Six Prominent Chareidi Rabbis Ban Peninei Halacha Books Which ‘Uproot Halachic Traditions’

103

JERUSALEM (VINnews)   — Six prominent chareidi poskim have published a letter in which they call on the public not to use the Peninei Halacha series written by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed. This is the first time that the controversy regarding Rabbi Melamed’s books has been addressed by chareidi rabbis, as previously it had only involved members of the Religious Zionist community.

Join our WhatsApp group

Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


The declaration was signed by the heads of the Bnei Brak Beis Din- Rabbi Sariel Rosenberg, who is also the rabbi of the Ramat David neighborhood in Bnei Brak and Rabbi Yehuda Silman, who heads the Beis Din and is also the rabbi of the Kehal Chasidim in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak. The letter was co-signed by Rabbi Azriel Auerbach, son of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and rabbi of the Chanichei Yeshivos community in Jerusalem, Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern, rabbi of west Bnei Brak and disciple of rabbi Shmuel Wozner z’l, Rabbi Avrohom Zvi Hakohen, Rabbi of the Kehal Chasidim in Shikun Hey, Bnei Brak and Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein, Rabbi of the Ohr Hachaim neighborhood in Bnei Brak.

The rabbis wrote that they had seen the Peninei Halacha volume which deals with purity and the sanctity of the Jewish home. “We were shocked to see there many things which uproot the halachic tradition we have received from generation to generation, things which harm the sanctity of the Jewish home and are attuned to the life of lawlessness and licentiousness of reckless and empty individuals

“We also saw what those who are acquainted with him said, that the disparities in the book are not halachic errors but rather stem from the erroneous views of the author, who fosters friendships with those who hate Hashem as well as gentiles.

“We are therefore calling to maintain purity and modesty and not to bring this book and his other books into the houses of religious Jews and certainly not into shuls or Batei Midrash.”

The Har Bracha yeshiva headed by Rabbi Melamed chose not to respond to the letter of the chareidi rabbis. Melamed has faced significant criticism within the Religious Zionist camp for his rulings on matters of modesty and purity which are not in consonance with accepted halachic practices.

 


Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


Connect with VINnews

Join our WhatsApp group


103 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Emes
Emes
1 year ago

Can anyone share some concrete examples?
Or perhaps direct us as to where to see these contradictions in halacha?

Last edited 1 year ago by Emes
Dovid
Dovid
1 year ago

What does he say that is so controversial?

Huh
Huh
1 year ago

Another typical VIN article with little details. What the heck is going on? Not every reader is up to date with Israeli fighting over books. Details! Journalism! Please

Yoda
Yoda
1 year ago

Isn’t abrogating women’s Torah and Ketubah rights, to receive raiment and sustenance, forcing them to work (outside of the house) to support husband and family, an uprooting of Jewish Halacha, and against Jewish Traditions of Modesty and Purity? Are those sent to the US for funds immune from impurities?

Dovid
Dovid
1 year ago

Interesting that while they looked at the Taharat haMishapacha volume, the Rabbanim relied upon hearsay to ban his other books and did not take into account the broader political issues that have put Rav Melamed at odds with some of the other Rabbanim in the Dati Leumi world.

By doing so, they have gone beyond what even those Rabbonim had said.

The Bnei Brak Rabbonimm said that not only the Taharat haMishpacha should not be relied upon, but NONE of his books should be used.

That is NOT what most of the Dati Leumi Rabbonim said, even those who were against the Taharat haMishpacha volume.

The hearsay aspect is interesting because the Bnei Brak Rabbonim only refer to (and rely upon) the Rabbonim who oppose Rav Melamed, not those who support him and Peninei Halacha, which happens to be an extraordinarily fine and unique series.

This is also interesting because Peninei Halacha is the most popular set of halacha seforim in Eretz Yisroel and has been for perhaps two decades, with more than a million copies in print.

Objections to it only began recently, due to the Taharat haMishpacha volume and Rav Melamed’s stance on other issues (Giur, dialogue with Reform, and (most importantly in order to understand the political opposition) Rav Melamed’s support for dismantling the kashrus structure of the Rabbanut, which families of many Rabbonim get jobs from.

So, seforim that are in every Dati Leumi shul and every Dati Leumi home for two decades and have been praised by its Rabbonim are retroactively treif because of what Rav Melamed said in 2021 and 2022?

Interesting.

Dovid
Dovid
1 year ago

The entire Peninei Halacha series is available online and for free, with many of the volumes also translated to English.
For those who would like to see it for themselves, it’s one Google away.

Dovid
Dovid
1 year ago

No need for anyone to “wonder” about what’s in Peninei Halacha; it’s all online. 18 Volumes, not including the supplemental volumes with added sources.
This who wish to see why it’s so popular or wish to learn from the 18 volumes can go there to learn.
Those whose nature it is not to learn, but to look for things to not like, are free to scour the 18 volumes and look for things to not like.

Just Google Peninei Halacha.

Ruby
Ruby
1 year ago

A personal story, when dealing with what is mutar there are 2 simanim in shulchan aruch written by the same author, yet. The tone is contradictory. We don’t find this in any other area of halacha. I approached a senior godol with the question. His answer was brilliant and is at the heart of this proclamation. In short, even haezer is about marital rights and obligations, however the way a yid strives to live the successful way is orach chaim as its title implies. He made a few more points…

dovid
dovid
1 year ago

Beware!!! There are many stories of people suffering tons for talking disrespectful about the Rosh yeShiva who organized the technology event!
‪May hashem help us unite as a holy nation and bring the geula now , amen!

Anon77
Anon77
1 year ago

They picked on the wrong rav, Rav Melamed Shlita will undoubtedly ably defend his decision without backing down to this attack . He is an extraordinay talmid chacham and can debate anybody with one hand tied behind his back.

NoMan
NoMan
1 year ago

Considering who are behind the attempt to ban his work, If I were Rabbi Melamed I would print these letters at in the first pages of the next editions of Peninei Halachah as a haskamah!

Just the fact that these folks are so moved to oppose him tells me he has something compelling and worthwhile to say.

Sayee
Sayee
1 year ago

“stem from the erroneous views of the author, who fosters friendships with those who hate Hashem as well as gentiles.”
What’s the part about gentiles mean? Is it just grammatically poorly written and does not at all condemn having a non-Jewish acquaintance?

the facts
the facts
1 year ago

Most likely they didnt like that he is leniant in areas of intimacy and onah which are technically allowed but the common custom is to refrain from acting in that way.

Concerned Jew
Concerned Jew
1 year ago

As to the claim that Reform Jews should be treated with love while the movement itself should be fought, he said “The opposite is true. The leaders and representatives are more committed to their Jewish identity and to their people, and thus deserve to be respected even more and not less. In addition, this division is not understood by most of the Jews who are members of the Reform, and even Conservative, movement, who are closer to us.”

(from israelnationalnews)

Concerned Jew
Concerned Jew
1 year ago

By the way read illuminatin jewish thought vol. 1 by Rabbi Netanel Weiderblank and you’ll see the basis for the rabbanim’s view against Rav Melamed.

saying it all
saying it all
1 year ago

I invite you all to key into Rabbi Avigdor Miller on zionizm is like reform.

Little lemechel
Little lemechel
1 year ago

I wonder what the rich Boro Park askanim have to say about this.

snowman
snowman
1 year ago

They must be prominent rabbis because I have never heard of them.

mitnachel
mitnachel
1 year ago

I am with Dovid’s comments. I am a proud owner of the Pininei Halacha. Every one of R’ Melamed’s Piskei Halacha come with the source. I have asked him many Sha’alos personally and trust me, he is no meikal but he will give a Psak when most writings will say “probably but better not” in order not to annoy anyone. Let’s all try and remember this is election season in Eretz Hakodesh, again, and Degel Hatorah is clearly losing votes to Smotrich/Ben Gvir and R’ Melamed and his father are authorities of the Daati Leumi/Religious Zionist movement. The timing of this ban smells to me but what do I know, I only live here 🙂

A REAL YID
A REAL YID
1 year ago

If you hate Israel, you hate HaShem.

Sigh
Sigh
1 year ago

This sounds so Rambam-ish.

Isn’t there ANYONE left who wants to work both sides of the aisle?

Prominent
Prominent
1 year ago

Exacerbating machlokas and sinah just before the 3 weeks.

Once Was
Once Was
1 year ago

Rav Auerbach has moved noticeably more to the right. I strongly doubt if his great father zt”l would have signed this letter.

Last edited 1 year ago by Once Was
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

All gedolim stated/wrote that “Religious Zionism” is idolatry/heresy.

Since that is the author’s faith, his books would presumably fall under the rubric of “Min sheKasav…” that even if his writings were a Sefer Torah, it would still need to be burned.

Last edited 1 year ago by