Rabbi Shafran Responds to Criticism, Apologizes
Dear Editor,
My recent Am Echad Resources essay “Bernie, Sully and Me” (posted here) has generated substantial criticism from many readers, including people whose opinions I deeply respect. I have come to the conclusion that there were errors in both the content and tone of the essay, for which I apologize.
My main goal in publishing these essays is to help people understand eternal Jewish truths. Unfortunately, here I chose unsuitable examples for the concepts I sought to impart, failing to accomplish that goal and offending many people in the process.
I am grateful, as always, for the constructive comments and feedback I received from my readership, whose confidence I hope to retain going forward.
Chag kasher visame’ach,
Rabbi Avi Shafran
Director of Public Affairs
Agudath Israel of America
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
18 Responses to “Rabbi Shafran Responds to Criticism, Apologizes”
2. Comment from Teaching by being
Time April 6, 2009 at 12:13 PM
A real Mentch
3. Comment from DN
Time April 6, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I agree with you Volozhin. My previous respect for Rabbi Shafran is now even greater notwithstanding my earlier post criticising him. Kol Hakovod
4. Comment from Mordechai
Time April 6, 2009 at 12:31 PM
So does he now despise Bernie with a passion and consider Sully a hero , or did he just apologize to get off the hook ? I think he should rewrite the essay using more appropiate examples if he wanted to get a point accross.
5. Comment from Joey von Maelfin
Time April 6, 2009 at 12:48 PM
You’ll have to do better, Rabbi.
Sorry.
6. Comment from TANNA KAMMA
Time April 6, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Thank you R. Shafran for restoring my respect of you…
7. Comment from Truth be spoken
Time April 6, 2009 at 4:40 PM
There were articles in the past about Israel that also should have been retracted. (or never written).
8. Comment from Morality and Respect
Time April 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM
These days, it’s hard to find people to admire. It’s a rough world, and people like Rabbi Shafran are a lighthouse in the dark.
Rabbi Shafran, you are a real mentch. So many critics are shrill and trigger happy, and yet, despite the rarity of those who know how to truly criticize, a mentch of your caliber, who is Modeh on the Emet, is prized even more.
9. Comment from solomonA
Time April 6, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Rabbi…
Too little, - too late.
It seems that the Rabbi was forced to issue this apology, perhaps for fear that the Agudah might lose even the little respect it still has in the wider Jewish community.
10. Comment from Harsh
Time April 6, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Step down
11. Comment from Shraga
Time April 6, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Actually, I’m a little disappointed. Rabbi Shafran is a thinker, and I’m sure he puts thought into his articles before making them public. I would have preferred if he would have just apologized for offending people, but not said that he erred. For what it’s worth, putting aside Madoff’s heinous crime, I don’t see how anyone can’t (even if grudgingly) admit that he had a great deal of courage to be willing to own up to what he did and go to jail for probably the rest of his life, instead of taking hundreds of millions of dollars and running of to somewhere that he woudn’t be caught.
12. Comment from shmuly
Time April 6, 2009 at 6:14 PM
to moredechai,
you are a chuzuf to the fullest extent, i think YOU SHOULD WRITE OVER YOUR COMMENT NOW!!!
13. Comment from Harsh
Time April 6, 2009 at 6:40 PM
My recent Am Echad Resources essay “Bernie, Sully and Me” (posted here) has generated substantial criticism from many readers, “including people whose opinions I deeply respect”.
What does that mean? The rest of us are worthless pieces of meat!?
Very disingenuous apology!
14. Comment from To Harsh
Time April 6, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Please take this the right way: I really think you have an anger management problem, and you might be helped by professionals in this area.
R’ Shafran is just a cog in the wheel of what seems to be your wider anger and self esteem issue…please take care of it, for yourself most of all.
15. Comment from binyomin
Time April 6, 2009 at 10:06 PM
is this one of those instances where the article was written with the knowledge that the writer would need to apologize but nevertheless decided that they should first write then apologize? one thing it definitely does is garner attention
16. Comment from Tziony
Time April 7, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Harsh,
I sure don’t respect you
17. Comment from Avi Kolko
Time April 7, 2009 at 6:37 AM
Rabbi Shafran - Darned if you do and darned if you don’t.
I’m sure this isn’t the first time in your career that you’ve realized that!
18. Comment from To Rabbi Shafran
Time April 7, 2009 at 6:10 PM
I agreed with you the first time, and think it’s big of you to apologize for offending some. I hope you’re not retracting your original points, because it’s a little bit of a relief to know that there are still some people who have the courage to state things as they are. Sully was a good pilot, and did good things in his job, then and now. We are all extremely thankful to him for the wonderful job he did in a time of danger. But a “hero”? America has lost the concept of hero. A shame.
1. Comment from Volozhin
Time April 6, 2009 at 11:38 AM
With admiration for Rabbi Shafran who can reflect and see how an article can be damaging. Thank you for teaching us the rules of menschliket.