Friday, August 24, 2012

Yeshiveshe Orthopraxy vs. RAEK

In this case, the photo is not serving as R' Micha Berger's avatar, but  is represents itself, R' Avrohom Eliyahu Kaplan.



Much of the problem of Yeshiveshe Orthopraxy may be rooted in the phenomenon in the Olam HaYeshivos that can be expressed most succinctly in the two words "Brisk won." We know who lost: Slabodka, Telshe and Novhardok.

The bold, courageous, lyrical, poetic, musical, mystical, thoughtful, inspiring, transcendent, uplifting, awesome [add adjectives as appropriate] core is gone - except to those few lucky enough to have had a rebbe or rabbeim introduce them to that bygone world, and to those even fewer lucky enough to have stumbled upon its relics on their own.

Who can read Reb Avrohom Elya Kaplan zt"l and not know - with "wow moment" after "wow moment" - that this is authenticity beyond all else in the world?

There are other great writings - such as the Introduction to the Sha'arei  Yosher - that have the same effect.

And, I don't think we "Yeshivadox" could flourish without the writings of another (unrelated) Kaplan - Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt"l and numerous other heroic figures.

But - I know this is a bit of hyperbole, but only a bit - read B'Ikvos Ha'Yirah - and see if so many of the issues that oppress you suddenly seem small. If that's not enough, go on to the poetry (well do that in any event).

http://www.aishdas.org/raek/yirah.pdf
http://www.aishdas.org/raek

2 comments:

  1. The Yirah document cuts off before completion.

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  2. A neighbor printed out these pieces and brought over. Very nice writeup. I never really knew about RAEK before.

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