SERMON: What Were They Thinking?

The recent behavior of two rabbis caused me to email one of our synagogue’s “wise men,” Searle Mitnick, and ask him if it is possible that I am the only moral Orthodox rabbi in the world? It took Searle a while to respond, but his response was: “You may be the only one left standing.” Yes, I’m still standing! I want to talk to you today about these two rabbis, and some others, rabbis and not rabbis, and ask you the deeply profound, philosophically engaging question: What were they thinking?

Michael Broyde is one of the most important Modern Orthodox rabbis in America. He is so important that he was on the short list of those who were recently considered for the position of Chief Rabbi of England. Broyde is a rabbi in Atlanta and a recognized halachic scholar, to the point that he serves as a judge on the Beth Din of the Rabbinical Council of America – the most important Orthodox rabbinic group. As if this is not enough, he is also a full professor of law at Emory University. Recently it came to light that Rabbi Broyde, using a fake name, had joined another Modern Orthodox rabbinic organization … giving him access to all of its rabbi’s confidential comments. He would write in his own opinions on these matters under the false name. As if that isn’t enough, it also came to light that Rabbi Broyde would write letters to journals where he had contributed scholarly articles and using his false name would compliment Rabbi Broyde for his intellectual wisdom! You tell me: what was he thinking? READ MORE