There are a few individuals with a hobby. They like to find statements and clips of important Rabbonim saying [seemingly] wacky things and then publicizing it. "Look", they say, "these are your crazy rabbis". Some of these people actually identify as Orthodox Jews.
So what is the correct response?
IMHO as follows: Years back, there was a biiiiig rabbi [not in physical size but in spiritual stature] who publicly said and wrote that we should give the Arabs land in exchange for peace. Now, isn't that a tad bit off the wall? It seems so. I mean, they don't really want peace. They actually want to wipe us all off not only the map [a lot of maps already erase Israel] but literally off the face of the earth and will not rest until they achieve their goal [which will never happen]. That is so obvious and has been for a long time. They are not shy about their goal. The are actually quite vocal about it. So what was this rabbi talking about? How could he be so "naive"?
Here goes [may Hashem forgive me if I am wrong]: When a rabbi, no matter who he is, speaks, he is not necessarily reflecting the genuine, authentic Torah view. The proof in this pudding is that other rabbis of no lesser stature vehemently disagree with him. So maybe they are expressing the true Torah view and not him? To use our example, there were and are certainly PLENTY of Rabbonim who say not to give them an inch [most notably the Lubavitcher Rebbe]. It is important to survey other viewpoints. [On that note: There are otherwise intelligent people who insist that the Rebbe is still alive and will be redeeming us any second now. We can agree that this is not necessarily true דעת תורה]. Or maybe it is אלו ואלו which we discussed at great length on these pages.
People - even great people - make mistakes. Like the Rebbe who told my grandfather to stay in Europe and not go to America and if he does then his sons will marry Goyim. Well, he went [escaping before the Holocaust] and not only is my mother Jewish [one of his four daughters in law] but so is literally everyone else in my family. Not only is there zero intermarriage but the family is overwhelmingly Charedi, filled with WONDERFUL Bnei and B'nos Torah, much more [outwardly] frum than my [saintly] Zeide.
It is OK to make mistakes. It is human. One can say the wrong thing and still be a great person and even a Tzadik.
One great Gadol said after the birth of the State that it would last a very short time [I think he said a year, 5 at most]. לא נורא. Baruch Hashem, he was off. The alternative to Medinat Yisrael in our present reality doesn't seem so pleasant. Prime Minister Mansour Abbas? I'll take the Chiloni, Benji from Netanya, over Abbas any day.
So he made a mistake. He remains a Gadol.
Sometimes, context is necessary. One of the biggest Roshei Yeshiva of our generation said that our biggest enemy is ... Issssssssamarrrrrrrr Ben Gvir. C'mon. Halevai I should be the son of a massive Gvir [and he shares the "spoils" with me]. What he meant was that he is against people going up to Har HaBayis and against Charedim voting for Itamar, weaking the Torah parties. He knows that we have bigger enemies.
A Rosh Yeshiva speaks [in a private form] against a Tzadik [S.G.] who raises millions for injured soldiers, their families etc. etc. and calls him a "מזיק" [which is what prompted this post]. Most Roshei Yeshiva would not have called him that. He is helping people in pain and suffering who are sacrificing life and limb to protect every Jew on the planet. What this RY meant was "the Yeshivos and Kollelim are choking and I am distressed about that" [that was the context of the conversation when he made this remark]. He is not against helping suffering Jews [chesed and Tzdaka apply to any human being and not only Lomdei Torah. He knows that Halacha] and is not against having an army to defend ourselves [even though he doesn't send his Talmidim to serve]. Was he mistaken in expressing himself that way [while being recorded]? It would seem to this observer that yes, this was a mistake. It created a Chilul Hashem and our job is to create a Kiddush Hashem. Does make him totally "upgefregt-מופרך" [can't translate into English]? No. He knew Shas by heart over fifty years ago and all he has been doing since is learning. He is a Gadol Bi-Yisrael. But he is human.
To err is human. [Moshe Rabbeinu erred. Can't get any higher than Moshe Rabbeinu].
To forgive is Divine. [That is why in all of Tanach, the word "סליחה" relates to Hashem only].
It is important to keep this in mind.
An Apikorus [who has no חלק לעולם הבא] is defined by the gemara as someone who says "מאי אהני רבנן"- What good are those rabbis. A מבזה תלמיד חכם is חייב נידוי. So let us be careful!!!
One more thing: Sometimes what seems off the wall is actually true דעת תורה and it is us with our Western concepts of morality or rectitude who are incorrect. Remember: We are all products of our environment, upbringing, genes and .... social media feed [among other things]. Don't conflate your opinion with objective reality.
Only HASHEM YISBORACH knows the true Emes. All we can do is pursue the Emes with all of our might.
חותמו אמת!!!
