A Gilui Daas From the Gedolei Torah Who Disagree with the Beis HaVaad

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.

Rabbinical Letter Regarding Bais Havaad of Lakewood

Date: August 1, 2025 (ערב שבת חזון – ז’ מנחם-אב)

To the Esteemed Rabbanim of Lakewood and surrounding areas, shlit”a,

We have reviewed the letters petitioned by the “Bais Havaad of Lakewood” in response to the psak halacha we issued (dated 4 Tammuz/June 30, 2025) regarding the kashrus status of their Beis Din. The contents of those letters, as well as their public distribution, do serve to further demonstrate the degree of confusion surrounding this matter, and highlight the pressing need for a complete and transparent hearing to clarify the truth.

While we were pleased that the parties involved have committed in writing to appear before the mutually agreed-upon Beis Din, the Bais Havaad dayanim, however, have still not fully agreed to submit all of the pertinent investigations, processes, evidence and findings in their possession and also continue not to present important and pertinent aspects asked of them within in the arbitration agreement.

It is for this reason, that in our psak, we carefully chose the wording “the bais din of the Bais Havaad of Lakewood is not presumed to be an acceptable bais din until they comply with the aforementioned demand without delays or pretexts and in a manner that is satisfactory”—as the possibility of evasive tactics such as these have been anticipated.

In conclusion, despite any and all progress, the status of kashrus of the Beis Din of the Bais Havaad of Lakewood, as of now, remains as we stated in our original psak – both with regards to their issuing summonses (hazmana), maasei beis din, psakim, or any other matter – until we declare otherwise.

It should be self-understood, that our psak – from the onset – refers solely to the credibility and halachic status of the specific dayanim in question, and of all actions and rulings conducted under the name “Bais Havaad of Lakewood” – as long as those individuals continue to serve as dayanim – and not to the personal halachic status of any other dayan serving there.

(free translation)

Signatories:

Rabbi Shloime Miller

Rosh Kollel & Av Bais Din of Toronto;

Rosh Bais Din of Bais Horaah of Lakewood

Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel

Rosh Yeshiva of South Fallsburg

Rabbi Avrohom Bromberg

Rosh Yeshiva Shaar HaTalmud

Rabbi Sariel Rosenberg

Av Bais Din of Bnei Brak (founded by Rav Nissim Karelitz)

Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman

Av Bais Din of London

Rabbi Yitzchok Stein

Av Bais Din Faltichan Brooklyn

Rabbi Yisroel Shlomowitz

Rav of Yeshiva and Kehila South Fallsburg

Additional Statements:

Rabbi Asher Hachuel

Sephardic Bet Din of America

I have seen the letters that the defendants issued, as if to justify themselves, but the truth is that the words of the great roshei yeshivos and poskim are completely true, and their signatures are true. And I am certain that anyone who questions this is acting under financial duress, and this is the fruit of their endeavors. And that which I – the youngest of all the townspeople – signed, is true.

And I have come to affix my signature in my own handwriting, in the Sephardic script.

Rabbi Nochum Eisenstein, Rav of Maalot Dafna

I once again join the call of the rabbanim and roshei yeshivos that the beis din “Beis Havaad” must reveal their reasons and justifications as soon as possible.