New York – There is no question that last night’s Siyum HaShas was an extraordinary event that constituted a massive Kiddush Hashem, in numerous ways.
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Whether it was the extraordinary and inspiring words of the speakers, particularly Rabbi Lau, or the flawless and clockwork-like execution, or the mentchlechdika handling of all who came in contact with both the Agudath Israel organizers and the attendees – the impact upon those who experienced it will certainly be long-lasting.
Agudah’s orchestration of the largest Siyum HaShas in world history is nothing short of historical, and its breathtaking courteousness, professionalism and dignity throughout the entire event is equally inspirational.
What follows here is meant neither to take away from this event nor to take away from Agudath Israel’s very worthy accomplishments. It is meant to be constructive. Let us keep in mind that the highest accolade that one can give to a scholar is to label him with the term “Talmid Chuchum” – a wise student. This is the highest of praises because it states that the person is constantly seeking to improve, learn and, yes, to correct.
Let us look very briefly at three very instructive examples: National Cash Register, Blackberry, and ArtScroll.
National Cash Register or NCR enjoyed almost 100% market share for many decades. And then a new technology arose, called digital processing. NCR took no notice of it. They laughed it off, assured of their own dominance in the cash register market. And then the roof caved in. The first year market share fell, but only by a ripple. The next year it was a much larger wave. The third year was a tidal wave of loss. The deafness cost them billions in lost profits – real and potential.
Let’s move on to Blackberry.
Blackberry too, was at the height of its market. The president of the United States could not live without his Blackberry. Blackberry not only served the business world, it was the business world. But then something happened. They ignored the growing trend of non-moving parts and the tablet oriented world. iPhone and Android soon took over and left Blackberry in the dust. Google Maps Coordinates, 4G technology, Apps, Apps and more Apps were lost on Blackberry users, and more and more made the switch. Now, unless they turn around quickly, Blackberry may be nearing Chapter eleven.
Our third example is Artscroll. Without fanfare, a few days ago, this company whose desire is to bring the depth and wisdom of our Torah heritage to modern day readers, launched an iPhone App that is also historical. Now the full depth of the Schottenstein Talmud, with translation, extensive footnotes, and a searchability function is available on the iPhone. Unlike the first two examples cited, this is a company that saw the train of the future, and jumped on – not just to join but to direct and lead. What Artscroll has done is truly game-changing, and is probably the most breathtaking App available in every category in the tablet world – business, gaming or otherwise.
What does all this have to do with the Siyum HaShas?
Everything. It has everything to do with it.
This incredible and carefully orchestrated event, sparkling with Kiddush Hashem after Kiddush Hashem, should have been broadcast live on the internet. Instead of inspiring the mere 93,000 participants, it could have inspired millions, yes, tens of millions. Had there only been a live feed.
Before the event, VINNews made several attempts to reach out to Agudath Israel to allow the event to be broadcast, but was unsuccessful. The lower quality feed that one individual young man had managed to set up, was not a suitable substitute, although there were an additional 55,000 views who were watching it.
This was, according to all counts, a lost opportunity.
Imagine, ten million people watching Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau as he tells the world that this Siyum HaShas is the greatest response to Hitler yimach shemo and to the gas chambers of the Holocaust. Imagine Tens of millions of people could have watched Mr. Schottenstein’s Kaddish and have been perhaps inspired to perhaps recite a Kaddish too, for a deceased mother, father, or grandfather. Jewish life, even for the most non-observant Jew would have been vividly brought to life. Sadly, it was not. Only we, among ourselves, enjoyed the moment.
Let’s just take a look at how the secular media described this event: “It has been described as a spiritual calling, a labor of love, a rich opportunity to connect with thousands of years of Jewish history and religion.”
“Last night, in what was billed as the largest celebration of shared Jewish learning in history, about 90,000 people crowded into MetLife Stadium to read portions of the Talmud’s 2,711th—and final—page. “
“The celebrants, mostly Orthodox Jews from across the United States and beyond, closed out the 7½-year cycle with prayer, speeches and, when the final line was read, an explosion of jubilation that literally shook the cavernous stadium for more than 20 minutes.”
“Erupting into song, they swayed arm in arm, danced in circles and formed a conga line that snaked along the field level. Others danced and swayed in the stands.”
Are these not extraordinary words from a media that has, too say the least, not looked so kindly toward our community?
In a sense, we have taken the other option when Hashem offered to Moshe Rabbeinu to abandon the Klal Yisroel and He would form a nation out of Moshe Rabbeinu’s descendents. Moshe Rabbeinu refused, asking that Hashem blot out his name from the Torah if that was the plan. In a certain sense, we have taken option B, and have abandoned the possible outreach to the rest of Klal Yisroel.
It is interesting to note that of all the streams in Judaism, it is only Lubavitch which uses the internet to its full potential in terms of outreach.
Continually ignoring the internet contains the danger of Agudath Israel becoming irrelevant, relegated to both obscurity and obscurantism.
It is time for Agudath Israel to re-examine their position on the internet, and to make exceptions when the situation calls for it.
We should not be like those who miss every opportunity to miss an opportunity. The internet offers an unprecedented ability to reach the masses of Klal Yisroel, those that are affiliated, semi-affiliated, and completely non-affiliated. It is an opportunity to reach them in their homes, at work, and also to avoid the filters that the forces of the anti-Torah world have put up.
Stadium workers, who have worked at the Meadowlands for years were taken aback at the remarkable nature of what had transpired. Here was a crowd who displayed an unprecedented dignity and air about themselves. There was no cursing. No drinking. There was celebration of a scholarly event. There was singing, dancing and joy.
This could have been highlighted for the world to see. It wasn’t.
Agudath Israel’s leadership body, Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, is comprised of many of the leading Rabbis of our generation, Rabbis comparable in our generation to the great Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai of the time when the Second Beis HaMikdahs still stood. The Gemorah in Gittin, however, tells us that Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai made the fatal error of saying, “Ten li Yavneh v’chachmeha.” Althoug he though he was vouchsafing Torah for future generations, it was within his hands to save Yerushalayim.
We see from this passage in the Gemorah(Gittin 55a-56b) that leaders can and do make errors. Ours is not a religion where we believe in either papal or Gedolic infallibility.
The time has come for someone in the Agudah’s leadership to arise and tell it like it is. That now is the time to start thinking outside of the confined box and truly make a difference for our kids and the future Doros of our people.
The “at-risk” population is entranced with iPhones and Droids too. Streaming segments of this Siyum and other audience appropriate Torah programming directed at this population can make an extra difference. It is the population of the estranged, the unaffiliated, and the ignored, where the greatest strides can be made.
Let us not forget that of Klal Yisroel’s recent heroes, or heroines, it was Sara Schenirer who saved Klal Yisroel.
Yes, her vision of what could be – transformed an entire nation – where women from Heimisha homes are now no longer running to Paris to purchase the latest fashions – something that occurred daily in the shtetls of the 1920’s throughout Europe.
Women were once an ignored population. No longer. They are creating loving, vibrant, Torah homes. Their children are Talmidei Chachomim learning in yeshivas. And all this because of one woman with vision, and with out-of-the-box thinking.
And let us not forget that they wanted to put her in Cheirem. Yes, Cheirem. Under her inspired leadership, we had the likes of Rebbitzen Kaplan and many others. Because of her we have seminaries in Eretz Yisroel and entire generations of youth trained and imbued with Torah values and ideals. All this is due to the courage of one woman.
Here, regarding this extra-ordinary event, the situation called for the leadership of Agudath Israel to have made an exception to their strong anti-Internet policy. They didn’t.
Had they made that exception, millions of people could have tuned in. The world’s interest was piqued. The media was waiting. We did not use the opportunity, and a historic chance was squandered.
Nothing against VIN posters, but…
With some of the negative comments that get posted on this blog that go against our Gedolim I am in agreement with the Agudah on this.
This is not regarding all posters here. But there are a few.
If even one negative comment against one of our Gedolim would have been posted because of a stream then it shouldn’t be streamed at all.
The people who went to the Siyum have enough Kavod Hatorah not to post derogatory comments against our Gedolim.
Again this is not regarding all posters here… just the select few.
Seriously!??
After such an amazing and uplifting event all you can come up with is a self serving complaint so you can get a few more hits??
Come on!
Very well written article and to the point..I was asking people all over if there is a way to listen in to those wonderful speakers and of course the answer was NO…i called a friend of mine who was there and managed to hear the Kaddish by Mr.Schottenstein and it made me drop a tear//I am sure i could of learned alot from those speakers but i will probably have to read them in the news papers by next Wednesday…
you make a point – a pretty one sided one dimensional point.
i would love to see you give prominence to the agudahs response – if they feel it worthy of a response.
i so wonder why dealing with this concern was not put in writing directly to them.
they have upon the list of associates many worldly individuals who are more savvy than VIN in their thinking and have accepted the decision to do it as planned.
just thinking out loud -had it been available live i likely would NOT have attended, as i could watch it live.
just a thought.
Impossible to disagree. Well said.
And by the way, the Rav of my shul said he and a group of other Rabbonim spoke with R’ Shlomo Miller the day after the Asifa and asked him point blank if the internet is assur. And point blank he said no, it is not.
So if it’s not assur, then how about “kadesh atzme’chah b’mutar l’chah”? Let’s use it for divrei kodshim.
AGUDA Says the reason was no live video feed because on request of rav matisayahu solomon & rav makiel kotler due to the Internet Ban at asifa in citi field
Point well made. I think 80 % of the people there, agree with you. It’s just the few in the driver seat. But yo know what will change all that ? The power of the Internet. Thank G-D, what a blessing.
Gut gezukt!
And while we’re on the subject of constructive criticism…. There must be a better approach to the speeches. The program was too long, there were too many speeches, and many of the speakers spoke far too long. Of course, everyone expected nothing less at an event like this, but imagine how much nicer it could have been with a more thoughful approach to the program.
Kudos to vin for the live stream. Last night, while my husband was at the siyum, I enjoyed watching & listening to it on my computer. I saw that there were thousands of others watching as well. (ticker on the bottom of the screen showed how many were connected)
The Tzdikus Sara Schenirer had the whole world of Rabbis up against her, but she stood up and ignored all of them, and we all know at the end she was right.. same is here, with all due respect to some Gedolim of today who are very Chushiv and real Talmidi Chachumim, but they truly lack vision of the future of our generation.
So, the organizers did 999 things correctly but possibly ONE incorrectly, does that really qualify as having a headline alleging a “lack of vision”?
No wonder that people accuse us of being constant complainers.
As soon as you get the Gedolim to accept the internet you will probably see the Agudah jump in with an excellently product. And if you are trying to get people to ignore the gedolim you are probably doing a bigger disservice to Judaism than any Jew ever did. Time and again, I’ve seen a decision of the Gedolim that most people thought was crazy become the vast majority opinion; you just have to wait long enough. In the 1960s when just about everybody had a television, they said not to bring it into the house. Eventually, most people followed them, and one of the first questions asked about a potential shidduch the last few decades has been whether they have a television. In the next few decades it may be whether they have the internet in their home.
Having said that, on the way home last night I was thinking about what the Agudah would do as far as a venue is concerned, for the next siyum in January 2020. Where are they going to find a stadium that holds 200,000. At the last siyum this stadium was not even built yet. I remember when I owned the entire Shas on microfiche. Who uses them today? It may be that by the next siyum there may be a new technology entirely.
Torah knows no boundaries. It is here to keep all of Klal Yisrael in the future. I agree with this article and think that this liberal viewpoint is a mainstay for the future. Either way, liberalism is not your enemy and if this was available for the whole nation to enjoy, there would have been a spark of Torah in every person’s home and even some who have not found any trust in Hashem to keep the commandments as is the only way a Jew can live with a future.
first of all there was live streaming all over the world. Camps and shuls had it.
Second; let’s be honest teens at risk would not use thier android , ipod or ipad for live streaming of this event.
This article is spot on! Chabad has been utilizing the internet and live streams for the past 20+ years! Even the live stream last night was done by a lubavitcher and sponsored by dansdeals-a Chabad guy. I hope all orthodox jewish organizations will realize the vast potential of communications we have today and use it to promote holiness in the world.
Umm, while I was at the siyum I checked vinnews and found a live link, and watched Rabbi Lau speaking from my ipad.
Am I missing something or was the author misinformed?
Well-written article, however, I disagree. Take a look at any secular online news article about the siyum and read through the comments, and you’ll be blown away by how much intolerance there is for Frum Torah Jews, a lot of which boils down to plain ignorance. These comments are made by people whose opinions of us WON’T change, because they are baseless and senseless. We get under their skin. They’d watch this monumental event and only see the lack of women, lack of color and awkward dancing. I agree that it would have been an opportunity for the semi and non-affiliated. However, I disagree with your statement that this was something that the “world at large” needed to see. You mention the positive publicity that the siyum generated, however you fail to mention the negative publicity that comes along with it, and that is a risk not worth taking. I really feel that anyone who felt strongly about the importance of this event either made sure to be there or found a way to get access (I found the online cellphone streaming to be perfect). If they somehow did not manage to then yes, it’s a lost opportunity, one they will make sure not to miss the next time around.
Good article.
What about those that lacked the vision, and were dead set against the ART SCROLL English gemarras. The Schottenstein Talmud had enabled thousands
to learn, and keep up with the Daf.
The new Art Scroll App, as I understand it, will also be available on the iPad.
Use the latest technology for the good.
Kudos to the author. Very well said.
With all the talk about kiruv, I cant imagine why the Agudah chose to forgo this enormous opportunity to inspire ALL of Klal Isroel. Yes, it was a great Kiddush Hashem – reserved exclusively for the black hat world to see.
I personally know not yet frum people who wanted to witness this but were too shy to go because they feared they would stick out in the crowd and feel too self-conscious, among other reasons. They would nevertheless watch the even had this opportunity been given to them but it was not. The Agudah should see beyond their ghetto sometimes – they are not the whole world, not the whole Klal.
Right on!
was a wonderful event and should be a lesson learned – grow larger and higher – yes, NOW is the time to address this, as this was a missed opportunity.
I was always amazed how the lubavitcher rebbe [ who at the same time was warning about dangers of TV etc ] was able to balance would always used technology to promote torah & yidishkeit – saying THIS is the reason these things were created – laasos dira lo yisborech btachtonim – to make kedusha in all mundane things of the world.
its not black and white… use the large gray area
dont ignore – use for positive!
In response to your critique of Agudath Israel’s lack of vision, my personal viewpoint is:
As you emulate Sara Schenirer, you seem to overlook the concept of “Kol Kevoida Bas Melech Penima.” You need to be there to be part of the spiritual uplifting. Once the venue was sold out, additional local hookups were added for people close enough to attend that did not obtain tickets or were otherwise not able to travel. If you do not want to get out of your seat and comfort of your home to be inspired as part of a tzibbur in attendance of the event or the hookup, you cannot feel the awe, ruach, kedushah and inspiration shared with the oilam in attendance. (Lehavdil – what they call the Yankee fever in their stadium.) Such an event is there to partake in as a tzibbur, not to merely observe as an outsider on a screen. You need to be Bifnim to experience the true kevod Shomayim. There was adequate media coverage for those not willing to be in it to feel it.
The true vision was to decline an offer for a live open feed to all, but to reserve it for those in attendance at the venue and at designated hookups. The opposite vision will lead to online minyanim to be mechavein im hatzibur.
As usual, VIN provides an objective, respectful and well constructed argument for how a great event could have become a transformational event for our times and a kiddush hashem like no other in our times. Instead, Agudah caved to the dictates of some rabbis, and a few other closed-minded rabbonim who continue to deny the reality of the new information age we live in. Hopefully, they will be swept away as even their own followers realize the empowerment that wise use of the internet and electronic media offers to yidden and mankind. Fortunately, there were some enterprising young men who defied these backward rabbonim and Agudah and allowed many of us to view an event we cannot ever forget.
I think this editorial is 100% accurate. His comparison to NRC and Blackberry is particularly apt in my opinion. The fact that a large part of the younger generation-Chasidish, Yeshivish, and Modern-dont feel any connection what so ever, should give the Agudah a reason to rethink their place and goals in orthodox life, to ensure their continued relevance for the next 100 years.
Left out:
The inability of Agudah to maintain control was counter productive.
Due to the lateness of the ending, some shuls did not have a minyan as so many overslept! My shul for the first time in years did not have a minyan.
Some who do the daf in the morning surely missed the last daf of the cycle.
How ironic!
Ask to convene a Moatzas Gedolay Yisroe. meetingl.
Decisions like what you’re asking belongs to our Gedolim and not editorials.
Pose your questions and comments to Daas Torah and not the public that just gets poisoned by such comments
And for those of us who couldn’t make due to emergencies, could have had the opportunity to join in.
My wife enjoyed the stream. Thank you. But I am afraid VIN is missing the point. The boat that Agudah missed sailed long ago. Instead of representing all of the leaders of Klal Yisroel, the Agudah is being led by “Gedolim”. The pulpit rabbis have been completely cast aside and the direction is coming from the Chasidic leaders and from Lakewood, which is rapidly becoming indistinguishable from the Chasidim. We are talking about a group, a large group that not only does not see a need for live feeds, they see no need for a high school diploma, engaging with the outside world, except to make or take a buck, and in the case of the Lakewood population, have turned their backs on Torah VaAvoda as a first resort.
What VIN really needs to call for, and we all do, is a large tent organization that can embrace all Orthodox Jewry, working, Chasidish, Yeshivish, not so Frum, and LEAD by having the courage to embrace all Jews and having the courage to mandate based on common sense in a framework of Torah. Can it happen? Unlikely. Such a body is called the Sanhendrin, which could control a rogue Rebbe, contain feminism sensibly and sensitively and is responsible for its decisions
Beautifully written and well said.
I totally agree with VIN. I watch the Parsha of the Week, with Rashi, given every single week at the Chabad site. Rabbi Gordon is a pleasure to listen to, and without it, I would be that much poorer.
The internet is here to stay, deal with it.
We are all on a globe, not on a flat-earth world, deal with it.
My only complaint is that the speeches were toooooo loooong! I don’t understand why Rabbonim seem incapable of making one or two points and then sitting down. One loses the inspiration of the moment when forced to sit and listen to 20 and 30 minute speeches that seem just to repeat the same thing over and again.
Hrav Kotler brought out a good point that the Torah protects the Jewish people not a few Tanks or a few Soldiers.
you raise valid points in your editorial, but your basic premise is off
Aguda as an organization was founded by GEDOLIM and continues to be run according to the dictates of its gedolei torah. Its not an organization started by layman who then go to gedolim to get their backing and rubber stamping the organizations goals. (reccomend you read the book on rabbi sherer ztl by ARTSCROLL in order to get a prespective of agudah as an organization.)
You personally may choose not to listen to the gedolim of the moetzes, but for you to come and tell an organization which was established by gedolim and run by its moeztes gedoli hatorah that they made a mistake is ludicrous.
they are well aware of the benefits of internet as well as its pitfalls
if anything, had agudah used the internet it would be to their detriment as being two faced with a double standard one for itself and one for its members. sure everyone wants to take advantage of technology to furthur their purposes but the “end doesnt justify the means”
according to the thrust of your article agudah as an organization has long out lived its purpose after its hatzala efforts 7 decades ago yet we see an active
Since the Agudah is technically just following the guidelines of its Gedolim with respect to its attitude vis-a-vis the internet, shouldn’t this editorial have been addressed to those Gedolim rather than the Agudah? (In which case it probably would not have been written, or would have been written somewhat differently.)
Not a good idea to make a great Pirsum to the World, about the Talmud. Its a Dovor Yiduah that the Gemoroh has many comments, regarding all Non-Yidden, which can not be accepted as Eidel by the Algemener Velt.
Even the M’eieri, one of our Rishonim, did not want to accept, that the Gemoroh could be saying such things about regular Non-Yidden living amongst us. So, in his Sefer Bais Habchira, he was Madchik all over Shaas, that the Gemoroh is only referring to Goyim who lived in those times who acted like Savages. But his Shitah is a Doichek and was never accepted L’halocho.
awsome and well written….. even the holy minchus eluzar ( munkatcher rebbee) who was a big kanoi and anti daf hayomi used the media in the 30″s to send out a message of shmiras shabbas to world jewry
THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH VIN for the live footage last night! It was AWESOME!!! I was so, so happy to be a part of it from my own home! I really felt like I was there, thanks to you and the wonderful individual who taped it! I thought he did a great job! I felt bad I couldn’t be there in person, but seeing it on the internet was the next best thing. Thanks too all those involved. Tizku L’mitzvos!
It was truly a Kiddush Hashem!
Short of Mashiach arriving to take us all home, I cannot imagine an event, any event, even one of lesser magnitude, that would satisfy every indidvidual Yid of all our diverse groups. (And I sincerely hope that when Mashich Tzidkeinu does arrive, may it be very soon, we do all follow him in total achdus.) Having said that, I am not here to comment on this article or put my unnecessary 2 cents in. I’m here because I want to express my thanks to the “one individual young man”, as you refer to him, who set up live feed of the Siyum. I’m sure he wishes to remain anonymous for a reason, so I’m hoping he is reading this, and can read of my hakaras hatov for what he did. True, as you pointed out the quality was not great, but i thoroughly enjoyed and appreciate your efforts, Mr. individual young man!
I wasn’t there last night and I regret not going and I would’ve liked to see this internet hookup, but I am not upset about it. I am still upset that there are certain people who pulled out of the siyum because they didn’t like that Rav Lau was invited/speaking.
The awesome chutzpah of VIN! I am not here to discuss whether it was right or wrong not to broadcast online. However, if you have a problem with it, there are ways to present your case privately through the right channels directly with Agudah. And if that doesn’t work, know that every Gadol is accessible today, you could have gone directly to any one of them privately (unless of course you only operate anonymously, given that none of you signed your ‘Editorial’). There are no excuses to put this garbage out in public, the day after the siyum, when we are all on such a high, our simcha is not farshterred, SHAME ON YOU VIN!
You actually prove the point that the internet is a very dangerous place, not so much for the shmutz, but for impressionable people all over, be it children or even the very same audience of non affiliated/non frum that you espouse to try to bring closer , that they see that an Average Joe that happens to have build up an nice Jewish news website or blog, and is lucky to have a large audience, can now undermine any gadol or rosh yeshiva, because ‘Gedolim make mistakes’. How do you expect someone to become frum or affiliated this way, when they read your “editorial” and see that this smart website even quoted from the Talmud that Tannaim make mistakes. They won’t afford the proper respect to “Rabbis” because everyone’s the same. How dare you compare your finite ability to understand what happened by Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, and give yourself the same right as the gemarah , to “criticize” the Gadol of that time. You are a website, nothing more!
I love how you preface your criticism by first complementing the Agudah, etc. You are what we call a “Chazzer Fisel”, you want to show your split hoof that you are really kosher, but I know your message here is really treif.
Yes of course everyone is human, people make mistakes. But know that the Agudah is a consensus of many Gedolim and Rabbonim. They are not individuals. And again, you could have afforded them more respect by bringing this to their attention privately.
I like your website, I respect what you do every day, but this was way out of line.
There was time when videos were not allowed at these type of events. Indeed, many of the Chassdishe will not even permit a live feed on video.
What our people need is a national cable television station by which we can put news of the jewish world and the state of Israel and Jews living in America and elsewhere for all of us to enjoy. I do not understand how the Jewish people with all of our contributions can not even have a single national television network that has news and programming directed at Jewish people. It might be an innovation to consider and thus you could televise events like Siyus and improve Torah Goals.
Wonder if Agudah would join with OU, YU, Young Israel and Lubavitch for the next big event. That would really show achdus. Getting in 90,000 of mostly the party faithful, while a great accomplishment, does not necessarily constitute a display of achdus.
While from the Agudah’s and Moetze’s POV – I can see why they wouldn’t want to give any nod to the Internet, but why is there a massive Siyum in the first place?
They say when Rav Moshe finished Shas the 101st time – he asked for a piece a cake. Surely R. Moshe was well aware of Kovod HaTorah as much as anyone alive nowadays. But if he didn’t feel the necessity to make a big Shebang -why does e/o do it nowadays this way? The only reason I can think of is the generation needs the Chizuk. The Yetzer Hora has all sorts of modern technology at it’s disposal nowadays so we have to make big shindig to counter this. So if this is the reason -then the OpEd is right. Even without a live feed, just s/o posting videos online for the masses, Frum or not, would have given Chizuk to many more people. If the Siyum was just for the ones that were finishing -then they wouldn’t allow women & kids. This is a classic example of cutting off your nose in spite of your face.
Whether you are right or not, is this really to time to express it. Everyone enjoyed the siyum and got tons of chizuk. why must you ruin that now because you weren’t the center of attention last night.
It’s time to grow up! you don’t have to say your opinion on everything. You are just a news station! please try to remember that!!
I’m so sorry my Ruv would not let us go. Maybe next time. It sounded like a wonderful experience for all.
Gedolim and leaders don’t follow the crowd, Agudah asked Daas Torah and the answer was no even though there might be some good they felt the reason not to were stronger a prime example is we don’t Blow Shofar or Mitzvah of Lulav on Shabbos lest one Jew carry so the Rabbonim forbade Shofar and Lulav millions of people for the hundreds of years don’t have Mitzva from the Torah because Daas Torah said no even though millions would benefit from the Mitzva The same applies here; if anything we need to stand up and with our Gedolim and not to criticize because we feel different a solidier does not question the 5 Star General who has experience and leadership how best to defend its nation
My spin on this is a bit different being the skeptic that I am. My thoughts are that Aguda’s intention were FINANCIALLY driven. Many people I spoke to said had they known there would be some coverage on line they would not have gone and would have been more than happy to share the wonderful experience on line.
You figure about 90,000 people at an average of $54 per ticket is almost 5 million in revenue
True there were expenses associated with this but not 5 million worth.
As always, it’s all about money and profit.
Kudos to VIN for speaking out about this
“the danger of Agudath Israel becoming irrelevant, relegated to both obscurity and obscurantism.”
With all due respect, this happened many years ago in spiritual terms. Agudath Israel is a first class organizational and lobbying group but nothing more. Not only was this an opportunity to miss an opportunity but wait until the Artscroll app is ruled to be treif.
While I visit VIN numerous times a day for news updates, it is perfectly clear that there are often a lot of negative comments. While I would not blame the VIN team for them, they have not done enough to stop them. THAT is why frum blogs are so dangerous. As was mentioned last night, we need to stop bashing other Yidden, and especially our gedolim. While I also have try to only give positive criticism if I am unhappy with someting (something I think all here should try practice), I feel that the negative comments and the total bashing of other jews/sects/points of view, is the reason why the internet used for positive frum outlets, is still “banned” by the Aguda. If VIN were really interested in reversing that outlook, I feel that they should either stop the comments section, or at least moderate it a little more.