Posted on 02/12/2012 7:47:10 PM PST by JBGUSA
On February 8, 2012 Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, a famous and notable Toronto rabbi died. He was Senior Rabbi at Toronto's Holy Blossom Synagogue from 1961 to 1977 and remained active as a commentator on the Torah since. He in fact wrote what is now the standard Reform commentary on the Torah, that is in use in most Reform synagogues.
This is the link to his obituary.
This interview is both stirring and stunning (link to original) from another tribute:
“We are not a bomb-throwing group,” Plaut intoned in that crisp lightly tinged German-Jewish accent, “but I want everyone to know we are a militant group.” Rabbi Plaut required no megaphone; his voice seemed to carry across the park and bury itself in our souls.“We will not be silent. Four thousand years of history and millions of dead Jews shout into the silence with us,” he cried, and then with a fierce strength of purpose he began the chant: “One, Two, Three, Four, Open up the iron door; Five, Six, Seven, Eight, let my people emigrate!” And as if with one voice spurred on by this brave rabbi, the thousands joined in.
He was truly a special man.
Now, the question is, will rival groups fight it out in the streets to assume his mantle of leadership? Will the Toronto Jews go on a frenzied rampage and fire guns in the air to avenge his death? bud, your views?
Perhaps Plaut's own words, in the excerpt above, answers that question.
I knew his name rang a bell. He edited ‘The Torah,a Modern Commentary’,which I have.
Yes. At the synagogues I belong to we call it “Plaut’s Commentaries”.
You belong to more than one synagogue? There’s only one in my area.
“Will the Toronto Jews go on a frenzied rampage and fire guns in the air to avenge his death?”
Only if kiddush is done first and then and only then are lox and bagels are served! You can’t go on a frenzied rampage and fire guns on an empty stomach after the service is over!
Oy!
“Hear O Israel: the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.”
RIP Rabbi.
Enough said. Other than the Rabbi being a fellow Jew (OBM), I will never enter a Reform shul or read the commentary of a Reform Rabbi.......B'H
Basically, I have always belonged to one in my home town. I have kept my membership going.
Temporarily I belong to one one of my sons was Bar Mitzvahed, and my of my sons’ friends go to Hebrew School. Overall I have little interest in the latter synagogue.
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