[Avodah] The Two Tablets

[T613K at aol.com]

From: Yitzchok Levine _Larry.Levine at stevens.edu_ 
(mailto:Larry.Levine at stevens.edu) 

In  his article 
<http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%206%20Fried.pdf>Is 
there a  Disconnect between Torah Learning and 
Torah Living?  
<http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%206%20Fried.pdf>(THE 
COMPLETE  ARTICLE)   Rabbi Dr. Aharon Hersh 
Fried  makes the case that  today there is far 
more emphasis on Bein Adom L'Makom than on Bein 
Adom  L'Chaveiro.  
 


>>>>>
Although Christians have been saying that about Jews for 2000 years, and  
Reform and Conservative have been saying it about Orthodox Jews for over a  
century, it is not true.  
 
Compared to non-Jews, Jews are exemplary in their devotion to their  
fellow-man and especially to their fellow Jews.  And compared to R and C,  
Orthodox Jews have every reason to feel justifiably proud of our  incredible  
chessed and tzedaka institutions, right across the  spectrum.  
 
It is only when compared to our own ideals of perfection that we  fall 
short.  
 
Non-O have absolutely nothing comparable to musar, or chassidus, or  
gemachim, or bikur cholim, or loshon hara shiurim, or "hamalbin pnei chaveiro,"  
or "hevei dan lekaf zechus" or special consideration to widows, orphans and  
converts, or chevra kadisha or Zaka or Hatzalah or Shifra-Puah groups that 
help  new mothers, or neighborhood committees that cook for families that are 
sitting  shiva or have a member in the hospital, or hachnasas orchim, or 
kiruv, and I  could go on and on and on.  As a percentage of their income, 
Orthodox Jews  give many times more tzedaka than do non-O Jews.  It is well 
known that if  a Jew is stuck in any town in the world where there are any 
Orthodox Jews, he  will not lack for a Shabbos meal.
 
 
Rabbi Dr. Aharon Hersh Fried's own concern for mitzvos bein adam lechavero  
is admirable, but his accusations are false and his slur against  Orthodox 
Jews is a transgression against his own ideals.
 
I have myself been the victim of rudeness on the part of frum Jews in  
Brooklyn and Yerushalayim so I know that we have people in our midst who  could 
stand to  have their rough edges polished.  Nevertheless we have  so much to 
be proud of.  We need to stress what is positive about  our community, when 
there is so much more light than darkness. 

--Toby  Katz
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