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Q&A: Regarding Unusual Rabbis

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Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Regarding Unusual Rabbis

Question

I recently became aware of a person known as “the Yenuka,” and I looked into him a bit. I discovered that while he does have knowledge, it is not at a level that justifies the honor people give him. For example, from my acquaintance with Rabbi Bunim Schreiber, he knows many times more than that, and no one thought to call him “the Yenuka” or “holy.” Beyond that, there is a whiff of something improper about him, somewhat reminiscent of Shabbetai Tzvi, Berland, and the like. (Why does a person have to give a talk with candles, and how is it that we have not seen any of the great rabbis conduct themselves in a setting where before the talk people sing in his honor for half an hour, and so on and so forth.) My question is in the nature of seeking advice, since I have seen that even among the Torah-observant public people attribute importance to him: is it appropriate for me to express my negative opinion about him, and would there be benefit or harm in that? Also, I would be glad to hear the Rabbi’s opinion about the above.
Thank you in advance

Answer

I’m not familiar with him.
If you are convinced that he is problematic, and you think people will listen to what you say, you can say it.

Discussion on Answer

Avi (2024-04-18)

I’m not among this person’s followers, but if you were talking about a rabbi I study with and said that “there’s a whiff of something improper about him,” I would regard you as someone spreading slander, nothing more. If you have a concrete claim — for example, you saw him teaching or doing things against Jewish law — then present it. Your personal impression is relevant to you, and maybe to your friends, not to the rabbi’s students.

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