Monday, February 1, 2016

A Devastating Blow To Torah Judaism

Hamodia Editorial
 The decision by the Israeli government to establish a mixed-gender, “pluralistic” prayer space at the Kosel handed an unprecedented victory to the Reform and Conservative movements, and dealt Torah Jewry a devastating blow.

Let us not delude ourselves. This battle was never about individuals, but about the sanctity of the holiest place on earth, and by extension about the very soul of our people.

Every individual born of a Jewish mother, or who underwent a halachic conversion, is a bona-fide Jew, and every effort must be made to bring all Jews closer to Hashem and His Torah. But at the same time, it is imperative that it is recognized that the practices and beliefs of the Reform and Conservatives movements are the antithesis of Torah Judaism.

We adhere to a Torah given to us by our Creator on Har Sinai, and therefore the precepts we live by are non-negotiable. Their religion, l’havdil, is a set of beliefs drafted by mortals and continually adapted to suit their comfort level.



The distaste these movements exhibit towards all things halachic can be traced to generations of total ignorance and a total disconnect from all that is sacred. They want to read aloud from a sefer Torah, but have no interest in keeping the commandments that are written in the Torah. Allowing them to have a dedicated area so near to the mekom haMikdash is a profound and blatant desecration of this most sacred site and is a terrible chillul Hashem. It will also legitimize their actions in the eyes of visitors and tourists who are so ignorant of their glorious heritage that they will be easily fooled into thinking that the individuals using this area are practicing Judaism.

Over the decades, countless estranged Jews sensed that a spark was kindled in their hearts during a visit to the Kosel, and for many this led them to learn the truth about their heritage and begin living a life of Torah and mitzvos. Now, with equal access to this new pluralistic services area, many wayward souls will choose to go there instead, cutting them off from a powerful source of inspiration.

Equally disturbing is the fact that this victory is only a stepping stone for the Reform and Conservative activists. Though they represent a tiny minority in Israel, they are backed by powerful interests in the United States, and they are determined to demolish whatever is left of the status quo. Their agenda is broad and extremely frightening. They will not rest until they have dug their claws into and totally distort every facet of religious life in Israel, including conversion, marriage, divorce and kashrus.

What is currently transpiring in Eretz Yisrael is a new chapter in a long-running war, the very same battle that was so courageously fought by the Chasam Sofer, Harav Samson Raphael Hirsch and many other Torah giants.

This is a time that calls for fortitude, bravery and moral courage.

In an age of political correctness, it is tempting for American Jewry to look the other way. But as Torah Jews we are obligated to do whatever we possibly can, both in terms of expressing our deep anguish and taking tangible steps to come to the aid of our brethren in Eretz Yisrael.

3 comments:

  1. THREE QUOTES THAT EXPLAIN WHY REFORM
    AND CONSERVATIVE ARE NOT REAL JUDAISM:
    **************************************

    *** QUOTE 1: ***

    Rambam’s Hilchot Teshuvah, chapter 3, paragraph 8:

    If any Jew denies that even ONE WORD of the Torah is Divinely-revealed, then he or she is a heretic [apikuris].

    In the same paragraph, Rambam teaches that any Jew who denies the Oral Law [Torah SheBeAl Peh] is also a heretic [apikuris].

    In paragraph 6 of the same chapter, Rambam teaches that a heretic [apikuris] has no place in the afterlife of the righteous, and will be punished eternally.

    What percentage of Reform Jews and Conservative Jews fit these categories?

    Last but not least:

    Since Orthodox Jews believe that the entire Torah is Divinely-revealed, why should they accept the validity of conversions that were performed by Reform Jews who reject the Divinely-revealed nature of the Torah?

    Since Orthodox Jews accept the authority of Judaism’s Oral Laws, why should anyone expect them to accept the validity of conversions that were performed by Reform Jews who reject the authority of Judaism’s Oral Laws?

    CHRONOLOGY:
    Rambam was born in 1134 CE in Córdoba, Spain and died in 1204 CE in Egypt.

    *** QUOTE 2: ***

    Pele Yoetz, Perek Apikuris [Heretic]:
    And it is not even necessary to teach that a person who doubts the words of the Torah or the words of the Great Ancient Sages [divrei Sofrim], or mocks even one word of the Torah or one word of the Great Ancient Sages [divrei Sofrim], he is a complete heretic [apikuris gamur]; and behold, he has abandoned the faith, and denied a foundation [of the Jewish faith]…

    CHRONOLOGY:
    Pele Yoetz was completed by Rabbi Eliezer Papo ס"ט in Bulgaria on April 28, 1824 CE.

    *** QUOTE 3: ***

    Mishnah Berurah, siman 126, sif katan 3:
    “Understand that according to all opinions [literally, according to the entire world], that if we know that he [a Jew] denies the Resurrection Of The Dead [Techiyat HaMetim], or that he does not believe in the future redemption [Geulah HaAtidah], and how much more so if he does not believe that the Torah is divinely revealed [Min HaShamayim], or [if he does not believe in] reward and punishment; [then] according to all opinions is he is a complete heretic [Apikuris Gamur], and it is forbidden to allow him to act as prayer leader [Shaliach Tzibur]…”

    CHRONOLOGY:
    Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen Kagan, was an Orthodox Rabbi who lived from 1838 CE to 1933 CE in Poland. He wrote the Mishnah Berurah from 1894 CE to 1907 CE.

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  2. FYI now Hamodia.com offers up to the mintute news on there own site chekc it out

    ReplyDelete
  3. On the contrary, this is an excellent development.
    Were you happy with the monthly displays of chilul Hashem from the rioting Chareidim responding to the WoW's provocations? Were you happy with the ongoing calls for "equality" at the Wall that make us look like we're hording the "only true holy site in Judaism to ourselves?
    They wanted a piece of the Wall? They got a piece of the Wall over at Robinson's Arch. What's next? They'll be displeased because it's not the Plaza, they'll come up with excuses as to why this compromise really isn't and they'll expose their true agenda to the whole world.

    ReplyDelete