Voices
Rabbinate’s hypocrisy indicates ulterior motive for Limmud ban
I have just finished reading the SA Jewish Report front-page article (21 June 2019) about Limmud with much dismay. To quote, “the Beth Din’s mandate is to uphold halacha and Torah values within the community”.
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.