If you have been reading some of the recent comments on this site, you will by now be aware that certain things are not open to question. They are given and immutable.
A few weeks ago in the "Seeking Solutions" in HaModia, a yeshiva bochur wrote in seeking advice for on-going problems with emunah, and he described how guilt-ridden he felt having so many inappropriate thoughts. In reply R.Twersky said that either the bochur was just not fighting the yetzer hora strongly enough, or he was suffering from a form of OCD.
That a youth of 19 should be given these options is surely emotional blackmail of a most heinous variaty. Sadly the rabbis we entrust with our very souls are sometimes so afraid themselves, they are simply incapable of being true guides and mentors. But we go on calling them rabbis because convention says we must and it is not open to question.
I venture to suggest that there are many rabbonim who, for various reasons (ranging from women to emunah, finance, children, arms-dealing and drugs) could all be described as "unfit" to serve. (It is probably either their yetzer, or their OCD). But most of them, (unless they are extremely unlucky), will still be titled and respected rabbis for years to come, since the only thing the community condemns is sexual impropriaty. This alone can cost a rabbi his position, it seems.
You have a 'variaty' of 'impropriaty'.
ReplyDeleteR Twersky is not a rabbi and his words shouldnt be taken as such.
The real answer is that there is no answer. Meaning one cannot prove emunah. If one could there would be no b'chira. All the BT sites dont realise this.
In my eyes a rabbi unfit to serve is one not doing his job.
This would include attending BD and M.
Coming to shul on time and not regularly to borchu. Listening to chazoras hashats, not himself saying a long shmone esrai to get out of it. Or plain messing about during it. Funny how with maariv he is always the first finished. Only shachrit and mincha take a long time.
Giving a daily shiur and spending a good few hours preparing it. If asked a question he cant answer, admitting it instead of 'dreying' out of it. He is fooling no one but himself.
The rest of the time he is expected to 'learn' not just gloss over the gemoro.
How many rabbis in London do this? If Mr Ferster will open a blog (should not be that difficult) I would reply to him there in public.
Rabbis also have peer review and peer pressure and mispallelim vote with their feet where they choose to learn and to davven. In GG we have a lot of competition between Kehillahs and schools, which keeps standards high.
DeleteIf you would open up your blog more and allow anonymous comments you would get more response.
ReplyDelete
DeleteSpread the word - anonymouns comments have now been enabled on this site.