by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com
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HaGaon Rav Moshe Shternbuch’s gabbai reached out to this author and forwarded the following Teshuvah from Rav Shternbuch shlita. Rav Shternbuch is the Raavad of the Eida HaChareidis nd is one of the Gedolei HaDor. [The Rav further conveyed orally that the obituaries published in the Charedi press [in Eretz Yisroel] constitute a CHILLUL HASHEM as were the hespedim that were given. He is a מאבד עצמו לדעת [and should not have been given them].
5 Shvat 5782
In regard to the question of the masses as to whether it is permitted to hold on to the books of Chaim Walder, I am responding [as follows]:
Whomsoever wishes that his sons and daughters be raised in the path of Torah and fear of Heaven, should not retain any of his books, neither in his homenor in his possessions. For the ru’ach of the aforementioned author is contained in his books, and one may not read them.
And that which some are publicizing that one should explain to children that it is permitted to hold onto his books, Chash v’Shalom (Heaven forbid) to say such a thing, as Rabbis and Dayanim have ruled that it is forbidden to read his books and it is a Mitzvah to listen to the words of Chachomim.
[The aforementioned words do not apply to the sons and daughters of the author, they have received a proper chinuch in Yeshivos and houses of Chinuch and heaven forbid to hurt them.]
One who prays for much Divine Mercy,
Fortunate are you Israel, who raise their sons and daughters in holiness and purity!
!אשריכם ישראל שמחנכים בניהם ובנותיהם בקדושה ובטהרה
[Rabbi} Moshe Shternbuch
This author’s previous article on 7 Thoughts about Chaim Walder can be read here.
I guess we’ll be seeing more and more of this – but too little too late. For example, what is being done now, amidst all of this fire and ash, regarding other known perpetrators in our communities? It’s obviously not an isolated incident. Not a single rav, as far as I am aware, has said anything to the effect of making deep inroads into our communities to encourage abuse victims to come out with their stories, not in the mosdot, in the yeshivas, in the seminaries, nothing. It is being treated like an incident instead of a plague. So it’s only a matter of time, maybe another 10 or 15 years, until the next popular shaygetz is revealed. And in the meantime….churban anashim. Smoldering ashes in the shadows. People going to ruin bc of this silence.
Why would you want your children to read a book written by a predator?
#rabbonimspeak
The eidah hachareidis has a hashkafah problem with his book. They wrote against it even before the recent scandal.
If Rav Sternbach actually wrote this letter, was the purpose to “speak out” against Walder, or was he just answering a pointed question about having his books?
I see some strange ambiguity here.
From what is quoted it seems that Rav Shternbachs main objection is only because Walder was מאבד עצמו לדעת (suicide)? and not his decades of abuse? [EDITOR: HIS POINT WAS EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DOUNT THE ABUSE]
I doubt if as head of the Eidah hacreidis they would allow reading all the goyish novels so many heimisha mothers read. And probably oppose the jewish novels that teenagers read. Why don’t you ask.