Monday, July 1, 2013

A Sad Day - Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm retires after a distinguished career at Y.U. - and apologizes for his handling of sex abuse allegations

YU In accord with an agreement reached 3 years ago, Rabbi Lamm's contract expired on June 30th and he announced his retirement  as Chancellor and Rosh Yeshiva of Y.U. He has had an association with Y.U. for over 60 years as a student, faculty member, rosh yeshiva, president and chancellor. In the 6 page retirement letter he devoted four paragraphs to an apology for  his inadequate handling of sex abuse charges in the 1980's.

In the Aleinu, mishtachavim is followed by modim, modim as in thanks. But there is another meaning as well, one that holds the key to real leadership and one upon which I reflect at this important transition in my personal and professional life. Jacob’s blessing to his son Judah, Yehudah, attah yodukha achekha (Gen. 49:8) literally means “Judah, your brothers will recognize you (as their leader).” However, the word yodukha, they will recognize you, is etymologically related to the word vidui, confession and therefore teaches us that only those who can, like Judah, confess, are those who can be acknowledged as real leaders.

And it is to this I turn as I contemplate my response to allegations of abuse in the Yeshiva community. At the time that inappropriate actions by individuals at Yeshiva were brought to my attention, I acted in a way that I thought was correct, but which now seems ill conceived. I understand better today than I did then that sometimes, when you think you are doing good, your actions do not measure up. You think you are helping, but you are not. You submit to momentary compassion in according individuals the benefit of the doubt by not fully recognizing what is before you, and in the process you lose the Promised Land. I recognize now that when we make decisions we risk, however inadvertently, the tragedy of receiving that calamitous report: tarof toraf Yosef, “Joseph is devoured,” all our work is in vain, all we have put into our children has the risk of being undone because of a few well intentioned, but incorrect moves. And when that happens—one must do teshuvah. So, I too must do teshuvah.

True character requires of me the courage to admit that, despite my best intentions then, I now recognize that I was wrong. I am not perfect; none of us is perfect. Each of us has failed, in one way or another, in greater or lesser measure, to live by the highest standards and ideals of our tradition — ethically, morally, halakhically. We must never be so committed to justifying our past that we thereby threaten to destroy our future. It is not an easy task. On the contrary, it is one of the greatest trials of all, for it means sacrificing our very egos, our reputations, even our identities. But we can and must do it. I must do it, and having done so, contribute to the creation of a future that is safer for innocents, and more ethically and halakhically correct.

Biblical Judah was big enough to admit that he was small. He confesses a mistake. He can experience guilt and confront it creatively. After the incident with Tamar, he does not offer any tortured rationalizations to vindicate himself. He says simply and forthrightly: tzadkah mimmeni (Gen. 38:26), she was right and I was wrong. And with that statement Judah is transformed into a self-critical man of moral courage. He concedes guilt. He knows that he is guilty with regard to Joseph, and together with his brothers he says aval ashemim anachnu, “indeed, we are guilty.” Pushed to the limits of the endurance of his conscience, he rises to a new stature and achieves a moral greatness that is irrefrangible and pellucid.

This is what I am modeh as I reflect on my tenure. Tzadkah mimmeni. I hope that those who came forth and others who put their trust in me will feel that faith vindicated and justified.  Modeh ani.
One might think it appropriate to mark the formal end of a career in avodat ha-kodesh with the recitation of Havdalah, the blessing which marks the end of the sacred period of holy days. Yet my whole career in avodat ha-kodeh has been one of havdalah.

25 comments :

  1. Wow. I'm impressed. And I'm disturbed that I'm impressed. I would have preferred yawning because I had seen it so often and it is the expected response when our rabbanim (all human) make mistakes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't understand why it's a sad day?

    Even if it was major abusers, and he had kept them in the faculty and defended them for many years r"l (as was the case in a Brooklyn yeshiva during the 80's) THIS statement is great.

    The identity crisis this statement is giving us in caveman-town Lakewood is scary. Not one of our Rabbonim have retracted or tried to stop a cruelty that is happening right now!!! Rabbi Lamm, that we grew up mocking, (who doesn't remember the scorn in R' Gifter's Cavemen speech?) is the one acting like Yehudah Ben Yaacov? He is confessing to something done 30 years ago, and in a different era!

    On the other hand, could it be that this is an indication of where Lakewood will be in twenty years. Today this behavior is looked at as cruel, but back then it was not as widely recognized as such. "Gedolim" that get their information and opinions (referred to as"daas Torah") from the Yated and Matzav are simply not informed yet. Halivai!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sad? The guy who calls Bnei Torah "cavemen" is finally retiring?

    It should have occurred long ago. Too little, too late.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is sheer motzi shem ra. He did not call benei Torah cavemen. He used the story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai as a mashal for YU's (or, I should say, for his) outlook. You don't have to agree with what he said, but to say he called benei Torah cavemen is an outright issur de'oraysa.

      Delete
    2. He compared Bnei Torah to cavemen.

      Delete
    3. Sorry Ben Torah, you have done what many before you do with ease. Listened, believed and followed the crowd. I thought the same once until I read his speech. Read it and then decide.

      Kol Hakavod for a Rav with honesty and integrity.

      Delete
    4. I read his infamous speech word for word.

      He compared Bnei Torah to cavemen.

      Delete
    5. Ben Torah - did he use the pejorative word "caveman," which is how you quote him? No. It's called drawing an analogy.

      Delete
    6. BenT - the link on this page shows the google books of the article. Although it is not complete, it talks about the cave experience of Bar Yochai. he is not attacking R Shimon Bar Yochai, or calling him anything derogatory. RAshbi lived in a cave whilst in hiding from the romans. This is a fact.
      He is not talking about cavemen in the sense that you are. Besides, the cave analogy is also used by greek philosophy.
      You are just misconstruing the legitimate terms employed by Dr Lamm, and then setting out to attack him, based on your willful misunderstanding.

      Delete
    7. Can anyone give an answer to this: as far as hareidi world view is concerned, is the study of secular subjects considered to be heretical or idolatrous? In particular, I am reminded of the attacks on YU, and the calls of "kefira" agasint RYBS.

      Delete
    8. secular subjects per se are not heretical or idolatrous. However certain secular subjects are contain heretical aspectics - in particular philosophy. But then again Biblical criticism is a religious study which is heretical.

      Delete
    9. My view was that , most MO would prob study a profession, like medicine, accountancy , Law - a separate problem-, and even philosophy , which is not heresy but just teaches different ways of thinking. So the problem is that it creates knowledge and intellectual independence, which is a challenge to the rabbinical establishment. An example, a PHD economist might differ with a Rav who gives advice on careers or economic matters. That kind of challenge is more of a threat than "bible criticism", which is already outdated, and people are just clinging on to stupid ideas of 150 years ago, despite evidence that disprovs it.

      Delete
    10. Since we are discussing Daas Torah in general and in particular, I wish to ask a question about the DT concept - one which I have not had satisfactory answers to previously.
      If the Torah has the statement of how bribes can distort the words of the wise/ and tzaddikim;
      how a Sanhedrin can err, and is liable to bring korbanot if a matter is hidden from it.
      The statements in the Gemara, that any generation that the Beis HaMikdash is not rebuilt, is because of its leaders,
      etc

      what then, gives the Aguda-Degel framework an extra DT, which is not questionable, and is not subject to any external influence .

      For example, one Gadol said it is yehareg v'lo yaavor to serve in the Israeli Army. That particular Gadol had a son who went slightly OTD, and fought in the army, and left the haredi world, but remained MO himself.
      How, therefore, can the gadol's statements be seen as objective, when he has a personal involvement , which would disqualify him from judging on this matter.?

      Delete
  4. Baruch Dov do you know where we can get a transcript or copy?

    The first time I heard R'Gifter's speech it was awesome. The next time I listened to it, (at least fifteen years ago), it sounded childish. Now your saying it was also untrue?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://books.google.com/books?id=6rpTEwposOIC&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163&dq=norman+lamm+cave+enclave%27&source=bl&ots=L5rSBvR9Nx&sig=lap3-VjMzqqozhOvWU-Vtg4KmlU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_WzTUY31PJKn4APB_IDIBw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=norman%20lamm%20cave%20enclave%27&f=false

      Delete
    2. Thanks, now where can we get a copy of R' Grifter's speech

      Delete
    3. why was R' Gifter insulted by being compared to Rashbi?

      Delete
  5. it was rav svei, not r gifter, who said the cave comment.

    r gifter, of course, attended riets, before going to telz in telz. r gifter always spoke affectionately regarding his time at riets / yu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for correcting my error MMhayM, I apologise for writing the wrong name. Of course it was R' Svei who made the famous attack on R' Lamm.

      Delete
    2. Are you guys off your rockers? Sure it was Rav Svei who went after Dr. Lamm, but Rav Gifter was equally anti-YU. Have you all forgotten the "Gifter Slaughters Lamm for Passover" incident? That was of course when Rav Gifter crucified YU for their homosexual policies.

      Btw, Rav Gifter was far from the only YU almunus who believed YU descended into the abyss. Rav Avigdor Miller is another YU almuni who exoricated YU.

      Delete
    3. Here is a quote from Rabbi Miller:
      "Hitler was not only sent by Heaven, but was sent as a kindness from Heaven . . . Because assimilation and intermarriage are worse than death . . . and the German Jews and others ignored the Torah-teachers and refused to desist from their mad race into assimilation, the Nazis were sent to prevent them and rescue them before they were swallowed up by the nations."
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avigdor_Miller

      For obscurantists such as Miller, teh Nazis punished the secular assimilationists, whereas in reality the majority of Germans, including reform, escaped, whilst Haredim in Europe were mercilessly slaughtered.

      He was also a mouthpiece for Satmar, who also have a dismal record, whether the abandonment of their follwoers in Europe, or their dissension and gang violence in America.

      Delete
    4. I just looked in Rabbi Miller's book that Wiki article allegedly cited. And that quote, the first line etc., is simply not in the book. It was fabricated by an anonymous Wiki internet poster.

      Delete
    5. this is actually an article written by Norman Lamm himself

      http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0o0UC3MiG0gC&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=Avigdor+Miller+holocaust&source=bl&ots=pZN1TC9_wP&sig=al-0XFunIzti1SvPTVL15GHBwAg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4urWUdPTFsSs0QWJwICwDQ&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Avigdor%20Miller%20holocaust&f=false

      A slightly different quote is given, and I don't have access to any of R MIller's tapes .

      Note, that R' Hartom, who was son in law of R Cassuto, wrote that it was the neglect of Eretz Yisrael and also assimilation that was the cause.DR Lamm also attacks R Hartom for this (as did R Sacks in an article based on R' Lamm's).

      Delete
    6. here is another "alelged" quote of RAM -
      http://dovbear.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/rabbi-avigdor-miller-on-germany.html
      He says to make a war on Amalek (Germany) is to make a war on Hashem.
      Now, I have to give the benefit of the doubt , that he did not actually say this, because it is such an idiotic statement.
      The Torah tells us to fight Amalek as one of the 613 Mitzvot. some idiot says to keep this mitzvoh is to fight Hashem, because it is Hashem's will to have Amalek destroy us.!

      Delete
    7. I just took a look at what that rasha Dov Bear quotes from Rabbi Miller. It is nothing like the lie you Eddie paraphrase it with. Get a grip.

      Delete

ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE POSTED!
please use either your real name or a pseudonym.