Rabbi Feldman: Public Positions and Theological Rulings
Rabbi Feldman is known for his firm adherence to traditional Orthodox values and his willingness to engage in public discourse regarding theological boundaries. His positions often center on the authority of the Gedolim (great Torah scholars) and the preservation of the divine origin of the Torah against modern interpretations.
Key Facts
- Condemned the actions of Baruch Goldstein as unjustifiable and "beyond the pale."
- Distinguished between "meshichists" and "elokists" within Chabad, ruling the latter as heretical.
- Critiqued the Steinsaltz Talmud for inaccuracies and misreadings of sources.
- Opposes Open Orthodoxy due to its perceived rejection of the Divine origin of the Torah.
- Maintains a strong ideological opposition to Zionism, labeling it as apikorsus (heresy).
- Opposed the Eretz Hakodesh slate's participation in the World Zionist Organization (WZO).
Theological Rulings and Communal Boundaries
Rabbi Feldman has provided specific guidance on the boundaries of Orthodox belief, particularly concerning the Chabad movement. In 2003, he addressed the distinction between two groups: the meshichists, who believe the deceased Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson is the messiah, and the elokists, who believe he was a part of God or God "clothed in a body."
Feldman ruled that associating with elokists is strictly forbidden due to their heresy, noting that they cannot be counted toward a minyan (the quorum of ten men required for certain prayers). However, he clarified that most Chabad adherents do not fall into this category. Regarding meshichists, he stated that while they are not heretics, one must not perform any action that lends credence to their messianic beliefs.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Critiques of Modern Scholarship and Movements
Rabbi Feldman has been a vocal critic of works and movements he believes compromise the integrity of the Torah. He penned a detailed review of the Steinsaltz Talmud, arguing that the work is marred by inaccuracies and misreadings. He expressed concern that students using the text might conclude that the Talmud is inconsistent or does not make sense, describing the presentation as "intellectually flabby."
His opposition extends to Open Orthodoxy. Feldman argues that the foundation of Orthodox Judaism is the belief in the Divine origin of both the Written and Oral Torah. He asserts that leaders and graduates of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah have implicitly or explicitly rejected the idea that the Torah was authored by Hashem, thereby placing them outside the bounds of Orthodox Jewry.
Additionally, in 2005, he wrote a critique of Rabbi Natan Slifkin, defending a 2004 ban placed on Slifkin's publications.
Positions on Zionism and the WZO
A central pillar of Rabbi Feldman's public stance is his opposition to Zionism. He has described the ideology as apikorsus, citing the views of Rav Yitzhok Hutner and Rav Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik to support this position. He views Zionism as a dismantling of the Torah by prioritizing land, language, and culture over the Torah itself.
In 2020, during his keynote address at the Annual Agudah Convention, Feldman criticized the Eretz Hakodesh slate for joining the World Zionist Organization (WZO). He argued that this action violated a century of warnings from the Gedolei Torah, ranging from the Chofetz Chaim to Rav Elyashiv. He specifically noted that joining the WZO requires agreement with the Jerusalem Program, which he considers kfirah (heresy), and that such a move legitimizes forbidden reform groups.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]| Subject | Position/Ruling | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Elokists | Forbidden association | Heresy (belief that a human is part of God) |
| Meshichists | Not heretics, but avoid validation | Avoid lending credence to messianic beliefs |
| Open Orthodoxy | Outside Orthodox Jewry | Rejection of the Divine origin of the Torah |
| Zionism | Apikorsus (Heresy) | Prioritizes nationalism over Torah |
| Steinsaltz Talmud | Critical/Negative | Inaccuracies and misreadings of sources |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between meshichists and elokists according to Rabbi Feldman?
Meshichists believe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson is the messiah; they are not considered heretics, though their beliefs should not be validated. Elokists believe he was a part of God or God in a body, which Rabbi Feldman rules as heresy, forbidding association with them and their inclusion in a minyan.
Why does Rabbi Feldman oppose Open Orthodoxy?
He believes that Open Orthodoxy rejects the fundamental belief that the Written and Oral Torah were authored by Hashem, which he views as the essential basis of Orthodox Judaism.
What are Rabbi Feldman's concerns regarding the Steinsaltz Talmud?
He argues that the work contains numerous inaccuracies due to misreadings of sources and fails to explain difficult passages, potentially leading students to believe the Talmud is inconsistent or trivial.
What is Rabbi Feldman's view on the World Zionist Organization (WZO)?
He opposes joining the WZO, stating it violates the warnings of a century of Gedolei Torah. He specifically cites the heresy of the Jerusalem Program and the danger of legitimizing reform groups as primary reasons for this opposition.
How did Rabbi Feldman respond to the actions of Baruch Goldstein?
In 1994, Rabbi Feldman spoke publicly against Goldstein's actions, stating there could be "no justification" for them and describing them as "way beyond the pale."