While the circumstances were radically different, there are elements of Rabbi Pruzansky’s treatment here that call to mind my own family’s story. My father, a Russian philosopher and refusenik who opposed the Soviet regime, was fired from his university job and blacklisted for disagreeing with the Communists.
Even though the circumstances differed, I cannot help but be struck by some parallels with JOFA’s attempt to blacklist and silence Rabbi Pruzansky. In America, ideas are not banned or censored when they offend people. Instead, they can be vigorously debated.
In one public statement, the director of JOFA stated with confidence that Rabbi Pruzansky “should not be in a position to preach about values we want to pass on to our children.” I would respond that one important value I want to pass on to my children is that free speech is precious, and that it requires us to hear out difficult arguments, even when we dislike them.
There is a difference between disagreement and demonization. Even if we vehemently disagree with an opinion, mischaracterizing someone’s words in order to discredit him is inappropriate and inconsistent with Jewish law and Jewish values. As a community, we should strive for a loftier standard of behavior.
Rachel Rocklin
Teaneck, NJ