Comments to an actual article in the Jerusalem Post in brackets. The sarcasm is to fulfill the מאמר חז"ל that all ליצנות is forbidden except for ליצנותא דעבודה זרה which is what this is. Of course I omit the rabbi's name because it is not about him personally but his viewpoints. I am certain that he is better than me in many, many ways]:
I am not Reform or Conservative — I am an Orthodox rabbi, fully committed to halacha and Jewish tradition — [when someone starts with the words "I am an Orthodox rabbi, fully committed to halacha and Jewish tradition" you know that bad stuff is coming. It means "I am legit. So when I argue that one should go against the Torah you should listen." Here it means "I am fully committed to Halacha, which is exactly why I am losing sleep over the tragic possibility that people might be prevented from violating it in public near the Makom HaMikdash." Because nothing screams "Torah perspective" quite like an Orthodox rabbi demanding an officially sanctioned zone for mixed dancing, microphones on Shabbos, a lack of Tzniyus and the validation of movements that uproot the entirety of Torah MiSinai.].
... yet I am deeply disturbed by proposed legislative actions in the Knesset to cancel the egalitarian prayer [translation - anti-Torah] space separate from [but right near] the Western Wall, or Kotel, in Jerusalem. A new bill, up for first reading on Wednesday, would put the area, which currently allows mixed-gender prayer and other non-Orthodox practices, [translation - the area presently allows them to trample Hashem's Name, Torah, Halacha, tradition and the feelings of hundreds of thousands of Jews]
... under the control of the Chief Rabbinate. The Rabbinate [those intolerant rabbis!!] would then have the authority to outlaw these non-Orthodox practices [in other words - anti-Torah etc.] in the area, which sits just south of the main Kotel plaza, preventing our Conservative and Reform brothers and sisters [translation - it's FAMILY!! Have some tolerance!! Let them do what they want. Forget all this religious stuff you care about so much] from having a sacred space [the moment they have their circus there it stops being sacred] where they can practice according to their customs [customs that contravene the Torah, tradition etc. etc.].
First of all, I am not asking for anything to be changed [except for Halacha]. I support maintaining the [non-halachic] status quo, which this bill wants to abolish. The Kotel is and should remain a place of traditional, Orthodox prayer practice in accordance with halachic standards, such as formal separate prayer spaces for men and women, as well as standards of dress, and public Shabbat and holiday observance. At the same time, the nearby southwestern area of the enclosure around the Temple complex, which for more than a decade has been officially designated [by whom?? People who couldn't care less about Torah] as Ezrat Yisrael, a place of egalitarian [anti-halachic] prayer, should also stay that way. [In other words - if Israeli law goes against the Torah - we should uphold that!!]
It is important to note that this southwestern area, within the archaeological park of the Davidson Center, never held the status of the Temple Mount and was never a makom tefillah, or place of prayer. During the First and Second Temple periods, it served as a public street to the Temple complex, containing markets and other services for visitors and pilgrims. Therefore, there has never been any halachic character to the designated alternative prayer space. [Well then - it is not really a sacred space after all??! And since it was a market in the old days - now it can be used to trample Torah, Halacha and instigate anger and sometimes violence].
In addition, maintaining the already established modern egalitarian prayer away from the Western Wall plaza encourages unity, promotes inclusion and helps to ensure that the character of the Kotel prayer space cannot be changed. Born through a compromise approved in January 2016, the southwestern wall’s designation as a place of egalitarian prayer — while the Kotel remains operated according to Orthodox practice — is an example of respecting all streams of Judaism. [Oh, sorry Rabbi - The Torah has no respect for ideologies that disgrace the Torah and jettison tradition].
Especially at a time when antisemitism is rising across the world, and Jews are targeted not for how they practice Judaism, but simply for being Jews, all of us must remember that the Jewish people, with all its streams and movements, are one family. We are bound by a shared heritage and a shared history, stained with the blood of our persecuted ancestors, whom we mourn each Tisha B’Av. [True - so does that mean that we should permit them to violate Halacha, Tzniyus and Kedusha?]
When it comes to everything else, Orthodox rabbis are indeed now working with other denominations. When there are common Jewish concerns and causes, we sit on boards with leaders of the Conservative and Reform movements. When Israel is in need, we have no problem accepting financial support and donations from all Jews. When there was a need to discuss the antisemitic positions of New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdami, all streams of rabbis and institutions signed a joint declaration from UJA-Federation of New York, New York Board of Rabbis, Agudath Israel of America and Orthodox Union. But when we want to maintain separate prayer locations, too many people draw the line of legitimacy in the name of protecting Orthodoxy. This is a mistake (and by the way, Orthodoxy, thank God, does not need protection). [Since we take they give money to Israel - let them do what they want!! All is permitted].
Such antagonism toward other streams of Judaism, even when it presents itself as concern for Torah or the future of the Jewish People, does not strengthen Orthodoxy. [We are not trying to protect "Orthodoxy" We are trying to prevent a Chilul Hashem opposite the makom Hamikdash].
It makes us look weak [really? Your narrative...], and it undermines the unity of our people at a time when unity is needed more than ever. [Unity trumps all!! If unity is so important why don't we tell THEM in the name of unity to respect our tradition and if they want to have their church service let them do it somewhere else. This is not about "prayer" but about making a statement and provocation. The author warns us that Orthodoxy looks weak if it doesn't legitimize Reform Judaism. Yes, because the Prophets of Israel were famously obsessed with looking "inclusive" to those who rewrite the Torah. Imagine Eliyahu HaNavi on Mount Carmel saying, "I am an Orthodox prophet, but I support an egalitarian altar for the Ba'al worshippers just south of my altar, for the sake of unity! We don't want to alienate the Diaspora of Ahab's kingdom!"]
It risks jeopardizing Israel’s relationship with the Diaspora, where most Jews are not Orthodox. [We'll be OK. Most non-Orthodox intermarry and they are a disappearing breed].
We cannot demand solidarity from world Jewry while denying them dignity in our holiest city, which is the birthplace of our common heritage. [We don't demand anything. And what about the dignity of the Kotel??]
Jerusalem has long been a symbol that galvanized and unified Jews of all kinds from all over the world. When parts were liberated in 1967 from Jordanian control, they were liberated by secular, traditional and religious Israeli soldiers. When the army declared “Har Habayit b’yadeinu” (“The Temple Mount is in our hands”) upon capturing the Old City, this was not a liberation for any specific segment of the Jewish people; they liberated it for all Jews. [So they capture the Kotel and now one may do what he wants there. This is not about Hashem or Torah - it is about personal liberal values].
Upon doing so, many immediately recited prayers and blew the shofar both out of a reverence for the past and immense hope for the future of Israel. [That Moshiach will come and erase evil from the earth].
If the southwest wall loses its status as an egalitarian prayer area in order to ‘protect Orthodoxy,’ [i.e. prevent Chilul Hashem] the entire area, so central to who we are as a people, will become a symbol of exclusion [INDEED! Kedusha is exclusion. That is why we only share a bedroom with our spouse... That also is why we only marry other Jews, even though that means excluding billions of Goyim.]
Jews attacking other Jews in the name of God destroyed the Second Temple commonwealth. [Right - the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because Jews weren't tolerant of those who were enemies of Hashem],
Over the past two years, we have sacrificed too much to let it happen again. [Appeal to "October 7th" to arouse sympathy. Demagoguery]
In summary: A modern "Torah" perspective from an "Orthodox rabbi" - True unity means abandoning the actual Torah so that people who don't believe in the actual Torah won't feel bad.
I sent this article to a major $upporter of this rabbi's institutions [which includes a program for religious girls going to the army, which Gedolei Yisroel said is יהרג ואל יעבור] and he absolutely agreed with his sentiments - unity trumps all!!
Sad.
