A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Siyum Hashas And Charedi Moderation

As noted in today's New York Times, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker rebbe, praised Artscroll last night for its publication of a 73 volume translation of the Talmud. For years, there has been ambivalence in the charedi world toward Artscroll, with many taking the position that it was used as a crutch and prevented Talmud learners from mastering gemara in the original Aramaic. As usual, Rabbi Perlow is a reasonable and pragmatic asset to the charedi world.

I am also informed that the prayer for the IDF and its soldiers was said last night. If true, the credit must go to the masses of moderate charedim who have rendered the 19th and early 20th century charedi ideological opposition to Zionism obsolete by recognizing that we now live in a different world and that Israel and its soldiers are to be fully supported. More and more, moderate charedi shuls have been including the prayer for soldiers, including one that I often attend in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens.

Indeed, while the ideological battle within observant Judaism over the issue of Zionism has long been irrelevant and indeed absurd, its formal end came on April 15, 2002. On that day, while charedi rabbis were unsure whether or not to support the mass rally for Israel in D.C., many tens of thousands of charedim - in black hats and sheitels - went to Washington on a 90 degree weekday to express their support for Israel.
posted on 3/02/2005