Daily Roundup - Jan 29, 2016

JewishJournal: On trump and New York values -- Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt

Having lived for years in Israel, I view orthodox values in a less positive fashion  than Rabbi Rosenblatt.  We agree that NY values are secular. But irreverence is neither the same as haste or the same as assertiveness.  

"Only someone willing to trample tradition can bring a new product to market." Where is there any indication that this is true? What book of economics embraces "irreverence" as a solution to our problems? How is building a complete set of Jewish sources (Talmud, Midrash, Tanach)  and making them available on line a sign of irreverence? 

It is the trademark of the new to perhaps do what was done in the past more efficiently, better, and with less effort. But this has nothing to do with irreverence.

"Only an aggressive operator can dispose yesterday’s creativity for tomorrow’s efficiency" Again, utter nonsense, efficiency replaces rote, not creativity. It enables a household where a woman does not have to be a slave to the kitchen, nor a man be bound to break rocks, or do long sums by hand.  When has efficiency not been the means by which we enrich our lives, and have more time to study, to learn, to teach, and to enjoy the beauty around us.

"New York forces industries to adapt or die" Another ridiculous statement. Creativity and efficiency are appealing because the lessen work, people choose the new over the old because it is more affordable and better. People, not "New York".

"But the issue facing this nation is not where wealth is best created. The issue is which values are required in to lead a nation who has lost its way, whose position in the world is compromised, whose finances are near collapse." The second sentence negates the first! Our compromised position in the world, our finances near collapse means we must find ways to create wealth. Values are for religion, and as a state all religions need to be respected.  But a state is neutral on non consensus values. We might agree that murder cannot be condoned, but not whether we need to bow to the East for the Amidah. The second is a Jewish value, not a state issue.

Rabbi Rosenblatt himself shows that brashness and aggressiveness do not correlate to money in his story about the Texas Billionaire.

Lastly, I take umbrage at "A shameless New York promoter is a lot of fun" Where did the shameless come from, is this not the Lashon Ha Rah we are so warned against by our sages? Who has shown more discipline in sticking to a winning strategy, and where does the Rabbi take the Chutzpah to question his motives?