Urgent: Rabbi Wanted …

B"H

G – d ? Who is G – d ?

Okay, He does exist and rules the world. On the other hand, He is far away and this is very positive. He can remain far away because we on earth have other plans such as power, money and good reputations.

"G – d, if we need you we will let you know. But not now and in the meantime, don't bother us and see you later".


No, I am not talking about secular Jews having such an opinion about G – d. I am talking about Rabbis. Rabbis whose task it should be a religious one. Get Jews closer to Judaism, have a religious Torah life, inspire and give advice. Apparently a perfect rabbis' world and rabbis fulfilling their tasks are mostly an unrealistic dream or illusion.

Judaism teaches that with every new generation, we are loosing a little more wisdom and understanding. In Talmudic times we still had such great Rabbis as Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Gamliel or Rabbi Me'ir; later on we had the Rambam, the Ramban, Rabbeinu Gershom, the Spanish Kabbalists, the Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch all the way to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Not leaving out the chassidic masters as well as the Vilna Gaon.
But what is left today ?

Of course, today we also have some great Rabbis but let's admit: Nothing seems to be anymore as it used to be.

Today, many chassidic Rebbes only live off the reputation of their ancestors. They, themselves, are not such great Geonim and Talmidim Chachamim anymore. However, in our days, it seems to be enough that someone is the son or grandson of a Zaddik or simply born into a famous rabbinic family. But this is not my subject today and I am going to write about this issue a little later.

Not only the chassidic world is facing some problems; no, particularly the litvishe world and its rabbis. The Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein died a long time ago and many times we wish that they should come back and lead us because, at many places, there is only one thing counting in the Israeli litvishe world, and that is called politics.

Rabbi Eliyashiv, the great spiritual leader of the Israeli Litvak movement is the best example. It was him supporting Rabbi Jonah Metzger when the new Chief Rabbi was about to be elected. Hardly anyone else considered Metzger as a suitable candidate, as he is anything but a specialist in Halacha. It is known that he doesn’t know too much about Judaism. At least not as much as a rabbi should. Metzger is a very ordinary person with ordinary skills. The only thing he apparently knows very well is flattering around celebrities and thus, getting appointed into high positions. Rabbi Eliyashiv didn't care so much about this fact but enjoyed his power over the future Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi.

Metzger's predecessor Rabbi Israel Lau wasn't too much different from him. Several times, Lau was accused of taking bribery and sexually molesting other women. But concerning Lau, his supporters and he himself always like to stress that he is a Holocaust survivor rescued by his older brother from the Buchenwald concentration camp. Nevertheless, Lau is no halachic Gaon but he is politically correct and has connections. Not too much to G – d but to Israeli politicians.

Last Fridays' edition of the Israeli daily MAARIV published a long article about the present Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Jonah Metzger. Already in the past, many women complained about him as he tried to sexually abuse them. Not only women but also young boys. Leading Sephardi rabbis tried to interfere and never planned to agree appointing Metzger as Chief Rabbi of Israel. In the end, even Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef agreed because he didn't want to cause a dispute with Rabbi Eliyashiv.

But what about us, the "ordinary" Jews ? Is there a rabbi we can trust and who is independent ? Who only depends on Torah and G – d and doesn't only have his power and policies in mind ?

Chassidic rabbis don't recognize the Israeli Chief Rabbis (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) as such. Every chassidic group has its own Rebbe and internal rules and neither Metzger nor Amar are qualified for giving advice to Chassidim. And by the way, the chief rabbis' positions are more political than religious anyway. However, since the times of Rabbi Shlomo Goren and Rabbi Avraham Shapira, only rabbis without much Torah knowledge were appointed.

Where are all the great Rabbis today ?
It seems that we really have to look for them with binoculars, as they have become so rare. Which Rabbi can we trust and who doesn't only think about himself ? Sometimes you think that you found the perfect trustworthy rabbi and later on you find out that he is just a crook as many others. The famous crook – example for Germany is the "Landesrabbiner" from Stuttgart Netanel Wurmser.

But who cares ? Are we surprised ?
No, as already the Vilna Goan stated that in the times before Meshiach, the majority of the rabbis will be corrupt (Erev Rav). Unfortunately, we have to wait for Meshiach in order to get some better rabbis.

Despite all the negative aspects, there are actually very good rabbis. No matter if national religious, litvish or chassidic. Not to forget mentioning the rabbis of the Edah HaCharedit who sometimes seem to be a little extreme but halachically right.

A chassidic rabbi I personally respect (although I have never spoken to him) is the Dushinsky Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Zvi Dushinsky.