JBG
Liberal democrat
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 interview is both stirring and stunning (link). This is the link to his obituary. This is an excerpt (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.
This interview is both stirring and stunning (link). This is the link to his obituary. This is an excerpt (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.
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.