Chabad Rabbis to Avrohom Fried: “Nothing Personal”
Rav Yeshayahu Herzl, Chief Rabbi of Natzerat Illit, said Thursday that a flyer signed by Chabad rabbis against mixed-audience music performances was not directed against an upcoming show in Afula, located at the northwest corner of the Jezreel Valley, by singer Avraham Fried.
“The headline that said that we forbid participation in Fried’s show is incorrect. There is nothing personal here, we were not talking about a specific personality.”
Rav Herzl explained that the rabbi’s flyer was directed to the G-d fearing public and not to the singers themselves. “We as rabbis think that the God fearing public does not have a heter [rabbinical permission] to participate in shows that do not have separation [between men and women]. We assume that the singers who are themselves hareidi asked their rabbis if they should perform. But we have a duty to warn our people in order to avoid mishaps.
”The only way to hold performances is to set up a separation mechitza, just like in weddings,“ the rabbi said. The main problem, he explained, is when men and women sing together. This creates a situation which is ”the opposite of modesty.”
umm
but it doesn’t say fried’s name on the flyer
Josh
Given their long history of inaction on this issue both in the US as well as internationally, Chabad rabbis cannot possibly expect to be taken seriously when it’s perfectly obvious to any sane observer that their only reason for acting was their fear of falling behind the rest of the Chareidi world.
elki
I am a confirmed fan of Avrahaam Fried and I can’t stand every new arbitrary kol korei.
In this case, indeed, it doesn’t mention Avraham’s name and there is an issue of sticking to the minhagim of a place. Simply, I may not like, but can understand, that in Eretz Yirael, mixed seating at a concert is not done.
But I am also quite sure that Avraham Fried is the epitome of courtesty and sticking to protocol whereever he performs. So I’m not sure what the agenda is in this “kol korei.”
sum guy
Why is it KOSHER to have mixed seating!? Because he’s famous – everything becomes “OK”?!
SZ
The Rebbe had the children’s rallies in 770 be seperate seating. Doesn’t it make sense that concerts should be seperate seating?