Unless we are discussing different things, I don't believe that the Rav instituted a policy on Musmachim taking mixed pews pulpits. There had been a YU policy instituted by Dr Revel regarding Musmachim accepting such pulpits with the directive that they resign should they not succeed in influencing the Shul to erect a Mechitza in 2 years.
In R Rakeffet's book on Revel, there is story there about a young rabbi in Portland Oregon who refused repeated entreaties from RIETS to resign as the years stretched with no change. One day, Dr Revel took out a full page ad in the portland local paper announcing that this rabbi could no longer be trusted for matters of halacha, being as his Semicha had been revoked.
I accept the points and retract my statements. 1. I knew YU had such a policy, but I did not know that it was the Rav's personal policy. 2. I also do not recall having actually heard five years as opposed to two years.
Rabbi Norman Lamm once said something to the effect that it is very hard to be zealous for moderation. The poles by their very natures are stongly pushed by zealots. The center is not.
I um ... well I um ... look forward to slightly more upbeat future episodes.
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DeleteUnless we are discussing different things, I don't believe that the Rav instituted a policy on Musmachim taking mixed pews pulpits. There had been a YU policy instituted by Dr Revel regarding Musmachim accepting such pulpits with the directive that they resign should they not succeed in influencing the Shul to erect a Mechitza in 2 years.
ReplyDeleteIn R Rakeffet's book on Revel, there is story there about a young rabbi in Portland Oregon who refused repeated entreaties from RIETS to resign as the years stretched with no change. One day, Dr Revel took out a full page ad in the portland local paper announcing that this rabbi could no longer be trusted for matters of halacha, being as his Semicha had been revoked.
I accept the points and retract my statements. 1. I knew YU had such a policy, but I did not know that it was the Rav's personal policy. 2. I also do not recall having actually heard five years as opposed to two years.
ReplyDeleteConsistent with general missives of yours ... seems that communal institutions bifurcate between Charedi and MO Liberal ... why doesn't a center hold?
ReplyDeleteRabbi Norman Lamm once said something to the effect that it is very hard to be zealous for moderation. The poles by their very natures are stongly pushed by zealots. The center is not.
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