It was his first official trip to the US as Ashkenazi chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Dovid Lau had a full schedule in the NY metro area including a visit to YCT. Lau visited the grave of Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson and attended services at Orthodox synagogues and spoke, in English, at Yeshiva University, Lander College and at a event for the security of har hazaisim attended by leaders of the Agudah. The Rabbi participated in services at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, West Side Institutional Synagogue, Lincoln Square Synagogue, The Jewish Center, Manhattan Sephardic Congregation, and Congregation B’nai Yeshurun of Teaneck.Rabbi David Lau was also scheduled to speak at Avi weiss's Yeshiva Chovevei Torah in Riverdale on May 14, 2014. It would have given them (YCT) recognition they are so desperately looking for, yet it appears that rabbi Lau did not pay them a visit. There were no news reports or pictures of the Chief Rabbi speaking or visiting chovevei Torah. Allthough rebbeim and students of YCT did go and meet with Rabbi Lau but he did not go to YCT.
An article in the JPOST praises Rabbi Lau for reaching out to to non-Orthodox Jews in a meeting with Jewish Federation leaders on his trip to New York. However Rabbi Lau did not visit Reform or Conservative institutions and for for the same reason probably did not pay a visit to YCT either.
That is weird because I saw a picture of him at YCT....you should check your facts before posting. YCT sent it out in their newsletter....
ReplyDeleteThere was a meeting between Rabbi Lau and the rebbeim and students of YCT during his recent trip to New York. The meeting was not held at YCT. He did not enter of give a drasha there. The picture was in Israel during a trip in December.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot easier to interact with the Reformatives than with YCT. The Reformatives admit what they are. They know he won't pray in their "temples" or eat their food. The YCT'ers are different. He could pray in their shuls (assuming they don't let a Maharat lead services!) and eat their food. They claim to be Orthodox just like him so there's a totally different optic.
ReplyDelete