New York – Agudah Defends Novominsker Rebbe, Says Remarks Targeted Movements, Not Individuals

    38

    New York – Following a barrage of publicity in both the Jewish and secular media, Agudath Israel of America has released an official statement this afternoon clarifying the Novominsker Rebbe Rabbi Yaakov Perlow’s address at the organization’s annual dinner this week.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    The Agudah took the New York Times to task for its suggestion that the Novominsker had criticized Conservative and Reform Jews, saying that Rabbi Perlow, who is a member of the organization’s Council of Torah Sages and serves as the Rosh Agudath Israel, was misquoted.

    “Rabbi Perlow’s focus was on Reform and Conservative Judaism, not on Reform and Conservative Jews – on ideologies, not on people. Indeed, the main focus of his remarks was on a movement that calls itself Orthodox – “Open Orthodoxy” – yet has also crossed boundaries that have long established the parameters of normative Jewish practice and belief.”

    The Agudah reiterated its belief that there can be no Jewish future for those who forsake the foundations of Judaism and expressed its view that the Novominsker’s remarks came out of his love for his fellow Jews, even those who may be misled by their religious leaders.

    “Precisely because of such love and concern, Agudath Israel believes that it is incumbent upon those who care about their fellow Jews and the Jewish future to call attention to the dangers of deviation from classical Judaism, to prevent what Rabbi Perlow referred to as Jews “fall[ing] into an abyss of intermarriage and assimilation.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    38 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    charliehall
    charliehall
    9 years ago

    “has also crossed boundaries”

    Yeah, they disagree with Rabbi Perlow.

    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    9 years ago

    This is the e-mail I sent to the writer of the NYT article who criticized Di Blasio for not “walking out” of the Agudah Dinner after the Novominsker Rebbe spoke:

    Sir,

    I am no fan of the Agudah, but what did Rabbi Perlow say that you find issue with, and expect Mayor De Blasio to walk out on or at least object?

    Rabbi Perlow condemns the Conservative and Reform leadership for subverting and destroying the eternal values of Judaism & predicts their relegation to the dustbins of Jewish History. Rabbi Perlow cites intermarriage & assimilation as the reason for his conclusion.

    Regardless if one is in the minority in NYC & practices Orthodox Judaism, or is in the majority who does not, can any intelligent person believe that assimilation and intermarriage will NOT cause the practice and future of a religion’s demise?

    Certainly the “eternal values” of Judaism, (whatever they may be, one assumes that they are specific to Judaism) will terminate if future generations of today’s Reform and Conservative Jews continue assimilating and intermarrying.

    H S

    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    9 years ago

    This is the e-mail I sent to the writer of the NYT article who criticized Di Blasio for not “walking out” of the Agudah Dinner after the Novominsker Rebbe spoke:

    Sir,

    I am no fan of the Agudah, but what did Rabbi Perlow say that you find issue with, and expect Mayor De Blasio to walk out on or at least object?

    Rabbi Perlow condemns the Conservative and Reform leadership for subverting and destroying the eternal values of Judaism & predicts their relegation to the dustbins of Jewish History. Rabbi Perlow cites intermarriage & assimilation as the reason for his conclusion.

    Regardless if one is in the minority in NYC & practices Orthodox Judaism, or is in the majority who does not, can any intelligent person believe that assimilation and intermarriage will NOT cause the practice and future of a religion’s demise?

    Certainly the “eternal values” of Judaism, (whatever they may be, one assumes that they are specific to Judaism) will terminate if future generations of today’s Reform and Conservative Jews continue assimilating and intermarrying.

    H S

    9 years ago

    It’s pretty straight forward: conservative and reform promote assimilation. Their ‘rabbis’ perform intermarriges with glee. They pander to what society wants. This is not Judaism. It’s a made up one that has taken certain outward customs of Judaism. Let’s be honest here for a sec. But alas we live in a world where falsities reign supreme. Hence we need statements on top of statements.

    favish
    favish
    9 years ago

    novemisnsker rebbe doesn’t need ‘defending’ just like he wouldn’t need defending if he’d talk against those who propegate chillul shabbos etc. and yes he should expose individuals….’meisis umadiach have to be exposed. remember what happened to to tanaium who were chinef yanai hamailech

    LShaimShamayim
    LShaimShamayim
    9 years ago

    Our Rabbonim are supposed to stand up for what they believe is the Torah truth even when it will be frowned upon by Western society. The Novominsker Rebbe shlit”a did nothing more than that.

    OYVY2
    OYVY2
    9 years ago

    ok so one of the issues that I have is what a shame it is and what a waste when you have the ear of so many people hanging on to every word you say, that it is not directed to more pressing matters that are hurting our “frum” society. We have so many problems that esteemed speakers should get with the program.

    Deveee
    Deveee
    9 years ago

    Thank you Rebbe for slamming the kofrim and reshai’m!!

    And charliehall, please go back to your comments on daily kos.

    TzviB
    TzviB
    9 years ago

    Why does a speaker feel the need put down others groups? Isnt there enough to talk about?

    9 years ago

    Seems the Agudah is always releasing press releases. Maybe they should carefully edit their speeches,so that they won’t have to back track later.

    9 years ago

    Some of the commenters above would benefit if IQ points were ever up for sale.

    The Novominsker Rebbe shlit”a addressed a particular subject, and did so with eloquence and sincerity. The compromising of some ideologies in which the number of mitzvos is no longer 613, and in which the basic principles of faith are tailored to fit one’s passions and desires is unworthy of being considered orthodox, nor is in true Judaism at all. The Torah specifically warns against trimming mitzvos. Mesora is clear about the Ikrim, and the the non-Torah ideologies trash the Ikrim with consistency. The Rebbe addressed that, and gave us a message that every one of us must repeat to ourselves as we prepare for Kabolas HaTorah. It would be undoubtedly foolish to believe that there are no other problems among us besides this chipping away at Emunoh. It is indicative of very low intellect to complain that the other subjects were not discussed.

    bewhiskered
    bewhiskered
    9 years ago

    “Trotting out the old canards about problems in Orthodox society does not for a second mitigate the ongoing tragedy of Jewish neshamos going astray and their generations irretrievably lost.”

    Canards about problems in Orthodox society? Tell me, does the term delusional have any special significance for you? It is those very problems of the so called Orthodox society (enabling molesters, money laundering, defrauding the government, etc.) that in their own manner cause other Jews to flee from the true values of the תורה הקדושה. Rather than being מודה על האמת, you choose to stick your head in the ground.

    AYONEMAN
    AYONEMAN
    9 years ago

    Forget And Dispense With All The Specious Arguments Which Can Be Argued Until You Turn Blue. The Simple Truth About These Non Orthodox Movements; Is The Observation Made By Reb Yoelish Of Satmar 50 Years Ago: He Asked That He Be Shown ONE yid Who Knows That He Is A Yid And Says That He Is A Yid And He Be A TENTH Generation Descendant Of The Reform Movement. Ask Your Self; Where are the Grandchildren Of the Founders of The Reform Movement?? Mendelson; Wise? Etc.?
    NOT ONE OF THE DECENDENTS EVEN AFTER 5-6 Generations EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR FOREBEARERS WERE JEWS. NOT ONE. UNLESS CHABAD GOT TO THEM IN TIME AFTER THE 3rd or 4th Generation. THATS IT. There is Your Proof.

    FactsRule
    FactsRule
    9 years ago

    Would someone please quote any sentence this rebbe spoke that may have resulted in one person in any way coming closer to Judaism? You don’t have to show me an example of anyone, just a sentence that would lead one to believe that someone not identifying as observant would have decided that it’s all been a lie, now I’m going to become an observant Jew. Boy, I wish this Rabbi would have made this announcement years ago. I’m all in! Meanwhile, in reality, there are thousands of Lubavitcher Chassidim around the world working every day to help Jews in these movements by showing them an alternative. Some become fully observant. Of those, some remain Chabad, others go into different groups, but they go, usually, into observant groups, be they Litvish, Sephard, Moderdox, or whatever. The pain of watching high per-centages of intermarriage & assimilation among our Jewish family may be too much for the Rebbe to handle without crying out. But, I don’t personally believe it did anything for anyone but the Rebbe who may feel better. I’m sorry for trying to be honest based on not having listened to his words & reading some of the comments & this article. I’m willing to be corrected.