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| ‘Rabbis have every right not to attend Limmud’ | |
When asked, Rabbi Cofnas clearly explained the reasons why he will not participate in Limmud, in accordance with the vast majority of Orthodox rabbis and dayanim. He is perfectly entitled to opt out of an organisation not affiliated to the Orthodox teachings, if he so wishes. Criticisms levelled at the rabbis for not teaching and inspiring pupils are simply not true. Both Rabbi Kievman and Rabbi Kampf hold regular Jewish studies sessions with pupils of the King David High School, which are informative, inspirational and enjoyable. It is the role of parents to show by their example what a committed Jewish life is. When children do not see this in their homes there is a strong possibility of intermarriage and children of a non-Jewish mother will not be Jewish and this causes a shrinking of the Jewish population. That is the insult to the victims of the Holocaust. Jonathan Hoffman refers to a vibrant cultural life. This does not replace or even equate to a Jewish life. All who crave for Jewish knowledge can attend weekly Seed programmes, where a variety of topics are studied. These are proceeded by Rabbi Pollack’s shiur on The whys and wherefores of Jewish practice. Rabbi Kievman also holds learning sessions for both ladies and gentlemen. Last week’s letters exhibit a lot of ‘rabbi bashing’. The outrageous implication made by Dr Hakak that these rabbis accept adulterers, thieves, Shabbat breakers and murderers is absolutely ludicrous. We read in last week’s Sedra the Ten Commandments which clearly prohibit the above. What is also contained in the Torah, Vayikra Chapter 20 verse 13, amongst prohibited relationships, is the gay lifestyle which is called an abomination. Our Orthodox rabbis are indeed chachamim. They adhere strictly to the Torah, and it is disgraceful that Dr Hakak lacks the derech eretz a Jew should have for our rabbis. Sylvia and Cedric Cohen, My wife and I attended the Ask the Rabbi session on July 14 and I have read Mrs Wachmann’s report of it in the Jewish Telegraph. Mrs Wachmann quotes Rabbi Cofnas as saying “all such deviants cannot be tolerated”, apparently referring to gays and Reform rabbis. I was sitting in the row behind Mrs Wachmann at the session, quite close to the front and I remember exactly what Rabbi Cofnas said: “All such deviants from the faith cannot be tolerated”. My wife agrees. These, I suggest, are the correct words; it places the intent in a different context. Max Marcus, * We cannot see much difference in the interpretation of either. This letter was held over from last week. EDITOR
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