R' Aviner announces on his video blog that a new, previously unpublished manuscript from R' Avraham HaCohen Kook is about to be published, and he will not be reading it.
The book, "For the Perplexed of the Generation" has recently been transcribed and is available in very limited quantities. A PDF of the entire book is available here and a book review of it on the Kavannah blog.
R' Aviner says that from a peripheral reading of the book, it is indeed from R' Kook, and appears to have been written in the period when R' Kook was outside of Israel.
[Jameel: In 1914 Kook traveled to Europe to participate in the planned conference of the recently organized ultra-Orthodox Agudat Israel, which he hoped to influence towards Zionism. With the outbreak of World War I, Kook was stranded in Europe, making his home first in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and in 1916 becoming the rabbi of London's Maḥzikei ha-Dat synagogue.]
R' Aviner says the very long book (285 pages) was written "while R' Kook was very troubled in Chutz La'Aretz, as opposed to his clear and concise thinking when he was in Israel and wrote much shorter books." He continues and says the book "flip-flops" while the books R' Kook wrote in Israel were definitive and concise.
R' Aviner's video-blogged 3 reasons to avoid reading the book are:
1. It was not "edited" by R' Kook's son, R' Tzvi Yehuda or the "Nazir". [Jameel; R' Tzvi Yehuda Kook purists will only read the works of R' Kook after they were edited by R' Tzvi Yehuda or the Nazir]. You will misunderstand R' Kook if you read an unedited version of it. R' Kook's unedited works are like "unripe fruit". "It is like a rooftop without a guard rail, and one could fall..."
2. The book is written inconclusively, without decisive analysis and a final decision. Jewish Law must be conclusive and not wavering.
3. R' Kook did not want this book published. It would have been published had R' Kook wanted it to be.
R' Aviner: Therefore, we must respect R' Kook's wishes, and refuse to read the book.
Following is my inexact translation of the first part Chapter 22 of the recently leaked ms. of R' Kook לנבוכי הדור. See here for the background of this book
The most alarming matter of all, that which causes the great confusion of ideas in this world, and dominates with great commotion - even today the time of the explosion of ideas, is the tendency to limit ones outlook on life within the confines of ones own group.
We also have two recent articles in Kipa [in Hebrew]. One used the aforementioned Udi Avramovitch as its expert source. Udi finds the volume more radical than the printed version and he finds a greater identity of God’s will and the will of the people. He also claims that in this work Rav Kook claims a value for other religions and that they worship the one true God. The second article quotes the army and settlement Rabbi Yosef Kellner that the book is essential to read but they are confining distribution, and here is a letter by Rav Kellner about the book.
Chapter 1, page 1 of the book.
Personally, the best way to get me to want to read a book, specifically if written about expanding one's horizons, is for someone to actively encourage me not to read it.
Again, you can read the entire book (at your own risk, of course), here.
As if the Ultra Orthodox "Medhadrin" separate seating buses aren't enough, R' Shlomo Aviner from the "Chardal, Chareidi Leumi" Ultra-Orthodox Nationalist camp has come out with his own position on the bus segregation.
"It's a personal issue, and of course a mehadrin [segregated] bus in which there are only men or only women is more modest. Especially when there are immodestly dressed women on the bus. Therefore, it is better to have separated buses for men and women. Sometimes the bus is full of standing passengers pressed one against the other, and sometimes, they even sit on one another, but that's not so bad."
He then cites the Talmud from Bava Batra (57b) that if a person is walking along the riverbank and comes across women who are doing laundry washing in the river (and have sleeves rolled up/or dresses/pants rolled up to keep them from getting wet, thereby they are less modestly dressed), what should the person do? The Talmud answers, if there is another way around, he should take it, and avoid the women washing laundry in the river. If there is no other way around, he can walk past the women, but not look at them. (For more on the Talmudic discussion, see here)
R' Aviner ends off by saying the bus is the same thing. You should try to have separate buses for men and women, and if its not an option, to take the mixed bus, but not to look at people...the same as walking in the street. Mixed Weddings,NO Mixed Seating on Buses,YET? (hat-tip for graphic: Shearim)
Personally, I find the comparison between buses and the riverbank distressing, and that its an unhealthy direction for national religious Zionism to take. R' Aviner is moving far away from "Modern Orthodoxy" in Israel (though there really isn't such a thing) -- and I'm sure the Chardal movement will use this as yet another excuse to label the Religious National camp as neo-reform...for not trying to establish segregated bus lines.
R' Mordechai Eliyahu came out against mixed seating at weddings as well -- saying that mixed seating will lead to mixed dancing:
R' Eliyahu stressed that listening to a woman deliver a speech, if she did so while using hand gestures, was also forbidden: "It's very serious. One should watch out for these things."
Men and women sitting together at weddings was also banned, according to the rabbi, let alone dancing together. "Today at weddings everything is allowed – to dance, to look… a man dances with a woman he doesn't know… men swap women. This is a very serious thing!"
"Rabbis, repent!" urged Eliyahu. "Admit: Say, 'we were wrong. We won't allow mixed dancing, mixed weddings, mixed sitting'." He said that more liberal poskim (rabbis that issue halachic rulings) were favored by women, "Because a woman wants to be looked at. But men don't like them, because men know this is wrong." (ynetnews)
R' Harry Maryles quotes very differing opinions when it comes to mixed seating at weddings:
Several years ago a transcription of a Shiur by Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet was circulated on the Internet. Rabbi Rakeffet is a renowned author and Rosh Kollel (or at least a respected Rebbe) at the Yeshiva University Kollel in Jerusalem. This Shiur spoke to my very deeply held belief that the current move to the right is harmful to Klal Yisroel. No where is this more evident than in the area of mixed seating at weddings. It is becoming increasingly rare to find a mixed seating event and separate seating has even found its way into some weddings in the MO community. In my own children’s weddings, two of my children had a separate seating and two of them had mixed seating. I basically left it up to them as to what kind of affair to have. As an aside I would point out that at the two mixed affairs, I asked my Rebbe, Rav Aaron, if he wanted to sit mixed with his wife or separate (I had a few tables reserved for Charedi Rabbanim who I knew wouldn’t feel comfortable sitting with their wives) . Rav Aaron chose to sit with his wife and his son R. Eliyahu and his wife, and other friends and their wives.
Mixed seating is not only permissible, but in my view it is a good way to spend an evening with your wife and friends and it is a good way for young people to meet for Shiddach purposes. Rabbi Rakeffet spoke to this issue and he did not mince words. I think it is a valuable lesson for all of us to see what he said and how he said it. It is interesting to note anger and condemnation, by Rabbi Rakeffet of the Yuhara that is so much a part of the Torah world today. This is the longest post I have written thus far. It is more than double the usual length. It contains the main body of Rabbi Rakeffet’s Shiur. Only tangential material was deleted. It is long but well worth the read. So sit back, relax, and enjoy. (Read the rest here)
Seems like the Chardal camp is moving farther and farther away from normative Religious Zionism. Not the best of tidings for the 9 days of Av.
Tisha B'Av evening Wednesday, July 29 - join the Women in Green as they March around the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. But first the reading of Eichah will take place in front of the US Consulate on Agron Street at 8:00pm.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
We have not yet written about episode 15...but that will happen soon enough.
In the meantime, Srugim still dominates discussions all over the place. At a simcha last night, the person next to me was rather surprised at all the "anti-srugim" sentiment among the Chardalim. "It's not meant to be a show about to convince anyone to become frum...its entertainment," my friend said.
The disconnect between the chardal and dati leumi worlds continues, and a recent Q&A with Rabbi Aviner announced a new prohibition: double dating.
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, whose controversial rulings on relationships and dating have sparked a series of public debates, spoke out against double dating Sunday in a Q&A section of a synagogue pamphlet.
Aviner ruled that a couple on a date should not meet with another couple, be they married or single, even if the reason for such an outing were to observe the other's behavior in a standard social environment.
"Its out of the question," he said, suggesting instead that the interested subject ask friends and teachers about the person they are dating.
In the question and answer section of a pamphlet published by a number of synagogues, the rabbi said meetings between couples was "not allowed", and added that "spending time with a girl is prohibited even if the intention is not just to have fun." YNET
You can forget fun dates completely.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Jameel's post about R. Aviner's ban on Srugim seems to have ignited quite a debate. This debate goes to the heart of what the show is actually about, as well as what value it holds.
One of the objections that has been raised is that the characters on the show are not good role models. And as Jameel pointed out, they are not really intended to be. Others have responded to this by suggesting that in fact, they ought to be. But is this really true?
This particular criticism of the show seems to stem from the view that the only legitimate form of literature about people -- or, in this case, drama -- is one in which the characters are role models. In this genre of literature/drama, all the actions of all major characters are justified and perfect, and in complete accordance with the rules of behavior set out in Mesilat Yesharim. I call this the “ArtScroll genre”. And people who favor this genre exclusively tend to view any other sort of human portrayal as "cheap, low and stupid".
The big problem with the ArtScroll genre is that it bears little resemblance to reality. This is true when it's used to rewrite the biographies of gedolim, and all the more so when it's used in fiction about "regular" people. Simply put, stories are not all that interesting when they are about people with no failings or inner conflicts.
Srugim is about a few (fictional) characters who are part of the dati leumi (religious Zionist) community, and it depicts those characters as flawed, imperfect human beings: They are committed to their values and principles, but at the same time, they struggle to deal with the conflicts that arise between those values and other aspects of their lives. Sometimes they succeed, and sometimes -- often to their own chagrin -- they fail. As a rule, this is what real people are like. That's true in general -- and not for just 30-year old religious singles in the Jerusalem bitza.
Some might say, so what? What value is there in portraying people wracked by such dilemmas and conflicts, even if it is realistic? Well, there's the simple entertainment value for one, and I don't think that's a value that should be dismissed out of hand. But in fact, there are other values in this as well:
We live in a society where dati'im (religious people) are commonly portrayed by the media as one-dimensional, strange people who are estranged from the modern world, and who do everything they do out of unthinking, blind obedience. It is therefore a very helpful thing for hilonim (secular people) to see a portrayal of dati'im as three-dimensional, real people, who are similar to themselves in many ways, who very much live in the modern world, and who struggle with real conflicts.
It is a good thing for many dati'im to see a portrayal of other dati'im who face many of the same difficulties in life as their own, and with whose struggles they can identify. From this perspective, the portrayal of flaws can potentially be very constructive: When someone sees a character on the show with whom he identifies, and that character's failings start coming to light as the show progresses, many people may come to recognize similar failings in themselves. I have already run into more than one person who has been watching Srugim, and who said, "Oh my God -- that character is me!" In the month of Elul, it hardly needs to be repeated that conscious recognition of one’s own personal failing is the first step toward rectifying it.
Shadkhaniot (matchmakers) are telling us that Srugim is doing their job for them; effectively conveying to religious singles the critical message that the shadkhaniot have been trying desperately to tell them for years: That the singles need to become more realistic and open-minded in their search for a mate (hattip: Shimon). And who knows; maybe there's a real-life "Nati" out there who, after recognizing the stupidity and self-destructiveness of the fictional Nati's behavior, might finally wise up, turn around and settle down with his own "Yifat". R. Aviner and anyone else can say whatever they want about the show, but if there are even a small number of people for whom this might be true, then Laizy Shapiro has earned his place in olam haba...
One can even make the argument that these characters are role models, in a certain way: They are positive role models inasmuch as they succeed in doing the right things and adhering to their principles. These things should be emulated. And they are negative role models inasmuch as they fail. And these things should be avoided.
“Wait a minute!” you might object. “That makes them no different from people in real life!”
And you would be absolutely right.
This, of course, brings us to another charge that’s been discussed here against Srugim: The claim has been made that portraying people -- even fictional ones -- in such a true-to-life manner constitutes lashon hara (slander) against the larger community to which they belong -- in this case, the dati leumi community. As one of the commenters asked, "Why wouldn't this be a problem of lashon hara against a community, and therefore each of its members?"
When one thinks about it, the suggestion that this portrayal constitutes lashon hara against the entire dati leumi community is really quite silly. Human nature is such that all communities have people with flaws, as does humanity as a whole. Haza"l teach us that we all are plagued by our yetzer hara (evil inclination), and that we often succumb to it. Are Haza"l therefore guilty of lashon hara against the Jewish people? The book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) tells us that people are vain, and that they waste their time on pointless foolishness. Is Kohelet thus guilty of lashon hara against all humanity?
Furthermore, to suggest that Srugim is guilty of lashon hara against each and every member of the dati leumi community (as the same commenter suggested) is even more baseless. There is no reason for anyone to suppose that the particular flaws of any given fictional character on the show is shared by any particular real-life person.
All the religious characters on Srugim have a commitment to Torah and mitzvot, to one degree or another. The never-ending struggle between this commitment on the one hand, and one's opposing desires on the other, is the core of what Srugim is all about. It is a struggle we all face, each in our own way, and it is a worthwhile endeavor indeed to portray this struggle in a stimulating, sensitive way -- which is exactly what this show does.
Pay attention to the words of Srugim’s hauntingly eloquent theme song, Ana Efneh ("Where Will I Turn"), sung by Erez Lev-Ari. (This is a highly appropriate song for Elul, btw. If I were to give it my own title, I would call it Vidui ["Confession"].) In it, you will find this conflict framed brilliantly in its poignant lyrics (translated here by yours truly, with a hattip to Moze):
I pursue Your laws, on the one hand On the other, my passion pursues me. Ashamed and embarrassed, I will enter Your gates. And the long nights and the loneliness and the years, And this heart that has not known peace. Until the sea becomes quiet, until the shadows disappear.
אני רודף אחר חוקיך, מחד מאידך תשוקתי אותי רודפת בוש ונכלם אבוא בשעריך והלילות הארוכים והבדידות ושנים והלב הזה שלא ידע מרגוע עד שישקוט הים, עד שינוסו הצללים
Where shall I go, to where will I turn, when Your eyes gaze upon me? Where shall I flee, how will I not turn away? Between truth and truth, Between law and practice. Between the days of yore and modern times. Between the hidden and the revealed, Between the world to come and this world.
לאן אלך, אנה אפנה, כשעיניך מביטות בי איכה אברח, איך לא אפנה בין אמת לאמת בין הלכה למעשה בין הימים ההם לזמן הזה בין הנסתר לנגלה בין העולם הבא לעולם הזה
I pursue Your laws, on the other hand my passion burns me Fierce as death, terrible as troops with banners The long nights and the loneliness and the years, And this heart that has not known peace. Until the sea becomes quiet, until the shadows disappear Bring me back!
רודף אחר חוקיך, מאידך תשוקתי אותי שורפת עזה כמוות, איומה כנדגלות הלילות הארוכים והבדידות והשנים והלב הזה שלא ידע מרגוע עד שישקוט הים, עד שינוסו הצללים השיבני
Where shall I go, to where will I turn ...
לאן אלך, אנה אפנה ...
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
In the SMS halachik Q&A section of the upcoming weekly Shabbat pamphlet "Olam Katan", R' Aviner is asked the following question:
Is one allowed to watch "Srugim", the TV show about religious singles and "shiduchim"?
The answer was a resounding "NO."
"Of course this is forbidden [to watch]. There is bad language and licentiousness. It is not enough to be "shomer negia", and this is also not always followed [on the show] -- one needs purity and modesty.
It [the show] doesn't lack cheap, low and stupid content and its a disgrace to the religious Zionist community. To learn about how one should act, a person should read "Messilat Yesharim" (story source: Ynet via Rotter.Net)
A few comments:
1. Perhaps R' Aviner is retaliating for his mention in the previous show from last week?
2. I find it disappointing that there is a common knee-jerk reaction to the show that it doesn't positively portray the "religious Zionist" community. The show isn't about positively portraying the religious Zionist community -- it's about reality as it takes place. Yes, it's a show, but ask anyone who's been in the Katamon swamp, and they'll say it reflects reality. The point of Ma'aleh (their website is being re-done), the religious film school is not to exclusively produce promotional films that advocate for everyone to join the "religious Zionist" lifestyle.
The show really does not need a disclaimer/warning at the beginning stating: "The following show depicts the behavior of religious singles in the Katamon. You should not draw any conclusions that their behavior is proper or in accordance with halacha and that the characters are truly representative of the religious Zionist community. The scenes and actions shown are not under any halachik authority but were written by 2 graduates of the Maaleh film school and are self-defined as religious Zionists. In doubt, please consult your local Religious Zionist Orthodox Rabbi or see the Messilat Yesharim"
3. The person who asked the question in the first place should have prefaced his question if he is allowed to watch ANY TV at all, since I don't believe it falls within R' Aviner's worldview to begin with.
4. I seriously doubt R' Aviner's halachik opinion forbidding someone from watching the show is going to affect the show's ratings in the slightest...and will probably only increase them.
It's Elul. Please keep your comments respectful.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
R' Aviner announces on his video blog that a new, previously unpublished manuscript from R' Avraham HaCohen Kook is about to be published, and he will not be reading it. 
Personally, the best way to get me to want to read a book, specifically if written about expanding one's horizons, is for someone to actively encourage me not to read it.
