By Elisheva Miriam Stone, , Brooklyn, NY
I would like to respond to the letter from Dr. Noah Friedland (Letters, Oct. 5). As a former Seattle/Seward Park resident (soon to be again, God willing) I enjoyed the unity aspect in Seattle/Seward Park/Western Washington. My rabbi is the Ashkenazic rabbi of the only Ashkenazic shul in Seward Park, a well-respected Talmud Scholar by anyone’s standards, and a senior member of the Seattle Vaad HaRabbanim. I was referred to him for my conversion process many years ago by the Seattle Kollel, and he and the Seattle Vaad HaRabbanim did a fabulous job. During my process, the “centrist” rabbi in question referred me to the Seattle Kollel for classes. Not only that, but the Kollel rabbis regularly teach in the “centrist” Orthodox shul on Shabbos. These Kollel rabbis worked hand in hand with the leaders of our community to bring unaffiliated Jews closer to Torah. Our rabbanim (Torah leaders in our Seattle Vaad) have no problem working with these Kollel Rabbis. Why does Dr. Friedland?
None of the Kollel Rabbis have ever thrown rocks or a diaper at anyone that I know of in the Seattle community, and thus far most of them are homeowners, so I can only assume they are working for a living.
Dr. Friedland was obviously traumatized by his stay in Israel. Perhaps he can write himself a script for Xanax. Meanwhile, our centrist Orthodox institutions and the Kollel will work together to bring Jews closer to the Torah we all love.