Rabbinate’s hypocrisy indicates ulterior motive for Limmud ban

Paul Rome, Johannesburg

Later, I read that Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis regularly attends Limmud in England. Therefore, I must conclude that the esteemed Chief Rabbi Mirvis and the British rabbinate do not have a mandate to “maintain Torah values and halacha in the community”. Obviously, that’s nonsense. Therefore, I must come to the reasonable conclusion that our rabbinate has some other reason to boycott Limmud.

I ask our rabbinate to give reasons for not supporting Limmud, and not issue a pompous statement which says nothing. Perhaps they think only rabbonim can teach Jewish matters.

The worst aspect of this matter comes last. The Beth Din is considering imposing a psak on the issue (a halachic ruling that would make this policy official Jewish law). This would be an infamous first in the Jewish world.