Bronx, NY – On Thursday, Rabbi Avi Weiss stunned a packed audience at the Bayit in Riverdale when he unexpectedly announced that he is stepping down from the pulpit after over 40 years.
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FORWARD.com (http://bit.ly/1y6QmeR) reports that congregants had been informed via the synagogue newsletter that Weiss would be speaking on “transitions” during his sermon, so many were expecting that the progressive Weiss would be again pushing for increased roles for women in the faith.
Many in the audience were therefore shocked at Weiss’ announcement.
Weiss’ assured the congregation that his health is fine, and that he’ll continue as rabbi-in-residence at the Bayit, but as of July 2015 he’ll be stepping down.
Weiss, who along with his wife Toby was showered with applause, praised the congregation, telling them he considered himself the “most blessed rabbi in America.”
“It’s been a great ride,” Weiss said.
He’s going to be enrolling in BMG KOLLEL so he could finally learn א אידש ווארט
I’m shocked that he was allowed to remain there so long without getting the boot..
#2 long after you are forgotten Rav Weiss and his many contributions will be remembered
His Derech is certainly odd, HOWEVER, he successfully was mekarev countless Yiddin to Shmiras Hamitzvos, and I suspect none have left our fold due to any bad behavior of his. Not too many Rabbis have that track record.
Please take my rabbi.
So it seems, as typical, the supposedly orthodox people here will resort to Loshon Hara. See comments 1 and 2 so far.
I wonder if the Rabbah will be considered for the job.
He was never accused of abuse, fraud or anything near that and yet posters here condemn him. Does it make you feel better?
Rabbi Weiss has brought people closer to “Open orthodoxy” .#6Orthodox people who know Hilchos shmiras haloshon are aware of times when loshon hara is allowed. (Api talasa for example)
A truly wonderful defender and teacher of Jews – by deed not only by word. He has treated all with true chessed and while many Rabbonim are too timid to defend Jews worldwide the deeds of Rabbi Weiss speak volumes.
To those silly small minded people who are only critical be warned – you should tread very carefully on the loshon hara…. if you would really know him you would realize that when it comes to defend and love of fellow jews there is no one we could better learn from than Avi Weiss.
He’s a nice guy who means well, but the changes that he made would never have met with the approval of his Rav, Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. No one ordained by YU in the last 50 years of of the stature to make such changes
God riddance!
He is stepping down?
I did not know there are more levels of gehinom
You prusta menchen are correct, this isn’t Loshon Hara you speak, it is pure motzei Shem rah. And if you consider it Loshon Hara but an exception, I suggest you go back and learn the halachos.
For now:
. “The Seven ConditionsBefore speaking Lashon Hara for a constructive purpose, the following seven conditions must be met:
The information spoken must be completely true and witnessed or verified by the speaker. If it is impossible to verify the information yet necessary that it be passed on, the speaker must preface his remarks with a warning that the information is only hearsay and not definitely true.
The issue must be a problem (e.g. transgression, relevant character flaw or bad behavior) from an objective viewpoint, not merely a preference or sensitivity. (For example, if a store openly encourages shoppers to sample the new grape shipment, and someone takes a few grapes rather than exactly one, it would be incorrect to consider him “greedy” or “a thief.”)
The speaker must first rebuke the subject directly, in a kind and gentle way which is likely to have an influence. (If the subject will not listen to any rebuke, or if trying to rebuke him can make the Lashon Hara ineffective, refer to ch. 10 in Hilchot Lashon Hara and ch. 9 in Hilchot Rechilut for the Chafetz Chaim’s treatment of the subject.)
The information cannot be exaggerated or embellished, even if it’s the only way to get the listener to heed the information.
The intention of the speaker must be purely to help in the situation, not to degrade the subject or cause him shame.
If the constructive purpose intended by the speaker can be achieved in a way other than speaking Lashon Hara, the speaker should resort to that other method.
Any damage that is caused to the subject as a result of the Lashon Hara should not exceed that which would be decreed by a Beit Din (Jewish court) if the case were reviewed there. This is difficult to evaluate, so that situations that impact the livelihood or other areas of the subject should be referred to a Beit Din.”
The above halachos were copied from halacha.org.
oh what a relief, i just wish the would have happened 29 years ago
“Occupied West Bank” ??? Really?
ONE CAN SEE HIS’ CHASSIDIM’. lo bechinom hulech hazarzur….’