabbi Riskin tells us that he always refers to Jesus a "Rabbi Jesus" and considers him as a model rabbi!

And did we understand him correctly? Did he say that when the Moshiach comes, he will ask if this is his first of second coming?

And some googling brought us up this gem of his hypocrisy:

Isaac Balbin said...
On Rabbi Riskin and Chabad:
When Rabbi Riskin was on a recent visit to Melbourne, he visibly squirmed when he noticed the "Yechi sign" at the back of the main shule (Rabbi Groner z"l's shule). He could not believe that it was still up there and felt uncomfortable davening there.

He immediately went to see Rabbi Groner and complained directly to him. Rabbi Groner was quite ill and bed ridden

As I recall, Rabbi Groner told him in not so delicate tones "If you don't like it .... "

Yeshiva Newsletter and the Yechi sign

Following this AJN report about the "censored" anti-Yechi-sign articles, a number of readers contacted us asking locate and publish the missing items. We are considering the requests and ask anyone who has them to forward to us. (Anonymity if requested - is assured.)

We are still scratching our heads trying to understand why, if the topic is so awkward, were these articles allowed to be published in the first place?

The Yechi Sign in Yeshivah Shule

?המה מי מריבה

Yeshiva Yechi sign (# 2)

(Can anyone supply us with pictures of the Yechi signs versions 1 and 3?)

Since we posted the following petition (in the comments section of a previous post), we have had a large number of responses. However as the majority were either disrespectful (towards both sides of the debate) or plain boring and repetitive, we did not publish them. Now that Rabbi Telsner has responded to that petition, we feel that the story deserves its own blogpost.

Dear All,

This is directed at members of Anash and people who daven (or used to daven) at Yeshivah Shule. Our apologies if you have received this email and do not consider that the issues raised impact upon you in any way.

As you may be aware, we are running a petition directed to Rabbi Telsner and the Yeshivah Executive calling for the removal of the Yechi sign affixed to the back of Yeshivah Shule. We are aware that given the track record of the Executive, it is unlikely that they will respond to this petition, yet we believe it is important that they get a feel of the level of opinion that exists concerning the ongoing presence of the sign in the shule.

By this initiative, we certainly do not seek to persuade anybody as to how they should feel about the philosophy which stands behind the Yechi sign or, chas vashalom, provoke disharmony.

We believe that the sign is divisive and our aim is to restore Achdus to our Chabad community and, potentially, restore some pride and dignity to Yeshivah Shule and Chabad in Melbourne. Recent developments (the Asarah B’taives incident and response) have brought this issue back into focus.

From the outset, we have respectfully informed Rabbi Telsner and the Executive that we are running this petition and that we would like an opportunity to present the results to them. We have asked them to recognise that currently there is no other way for people to voice their opinion on this issue or generally.
Accordingly, we attach to this email a copy of a blank petition form for you to print off and sign (include name).

Upon signing you can either scan and email to one of the addresses below, or contact us via email and we will arrange to collect.

We can be contacted via email on yudhum@tpg.com.au or menachemv@axisc.com.au

We recognise that this is an emotive issue and people have strong opinions each way. Please do not feel under any pressure to sign our petition or join the group. Once again, our aim is to restore unity.

Please feel free to pass this on to others to whom it may be relevant.

Once again, apologies to anyone who may be offended by receiving this message.

Regards

Yudi New and Menachem Vorchheimer

The Yechi Sign in Yeshivah Shule      by Rabbi Z.H. Telsner

Tuesday February 9, 2010
25 Shevat 5770

בס'ד כ"ה שבט ה' אלפים תש"ע

The Yechi Sign that is displayed in the back of Yeshivah Shule has been in place for more than 18 years. The late Rabbi Y. D. Groner OBM gave this matter very serious consideration, taking into account the diversity of the shule membership and all associated issues, and issued a Psak that the sign should remain in the Shule. I see no reason to change the status quo and am upholding Rabbi Groner’s Psak in relation to this matter.

The Rebbe often emphasised that the way to bring Moshiach is through Ahavas Chinum (unconditional love) and we hope that our Shule community will unite and grow through mutual respect and Ahavas Chinum and we will hasten the coming of Moschiach.

May Hashem answer all our Teffillos for Brocho and Hatzlocho, and peace in Eretz Yisroel and the imminent arrival of Moshiach.

Wishing you a freilechin Purim.

Rabbi Z H Telsner