Shlomo Riskin, controversial rabbi of Efrat – who, among other things, has led a group of “Orthodox” rabbis who advocate for increased partnership between Christians and Jews – has had his controversies over the years, and now he’s back, this time advocating for the Kosel to be open to mixed prayer.
Riskin made his feelings known in an opinion piece in the Jerusalem Post titled “The Western Wall is for all Jews.”
Claiming that he’s “a proud and committed Orthodox Jew,” he says that throughout the years, “a not insignificant number” of the graduates of his institutions “began their religious paths as secular, Reform, Conservative or Reconstructionist Jews, and – I am proud to say – have grown into exemplary Orthodox halachic leaders.” Why, he says, “cut them off at the pass by forbidding a more palatable prayer service, closer to what they were used to, and replete with English readings and explanations?”
He goes on to say, “It is prohibited for a halachic Jew to pray with a minyan that does not have a separation of the sexes, but for someone who is not Orthodox (or, better stated, not yet Orthodox), is it not better for him to pray in a mixed seated service than not to pray at all?”
Riskin later says, “God forbid if only Orthodox Jews would be welcome to come to pray at the Western Wall or at any other Jewish sacred place. Israel is the homeland of every Jew, our sacred places, there to inspire us, must be for every Jew no matter where they may live or the extent of their halachic observance.”
Riskin, among his past infamous controversial statements, has promoted Jewish acceptance of the founder of Christianity as “a true Jewish religious thinker and teacher.”
{Matzav.com}
Wicked man. This is what happens when one eats treiffa food.
You are what you eat! He is not Orthodox. He is Reform. Reform is another religion. Reform is not Judaism.
nothing wrong with what he said.
Charedi poskim said the same thing before this became a litmus test.
He most definitely can be a “proud” Orthodox Jew, however, let’s define “commited”
Chareidi poskim? Context and TEXT please.
Why Lie?
Guess we could ask that of him.
Mr. Riskin has proven himself to be a kofer beikar on many occasions. His love he has for Christians and their faith should of been enough to put this rasha in cheirem.
Rabbi Riskin, how about non observant Jews respecting the Minhag HaMakom? Non-Jews seem to be able to, why do we have to cater to the non observant? What kind of example are we sending them?
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Alexander Hamilton (allegedly Jewish)
Yekke in Golus: The Hamilton claim was rebutted by R. Yair Hoffman a while back.
“We” have to cater to the non-observant because “we” don’t own the kotel any more than “they” do.
The Koisel belongs to Torah Yidden not to those who ridicule and wage war with the Torah. Reform is not Judaism.
Reb Shleymeh is already a א איד אין די גבורות. So show some גבורה Reb Shleymeh!
Nebech, all those years on the UWS and elsewhere infected him with liberalism.
He has already stepped back from much of his work in recent years.
He should now sit in Keyllel, learn Teyreh, and leave the Keysel alone.
Instead of opinions, can anyone here pls refute in well written English and logically dictates arguments Riskin’s points raised in this article (without any discussion of his character). In other words, pretend a widely accepted talmid Chochom presented these same arguments as hypothetical in a discussion toward concluding actual correct halacha, what are the faults of these points? They do seem logical.
I don’t have the time to write it all out, but here are the points that one would need to clarify.
1) Avera lishma, do do or not?
2) Michshol l’rabim. Should you institute something that may uplift some, but cause others to fall?
3) Kvod shamayim, what is it? is it really enhanced by pluralistic activism?
4) Haliteihu l’rasha v’yamus. Where does it apply.
5) Are we being duped? Is this really open minded individuals who wish to pray in a way comfortable to them? Or is there an insidious intent here, of wrecking more and more of the purity of the Torah way of life.
Riskin acknowledges the halacha prevents orthodox Jews from praying in a minyan where there are both men and women.
There is absolutely nothing preventing non-orthodox Jews from praying with a minyan that has separate seating for men and women.
Simple Solution: Have separate sections for men and women!
“but for someone who is not Orthodox (or, better stated, not yet Orthodox), is it not better for him to pray in a mixed seated service than not to pray at all?”
Firstly, this is a false dichotomy. Who is talking about not praying at all? Why must such a person pray at the Kotel? Go somewhere else that suits your needs.
But let’s take the leap and assume that those are the only 2 choices for such an individual. In other settings, the answer is debatable. I can see both sides of the issue. However, in a place which has an already-established custom, it is better for such a person to acquiesce to the established custom, and if one cannot do so, it is 100% better not to pray at all. If you cannot respect the norms of the group you are trying to join, you are proving that you’re just trying to change such a group, which is unacceptable. So, yes, it would be better not to pray at all.
Don’t fall into his trap. Pray at the Kosel. Have respect for Hashem and the thousands who pray honestly and walk onto the correct side of the mechitza, as basic decency demands.
He’s lying and twisting himself into a pretzel in order to give false reasons to overturn halacha in favor of whatever social fad there is. That’s always been his way and those of his followers. Let’s say the truth:
Anyone is allowed and welcome at the Kosel, without uprooting halacha. If that’s a problem, let him start at a vatican and advocate for cardinals who wish to wear green yarmulkas – or maybe do something useful and demand that they return the Kli HaMikdash.
What do you want from Riskin? He is an opportunist like Avi Weiss et al who will do anything for attention and no doubt are paid off by the reform, conservatives, and probably the zionists as well to destroy Torah. Go around Efrat one day….It is a city bereft of Yiras Shomayim thanks to him
This is so sick!!!! The Israeli taxpayer has already sghelled out tens of millions of shekels for the “eqalitarian” plaza that is not used except by some Orthodox groups. Riskin knows the whole push is just a publicity stunt for the Refoem Hellenists and WOW to raise money and to destroy Torah Judaism .What is he really trying to do? Get them to fund him ?
Mushchas
Love that picture of Riskin at the beginning of this article ! I don’t really know why
but somehow it reminds me of a pit bull dog about to pounce ! Fortunately he will
not succeed in his attempt to destroy what Klal Yisroel has so painstakingly built up
over the millenia. Baruch Hashem there are just so many more of us, Yereim and
Shleimim, than of pit bulls like him. Woof woof, Riskin, go back to your dog house,
and don’t you dare say I’ve committed a grave sin by being M’vazeh you. It’s no
less of a Mitzvah than Eliyahu Hanavi being M’vazeh the N’viei Habaal !
Shlomo Riskin, is a very popular respected rabbi of Efrat. over 50 his moving droshas can be found on Torah Cafe Dot Com
he speaks often a at many very frum shuls and community center, around the world internationally, for many years now.
Put your mask back on and descend into your Mommy’s basement.
Does Riskin still use the pronouns “he/him.” How old fashioned.
Obama, too, was an eloquent speaker. Unfortunately, he spoke shtus and toeiva.
What I find interesting is how people who are OK with certain “not-standard-orthodox” practices like to label peoples levels of frumkite. “he’s very frum” “he is frum but not blah blah”.
I dont care for that stuff. To me the the litmus test is actions. Does he promote torah values? Then he is frum, Does he promote anti-torah values? Than he isnt.
For those who don’t know, Torah Cafe dot com is a Lubavitcher site.
As many Modern Orthodox, R. Riskin claims to be a big admirer of the Lubavitcher Rebbeh shlita. Although he himself has Gerrer roots.
He is rabbi in Efros, near Beis Lechem, not Yerusholayim.
why are we calling this kofer a rabbi a piece of garbage is a better term for him and all his followers
the kosel is for us, not for those reshaim
Um, you genie of a man, all Jews can pray at the Kosel. English, French, Swahili (if 10 Jews speak that) Minyanim are welcome too and a good idea for beginners. They don’t have to be done in a way that defies thousands of year of law, Hashem’s will at a holy place.
Please, my dear friend, call a few mosques in Iran and write to them about how they should allow people to daven Shmoneh Esrei while the Imam is in between sermons. You can do it, you worldwide leader for toe-ler-rancce, you. Oh, how special you will sound.
People who happen to be smokers don’t need to feel unwelcome when visiting a Respiratory Emergency Ward. They should be encouraged to visit those who are there. They do absolutely need to feel “unwelcome” if they demand the right to light up over there.
maybe he consulted his Rabbi , the one he calls RABBI CHEEZUS
What we need is another 1956 declaration declaring others to be non-forms of Judaism. That would include even those who ostensibly call themselves conveniently orthodox like riskin and co.
Mechitzas are only required in established Shuls. When did the Kosel become one? And certainly why is a different part that hasn’t been used considered one?
Look at the old pictures of the Kosel. Men and Women are not separated. That’s because its not required.
Times have changed.