Q&A: What Is the Rabbi’s Opinion of 'Da'at Emet'?
What Is the Rabbi’s Opinion of 'Da'at Emet'?
Question
Hello, there is a website / Twitter user called 'Da'at Emet' that posts, among other things, clips of rabbis saying strange things. Usually this is not about homiletics or thought, but rather daily Talmud lessons taught in survey fashion.
Today, for example, they showed Rabbi Lau teaching about intercourse with a girl under the age of 3.
In the rabbi’s opinion, is it preferable to avoid teaching these Talmud pages? To teach them, but not film them for public broadcast?
Is there any significance at all to studying these strange passages?
Answer
That fellow (Yaron Yadan) is a kollel head who went off the religious path, and ever since, in his deep frustration, has been trying to bury Torah and Judaism six feet under. Here and there he has a few good arguments, and many that are less good. This is one of the less good ones. I have long thought that his Haredi education (after he became religious) is what is working against him, because he attacks a very problematic form of Judaism (the one in which he was educated). For example, he finds scientific errors in the Talmud and makes that into a difficulty. He sees this as a refutation because of his Haredi education, according to which the amoraim were exalted heavenly beings who could not make mistakes. What a pity for what has been lost. This is one of the rotten fruits of Haredi education, which is very childish and very problematic.
As for intercourse with a girl under the age of 3, this is a passage that definitely requires discussion, and I do not see anything strange about it. One has to examine whether such intercourse is considered intercourse and what its meaning is. What is wrong with discussing that? Did they recommend there actually having intercourse with a girl under 3? One may study everything, film it, and distribute it, and the overwhelming majority of the passages that seem absurd to you are not absurd. Sometimes they deal with cases that will never actually occur, but that too is in order to clarify the principles of Jewish law (see my article on ukimtot here on the site). One may study, film, and distribute, and it is highly recommended to ignore chatterers of Yaron Yadan’s sort, and certainly not let them influence your choices about what to study and what to film. He only arouses my pity as a frustrated person.
Discussion on Answer
Yaron Yadan was of course raised secular. The Haredi education he received was after he became religious. And that is the education all Haredim receive. It is indeed defamation, but what can I do if their name really is bad?!
I understood that the reference was to the education he received after becoming Haredi.
As a Jew living within the community called “Haredi,” and who has many problems with that community, I thought this site would help me. But when I see that “Michi” says “their name really is bad,” I understand there is nothing for me to look for here.
Bye-bye, go in blessing.
I agree that the Haredi education Yaron Yadan received was, in the rabbi’s words, “very childish and very problematic.” But to go so far as to say that this characterizes all Haredi education is close to defamation.