[Avodah] Fwd: Are We Trying to Grow?

[Prof. Levine]

At 11:27 PM 4/15/2021, Joseph Kaplan wrote:
>This is why, thank God, we have so many shuls ? aand I say this in a 
>positive tone. I could not possibly belong to or daven regularly in 
>a shul with rabbis of the type RYL describes and my strong guess is 
>that he would probably feel the same about the rabbis of the shul I 
>belong to who are so very different in tone and attitude 
>and  philosophy. But by having all these shuls with such very 
>different types of rabbis, we all have the opportunity to each find 
>a shul/minyan in which we feel comfortable to daven and with a 
>leader we can respect. And, my strong guess also is, we'll never 
>convince each other who's right. I know I wouldn't even begin to try. :-)

Regarding finding "a shul minyan in which we feel comfortable to 
daven with a leader we can respect,"  let me recall something that I 
believe Rav Yisroel Salanter said.  "Any Rabbi that the Baalei batim 
do not want to get rid of is not a rov,  and any rabbi that the shul 
does get rid of is not a mensch."

This is what he meant by this.  It is the rabbi's job to make the 
Baalei Batim feel uncomfortable so that they will realize that they 
need to improve. Someone who is complacent will not feel the need to 
change anything. On the other hand,  the rabbi has to know how far to 
go with this.  He should not press to the point where the Baalei 
batim fire him.

In light of this,  it seems to me that davening in a minyan where one 
feels completely comfortable is not desirable and will not lead to 
improvement in Torah learning and doing mitzvos.

Regarding the rabbi who at times spoke harshly, and this led to 
congregants leaving the shul, let me point out some of what they 
missed by leaving.  This rov gave many gemara shiurim in a most 
unique way.  At most gemara shiurim the person giving the shiur 
speaks, and those present more often than not listen passively.  This 
rov would learn a piece of gemara for say 5 minutes and then 
stop.  Those present were then supposed to say over that piece of 
gemara to the person sitting next to them.  This method led to many 
who attended his gemara shiurim being able to make a leining on a 
piece of gemara. This is something that many never attain.

This rabbi gave many shiurim on Chovos Ha Lavovos on Shabbos 
afternoons, and a free wheeling hashkofa shiur on Thursday nights. 
These influenced positively the outlook of many who attended. 
Attendance at all of his shiurim and the Thursday night talks was not 
limited to his congregants.  Those present spanned the spectrum from 
Chassidim to even some knitted yarmulkas.

YL