053) Hey, Teacher Leave the Text Alone!

I was taught and I used to teach that Am Yisrael is a monolithic structure - albeit with diverse branches - yet each respectful of the other’s differences, while united with a singular mission. I believed that as long as I kept halacha I could keep my hashkafa, theological approach, and so could you - even if yours differed from mine. And I was taught that Torah-true Judaism had no need for ideological one-upmanship, or for pushing sectarian agendas, as we were all respectfully part of the different ‘tribes’ of Israel. I certainly never believed there could be textual tampering with traditional transcripts, in an attempt to sway one ideology over another.

I was wrong.

Sample of a 'revised'text

Historically, censorship of Jewish texts, was one of the great specialities of the old Catholic Church. Interestingly, even the church had enough respect to refer to those tasked with emending the objectionable texts, as ‘revisers’ instead of ‘censors’.[1] 

This does not mean that Jewish censorship of our own texts never occurred in the past. It certainly did. The Ramo for example, back in the 16^th Century, held what were considered by some to be unconventional views[2], and these were removed from certain later publications.

In our times, however, we are witnessing what is probably the most unprecedented form of textual manipulation by factions of the Torah world itself, against other writings also within the Orthodox community. Usually (if not exclusively) it is directed from the more extreme right towards the moderate right and the centralists. And they often get away with it because religious people generally have more reverence for those on their right, than the right have for them. Surprisingly the extreme left is not the target of such tampering, as it is not perceived as a real and present danger, having long since been written off as a viable alternative for religious Jews.

The expunging and censoring of Torah texts has become widespread and in some circles quite acceptable. Yet, as Rabbi Jeremy Rosen a graduate of Mir Yeshiva,  writes; “The pressure in the ultra-Orthodox world is so great, the fear of being humiliated, marginalized, or even assaulted is so pervasive that few people have the guts to stand up to current convention.”[3]

ARTSCROLL’S CENSORING OF THE RASHBAM:

The ArtScroll series is the indisputable flagship of modern day Torah publications. But, as Rabbi Rosen points out; “...it is known for excluding anyone or any idea that does not conform to ultra-Orthodox norms.” Besides altering some of its translation to the Song of Songs[4], it has also, in a recent publication of its Chumash, removed part of the Rashbam’s commentary to Genesis.  

The award winning scholar and author, Professor Marc Shapiro[5], wrote to ArtScroll who responded that they “...have never deigned to tamper with their sacred texts”. He wrote back and said:

“Here we have an explanation from Rashbam that has been discussed and dealt with by some of the greatest Torah scholars for well over a century, yet ArtScroll feels...it...has the authority to simply delete passages from the commentary....Rashbam’s brother, Rabenu Tam, famously attacked those who deleted or emended passages in the Talmud based on their own understanding. Rabenu Tam realized that if everyone had the freedom to do with the text as he wished, it wouldn’t be long before the Talmud was irrevocably damaged. As such, anyone who has a suggestion about a mistake in the text is free to add it in the form of a note or in a commentary, but he is not permitted to alter the text itself. The only honest thing would have been for ArtScroll to have included the ‘objectionable’ passages and then explain why they feel these texts are not authentic.”[6]

Rabbi Rosen concludes that this is not just petty academic infighting, but is “...an example of the serious battle for the integrity of the Torah”, and serves to “preserve intellectually honest Judaism for the Orthodox community.”

CENSORING RABBI DAVID ZVI HOFFMANN:

Rabbi David Zvi Hoffman was a leading halachic authority in Germany, about a hundred years ago. His Responsa entitled Melamed LeHo’il, although republished a number of times, was always offset from an original copy. This meant that any tampering with the text could be easily picked up.  In one publication, there was a rather suspicious blank space where it was quite evident that something was missing. 

The obviously censored section contained a memoir of how as a young man, Rabbi Hoffmann went to work at the school of Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch, and recalls how the students sat without head coverings during secular studies, and only donned them during their Torah classes. He used this, in answering a question put to him, as an illustration to permit a Jew to take an oath in a non-Jewish court, if the judge would not allow him to cover his head.

This piece of information, although historically true, was deemed too sensitive for readers, and was therefore simply and dishonestly omitted.[7]

EXPURGATION OF TORAH DATABASES:

Thanks to the information age, today we can find on the internet, almost any Torah sefer we may need. Take Otzar HaHochma for example. They have over 47 000 books available in their database. Then, for a cheaper rate, they offer what’s called the Bnei Torah edition, with about 2 000 less books. We must remember that these 2000 odd books that have been removed, are also seforim written by Torah scholars. They are not anti-Orthodox seforim. Although the database is being transparent, the message it sends out is that any traditionally Orthodox Torah view that is not in line with certain modes of contemporary right wing religious thinking, is not considered to be part of the Bnei Torah camp.  Furthermore, it wrongly implies that this type of exclusive thinking was always the only way of Torah thinking.

In the magnificent Hebrewbooks database, which is funded by donations, some Torah literature was uploaded only to be removed at a later stage, without any reasons being offered as to why those books are no longer there.

CENSORING IRVING BUNIM ON PIRKEI AVOT:

Irving Bunim[8] , an assistant to Rabbi Ahron Kotler, wrote a well known three-volumed commentary on Pirkei Avot.  I purchased my original copy of this work many years ago from a reputable Torah bookstore, after seeing it on the bookshelf of my teacher’s library.  The latest version, however, has some sections completely removed. Some of these contain references to Shakespeare. Not being particularly partial to Shakespeare myself, it is still disconcerting to see that texts that were once considered inoffensive, have now been tampered with, because suddenly they have become offensive.  This creates a new and unnecessary polarization and distortion of Torah thought.

Rabbi Kamenetzky's book

CENSORING RABBI NOSSON KAMENETZKY:

At the beginning of this century, Rabbi Nosson Kamenetzky published a well researched book that was fifteen years in the making, about the great rabbis of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, entitled ‘Making of a Gadol’.  Soon thereafter it was banned by some leading chareidi rabbis. The book contained accurate historical insights into the lives of some of our Torah giants, sometimes even showing their human sides. He also wrote, for example, that his father, Rabbi Ya’akov Kamenetzky, had a love for foreign languages, something considered too secular for such a great man.  Such ‘discrepancies’ caused Rav Elyashiv and nine other rabbis to ban this book. Interestingly, Rabbi Kamenetzky noted that of the ten rabbis, only one of them could read English. Then again in 2005, Rabbi Kamenetzky tried to re-publish an ‘improved’ edition which met with the same fate and was also banned. Rabbi Kamenetzky said that he originally wrote the book because he; “did not want their unique world to be lost to oblivion.”[9]

CENSORING RABBI JOSEPH B. SOLOVEITCHIK:

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik[10] expounded some of his views in his classic work Hamesh Derashot. This led Rabbi Eleazar Shach[11] , a leading ideologue of the Lithuanian chareidi world, to forbid reading his work, because it was ‘mamash divrei kefirah’, really words of heresy[12].

THE BANNING OF RABBI ADIN STEINSALTZ’S BOOKS:

The ban.

In 1989, Rabbi Eleazar Shach and others, banned three works by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who besides his acclaim in the mainstream Torah world, was also hailed by Time magazine as a ‘once-in-a-millennium scholar’.

These books were said to be kefira, heresy, and not fit to be brought into a Jewish home. In one ruling, R. Steinsaltz himself is classified as a heretic[13].

CENSORSHIP OF RAV AVRAHAM YITZCHAK KOOK:

By all accounts, Rav Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, was an extraordinary individual, although some may have felt that he held radical views. He supported secular education, was positive towards both non-religious Jews as well as non-Jews, and he even encouraged sport.  Some of his views have been surprisingly and intentionally obscured by followers of his son, Rav Tvi Yehudah Kook.[14]  By comparing the original manuscripts with the printed version, it is apparent that much has been censored.[15] 

Sometimes the censorship is so dramatic that a completely different view is presented. This is even more outrageous than censorship, as it is clearly fraudulent.

A shocking example of unabashed manipulation occurs when Rav Kook writes about the significance of a beard. In the uncensored version, he says that the reasons for the mitzvot, should change with every new generation. Modern generations require modern reasons. The beard was originally a sign of freedom in the generation of the Exodus from Egypt, where Jewish slaves were not allowed to grow beards. But today, thousands of years later, modern man regards a clean shaven face as a sign of dignity. However, in the ‘new’ version, it says that it is good to have a beard because it connects us back to earlier times when beards had great significance. 

Whatever position one takes on the beard is immaterial, because the issue at hand is the authenticity of Rav Kook’s recorded writings. 

And in the uncensored version there is a small paragraph which says that the rabbis of the Talmud knew that a time would come when beards would no longer be the vogue, hence they found leniencies to use a scissors to cut a beard.  This information is omitted in the ‘new’ edition.

Here is another example of his thinking that has been censored: “There are people who think that a person can only have perfect faith in Moses’ true Torah so long as one also believes that other faiths are all false and foolish...But it is not true...This... sometimes strengthens Jewish faith in the hearts of fools, for they cannot understand the lofty value and the holiness of our Torah without thinking of other faiths as mistaken and completely useless.”

This teaching does not appear in the censored edition.

Regarding the distancing that is required between Jew and non-Jew, Rav Kook writes; “...the distancing, that is appropriate for every Jew... to distance himself from...the ways of other religions, should always be weighed in the same way as the chaste distancing from his fellow’s wife, which shouldn't come from...meanness, rather from the purity of the soul.” In other words, Jews should realize that non-Jewish religions are like ‘their (the non-Jew’s) wives’, and are important relationships that Jews should respect and not disturb or ridicule.[16]

This too does not appear in the censored edition. 

     

It should also be pointed out that many books that originally carried approbations from Rav Kook, have had them removed from subsequent publications. 

One such example is the Pardes Yosef commentary to the Torah, by Rabbi Yosef Pazanavski. He was certainly happy to have Rav Kook give his approbation as he prefaced it with a reference to Rav Kook as ‘the true Gaon.’ Since its publication in 1931, it has been re-published three times by photo-mechanical means. It is thus easy to see the blank spaces where Rav Kook’s approbations were removed.

'RECALLING' OF A MESORAH PUBLICATIONS BOOK:

Rabbi Baruch Halevi Epstein, author of the famed Torah Temima commentary, also wrote Mekor Baruch, which contained insights into the life of the Netziv[17]. Part of this work was translated into English by Rabbi Moshe Dombey, and in 1988, ArtScroll printed his book, entitled ‘My Uncle the Netziv’, edited by Rabbis Scherman and Zlotowitz. It contained an approbation by Rabbi Nachman Bulman, and received wide acclaim in the Torah world.

The book was then used as part of a fund-raising programme by the Lakewood Cheder School. Soon afterwards, however, the school’s Executive Director wrote to all those who had received the book: “Upon consultation with Gedolei Torah, we recommend that the book not be read. It you wish, the Cheder will reimburse you for any donation you may have sent. Mesorah Publications joins us in sincerely apologizing for this error...”[18]

What was it that the anonymous ‘Gedolei Torah’ objected to, in the writing of the author of the Torah Temimah? Some say it may have been this sentence; “...my uncle’s habit of reading the weekly newspaper even on Shabbat and discussing current events at the Shabbat table...” Or perhaps the mentioning that the Netziv had secular books in his library. Or possibly the recollection that his uncle once mentioned that had the Rambam studied with a community of scholars instead of by himself, then he would not have made some of the (alleged) errors in his Mishna Torah. Or (as actually mentioned in the letter) the objection to the suggestion that at some time the Netziv did permit secular studies in his Volozhin Yeshiva, to prevent the government from closing it down. The counter claim was that the Netziv would have rather closed the yeshiva, than introduce secular studies.

Whatever the truth was, the views and recollections of Rabbi Baruch Epstein were declared too radical for public consumption, and even the publishing house offered its apology.

A new Chumash?

CENSORING OF THE TORAH ITSELF?:

The Skvere Hasidim have now published a censored Chumash for girls. It removes sections that deal with ‘immodesty’, such as the story Adam and Eve, Yehudah and Tamar, and Yosef and Potiphar’s wife. 

Some defend the emended edition, saying it is only a school ‘workbook’ for a girl’s school, but if you see the actual copy it really is presented as a Chumash.

I stress again that that we may all have different reactions to some of the censored content in the above examples. And so we should. But our emotional responses are absolutely irrelevant when it comes to the truthful portrayal of what an author wrote. We read their teachings because we are thirsty for their ideas. If we have our own ideas, we can write about them ourselves. What we dare not do is write our ideas into theirs, no matter which rabbis we follow. This is not only dishonest, it is criminal.

The sad irony is that it is usually those who purport to dedicate their days and nights to the study of the Torah, who seem to be the most afraid of it.

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[1] See Censorship of Hebrew Books – JewishEncyclopedia.com
[2] He permitted business partnerships with non-Jews and the drinking of their wine because they were no longer considered to be like the pagans of old.

[3] See his article; Marc Shapiro and Confronting the Ultra-Orthodox, published in the Algemeiner Journal, March 15 2015.

[4] For example ‘bnot Yerushalayim’ (daughters of Jerusalem), becomes; ‘Nations destined to ascend to Jerusalem’.

[5] Marc Shapiro received his Ph.D from R. Soloveitchik’ s son-in-law Professor Isadore Twersky of Harvard. He is the author of Changing the Immutable.

[6] See note 3 above.

[7] I was delighted to read, as Rabbi Gill Student points out, that R. Hoffmann’s great-grandson (going by the same name, R. David Zvi), recently published a new edition with the original ‘offensive’ text back where it belongs, and makes a note to that effect in the table of contents.

[8] 1901-1980.

[9] When asked from whence does this blind obedience to rabbis in the Lithuanian world come from, R. Kamenetzky said; “You’d be surprised to hear that Hitler, may his name be erased, is responsible for this. Most of the Jews who survived the Holocaust were from Hasidic areas, and this was their approach. If there is a change in the upbringing of the Lithuanian Jews of today, it is this, that we teach them to be Hasidim of the Lithuanian Rabbis – that is my opinion. I, in any case was not raised this way. I was raised in the best Lithuanian fashion. Healthy scepticism, respect for wisdom....But that was my problem – I wrote from that perspective.”

[10] 1903-1993.

[11] 1898- 2001.

[12] See Michtavim uMa’amarim, Bnei Brak, 1990.

[13] Michtavim uMa’amarim, vol 4, p 65-67.

[14] See Lovers of Humanity, Rav Kook, Christianity,and the Ongoing Censorship of His Writings by Aryeh Sklar in Kol HaMevaser.

[15] See Profesor Marc Shapiro on SeforimBlog.

[16] See Kol HaMevaser above.

[17] R. Naftali Tvi Yehudah Berlin 1816-1893, head of Volozhin Yeshiva.

[18] See The Torah Umadah Journal, Dr. Jacob J Schacter; Haskalah, Secular Studies and the Close of the Yeshiva in Volozhin in 1892.

UPDATE 29 July 2015
See Emes Ve-Emunah by Rabbi Harry Maryles

The phenomenon of putting ideals ahead of the truth is not a new one. It was articulated by Rav Shimon Schwab; accepted and perpetuated by Rabbi Nosson Scherman, publisher of Mesorah Publications (ArtScroll). Here is what R’ Schwab said - as quoted by Ezra Glinter in a  Forward review of Professor Marc Shapiro's new book, Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History :

Shimon Schwab, a prominent 20th-century German Jewish rabbi who argued that “a realistic historic picture” is good for “nothing but the satisfaction of curiosity.” Rather, he claimed, “every generation has to put a veil over the human failings of its elders and glorify all the rest which is great and beautiful.” If that means doing without factually accurate knowledge, he continued, “We can do without.”

Professor Marc Shapiro has gone to great lengths to uncover and publish these truths which have been omitted by the right for purposes of furthering their agenda.  He has in fact written a few books demonstrating how agendas have caused lies of omission to be promoted as truth. Even in a book as sacred as R’ Yosef Karo’s Shulchan Aruch: 

In discussing the pre-Yom Kippur ritual of kaparot , in which one’s sins are symbolically transferred to a chicken, Karo refers to the practice as a “foolish custom.” (Other authorities went further, calling it a pagan practice.) Although that comment appeared in the first 18 printings of the work, it disappeared in the 18th century and is still generally omitted — a decision based on the fact that kaparot is now a normative Jewish observance.  

Lying by omission was clearly intended to forward an agenda. One that strives to defend a practice now observed by many –mostly Chasidic Jews. One which was clearly labeled by the Shulchan Aruch as foolish at the minimum. 

“If Karo is not safe from censorship,” Shapiro writes, ”I daresay that no text is safe.” 

  

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052) The Chief Rabbi's Retraction

While walking through a Modern Orthodox institution recently, I was chatting to a colleague who noticed I was holding a copy of the book; ‘To Heal a Fractured World’, by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Being a great admirer of Rabbi Sacks, I was rather taken aback when he asked why I was reading such ‘controversial literature’. Intrigued to find out what was so contentious about the man, I discovered that in 2003, Rabbi Sacks was pressured into retracting and deleting sections of his book; ‘The Dignity of Difference’. Apparently, his own Beth Din said that parts of the book were “inconsistent with basic Jewish beliefs.” And Rabbi Elyashiv said it was “contrary to our faith in the Holy Torah”, and was unfit to be brought into the home.

What did Rabbi Sacks say that brought about such scathing attacks?

In the ‘censored’ version, he wrote; “G-d is universal, religions are particular...G-d has spoken to mankind in many languages: through Judaism to Jews, Christianity to Christians, Islam to Muslims... G-d is greater than religion...He is only partially comprehended by any faith...He exists in my faith, but also in yours.”

The sentence; “No one creed has a monopoly on spiritual truth”, has been deleted.

Some felt that he had gone too far in accepting the ‘validity’ of other religions.

   

I can understand why some felt he had gone too far. There are some major and fundamental differences between Judaism and other faiths. Many of these differences are theologically and philosophically irreconcilable.

However, as an intellectual exercise, and in the interest of freedom of (Torah) expression, take a look at some very different perspectives on other religions, by some of our leading rabbinical thinkers.

The Rambam

THE RAMBAM’S VIEW ON OTHER RELIGIONS:

Rabbi Moshe Maimonides (1135-1204) writes that in general, both Christianity and Islam pave the way for universal acceptance of Mashiach. As a result of the emergence of both these religions; “the world has become full of the ideas of Mashiach, Torah and commandments, which have spread to distant lands and nations.”[1]

Notwithstanding this broad and sweeping statement, the Rambam considers Christianity to be a form of Idolatry. He says this in a number of different places[2], and is quite outspoken in his reference their houses of worship as “pagan houses of worship without any doubt”.

His view on Islam is very different; “The Ishmaelites are not idol worshippers at all and they worship the singular G-d properly and without blemish.”[3] As a consequence of this view, Jews and Muslims have often shared the same houses of worship.

Then, in a surprising and dramatic turn around, the Rambam adds a caveat: When it comes to social and religious interaction with members of both faiths, he says; “It is permitted to teach the commandments to Christians and to attract them to our religion, while one should not do the same with Ishmaelites.” This is because Christians accepted the authority of the Torah and never denied its authenticity. Whereas Muslims, he says, although their books describe the giving of the Torah to the Jews, consider every point of difference between them and Jews to be a either a falsification of, or mistakes in, textual transmission on the part of the Jews, and that they (the Muslims) indeed have the correct tradition.

The Rambam’s view is clear albeit rather paradoxical: Christianity is Idolatry. Islam is Monotheistic. Yet, theologically, Christians may be engaged with in preference to Muslims because of their acceptance of the basic authority of the Torah. Yet overall, both are indispensable in terms of core principles and preparation for Mashiach.

Concerning his oft quoted and oft misunderstood statement that “the pious of the nations have a share in the world to come” -  this is only when they declare their commitment to uphold the seven Noachide laws[4] before a Jewish Beit Din.[5] This, not being a common practice, puts a very different pragmatic spin on the popular perception of this famous statement, and is indicative of the Rambam’s uncompromising stance on the matter.

RASHBA:

The Rashba[6] , holding a similar view to the Rambam, says that Moslems are not idol worshippers, but; “all other gentiles are considered to be idol worshippers”

THE MEIRI:

Rabbi Menachem Ha Meiri (1249-1315)[7], on the other hand has probably the most radically liberal view on Christianity and Islam that is to be found in all of Torah literature.  He posits that the notion of idolatry has absolutely disappeared from society (barring what he refers to as some fringes or ‘extremities’ of civilization). Idolatry, in his view has essentially become extinct, and replaced by more developed religions, with Christianity and Islam both falling under the broad banner of monotheistic religions. He refers to them as ‘umot ha-gedurot be-darcei ha-datot’, or ‘nations restricted by ways of religion’, as opposed to the idolaters of old who thrived on total anarchy.[8]

Jewish law does contain several references to inequality between Jews and non-Jews. For example; If a Jew’s animal damages the property of a Gentile, the Jew is not liable. But if a Gentile’s animal damages the property of a Jew, the Gentile is liable. According to the Meiri, the ‘non-Jews’ in such examples of asymmetry in Jewish law, are specifically the ancient idolaters, who lost their rights to be protected by the very laws they sought to undermine.  He says of the ancient pagans; “All these people possess no religion and submit to the fear of no divinity”. Contemporary Gentiles, however, were to be treated no different from Jews, because their religions gave them a sense of law and order.

He continues; “Discriminatory rules such as this were instituted in times when those Gentiles were devout in their idolatry. But now their idolatry has come to an end in most places, and there is accordingly no need to be stringent with them as in the old regulations.”[9]

In a similar vein, the Meiri offers a remarkable explanation in his commentary to a text in the Gemora; “A Notzri (Christian) may not be traded with”. He says; “This refers (not to Christians but) to the (idolatrous) nation of Nevuchadnetzer , the Babylonian King.”[10]

Commenting on the Gemora in Bava Kama, he says; “All the people who are of the nations that are restricted by the ways of their religion and worship the divinity in any way, even if their faith is far from ours, are excluded from the principle of inequality. Rather, they are like full-fledged Jews with respect to these matters, with no distinction whatsoever.”[11]

Regarding the mitzvah of returning lost property, which only has to be performed to “your brother”[12], and not to Gentiles, the Meiri says; “The reference is to everyone who is ‘restricted by the ways of their religion’.”[13] Accordingly, the Meiri regards contemporary non-Jews to fall under the category of ‘achicha’, your brother, and ‘re’ehu’, your peer.

Again, commenting on Bava Kama, he says; “All those who follow the seven laws of Noah are treated in our courts as we are treated in theirs, and we do not accord ourselves favourable treatment. It goes without saying that the same applies to nations restricted by ways of their religion.”[14] Amazingly, here the Meiri seems to regard contemporary non-Jews as having a higher status than those who merely observe the seven Noachide laws.

As demonstrated, the Meiri differs spectacularly from the view of the Rambam. So much so that some simply couldn't accept his radically tolerant outlook and insisted that he wrote these commentaries specifically for the censors in order to appease the non-Jews. The Chatam Sofer[15], for example, wrote about a Meiri text; “It is a mitzvah to wipe it out, for it did not emerge from his holy mouth.”[16] The implication here is not just that the Meiri wrote to appease non-Jews but that his views on that issue were outright forgeries.

The interesting thing though is that the Chatam Sofer never gave any reasons for his sweeping statement[17]. And he never saw the writings of the Meiri on Bava Kama first hand, because he only quoted them through secondary sources (such as the Shita Mekubetzet in the above example). Also, he couldn't have been familiar with the Meiri on Avodah Zara (where the “nations bound by religion” concept was formulated), because it was only published in 1944, more than 100 years after his passing. Yet, notwithstanding all this, from then on, the views of the Meiri regarding non-Jews lost much of their credibility.[18]

R Moshe Isserless

RAMO:

Rabbi Moshe Isserless[19] explains that in Jewish Law, the Trinity is considered to be “Shituff” or “partnering” G-d with another being. For a Jew, “Shituff” would be absolutely forbidden. The question is whether or not it is forbidden for a non-Jew.  The poskim (halachik authorities) are divided on this issue. As we have seen, the Rambam holds that it is forbidden even to a non-Jew, to the extent that if he practices “Shituff”, he is considered an idolater. The Ramo, however takes a different view. He maintains that partnering G-d with another being is permitted to non-Jews.[20]

The Maharal of Prague

MAHARAL OF PRAGUE:

The Maharal[21], taking a similar tack, writes; “Anyone who accepts upon himself to worship the First Cause, falls into the category of a ‘ger toshav’[22] (a resident stranger), who is not discriminated against by the laws (as in Bava Kama 4,3).”

BE’ER HAGOLAH:

In a similar vein, R Moshe Rivkes[23], commentating on the Shulchan Aruch, says that the discriminatory laws were only directed towards the “idolaters of earlier times, who believed in neither the Exodus from Egypt nor Creation ex nihilo. But concerning contemporary gentiles...since they believe in the Exodus, Creation ex nihilo, and other fundamentals (these laws do not apply), since their intent is to the Creator.”

R Zvi Hirsch Chayes

TIFERET LE'YISRAEL

One of the first rabbinic authorities to actually acknowledge the Meiri as a source text, was R Zvi Hirsch Chayes[24]. Fascinatingly, he is the only commentator in the Vilna Shass to hold a Ph.D. He writes; “Christians, who believe in religion...Torah from Heaven and in the existence of G-d, are absolutely regarded by us as ‘gerim toshavim’, and the seven Noachide laws are built into both Christian and Moslem legal systems.”[25]

TORAH TEMIMAH

About fifty years later, the Torah Temimah[26] writes that the discriminatory laws; “...do not apply to those nations who observe the seven Noachide laws, and these are most of the contemporary nations, which are regarded as Jews in regard to these matters.”[27]

RAMACH:

R Chalfon Moshe HaCohen[28] ruled that; “The bans[29]  only applied to the idolatrous nations of ancient times. But today, when idolatry has ceased to exist in almost all parts of the world, and all the Gentile nations believe in the Creator...we make no distinction with regard to Jew and Gentile in these matters.”

R Avraham Yitzchak HaKohden Kook

CHIEF RABBI AVRAHAM YITZCHAK HAKOHEN KOOK:

The first Askenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, declared that Moslems and Christians living in a Jewish society, are to be treated as ‘gerim toshavim’, with full civil liberties, just like Jews.[30] He wrote; “The fundamental view is the Meiri’s. Nations bound by descent customs between man and his fellow, should be considered ‘gerim toshavim’.[31]


TANNA DE'VEI ELIYAHU;

According to a 10th Century text from Tanna De'Vei Eliyahu (ch 9); "I call heaven and earth to witness that whether man or woman, whether servant or maidservant, whether Gentile or Jew, the Holy Spirit rests upon a person according to his deed".

CONCLUSION:

It is well known that throughout our history, some sensitive texts had to be emended because it was feared that the original texts would fuel anti-Semitism. However, no absolute certainty exists as to exactly which texts were emended.  We have taken a look at many texts spanning a period of almost a thousand years. Some may have been written for ‘appeasement’.  But by the same token, some must have been the authors genuine interpretations.

If one does accept the authority of even just some of these texts, the questions beg; 

Would our modern day ‘censors’ who confronted Rabbi Sacks, similarly want all these texts to be retracted retroactively?  

Would these views also be branded as “inconsistent with basic Jewish beliefs” and unfit to be brought into the home?

Submitting to the fact that our traditional opinions on other religions do differ significantly and dramatically, surely we must also submit that they all still exist within the broad framework of Torah thinking. One could find many reasons to take umbrage to what Rabbi Sacks wrote. But one could also, surely, make an argument that the Chief Rabbi was drawn to his way of thinking, by much textual precedent.

I can also understand, as Rabbi Norman Bernhard used to say, that; “There is salvation outside of the synagogue.” He told me he chose the term ‘salvation’ deliberately, because of its non-Jewish connotation. Non-Jews have no need for Judaism and can and should perfectly function within their own belief systems. If another religion is relevant to another creed, why can that religion not be valid for THEM? 

In this sense, could one not also understand the context and tenor of the Chief Rabbi’s pre-censored statements - remembering that he was communicating with an international readership, including people of diverse creeds, many of whom respectfully consider him to be a leading thinker of our times? 

He was speaking as a representative of Judaism to the widest of audiences, and was taking full advantage of his honed ability to wax lyrical.

In the final analysis, considering that Rabbi Sacks was speaking Hashkafa (theological philosophy), writing to ‘appease’, to create tolerance in an age of intolerance, and not to formulate or pasken Halacha (religious legalities)  -  was his punishment not perhaps a little disproportionate to his ‘crime’?

[1] Yad Hachazakah.

[2] Hilchot Avoda Zara 9,4.  Commentary to Mishna Avoda Zara 1,3. Avoda Zara 4.

[3] Letter to Obadya the convert.

[4] These seven laws are: The prohibitions of committing murder, idolatry, theft, incest, blasphemy, cruelty to animals, and the injunction to establish civil court of law.

[5] Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim  8:10-11.

[6] R Shlomo ben Avraham Aderet 1235-1310, Torat HaBayit, book 5, chapter 4.

[7] The Me’iri is one of the most monumental commentators on the Talmud. Yet, interestingly, his work was largely unknown until recent times. This is why its influence has been rather minimalised because it was left out of the halachic process. Some authorities, although having great respect for him, will not rely on his teachings because of this.

[8] See “Ones possessed of Religion”, by Dr Moshe Halbertal.

[9] Beit HaBechira, Avodah Zara p 28.

[10] Ibid p 4.                             

[11] Beit HaBechira Bava Kama p 330 (Schlesinger ed.)

[12] Deut. 22,3.

[13] Beit HaBechira, Bava Metzia, p 100 (Schlesinger ed.)

[14] Beit HaBechira, Bava Kama p 122 (Schlesinger ed.)

[15] R Moshe Schreiber 1762-1839.

[16] Kovetz Teshuvot  paragraph 90.

[17] See Kotzk Blog 48) ‘Contemporary Daas Torah’; where (unlike traditional halachic rulings), according to the Daas Torah concept, no explanations are necessary.

[18] Even the the Chatam Sofer Institute which published the Responsa Anthology (1973), while quoting our abovementioned statement, added in a note; “The words of our master ‘It did not emerge from his holy mouth’, are puzzling, for the Meiri explicitly stated this view numerous times in his works.”

[19] 1520-1572

[20] Darchei Moshe 2 on Orach Chayim 156. (However see Nodah BeYehuda, who says the Ramo holds that worshiping ‘beshituff’ is forbidden to a non-Jew.)

[21] R Yehudah Loew, 1520-1609.

[22] An interesting halachik conundrum, however, is created when a gentile is considered to be a ‘ger toshav’- because the prohibition against intermarriage with them would shift from a Torah prohibition, to that of a rabbinic prohibition. This of course would be halachically untenable, (unless the distinction is made that a gentile is a ‘ger toshav’ only with regard to the discriminatory laws, but not with regard to intermarriage, which would remain a Torah prohibition.)

[23] Author of Be’er HaGolah, 1596-1671.

[24] Author of Tiferet LeYisrael, 1805-1855. Rabbi Berel Wein calls him the R Samson Rafael Hirsch of Eastern Europe, and says he was; “simultaneously a talmid chacham and secular scholar. He aimed to fight the haskala with its own weapons, but because of his time and place, he came under suspicion as a maskil himself. The tragic story of this misunderstood genius is the eternal story of the Jewish people, struggling to walk the tightrope between Torah and modernity.”

[25]  Compendium of R' Chajes, P 489  (published by Divrei Chachamim, 1958).

[26] R Baruch HaLevi Epstein 1860-1941, a bookkeeper by profession, and author of the Torah Temimah commentary to the Torah and Five Megilot.

[27] Torah Temimah on Shemot 21,35.

[28] 1874-1950.A leading rabbi of the island of Djerba in Tunisia. In 1943 the Nazis came to Tunisia, and demanded that Rabbi Moshe collect 50 kilos of gold in three and a half hours and hand it over to them; otherwise they would bomb the Jewish communities of Djerba and Tunis. The next day the Allies conquered Tunisia and the Nazis were gone from Tunisia. The gold that the Jews managed to collect was not handed to the Germans. He was a great Zionist and hatched a plan to establish a League of Nations and a World Court, both of which would have their headquarters in Jerusalem.

[29] These refer to not having to return a Gentile’s lost articles and not having to return funds overpaid in monetary transactions.

[30] Iggeret 89, Mishpat Cohen 63.                

[31] Igrot ha-Raayah,89, v. 1, p. 99 (Mossad ha-Rav Kook edition, Jerusalem, 1962).