The Video below is being presented as a public service. Rabbi Daniel Korobkin – the Rav of BAYT, a large Orthodox Shul in Toronto sent me a link to it and asked if I would post it on my blog. I am happy to oblige. It is an interview of Rabbi Dov Lipman, MK (Member of the Keneset in Israel).
This is the right way to even begin to understand what Rabbi Lipman is all about. It is clear from the interview that Rabbi Lipman’s values are sourced in the Charedi ideology that he absorbed from his mentors in Ner Israel.
That others deny this and claim that his values are anathema to Charedi ideology, is simply a function of their own subjective perspective. One that has been influenced by the current Charedi Zeitgeist of the concept of a Daas Torah that discourages questioning what rabbinic leaders in Israel decide is Torah dogma. Disagreement is therefore looked at as rebellion.
The Charedi narrative about Daas Torah is that even though their leaders are human, not infallible and indeed subject to error, nevertheless their superior brilliance, Torah knowledge, Yiras Shomayim, and the wisdom gained thereby about what God wants, it would be a Chutzpah to disagree. Thus anyone who does is considered at best foolish and possibly even a Rasha.
This includes Charedim. So when Rabbi Lipman dared to disagree based on his Hashkafos and 10 years worth of experiences in Israel and private consultation with his own rabbonim, he was vilified by virtually all segments of Charedi Jewry, both in Israel and abroad. This included even the current Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Aharon Feldman who at first called him a Rasha and then after finding out a bit more about him, called him simply misguided and in no way reflecting the views of Ner Israel as he (Rabbi Lipman) claimed.
Rabbi Feldman was probably referring to not listening to the Daas Torah of Charedi Gedolim who have universally condemned what Rabbi Lipman promotes. Apparently this is how he defines being a Charedi.
It is time to let Rabbi Lipman speak for himself and explain what he is doing and why. It should also be noted that he is a Charedi despite those who deny him that appellation. He clearly states in the interview that he is Chareid L’Dvar HaShem and that is how he is raising his children. What he is not is a lemming who parrots the Charedi line of being anti Israe; anti general studies; anti working unless you Nebech can’t make it in Torah learning; or necessarily wears the ‘black’ uniform of the typical Charedi.
This is a fair interview with hard questions asked from the perspective of the right. I would invite, in fact I would urge those who consider themselves Charedi, listen to Daas Torah, and believe all the garbage that has been flung against him by some Charedi rabbinic leaders, their surrogates in the Kenesset, as well as their surrogates in the Charedi media to see for themselves who this courageous man is and what he is all about. The video follows.
Visit Emes Ve-Emunah .