To the leadership of Agudah,
I have been a frequent attendee of the Torah Bites series since its inception in the
downtown area. I had looked forward to the opportunity to include a slice of
spirituality and Torah in an otherwise ordinary workday in secular New York.
After April 15, however, I can not pretend that my relationship with your organization has
not changed. My husband and I have discontinued our longstanding membership and will
not be supporting Agudah dinners, functions, or honorees. It pains me to say that by
not participating and speaking out firmly in support of the March on Washington that day,
Agudah has squandered the respect of thousands with their display of small-mindedness and
disloyalty to Klal Yisrael during an Ais Tzorah for Yidden worldwide and for Israel in
particular. Many in our local community have been discussing their outrage and
shared disappointment in your behavior.
By thinking that Torah Bites is your means of educating us and ignoring your real
opportunity to educate, train, and lead with a show of Achdus with Am Yisroel, you have
demonstrated your grasping at the Tafel and missing the Eekar. How
ironic that Rabbi Wolpin's lecture will be on the topic of Sefirah - Days of Counting,
Days of Growth, when the Agudah forfeited their opportunity to display the exact
antithesis of the cause of our Avelus during the period of Sefirah. Here was an
opportunity to show Achdus with Am Yisroel, to inspire by being Noheg Kavod with other Jews instead of standing apart. Agudah should
have celebrated the varied makeup of the supporters of Israel, Goyim, nuns,
and Jews from across the whole spectrum who felt a pintele yid and felt that they had to
speak out for Israel on that day. Who knows how many were inspired to more
yiddishkeit and Jewish identity on that day? There was absolutely no risk to
the sacred covenant of Agudah being disturbed no matter who else joined in condemnation of
terrorists and support of American anti-terrorist policy on that day.
Why did you not lead and teach the thousands of girls and boys who look to you for
inspiration? You tied the hands of the many Mechanchim and Yeshiva leaders that day as
they looked away in embarrassment as they had to reconcile Agudah's stance with what they
knew in their heart of hearts was the right thing to do. While you worried you would
be confused with those people marching for Israel, and retreated in the shadows with
your foolish, bureaucratic and simple-minded policy, your traditional supporters,
menahalim, Rabbis, teachers, were forced to look down at their feet and offer
half-hearted mealy-mouthed explanations for your actions. Think of the great
Kiddush Hashem you could have contributed if you led by example and inspiration. You
could have brought thousands more of our daughters and sons, the boys with their Sefira
beards and Tzitzis Arois, the girls with their Tzniusdik clothes and wholesome faces.
Agudah, it is not too late. There will be more opportunities to lead, to
teach, to inspire. Do not make future generations look back at your behavior
during these trying times as we look back at the Jewish leadership in America in the
1940's. Lead us in a morally and Torah- true way. Please don't let us down.
Let us fight our many enemies, and be strong as brothers. As we approach Lag
Baomer, let the Magefa end, let us purify and cleanse ourselves for receipt of the Torah.
And let us say as one, Am Yisrael Chai.
Sincerely,
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