Monday, January 15, 2018

Liberal Attitudes - 3 Links

One thing that arouses my ire is when people are disrespectful and even insolent and impudent towards Rabbonim. They are often portrayed in the secular press and on blogs and websites as being backwards, still living in the middle ages, close minded and often much worse [money hungry etc.]. 

The reality is that at times there are certain rabbonim who have made statements with which one may not completely agree. I can't vouch for everything everyone with the title "Rav" says. But time and again when speaking to Rabbonim personally [and reading their writings], one is struck by their sensitivity, openness and willingness to hear new ideas [as long as they are not against halacha or principles of faith].

An example of this are the very liberal attitudes towards intimacy that we have seen recently. There is a level of kedusha that not everyone can reach where they are at the present time. For such people the Torah, and her representitive the Rabbonim, find ample room for leniency in order to allow people to be normal and themselves. Excessive suppression is not healthy and we want to produce healthy people.  

Another example is the attitude toward mental illness.  Their attitudes reveals great understanding and sensitivity and are deserving of our appreciation.  

Again, from time to time we will hear things that are off the wall. Even in sefarim, people will write things [not halacha li-moshe mi-sinai] that are very hard to digest [and one famous Professor loves to find the wacky ideas and tell the world]. But all in all, Rabbonim are wise and rational people with a good heart.