"Woe to a generation in which every man does as he sees fit.
And the matter should be publicized to prevent others from
being drawn in by their ways," write maranan verabonon
gedolei Yisroel headed by Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom
Eliashiv shlita, in a letter opposing the publication
of "precise" ("meduyak") editions of Chumoshim
and Tehillim as well as new siddurim and
machzorim that contain grave breaches and changes from
the accepted tradition handed down to us.
The letters appear at the beginning of a leaflet titled,
"Ligdor Peretz," distributed in Torah halls and
botei medrash of every stream and background.
Gedolei Torah encouraged the publication of the leaflet
to express opposition to attempts to introduce new versions
and foreign ideas in what is billed as a "precise siddur"
("Hasiddur Hameduyak") in the nusach of Eidot
Hamizrach containing "emendations" of the accepted
nusach -- changes that threaten to damage the
foundations of Judaism and cause breaches beyond our
forefathers' imagining.
Similarly, emendations in the books Tikkun Sofrim
Hameduyak, Tehilim Hameduyak and Hachumash
Hameduyak were based on "rational inference" and "the
rules of grammar," contradicting the accepted tradition
practiced by Klal Yisroel.
The publishers declared their intentions to disseminate the
books widely in an attempt to replace the Chumoshim
currently used by all kehillos. The book, Hachumash
Hameduyak, represents an additional breach by supplanting
Rashi's age-old commentary with a new commentary called
Peninei Rashi Umidrashim, which leaves out numerous
entries from Rashi's classic commentary and includes other
midroshim of the editor's choosing instead.
About ten years ago, following an attempt to publish a
Chumash with a similar commentary, Maran HaRav Shach,
zt"l, and ylct"a HaRav Eliashiv, wrote a letter
reading, " . . . And this is a terrible breach that should
strike dread in the hearts of all who hear, for who can
predict what it could lead to?"
Talmidei chachomim asked to examine these books were
dismayed, and when the matter was brought to the attention of
gedolei Yisroel they were told the changes are cause
for serious concern, particularly since the publishers openly
declare that all of Klal Yisroel should adopt the new
nuscho'os.
The letters written by gedolei Yisroel express
unyielding opposition to the books, whose editors failed to
heed various warnings by the leading Acharonim not to alter
the tefilloh by abandoning the nuscho'os we
received from our forefathers. " . . . And even more shocking
is that they [grant themselves] the power, like Chazal, to
issue decrees and to uproot, by omission, the nuscho'os
of the Kadmonim" due to what they assert to be the
needs of the hour.
Among the alterations was the deletion of the word
"meheiroh" from the Sephardic nusach of Bircas
Ahavat Olom before Shema. Although Shaar
Hakavonos of HaRav Chaim Vital includes the word, the
editors insist on removing it despite HaRav Chaim Vital's
assertion it was brought down from the Arizal himself.
The editors also altered Oleinu Leshabei'ach, "based on
the rules of grammar and speech," replacing the words
"vegoroleinu kechol hamonom" with "velo goraleinu
kechol hamonom." This alteration contradicts Rav Yehuda
Hachossid and the Rokeach, both Rishonim who stated that
Yehoshua Bin Nun formulated this prayer with exactly 152
words. This same "emendation" is recorded in the history
books as one of the changes proposed by Nosson Ho'azosi, a
talmid of Shabsai Tzvi yimach shemo.
The leaflet Ligdor Peretz quotes poskim from
various generations who say that one should strictly adhere
to the tradition handed down to us from our forefathers and
practiced in Klal Yisroel for generations and who rule
out making changes even in cases where the text contradicts
the rules of grammar. Some poskim even write that one
who alters seforim based on logical inference should be
excommunicated. The various "medakdekim" have always
been known for initiating dangerous trends that must be
stopped to keep them from entering the botei medrash.
The rabbonim said the revisions to Rashi's classic commentary
are in the spirit of the Haskoloh.
The letter was signed by HaRav Eliashiv, HaRav Aharon Leib
Shteinman, HaRav Moshe Shmuel Shapira, HaRav Michel Yehuda
Lefkowitz, HaRav Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky,
HaRav Shmuel Auerbach and HaRav Yehuda Shapira, shlita.
Appended to the letter is a note by the leading Sephardic
rabbonim which reads, "We hereby remonstrate against the
changes in the holy writings and the longstanding
nuscho'os of the tefilloh, based on logical
inference they invented and the rules of grammar, and
particularly against the terrible disdain, Rachmono
litzlan, in the nusach of bircas Ahavas Olom
appearing in Shaar Hakavonos. And all the words of
those who make changes have no significance." This addition
was signed by HaRav Nissim Toledano, HaRav Yehuda Addes,
HaRav Yaakov Hillel, HaRav Yitzchak Tawil, HaRav Amram Ruach,
HaRav Yitzchak Zafrani and HaRav Yaakov Attiya, shlita.
In a separate letter HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner backed the
letter by maranan verabonon and wrote, "Today nobody
has the power to undo decrees by our Kadmonim, even through
mere omission, and this sin marked the beginning of the
attempts to innovate that brought destruction upon all of
Knesses Yisroel."
