Message from R’ Schonfeld: R’ Yoel Schonfeld

I’ve noticed lately that the great Orthodox publications – and there are many of them – have run out of hot-button issues to headline. Maybe that’s good news: no tragedies to report on. Baruch Hashem, things have been relatively quiet in Israel, outside of the usual low-level Arab terror. But that’s ho-hum. No major breakthroughs in world events, even though major elections in the US and Israel are upon us. Jewish positions are quite well established, with no major turf battles taking place between Jews, i.e., Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. (While that is true here in the United States, the battle for recognition of non-Orthodoxy is still being fought in Yerushalayim at the Kosel Plaza).

I guess this article can be considered a Public Service Announcement. Last Wednesday, I was scheduled to move from my house in Kew Gardens Hills to Baltimore. A few weeks before, I was gathering information on potential movers.

There is a great picture, making the rounds, of a lawn sign that reads “Kaparos…that time of year when all those who support killing babies run around saving chickens.”

I really should not be writing this article, or anything else for that matter. Tomorrow we will be moving to Baltimore, im yirtzeh Hashem, and I should be spending my time with last-minute packing. But the matter I intend on writing about, however briefly, is upsetting as it is urgent.

In our Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, one of our legendary baalei-battim was Dr. Simon Lopata a”h, who, among many other important characteristics, had a flair for the written and oral word. He listened carefully to speeches and if he had any comments, he would share them with the speaker. At least with me he did. In the beginning, I was sensitive to any criticism, “constructive” or not.

The Modern Orthodox world is in a serious state of crisis. They have reached a crossroads and are having a hard time negotiating that challenge.