Back in the 13th century, there was a debate raging. The works of Maimonides, more commonly known as RAMBAM (an acronym of his name, Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon) were highly controversial. Statements in his “Guide for the Perplexed” and his “Mishne Torah” were considered heretical by some Rabbis and his works were banned. According to legend (there is some historical unclarity here), some French rabbinical scholars were so heatedly against Maimonides that they denounced his works to the Catholic Church as heretical to Christianity who then gathered up what copies they could find and burned them.
Not too long afterward, accusations made against the Talmud by Jewish apostates had a similar affect. 20 cartloads of Talmud volumes, a priceless loss in these days before the printing press, were burned in 1242. So great was this loss that a special Kinna (lament) was composed for Tish’a B’Av to commemorate the event. In the commentary for the Kinna for this event, the Artscroll notes the opinion that the burning of the Talmud was heavenly retribution for Jewish complicity in the burning of Maimonides’ works which were burned in the same spot.
Of course, we do not know why G-d does things, but it does bring one to wonder what the unintended affects might be when the authorities are brought into a dispute within Judaism.
Enter YAFFED. This is an organization that is dedicated to improving secular education in ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools, known as Yeshivos. It is a fact that there are Yeshivos that, in my opinion, do not offer anywhere near enough secular education in basic studies like English, History and Mathematics. This is a tremendous tragedy. Thousands of ultra-Orthodox children stop receiving secular studies when they enter High School where their studies are completely religious. When they leave school they are unprepared for a life outside their insular communities. Many spend their lives learning Torah while their wives work and support the families. Still others enter the world of business where many of them thrive. One has but to walk along 47th street in New York City, the famous “Diamond District,” to see many Chassidic men, most who speak English with strong accents, doing very well for themselves.
YAFFED wants to change that and would like all children in Yeshivos to receive more secular education.
OK, so far I have no problems with their agenda. I think that providing a better education would be a good thing. But, here’s the problem. YAFFED wants the State of NY to force these Yeshivos to provide more secular education and here’s where we part company.
What YAFFED is either not considering, or not caring about, is what happens when the State aggregates the power to itself to dictate what happens in a religious school. Yeshivos are, for example, institutionally against the current LGBTQ agenda and will never teach it. Their views regarding sex are different. Whether or not we agree with their views, the first amendment to the constitution guarantees their right to believe as they believe. YAFFED wants the State to dictate to religious organizations? Uh uh. No way, no how.
What gets me are the “Rabbis” that are part of this organization. I am an ordained rabbi (although I don’t make a big deal out of it) and my first priority is to ensure that my co-coreligionists, all religions in fact, can believe what they believe without the State interfering. The position of this organization and their rabbinical lackeys is disheartening. Like the French rabbis of the 13th century, they are allowing their political agenda to cloud their thinking and this is a tragedy in the making.
The Talmud says, “Who is wise? He who can see what is to come.” We all know that there are unintended consequences from our actions. The trick is to try and foresee those consequences and avoid them if you can.
This organization, and their coterie of rabbinical yes-men, either cannot or will not see the obvious consequence of their attempted course of action. In fact, it is so obvious, it makes me wonder if that is not their true agenda. If so, every single one of their so-called rabbis deserve to be stripped of their titles and excommunicated.
What, then, is the solution? Honestly, I am not sure. The communities targeted by this organization are mostly Chassidic in nature. Chassidic communities are very insular and are tightly controlled by the leader of the sect, the Rebbe. If you want change, it is the Rebbe that needs to be convinced. It is difficult to accomplish this but not impossible. True, it means changing someone’s mind and G-d knows liberals have no time for that. They want everything done by fiat, be it by some court or by the legislature. But, the First Amendment is not to be trifled with. Leave it alone or you will be sorry. No, that is not a threat of violence. It’s a prediction. Mess with the First Amendment and you will be responsible for smashing almost 250 years of sacrosanct law and beginning the destruction of what makes the United States great: the freedom we have to believe and worship as we will without fear from governmental intrusion.
