#avi weiss

[philipchircop]

DO YOU LOVE ME?

DO YOU LOVE ME?

Rabbi Avi Weiss’s father was the Askenazi Rabbi of Natanya in Israel. And at that time, Rabbi Weiss was the only one of their children living in New York. So, when his parents would come to visit him from Israel it was quite an honour.

Before one visit to the States, his dad calls and says, “Look Avi, we’ve changed our plans and instead of coming in on Thursday, we’re coming Wednesday morning.…

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[progressivejudaism]

Why I, as an Orthodox rabbi, support legalizing same-sex marriage

The separation of church and state is what enables me to practice my religion freely - and we have a responsibility to welcome gays into our community.

[mounadiloun]

Auschwitz est un lieu saint du judaïsme!

Auschwitz est un lieu saint du judaïsme!

Il est donc temps que les écoles laïques cessent d’organiser des voyages pédagogiques dans le tristement célèbre camp de concentration.

Avi Weiss est “senior rabbi” à l’Hebrew Institutequi se situe dans le Bronx (New York). L’Hebrew Institute est une sorte de centre communautaire où s’exercent des activités religieuses (culte, éducation) mais qui s’implique aussi dans le travail social et qui…

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[reiterthewriter]

Dinner with the Enemy

If one person could break up Orthodoxy, it’s Rabbi Avi Weiss. 

At least that’s what I believed growing up. I only had a vague idea of what he looked like, sounded like, talked like. But I knew that in the game of word association, you would say his name and the first thing that would pop into your head is “women rabbis.” Or, if you’re more Haredi and linguistically inclined, “ruiner of the fabric of Judaism.”

Some hated him while many summarily rejected him with a “feh” and a wave of the wrist. 

One thing is for certain. Rarely is the word “rabbi” used before his name.

I met him for the first time last night. It was not what I was expecting. Worse, or better, depending on your perspective.

I am part of a fellowship for college students run by Yeshiva Chovavei Torah. Although I socialize and run with Open Orthodox friends, I still retain much of my Ultra-Orthodox beliefs. While I’m deeply conflicted on many Modern Jewish issues, I still end up in the men’s section with a high mechitza. But I attempt to allow other opinions to filter in, for the sake of nuance and truth.  

When the Moetzet made its pronouncement this week, I was where I am usually, on the fence. The Orthodox Rabbincal group issued an edict signed by many leading rabbis stating that Open Orthodoxy is not part of Orthodoxy. They “reject the tenets of our faith, particularly the authority of the Torah and its Sages.”

Coincidentally, this week’s speaker for the fellowship was Rabbi Avi Weiss. (They were scheduled months in advance.) I have never met him or heard him speak. I have never heard him speak and do not know what he looks like, but I was excited. For all the wrong reasons.

Seeing him amid this week’s controversy incited my pintele yeshiva bachur. My inner yeshiva student. The little man inside me who is a rabble rouser. A trouble maker. Someone who likes conflict. That’s what was on my mind as I spent the nearly two hours on three trains and a bus on my way to Riverdale. I was looking forward to see the ugly nature of this rabbi I kept hearing about.

The meeting was in Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. The Bayit, as its called. The house. We settled down in the study hall, ate a pizza dinner, and waited for Rabbi Weiss to arrive. As with any celebrity encounter, he was shorter and older than I had imagined. Also, much nicer. Unassuming, he walked in and started introducing himself to each fellow. He would ask their name, their school, and just exchange pleasantries. A sweetness emanated from his face and warm handshake.

We then set up our chairs into a circle around him and started to hear him speak about what’s needed in a rabbi and a Jewish leader. He spoke so softly that he would have to lean in to hear him.

He broke up the topic into three main foundations. We had our notebooks out, afraid to miss even a word from this great rabbi. I had mine out too, but mostly to doodle. I wasn’t convinced Rabbi Weiss would be someone I would care to listen deeply or remember for later. I was waiting for the right moment to attack.

The first foundational facet that leadership requires is the love of people. Loving Jews and non-Jews alike. All people. These were not the words I expected to come from the mouth of the person causing a schism in Orthodoxy. He offered the metaphor that Jews are family. If a family member acted in a certain way, rather than a Jew that we didn’t know, how would we respond? Speaking from personal experience, Rabbi Weiss explained that it has changed the way he interacted with people both in and out of his community.

The second aspect of leadership was more of a call to action. It was a call to action. Rabbi Weiss explained how leadership by definition change and how change was lonely but imperative. While he warned that people are resistant to change and that it could be lonely at times, leadership was important. At this point, he became more circumspect. He talked about loneliness and how the only antidote to the loneliness of being an innovator was his family. They stayed by his side and always supported him.

At this point, I started to actually take notes.

Rabbi Weiss then said that “after a speech, listeners should feel just a bit uncomfortable.” It was a nice idea, but I internally rolled my eyes. Of course this is what the provocative rabbi said. It wasn’t unexpected. The gears of my inner Yeshiva student were turning.

Then he talked about the third aspect, the soul of the Jewish people. Judaism should not be reactive, but proactive. Rather than reacting to something new, we should be pre-emptive and be sensitive to the needs of the community and the world around us.

After the talk, there was a question and answer session. My cohort asked a variety of questions, some about knowing when you might be wrong and have to step down.

Someone asked about schisms in the community. He talked about being hurt by some of the Rabbis that signed the Rabbinical Council of America’s edict that Open Orthodoxy, the movement that he founded, is “not a form of Orthodoxy” and that his ordination program for women, Maharat, does not confer Rabbinic Authority. Some of the signors were his former Rabbis at Yeshiva University.

At this point, he could have named names. We were listening intently and were obvious supporters of the cause, both by virtue of us being there and based on the fact that he had curried favored with us. If he would have spoken ill of any rabbi, we would have believed him. He had the power to besmirch rabbis that have embarrassed him in public. We were a small group in a closed off room. He could have gone in for the kill.

But he didn’t.

Even after being degraded by many leaders, after being named in countless op-eds as the person ruining Orthodoxy, he remained silent. Resolute, but silent.

He only talked about being hurt and wanting to increase dialogue with the various factions.

I am still not sure where my allegiances lie. But I do respect Rabbi Weiss for taking the high road. Regardless of how this debate within Orthodoxy ends, I will always cherish the opportunity to meet and interact with him.

I never thought I’d write this, but we need more leaders like Avi Weiss.

[westsemiteblues]

Op-Ed: Saying kaddish in Charleston for slain church members

Rabbi Avi Weiss goes to Charleston to mourn the slain victims of the attack on an African-American church, and gets help saying the Mourner’s Kaddish for his father.