Q&A: The Victims of Culture
The Victims of Culture
Question
Has the Rabbi read Reuven Fireman’s new book, The Victims of Culture? If so, I’d be glad to hear a short reaction on the topic—what does the Rabbi say? And does he recommend it?
Also, some time ago his book Clear Faith was published—has the Rabbi read that one?
http://www.sefer.org.il/Product/36162947/%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA—%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91-%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%95%D7%91%D7%9F-%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%9F-
https://www.dshir.co.il/product/543
Answer
I haven’t read it.
Discussion on Answer
Yigal Livernat has a harsh critique of it on Facebook. Lots of omissions and inaccuracies that seem to have been made maliciously.
Yigal Livernat didn’t address any of the book’s arguments.
He just took one specific passage in order to amplify what he wanted to convey and didn’t want to deal with the substance of the matter—he touched on one small, marginal issue about Michelangelo.
If he had comments on the book, he could have contacted the rabbi by email—and if something in the book needs correcting, he’ll correct it in the next edition—because these things are minor compared to what the book as a whole says, especially since he only addressed one part of one chapter in the book.
That’s called pure demagoguery.
Rabbi Fireman directly criticizes the very root of Yigal’s work and livelihood, from which he makes money—criticizing empty, meaningless art.
So instead of seriously addressing the rabbi’s points, to which he has no answer, he just took specific passages and said: look, according to such-and-such book in such-and-such language, this isn’t called A but B—and he didn’t engage deeply with the brokenness, emptiness, and lack of morality in general art.
How do you know it was done maliciously?
Maybe ask the rabbi by email?
I asked him—and of course he rejected that immediately.
Just as a reminder: the rabbi taught at Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa—not in trashy places.
Has anyone here read it?