Three days ago, we learned that the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, New York, told his followers to boycott the upcoming Siyum HaShas, the celebration for the completion of the study of the entire Babylonian Talmud that takes place every 7 1/2 years, because two "Zionist" rabbis had been asked to speak. Now we have a response to the Vizhnitz ban from from Siyum organizers who, while haredi themselves, have to be careful not to anger the estimated 80% of Siyum attendees who are Modern Orthodox and Zionist.
The so-called Zionist rabbis?
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, a former chief rabbi of Israel, and Rabbi Yaakov Hillel, a Sefardi rosh yeshiva – both haredim, neither Zionist in the classical sense.
The response of Siyum organizaers Agudath Israel of America?
According to this sign allegedly posted in the Vizhnitz synagogue, it is a call for Vizhnitzer hasidim to return any tickets they may have purchased. There is great demand for tickets, the Siyum is basically sold out, and we need your tickets back so others [who don't listen to your rebbe] can attend.
No rebuff to the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. No questioning of his decision. No defense of Zionism. Just a call to return your tickets so more predominantly Zionist and Modern Orthodox antendees can come and hear non-Zionist and anti-Zionist haredi rabbis speak.
So far, Modern Orthodoxy's leading rabbis, Hershel Schachter and Mordechai Willig of Yeshiva University, and the more moderate rabbis of the Rabbinical Council of America appear to have remained silent about the Vizhnitzer Rebbe's insult and Agudath Israel of America's non-response to it that is admittedly meant to allow Agudah's haredi rabbis to missionize Modern Orthodox Jews.
That may be because rabbis to the left of Schachter, Willig and the RCA are making their own Siyum HaShas which the YU and RCA rabbis find threatening.
Here is the poster from Agudah's Siyum organizers asking Vizhnitzer hasidim to return their tickets now if they plan on boycotting the Siyum HaShas:
Related Post: Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, NY Tells Hasidim To Boycott Siyum HaShas Over "Zionist" Rabbis.