Rabbi Gil Student Censors Anything That "Undermines" Orthodox Judaism

Rabbi Gil Student writes on his blog Hirhurim:

In order to achieve more transparency in moderation of comments on this blog, let me be clear about a policy that I have not been implementing with sufficient consistency but will going forward. Comments that attempt to undermine Judaism will be deleted. It is not out of fear but out of annoyance. Find yourself another soapbox. Skeptics are welcome on this blog to read and to contribute comments, but not to preach their skepticism.

I have no doubt that skeptic blogs will take this as an admission that traditional Judaism cannot withstand criticism. Let them. It is nothing but a willful delusion.…

Of course, it is not a "willful delusion." Rabbi Student has been deleting challenging comments unannounced for years, skewing the 'debate' he hosts to make his positions appear stronger.

When do I delete comments or ban commenters?

1. If a commenter uses more than one name/alias, especially to make it appear as if his argument has more support than it truly does.
2. If a commenter uses abusive language directed at other commenters or others.
3. Foul language.
4. Spam, spam-like behavior.
5. Missionary activity.
6. Lying to make an argument appear stronger, as in quoting a source but distorting its meaning or lying about the actual quote. (I.e., "Ploni, quoted in Smith, http://www.example.com/smith/ploni/shmaryswrong.html/, says the earth is most definitely flat and Einstein agrees with him as quoted there." The source actually says, "Ploni, quoted in Smith, http://www.example.com/smith/ploni/shmaryswrong.html/, says the earth is not flat and there is no scientific doubt about this."
7. Leaving comments without using either your real name --or-- one alias. In other words, no unattributed comments are allowed.
8. Posting other people's personal information, including addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Shmarya & Gil have at least one thing in common. They don't like anyone challenging their opinions so they always get the last word in and from what I can tell, never, ever admit they are wrong.

[Max Kohanzad]

If he is a Rabbi so am I!!!

[steve]

It's his blog so who can run it any way he sees fit. You are not obligated to read it or comment on it.

[Lev]

I hope you won't delete my comments about the fraud, lies and-yes-danger of the lubavitch cult not only for Orthodoxy, calling itself "Klal Yisroel" but for all Jews.
(Lazar Land)

[Shmarya]

If he is a Rabbi so am I!!!

He has smicha from YU. Where is yours from?

[Rebitzman]

A) I have had the absolute pleasure of butting heads with this man for years. I am fiercely Conservative, and he is.......not. In all that time he has never treated me or my opinions with anything short of respect. I can say without fear on contradiction that thing have had to have gone WAY over the top for him to even threaten to enforce the rules. Ergo.....

B) It's his blog - he's entitled to set whatever rules he sees fit. This ain't the government - we are not entitled to unfettered "Free Speech". And finally ...

C) I love your blog - but do wonder why you felt this issue was in any way shape or form worth mentioning.

[Shmarya]

Because of this:

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2005/05/gil_student_and.html

and this:

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2005/09/rabbi_gil_stude.html

I could cite others, as well.

[Rebitzman]

Your URL's aren't entirely complete - you left an "l" off the end.

So.....if I read you correctly....you think Gil is blog-worthy and a legit target because he takes the Laws of Lashon HaRah seriously?

Please show me the post where he ALLOWS disparaging (even perceived ones) comments about a rabbi (or rabbis) that are in line with his views to stand, and I'll jump on board. Until then.....he allowed to censor as he sees fit.

As are you.

Please keep up the good work - I appreciate, read and cite you quite often to my own students.

[Shmarya]

I quoted a section of the Talmud Yerushalmi that conflicts with Gil's view. He deleted that comment. I asked him why. He answered, "Because it disparages Beit Shammai."

How can a quote from the Jerusalem Talmud disparage beit shammai? Easy. Because beit shammai behaved very badly (they killed members of beit hillel according to the Talmud Yerushalmi). This bad behavior was meant to do one thing – pass legislation that separated Jews from non-Jews.

The Jerusalem Talmud (Shabbat 1:4) calls that the "darkest day" in the history of Jews since the making of the Golden Calf.

When a blogger – a rabbi, no less! – cannot tolerate opinions that prove him wrong, especially when those opinions come from classic Jewish sources, he should not be taken seriously.

The difficulty with Gil Student is that he deletes comments and bans commenters often without notice, so readers have no idea the thread has been altered.

This is deceitful.

When coupled with the idea that any challenge to Orthodoxy will be deleted, what we are left with is a very problematic endeavor – a website that *appears* to allow free discussion of ideas but, in fact, does not.

[Rebitzman]

With all due respect - you didn't exactly address what I asked you to. Can you give me an example where Gil allowed a disparaging post stand because the POV of the "disparager" was in line with his own?

FWIW - I would have allowed the message you posted to stand, but see it entirely possible (probable, in fact) that he reacted to you and your approach.

Please keep in mind - I am NOT Orthodox and do have as much of an issue with the idea that the Haredim represent "real" Judaism as you apparently do. I do, however, firmly believe that Gil Student is not the enemy.

By the way - "Idolotry In The Name Of Outreach?"? 2 points to make. First: It's spelled IdolAtry, and (much more importantly) it was a fabulous piece of writing.

[Shmarya]

Gil has let a few "disparaging" posts that support him stand. But that is not the point. The point is that he censors not just posts that are "disparaging" – he censors non-disparaging posts that are threatening to his worldview.

By the way - "Idolotry In The Name Of Outreach?"? 2 points to make. First: It's spelled IdolAtry, and (much more importantly) it was a fabulous piece of writing.

Thanks. I'll fix it now.

[Alex]

Great idea for a fiction story - have the king of the sanhedren called King Student, and he can execute everyone who disagrees with him! lol

[me]

"they killed members of beit hillel according to the Talmud Yerushalmi"

NO WAY!

i have NEVER in my life heard that

[Shmarya]

Sorry, but it's true. Orthodoxy tries to explain this away as a drush, saying that they really did not kill anyone, beit shammai just intimidated beit hillel, threatened them, etc.

[Max Kohanzad]

I have smicha from Rabbi Shumely Boteach!

[Max Kohanzad]

'informal' smicha from Rabbi Hillel Bessofski

[Max Kohanzad]

Reb Moshe Webber called me a Mashpia

The Rebbe made me a shliach (in a dream i had)

[Shmarya]

I'm not sure Shmuely is or was ever really fit to ordain – where is his smicha from? Does he have yadin yadin?

[Max Kohanzad]

oh and also from wordpress

http://smicha.wordpress.com/

[Jim the Catholic]

>I quoted a section of the Talmud Yerushalmi that conflicts with Gil's view. He deleted that comment. I asked him why. He answered, "Because it disparages Beit Shammai."

I thought only a small minority of Orthodox Jews held the Talmud Yerushalmi as more authoritative than the Babylonian Talmud?

[Neo-Conservaguy]

"I thought only a small minority of Orthodox Jews held the Talmud Yerushalmi as more authoritative than the Babylonian Talmud?"

It's not a competition; the two works were produced under different circumstances by different authors/editors and show rabbinic responses to local circumstances. The Yerushalmi was closed earlier than the Bavli, but it certainly is referenced for legal positions from later commentators including Tosafoth.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Jim: Some church doctors are cited more than others, but it doesn't mean that the less "popular" ones aren't also authorative. Use that by way of analogy.

[yona loriner]

amazing

[Yochanan Lavie]

Is it a coincidence that "Taliban" means "student?" (LOL)

[Lev]

Previous post is funny! LOL.
But...Talmud was finished 1500 years ago.
I would like to talk about today.
Shmarya, can you ever please, please post the reasons why Lubavitcher cult hates ALL OTHER ORTHODOX JEWS???
All over the world!!!
Real Leader of Russian Jews Rabbi Shayevich was thrown into mud by them.(Remember Lazar Land?..)
Here in the Southwest they undermine AGUDA as much as they can.
A day will come when the money flow from ganovim--oligarcks(this is BILLIONS of $ from stolen Russian OIL, etc., not Balkany's paltry 800,000) will be stopped by angry Russian goim.(See ari.ru).
Then what?
Boruh Hashem that Russian Nationalists are pro-Israel big time, and Lazar-Gorin will be able to employ themselvs as a toilet cleaners in some Yeshiva in Bnei Brak.
Ultimate irony.

[Jim the Catholic]

>Jim: Some church doctors are cited more than others, but it doesn't mean that the less "popular" ones aren't also authorative. Use that by way of analogy.

Well that's not exactly true. Augustine is by nature MORE authoritative(being a Saint) then let us say Tertullian or Clement of Alexandria. But that is kinda off topic here.