This saga, which began in january 2005 and continues to this day january 2008, saw haredi gedolim adopt the creationism of christian fundamentalists. Part two of rav aharon schechter on creation and rabbi slifkin natan slifkin. He was someone strongly opposed to secular thinking recordings of him on this topic can be downloaded here part one and part two. In rabbi slifkin s books, he described the evidence for an ancient universe and discussed the various theories that have been proposed to explain this from a. Contentsshow background born and raised in manchester england, he. It was made quite clear by many signatories that rabbi slifkin in not deemed a heretic or a deviant but only that his books contain heresy.
The challenge of creation is a completely revised and vastly expanded edition of the science of torah. Natan slifkin s books available here recently and had an interesting thought. Such an approbation is a kind of qualification for a halakhic works legitimacy. Religion and natural history clash among the ultraorthodox the. Slifkin, even though the gedolims ban and its lack of due process and mentchlekeit is what caused that fallout. During the weeks that followed, slifkin was attacked from every side in the ultraorthodox community. Slifkins books, which had cautious references to evolutionary theory, led to a denunciation of his work by ultra. Teanack, nj the controversy of rabbi slifkin zoo books banned.
Over the last thousand or more years, rabbis have had a variety of approaches for thinking about miracles in the hebrew scriptures and ab. The slifkin ban and the ban on chassidus machshavos. Jan 21, 2005 the list of rabbis who have signed on to the slifkin ban publicized most prominently in a letter that appeared in the january 7 edition of the ultraorthodox daily yated neeman is a. Rabbi natan slifkin discusses the heresy of intelligent. A young orthodox rabbi is banned for his views on evolution. Rabbis, science, evolution and the age of the universe. Dr klafter and rav shmuel kaminetsky regarding slifkin affair. Jan 31, 2010 the comparison to slifkin is really dopey, both in terms of secular law and halakkha. It appears that the primary person initiating the ban was rabbi yaakov kalmanowitz. My 300page book on the slifkin affair crosscurrents. The following just appeared in the us edition of yated neeman. Natan nosson slifkin, an orthodox rabbi known as the zoo rabbi, writes books about animals and the bible, and leads tours of zoos all around the globe, which he calls zoo torah. Nov 25, 2008 the relevance in this case was to point out rabbi troppers role in the ban of rabbi slifkin s books that ultimately it was a joint rabbinic effort by many haredi rabbis, not just rabbi tropper, to have rabbi slifkin s revisionistic in the sense that he introduced a nonartscroll gedolimapproved genre writings about judaism and science.
First, he argued that there was nothing heretical in his books. Aug 16, 2006 months after the ban, rav aharon feldman cited as problematic rabbi slifkin s approaches to the age of the universe, the order of creation, evolution and the sages knowledge of science. Dus iz nies slifkin talks about fake apology letter. Rabbi slifkin said the title of the talk was somewhat tongueincheek, given the ban on his books and labeling of his ideas as heresy in some circles. Over the last thousand or more years, rabbis have had a variety of approaches for thinking about miracles in the hebrew scriptures and about apparent conflicts between things ancient sages said versus modern observation e. His books banned by haredim, zoo rabbi to speak locally. Dozens of prominent ultraorthodox rabbis are backing an international effort to ban a fellow rabbi s books. Katz, if you are sympathetic to rabbi slifkin, then take a stand support him. What was so controversial about rabbi natan slifkins. Rabbi edelsteins standing up to rabbi kanievsky is considered quite a precedent, and it may even imply that the rosh yeshiva assumed that the letters coming out of rabbi kanievskys house are not necessarily his full initiative and under his control. Jul 02, 20 but he doesnt cite rabbi slifkin s book even once.
The relevance in this case was to point out rabbi troppers role in the ban of rabbi slifkin s books that ultimately it was a joint rabbinic effort by many haredi rabbis, not just rabbi tropper, to have rabbi slifkin s revisionistic in the sense that he introduced a nonartscroll gedolimapproved genre writings about judaism and science. In 20, rabbi meiselman released a nearly 900 page book entitled torah, chazal, and science, which he stated was in. For the record, the ban issued during that time did not put rabbi slifkin in cherem. In rabbi slifkins books, he described the evidence for an ancient universe and discussed the various theories that have been proposed to explain this. If slifkin had denied writing the book and claimed someone fabricated it and signed his name falsely, then the cases would be parallel.
Rabbi natan slifkin, with a blackandwhite ruffed le. Monsey, ny prominent rabbi continues to speak out on the. Slifkin is a much more prolific writer, and as i knew him, he was just this guy running zoo tours from a torah perspective and a sort of side speaker at my yeshiva. In praise of rav chaim opening summer zman for yerushalayims mir yeshiva via conference call, rav eliezer yehuda finkel spoke to thousands of talmidim about rav chaim kanievskys greatness and his inimitable guidance of the torah world during the current crisis. My books had been out for years without anyone raising an eyebrow, he added. In 20042005, three of rabbi slifkin s books were banned as heretical by a large group of distinguished rabbinic authorities from the charedi ultraorthodox community. Everyone who has an opinion on the matter has made up his or her mind and many of them have spoken it as well.
Aug 31, 2006 rabbi slifkin said the title of the talk was somewhat tongueincheek, given the ban on his books and labeling of his ideas as heresy in some circles. In the week of january 2, 2005, the israeli hebrew yated ne eman published a ban against rabbi slifkins books signed by some leading rabbis in israel and in america, including rav yosef. Still, i have not been able to resolve for myself intellectually why there was a need for the book ban. The challenge of creation builds upon its approach, covering more issues and in greater depth. The push to blacklist slifkin s books is the broadest and most coordinated example of what have been the increasingly frequent efforts by ultraorthodox rabbis to ban books that they find. Rabbi natan slifkin 1975present rabbi and educator known as the zoo rabbi, he is a britishborn israeli who has authored texts on zoology and science and their relationship to the torah. The ban sparked a debate, largely on the internet, which led to slifkins publisher, targum press discontinuing distribution of his books.
The rabbis claimed that his books on torah and science include heretical views, which contradict jewish tradition. Rabbi slifkin recently published an article on his site with his perspective on a story that has been circulating. Senior haredi rabbis, gedolim, banned books written by rabbi nosson also known as natan slifkin. Rabbi nosson slifkin, 29yearold biblical zoology instructor at yeshivat lev hatorah and author, recently had three books banned by group of 23 ultraorthodox rabbis because they hold that books. Part one of rav aharon schechter on rabbi slifkin and creation natan slifkin. Feb 12, 2005 2 no one in that rabbinical group speaks out publicly against the ban. But based on what this group of charedim told him, rabbi slifkin s books were banned. This was due to my maimonidean approach to resolving conflicts between torah and science that the account of creation is not to be interpreted literally, and that the. Here is an extract concerning a question he was asked in light of the ban on rabbi slifkins books. I have tried to imagine what would have been rabbi desslers position with regard to the ban against your books. Rabbi natan slifkin s new book, sacred monsters, is a very impressive work, combining exceptionally broad scholarship in such varied fields as science, classical literature, and the jewish tradition. Aug 21, 2005 the basic halachic sources indicate we have an unparalleled halachic nightmare here.
The rabbi slifkin case part 1 the hopelessness of a ban. This is one of the many surprising aspects of the attempted ban on r. The rabbi who wrestles with crocodiles haaretz israel. Apr 23, 2018 what was so controversial about rabbi natan slifkins books on zoology that provoked an ultraorthodox ban. Why is this more a judgment than banning his books. Bernard revel graduate school of jewish studies 1,338 views 49. Perhaps the single most important halachic question in the controversy over rabbi slifkin s books is what is the halachic status of rabbi slifkin and the many who agree with his books. The books are written in english, a language that rabbi elyashiv does not understand. Jul, 2005 in response to the ban against r slifkin aish hatorah removed certain articles from their website and has changed their approach accordingly. Religion and natural history clash among the ultra.
Religion and natural history clash among the ultraorthodox. Speaking to a packed crowd of more than 110 people, rabbi slifkin discussed why he supports many of the concepts of evolution, and why he thinks they are not contrary to torah judaism. Here is an extract concerning a question he was asked in light of the ban on rabbi slifkin s books. Its been three years since natan slifkin s books were banned by a distinguished group of jewish elders. Modern orthodoxy holds its evolutionary ground jewschool. Part one of rav aharon schechter on rabbi slifkin and creation. Closing the book on the ban the jewish press jewishpress. The target of the campaign is rabbi nosson slifkin, an ultraorthodox author known as the zoo rabbi, best known for his books and tours. In the week of january 2, 2005, the israeli hebrew yated neeman published a ban against rabbi slifkins books signed by some leading rabbis in israel and in america, including rav yosef. Dont try to straddle the fence and say you understand why they would ban his book.
The ban was met with resistance by slifkin who vigorously defended himself on his internet site on several grounds. Rabbi natan slifkin sometimes nosson slifkin born 1975, also popularly known as the zoo rabbi, is an ordained but nonpulpit serving orthodox rabbi best known for his interest in biology, zoology and natural history and for his books on these topics, which have become a focus of controversy within the haredi world. The ban characterizes his writings, among other things, as t. In 20042005, three of rabbi slifkins books were banned as heretical by a large. He best known for his interest in zoology, science and for his books on these topics, which are. He continues to stand by the statements in that book.
There was much subsequently written both pro and con about the books and. The rabbi also seems to like the argument from jewish history i also wrote a critique of this sort of argument. In 20042005, three of rabbi slifkins books were banned as heretical by a large group of distinguished rabbinic authorities from the charedi ultraorthodox community. Rav noach weinberg, the head of aish hatorah, is very politically connected in israel, and he knows which pronouncements of the gedolim need to be followed and which can be safely ignored especially for a kiruv organization. The problem is the letter stands by the ban of the books and of rabbi slifkin. Moment magazine quoted an anonymous rabbi who said. I spent some more time today on both rabbi slifkin s and rabbi gil students sites. Learning of, and eating, exotic torah animals the jewish. This webpage links to a collection of resources concerning this controversial ban.
Slifkin recounts in significant detail how he was given warning about the ban on his books but when he tried to meet with the ban s signatories they all refused to grant him an audience. Part two of rav aharon schechter on creation and rabbi slifkin. In the week of january 2, 2005, the israeli hebrew yated neeman published a ban against rabbi slifkin s books signed by some leading rabbis in israel and in america, including rav yosef. The bans promulgated on his books have come to represent more than just. A couple of years ago a group of charedim asked rav elyashiv to ban this book claiming that such statements amount to heresy. I happened to be reading some of the always interesting documents about the ban on r. This week marks ten years since the controversial ban on my books. Slifkin about kalmanovitzs as ban instigators frum. Dec 10, 2018 rav slifkin wrote a book the challenge of creation where he seems to provide rational for belief in deity. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. Its been three years since natan slifkin s books were banned by a. About 20 important rabbis from abroad and from israel, among them the leader of the lithuanians, rabbi yosef shalom elyashiv, whose opinion is the most highly esteemed, rabbi yehuda leib steinman and rabbi shmuel auerbach, declared that they see his books as apostasy and heresy, and banned them. As long as natan slifkin is associated with the place it will be controversial and his name alone will be plenty of reason for anyone to avoid it. It was ten years ago that i received the phone call warning me to retract three of my books or face scandal and humiliation.
Natan slifkin is the director of the biblical museum of natural history in beit. What was so controversial about rabbi natan slifkins books on zoology that provoked an ultraorthodox ban. The ban was based, he claimed, on excerpts of the book. Rabbi feldmans position has changed from his original one supporting r. The slifkin torahscience controversy hirhurim musings. Feb 14, 2012 rabbi aaron rakeffet lecture early history of bernard revel graduate school duration. Rabbi tendler did not answer my earlier request for comment on intelligent design and his participation in this conference. Rabbi gil student has postulated a theory about the current state of affairs in the slifkin controversy. Teanack, nj rabbi natan slifkin has hiked in israel, gone on safari in kenya, whalewatched in the pacific, scubadived in eilat, and wrestled. The slifkin torahscience controversy torah musings. Natan slifkin said this about the ban against several of his books. Rabbi elyashiv opposes rabbis who banned book without reading it the same thing rabbi elyashiv and his henchmen did to rabbi slifkin in a bizarre move, rabbi yosef shalom elyashiv criticizes other rabbis for banning a book on marriage without first reading it. Several months ago, the books of a wellknown author and torah teacher, rabbi nathan slifkin, were put under a religious ban by several.
I need this blog like a rabbi feldman on rabbi slifkin. The truth that rabbis down through the ages had questioned the veracity of scientific statements made in the talmud, and that it is very legitimate to believe from a halachic perspective that the world is more than 5,700 years old. He is best known for his interest in zoology, science and for his books on these topics, which are. Rabbi feldman blames the large fallout over the ban on r. Rabbi slifkin, while i wish you success in all your endeavors, i think you.
Slifkin talks about fake apology letter of jonathan rosenblum of the yated, to r dov lipman rabbi slifkin by rabbi slifkin, during the controversial controversy over my books, a certain former friend, whom we shall call mr. But, for example, does he mention the video evidence, from rabbi slifkin, of a hyrax making chewing motions when it had not received recent food. Closing the book on the ban this week marks ten years since the controversial ban on my books. Rabbi natan slifkin, evolution, intelligent design. Some of his books have been banned by haredi communities. Jul 19, 2006 modern orthodoxy holds its evolutionary ground rejecting the scope of the ban of rabbi eliyashiv and many haredi leaders against natan slifkin and his book the science of torah, slifkin launched his revised edition, the challenge of creation, which seeks to explain why an old earth and evolution is not a contradiction to orthodox judaism. I should begin by saying that i am, generally, a very big fan of rabbi slifkin. In this particular book, the author has managed to avoid the many pitfalls awaiting anyone. The nosson slifkin epilogue the gedolim of the agudath israel moetzes have now seen fit to publicly accept as legitimate, the view of an aged universe.
The books and original views were not the object of his signature appended to rabbi schechters letter. Mar 22, 2005 rabbi nosson slifkin, 29yearold biblical zoology instructor at yeshivat lev hatorah and author, recently had three books banned by group of 23 ultraorthodox rabbis because they hold that books. Zoo rabbi opens museum of biblical animals in beit shemesh. The ban was rejected by rabbi slifkin and his mentors, and prompted a widespread backlash. What is more likely is that rabbi slifkin will be given the opportunity to make some changes and clarifications and to republish and, if he agrees, will be given lots of big name haskamos, presumably from the names listed on the ban. He wrote a disgusting essay distributed several months ago in which he blamed rabbi slifkin for the damage done to the reputations of the foolish rabbis known as gedolim who banned him. Natan slifkin last updated february 14, 2020 rabbi natan slifkin, with a blackandwhite ruffed lemur natan slifkin also nosson slifkin hebrew. Slifkin believes the controversies of his past will have little impact on the museum and he does not believe the ultraorthodox community will stay away, because the ban was never on me as a. Several months ago, the books of a wellknown author and torah teacher, rabbi nathan slifkin, were put under a religious ban by several rabbinic leaders in israel and the usa. That work was widely hailed as the best book of its kind for its honesty and thoroughness of approach. Since the original publication of the ban, more rabbis have published letters against rabbi slifkin, some denouncing science in general while others addressing only the books in question.
Rabbi natan slifkin is widely renowned for his pioneering work in researching, teaching and writing about the relationship between judaism and the natural world. The challenge of creation the biblical museum of natural. The ban was rejected by rabbi slifkin and his mentors, and prompted a. A native of england, rabbi slifkin now lives in israel and is a soughtafter lecturer worldwide. The rabbi slifkin case part 1 david cardozo academy. Yashar books, a smaller jewish publisher, agreed to distribute them. The other problem is rabbi slifkin s only new piece is on elephants. Rabbi aharon feldman and rabbi shlomo miller wrote articles in defense of the ban, and rabbi moshe meiselman gave three lectures on this topic at toras moshe, although rabbi feldman grants that, even in the opinion of rabbi eliashiv, slifkin cannot be called a heretic even though parts of the books are, in their view, heretical, because he. What can i write about slifkin which hasnt already. To bolster those views, rabbi slifkin quoted sources in rishonim and gedolei haachronim who have said similar things. Rabbi nosson slifkin, 29yearold biblical zoology instructor at yeshivat lev hatorah and author, recently had three books banned by group of. Due to the immediacy of the internet, any letter or article condemning rabbi slifkin has been quickly disseminated.
Rabbi aharon feldman, a onetime defender of rabbi nosson slifkin, has sold out and now backs the ban against rabbi slifkin and his books godolhador has written extensively on this my thoughts on the duplicity of rabbi feldman, the rosh yeshiva of ner yisrael are made clear in the post above. I believe this is especially true regarding rabbi slifkins personal style of writing and. Jerusalem seven years ago, three of my books were banned by three dozen leading rabbis from the haredi rabbinic establishment in israel and the us. What was so controversial about rabbi natan slifkins books. In a bizarre move, rabbi yosef shalom elyashiv criticizes other rabbis for banning a book on marriage without first reading it. A few months ago, as described in the january 12th issue of deiah ve dibur, a group of rabbanim of stature issued a ban on various books written by rabbi nosson slifkin, because these books take positions in favour of scientific data even when such data conflicts with these rabbis understanding of pshat of torah and certain talmudic statements. After the publication of the ban, rabbi slifkins publisher and. Part one of rav aharon schechter on rabbi slifkin and. What was so controversial about rabbi natan slifkin s books on zoology that provoked an ultraorthodox ban.
X, in conjunction with a certain rabbi, was urging me to issue a public retraction apology for my books. It has come to my attention that rabbi feinstein signed a ban on the books of rabbi nosson slifkin which calls upon him to bum his writings and retract publicly the beliefs expressed in his books. Furthermore the way in which this ban was done, refusing to speak to rabbi slifkin is downright scandalous. The four letters spoke sweepingly of the books being full of utter heresy, writes slifkin on his website, in the email interview, slifkin, 3. Months after the ban, rav aharon feldman cited as problematic rabbi slifkins approaches to the age of the universe, the order of creation, evolution and the sages knowledge of science. At this time, i believe that two of the most important questions to ask are. The museum is now a part of israels cultural landscape, part zoo, part natural history museum and part educational center. After all, rabbi feinstein was a leader of the ban start from bottom of page and read upward against rabbi slifkin and rabbi tendler did not speak up in rabbi slifkins behalf. It provides fascinating insights into the literature of legendary creatures and their possible origins. Boruch hashem, the hashgocha has left us neviei emes including the. With the passage of time, the controversy has died down, for the most part. However, you dont even need to open a sefer to see that there are those who pasken rabbi slifkin is a heretic.