By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, chairman of the United Synagogue’s Rabbinical Council, make his first apperance at Limmud UK, the large annual unaffiliated winter conference of Jewish learning.
His appearance suggested a thaw in the boycott of the event by United Synagogue rabbis, 15 years after he pulled out at the instigation of the London Beth Din, which disapproved of Orthodox rabbis sharing an educational program with non-Orthodox rabbis, the Jewish Chronicle noted.
“(I) ventured into the unknown and survived,” said Schochet, a Chabad Shliach and Rabbi of the Mill Hill synagogue in Edgware.
“You have 2,000 Jews thirsting for knowledge, it is a shame that some look to deny them the opportunity,” he said.
“I met so many members from my own synagogue and from other United Synagogues, as well as members from steibls in Golders Green.
“One thing that struck me was the large number of the younger generation who attend. There is an incredible opportunity to study, to learn, to explore, to discover.”
In an article about the conference, The Forward also noted, “Though Britain’s Orthodox umbrella group, the United Synagogue, often frowns upon members taking part, Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, a frontrunner for the soon-to-be-vacant post of Chief Rabbi, attended Limmud this year and spoke.”
VIDEO: To watch his full speech – click here
Hafatza, the whole speech was Chassidus
Rabbi Yossi Lew from Atlanta attends the Limmud conference USA which takes place in Georgia every year. It would make sense for Chabad Rabbis to participate in these events to offer the authentic Jewish way.
Interesting how COL seems to be campaigning for Schochet to become Cheif Rabbi of UK. His name is quoted in titles like a known celebreity. It’s not “chabad shliach goes to Limmud,” or “Rabbi goes to Limmud,” but “Schochet goes to Limmud,” like a known celebrity. I wish him luck.
COL published a list last year of highest ranking rabbis in different fields. One category was “most up and coming” and Yitzchak Shochat was listed in the top 5.
I think if a new list was made today he would have to go move out from the category of up and coming and go into the top of ‘having arrived.’
I understand the Bes Din in London always had an issue because there are reform rabbis who attend and give sessions as well. They do not share platforms and once can choose from any class they want. On Rabbi Schochet’s blog http://www.shul.co.uk/rabbi he writes that it is silly that so many Jews attend, many of them claiming to be orthodox affiliate, and should not have any orthodox rabbi to influence them. He also writes how one conservative leader came to one of his lectures and told him at the end he expected to get angry with him but agrees with… Read more »
I just read this article on the front page of the Jewish Week. Where the author writes how Rav DovBer Pinson will be coming to Limmud.
Here is a link http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial_opinion/gary_rosenblatt/
limmuduk_success_grand_scale
Kol HaKavod to Rav Pinson and Rav Shachat for reaching out to Jews that really no one is getting to.
Rabbi Pinson is the main feature on their website
Yashar Koach