Yeshiva U's tribute to Rav Aron Kotler on his 50th Yohrtzeit.
You see it all time. Yeshivos from the Dati Leumi stream of Orthodox Judaism that are packed with seforim of many of the Roshei Yeshiva that were outspoken against them. That wouldn't give them the time of day. That called them minim veApikorsim and worse. But they know no academic prejudice; if the seforim are good and useful they'll learn it. Maybe ויואל משה is the sole exception, and only because of the topic discussed. The same goes for recognizing history and accepting accomplishments of their adversaries. They're objective enough to see that even people who so disagreed with them with instrumental in building Torah chinuch to these shores, as well as to the shores of the holy land. You might be correct in saying that Rabbi Rakeffet sometimes gets his facts a little mixed up, especially so many years after some of the stories he's telling, but at least he tries. In the interest of full disclosure I will tell you that I did not listen to the speech linked here! But if it's anything like his others we can assume what he's saying here as well. I doubt Ponovezh or Mir had any tribute to Rav Kook on his 50th or 70th Yohrtzeit. Kudos to YU and Rabbi Rakeffet for this tribute! I'll take the liberty here of including YU in the DatiLeumi camp, despite the fact that it could be a bit of a stretch.
Photo courtesy of Hirhurim blog
ויואל משה is in the YU library
ReplyDeletei listened to Rabbi Rakeffets entire speech on Rav Ahron and he claims he is a talmid of RAK he was beyond respectful. he did not even once allude to the fact that RYBS was a greater Talmid chacham and a bigger genius than RAK.
Rabbi Rakeffet learned in Lakewood when R Aron was there. in fact when I was in bmg I sent him a letter saying something to the effect that this is likely the first time his voice is being heard in the halls of BMG since he learned there in the 50/60s.
ReplyDeleterakeffet learned there for 7 weeks (one summer zman) he does say nice things about RAK but as someone who has heard hundreds of his online lectures, he is no major fan of the hashkafah of RAK.
ReplyDeletewe do have ויואל משה here
ReplyDeleteI said MAYBE!
ReplyDeleteThe first print of ויואל משה was in כתב אשורי But SR asked afterwords to re-print it בכתב רש"יsaying he did not consider it holy enough to be printed כתב אשורי
ReplyDeleteHowever my take was that he knew the animosity it will bring out by the "haters" and they may 'desecrate' it (like they did with the תולדות) out of 'love' for them it was re-printed afterwards כתב רש"י one for the haters i guess!
Or maybe he considered that it may wind up in some בית אפל as in..
Rakefet is a treasure trove of information. His writings and lectures are always a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteHirshel,
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out that rakefet gets his facts mixed up. I was really surprised that the historian of the tora umada institute would be so unprofessional. Just listened to a recording where he refers to the baal hatanya as the Lubovitcher rebbe.
May be also worthwhile mentioning that some of rjbs's stories seem like bubba maasos. Like the one of the baal hatanya hiding out in Chaslovitz.
באבא משה said.. "The first print of ויואל משה was in כתב אשורי* "
ReplyDelete*
אולי צ"ל אותיות מרובעות
JTS librRY has more Artscroll books than I weould ever want to believe. I'ts not a ראיה
ReplyDeleteAilemesher. The Rav didn't make up stories. He was a Baal Mesorah Muvhak. He repeated what he heard in Beis HoRav (MiBrisk). You are presumbaly alluding to Mondshein's comments about Chaslavichi?
ReplyDeleteWhile your talking about such things, please note that I donated a copy of Shaylos U'Teshovs B'nai Vonim to the Chabad Kollel here in Melbourne, and it magically disappeared presumably because of the T'Shuvo about the 12th Ikar of the Rambam and the Pshat in Achake lo Bechol Yom Sheyovo.
ReplyDelete