Just like the old days

Growing up and attending Chasidishe Farbrengens I would hear about the "Misnaged" who always thinks he's right in how learns Pshat in what he's learning. Whether it's Rashi, Teysfes, the Rambam, or any other Rishonim or Achronim that he disagrees with, it's them that didn't see it correctly. It's cute to hear once or twice but, like anything else, things get tiring after a while. Add to that the fact that you didn't think things like that happened anymore, and you've got a real yawner.

A classic story heard by me many times is the one where HaRav Yechezkel Abramski comes to the Lubavitcher Yeshivah in Lod to deliver a shiur. In the middle he mentions a Rabbeinu Chananel that seemingly disagrees with what he's saying.The good Rabbi announces boldly: "מיינט איר דאך אז רבינו חננא-ל זאגט ניט ווי מיר, ניין! ער זאגט יא ווי איך זאג". He then proceeds to show the shiur that he's correct in his Svoroh. That was a classic, because it showed them what Limud HaTeyreh can look like if it's done as a Kardum Lachpeyr, or as a way to boost one's image and self-esteem, RYA's gadlus not withstanding.

From reading up on the subject of Yeshivas in pre-war Europe one can make an interesting conclusion, that Koved HaTeyre was observed very differently. The Koved was a self-serve version, you had Koved for your own Teyre. You were to dress the part of a Choshuver Bocher because YOU were a Ben Teyre, and you were to degrade the simple folk of the town because they were Ameratzim. It was OK to call a Bocher a "Puyer" or a "Yape" or a "Terk" or a "Poroh Adumoh" because he asked a Kashe that's not to your liking, and even if a Bocher was caught up in Haskalah he was still Yeshiva material if he had "Ahavas HaTeyre."

Now, some of these attitudes have changed, for different reasons, but the underlying theme is the same. A BaaleBos has no intrinsic value other than to be a Yeshiva funder. If he's a Machshiv Teyre and spends time learning himself then he does earn some value, but only minimal, (and only if he dishes out $100,000 for an eidem.) Recently though, the Lithuanian Yeshiva world has morphed into "Chassidim without Shtraymlech", and if I were once part of that world I wouldn't be happy either. Amohl, when a Bocher came to you with a Hamlotzoh from a Choshuve Rov, and you tested him, and he didn't pass the exam with flying colors, it was normal to call that Rov an AmHoretz. Today there is one opinion on all issues, issued by 1-2-3 Rabbonim, and all others must fall in line.

What Rabbi Kamenecki wants to do is to bring back the old attitudes of the Roshei Yeshiva and that of Yeshivaleit not needing to answer to one opinion of one Rabbinic body. Every lamden can have his opinion, both in Inyonei Hashkofoh and in learning, and anybody that differs with him can be an Amihoretz. Maybe that's what we need now in Charedi society, a shakeup of monumental proportions with a good earthshattering Machlaykes on the side.