PLEASE NOTE: Without taking sides in a l’shaim shamayim dispute with Gedolei Torah on both sides, VINNEWS is posting this Gilui Daas. All readers are encouraged to have extra kavana in the Bracha of Sim Shalom in all of the daily Shmoneh Esreh Tefilos until this issue is resolved. Hopefully the combined zchus of all our Tefilos will combine to allow Shalom to prevail.
GILUI DAAS GEDOLEI TORAH & LAKEWOOD RABBANIM REGARDING THE BAIS HAVAAD
I know several members of the Beis Din of the Bais Havaad, and among them are my Talmidim, they are Bnei Torah, Talmidei Chachamim, and trustworthy individuals. Therefore, one can rely on their Psakim. Horav Sholom Reuven Feinstein
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The benefit of the Beis Din for our city is very great as is known to all those who deal with such matters. Horav Henoch Shachar
After all the selfless care [this Beis Din has done] for the downtrodden, woe is to us that we’ve seen you in this state [of attempts to discredit you]. Horav Avraham Abba Brudny
We have much Hakaras Hatov to the Beis Din Bais Havaad, and specifically to the great Gaon Rav Yaakov [Siemiatycki] Shlita, for their great devotion to the broken-hearted and suffering souls of Klal Yisrael and the diaspora. It is my prayer that very swiftly the Beis Havaad will return to it’s glory and retain it’s special place among Torah scholars, and we shall all together merit to see peace and tranquility in our holy communities to honor Hashem. Horav Yaakov Bender
The Dayanim of the Bais Havaad do not require my testimony regarding their greatness in Torah and their trustworthiness. In my opinion, few reach their level and integrity. Horav Eliyahu Levine
I am acquainted with the rabbis of the Beis Din of the Bais Havaad; they are very distinguished Rabbonim, and Heaven forbid to disqualify them. All their rulings are valid, and every Get they have written or will write is completely kosher. Horav Shmuel Fuerst
A public statement by Rabbanim was issued on the 4th of Tammuz of this year, regarding the Beis Din associated with Bais Havaad, with a demand that matters concerning a heter nisuin be brought before a panel of Rabbanim.
We have now seen a letter signed by the Rabbanim of the aforementioned Beis Din, stating that they had already agreed—and continue to agree—to present what was in their hands regarding the heter nisuin to a panel of three: namely, Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin Weiss shlit”a, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman shlit”a, and Rabbi Ari Marburger shlit”a.
[An addition after most of the signatures: The parties have agreed anew to the proposal to bring the matter before a panel consisting of Rabbi Mendel Shafran shlit”a, Rabbi Leib Landesman shlit”a, and Rabbi Tzvi Gartner shlit”a. On the 27th of Tammuz, the aforementioned Rabbanim of the original Beis Din sent a written and signed letter of appointment of this panel, agreeing to accept the process and conclusions of this panel.]
Without taking any side in any dispute, in our view there is no reason to refrain from going to the Beis Din associated with Bais Havaad for any matter, large or small. We intend to continue referring to them for matters such as gittin, financial disputes, and more. Their work is sacred.
Signed, Tammuz 5785.
Rabbanim of the city of Lakewood
Horav Shmuel Hakohen Halbershtat
The benefit of the Beis din is well known, and may Hashem help that peace be bestowed upon our community and the [BeisHavaad] will merit to continue their sacred work as they’ve always done. Horav Eliezer Shlomo Hertzka Horav Daniel Yehuda Neustadt
I agree to the above, and the importance that the Beis Din Beis Havaad should continue it’s work for the public. Horav Yisrael Reisman
Without taking sides in any machlokes, I hereby clarify that the benefit of the Beis Havaad for our city is very immense, as is well known to all those who deal with these matters, and I say this from firsthand knowledge. Horav Chaim Weg
Signed in order to purse the wrongful talk against a Beis Din Tzedek, and in order that the truth show the way. Horav Uziel Jacobowitz
I hereby expose the truth in front of the city of Lakewood and it’s scholars in favor of the Mesadrei Gittin etc. of the Beis Havaad of Lakewood, that are Talmidei Chachamim and Yirei Shomaim and have a Chazakah of conducting their Beis Din matters properly.
Signed with great happiness of doing the Mitzvah of honoring Chachomim. Horav Avraham Lefkowitz; Horav Dovid Feinroth; Horav Zecharya Weisenfeld
It’s already many years that I have seen the great need for Beis Havaad, and their selfless devotion for peace and truth with integrity Horav Moshe Rotberg
I too am joining to show the public the importance of the Beis Din that does great things for Klal Yisrael. Horav Aharon Twersky
I hereby join the abovementioned statements regarding the benefit of the Beis Din, and it is unnecessary to discuss any further. Horav Tzvi Yehuda Hisiger; Horav Yosef Chanania Jacobowitz; Horav Simcha Bunim Landinsky
The Geonim and Tzaddikim who are the members of Beis Havaad do not need me or my kind, but I am giving them my simpleton blessing that they merit to continue in their honest and integral work for the benefit of our city for many years to come. Horav Nosson Levine; Horav Yosef Greenfeld; Horav Moshe Tzvi Danziger; Horav Shaul Reuven Sinski; Horav Zalman Sorotzkin; Horav Chaim Yehoshua Shorr; Horav Nochum Malinowitz; Horav Daniel Langer; Horav Akiva Yosef Lustiger; Horav Yehuda Ariel Ovadia; Horav Yechiel Hakohen Wahl; Horav Yechiel M. Charlap; Horav Kalman Avrohom Deutch
(Loosely translated)
Other prominent Rabbanim also encouraged and supported the above matter, but did not wish to have their names publicized for personal reasons.
Horav Yaakov Dov Shachar
Rav B’M Kahal Chassidim
Horav Uren Reich
R”m Ohr Zecharya
Horav Shmuel Meir Katz
Dayan and Mo”tz of Bais Medrash Govoha
Both Botei Midrash were destroyed by intra disputes among the Jews. Glad to see that some Rabbanim are practicing what they preach and trying to make shalom.
What’s this about?
Hey, why didn’t I see my name on that list.
“Gedolim … Come Out en Masse” . A dozen or so signatures is NOT “en Masse”. Though it’s a simcha to see there are gedolim in Lakewood whom i knew as bochrim
The term “En Masse” is very misleading. If you’re not familiar with the community it seems like an impressive list but I suspect the majority in town are going to be more influenced by who did NOT sign here than by who did. (And possibly trying to figure out who some of the signees here are) And there are just as many Rabbonim and Gedolim/Poskim in Lakewood who did not sign – does that mean that Lakewood Rabbonim “en masse” are NOT supporting the Bais Havaad here?
See response from the other Rabbonim here: https://hefkervelt.blogspot.com/2025/07/psak-still-stands.html
Anyone thats not a gadol,dayan or rav has no place taking any sort of stance.
The Lshem Shomayim thing to do would be not to have this story Posted on VIN with. It’s no surprise machlokkes comments follow. One wonders whether VIN posted this story because VIN actually WANTS to stir up Machlokkes. VIN gains clicks and ratings when comments are posted. Report a controversial machlokkes generating story , so the VIN website gets more hits and comments.
To the editors:
Please do not post this comment, it is for the writers and editors of VIN, not the general public.
It is painful that an English-oriented news site makes elementary mistakes in the language. Please be aware, and incorporate such awareness in your editing tasks, that “its” is the possessive form of the word, as in ‘its integrity’, ‘its importance’, and “it’s” is a contraction of ‘it is’. There aren’t any opinions about this, just a lot of ignorance. I hope this is helpful
The difference between “its” and “it’s” can be confusing because they are said exactly the same way. However, in writing, it is important to make the distinction. A good way to know whether you should use “its” or “it’s” is do this: take out the “its” or “it’s” and replace it with “it is.” If the sentence still is grammatically correct then you can use “it’s.” If not, then “its” is probably appropriate. (unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/writing-speaking-resources/its-vs-its)
Iwithout knowing anything i would tend to follow r elya ber rav bromberg and the big rav from ey.i know of at least one person that signed on this letter actually is connected with the vaad..still not sure why they wont put in writing how they got to their psak.r akiva eiger r moishe had no trouble doing as did all heavy weight talmidei chachom do. anything, the rabbis signed to this letter are probably not the level of r elya ber and rav bromberg.just an opinion
Srorah requires unanimous consent.
Without that You are no VAAD -arbah aratzoss or otherwise. If you are Chashuv use your own names. Authority in Torah knowledge does not come from hype advertising and glitzy websites. So says the “Vaad Moetzess Avreichei hakollelim”
How does anyone earn the title “Gadol” ? Is there a Bechina you can take and get a passing grade like on a Smicha examination? or lHavdil like a doctor’s license, or a Bar examination to become a lawyer? Who will mark the Bechina?
Everything lshem shomayim in lakewood the ir hakoesh the Yerushalayim of America