Kobi Oz, Beit Shemesh and Rabbi Pappenheim (The Sequel)

In my last post I ("Kobi Oz, Beit Shemesh and Rav Amsalem") I wrote about Rav Amsalem - a bright light in the Haredi world - who represents a potential, constructive force for positive change in Israel vis-a-vis the divide between the Haredim and the rest of Israeli society.  I also mentioned Rabbi Shlomo Pappenheim, (a scion of the Edah Haredit (Israel’s largest Haredi community which is also anti-Zionist) who began a dialogue with the Da’at Leumi (Modern Orthodox, Zionist) community of Beit Shemesh in the wake of the conflict that has racked the city).  Like Rav Amsalem, Rabbi Pappenheim is a significant player in the Haredi world who is at the forefront of an almost singular effort within that community to build a bridge of understanding between Israel's Modern Orthodox and Haredim communities.

The Entrance to Beit Shemesh (Photo Credit: Rabbi Jacob Herber)

Just this morning I, along with other members of my Hartman RLI cohort received troubling and tragic news about Rabbi Pappenheim from my colleague and friend, Rabbi David Seth Kirshner.  Rabbi Kirshner, a member of our RLI class was with us when we all visited Beit Shemesh earlier this month, including our meeting with Rabbi Pappenheim.  Here is Rabbi Kirshner's email:

Hevreh,

I pen this note from inside the girls school in bet shemesh we visited a few weeks ago. I'm on a (fantastic and inspiring) jfna rabbinic mission to Budapest and Israel.

I learned on this trip that rabbi Pappenheim, the member of Toldot Aharon that courageously met with our group an offered some moderate conversation, was recently attacked and severely beaten by other members of Toldot Aharon. He was spat on and kicked and called a shaygetz. Hence, he is not meeting with this group. This is bothersome and a "big deal" on a few levels, namely that the Pappenheim name is one of royalty in the Toldot Aharon world and this sanctioned attack is frightening to the notion of the possibility of moderate conversation in the future.

Clearly the "mafia" style behavior continues here.

Regards to all from Israel.

Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner

Sent from my iPhone us

Rabbi Pappenheim Speaks To Hartman RLI Cohort in Beit Shemesh (Photo Credit: Rabbi Jacob Herber)

Rabbi Kirshner's conclusion is sadly too true.  I am desperately waiting for the fulfillment of Kobi Oz's vision:

“Tolerance is bubbling beneath the surface.  Look how people are bit by bit leaving behind the tension and in the end just want to be united in this great synagogue called the Land of Israel.”

It will only come to fruition when the vast majority of Haredim join with true leaders and visionaries like Rav Amsalem and Rabbi Pappenheim and when they stand up these thugs and the rabbis who indoctrinate them and send them on their missions of hate and destruction

Kobi Oz, Beit Shemesh, and Rav Amsalem

Last Shabbat (Shabbat Yitro) I taught and led a discussion about Kobi Oz's beatiful song entitled, "Elohay."  (You can hear the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFWuEcykSg).  After my visit earlier this month to Beit Shemesh where I and other members of my Hartman RLI cohort met with some of the parents of the girls who attend the Modern Orthodox Bnot Orot elementary school (including Hadassah Margolis, the mother of Na'ama, the eight year-old girl who was spat upon by a Haredi man as she walked to school) and later with Rabbi Shlomo Pappenheim, (a scion of the Edah Haredit (Israel’s largest Haredi community which is also anti-Zionist) who began a dialogue with the Da’at Leumi (Modern Orthodox, Zionist) community of Beit Shemesh in the wake of the conflict that has racked the city), I questioned whether Kobi is correct to claim that:

“Tolerance is bubbling beneath the surface.  Look how people are bit by bit leaving behind the tension and in the end just want to be united in this great synagogue called the Land of Israel.”

Kobi’s perspective is that there is a movement afoot in Israeli society for national unity between Jews of all denominations: secular, Reform, Masorti (Conservative), Da'at Leumi (Modern Orthodox), traditional and Haredi. 

The following video demonstrates the grave and great challenge that Israeli society faces vis-à-vis the Haredim.  My hope and prayer is that Rav Amsalem, a Haredi rabbi for whom I have the greatest admiration and respect, will lead a revolution that will restore some sense of moderation among the Haredim.  Alas, given the response from his former political party, Shas, I won’t be holding my breath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TmbnDls3C8&feature=youtu.be