TORONTO – “I certainly defend Rabbi Kaplan’s right to state his views,” said Rabbi Shlomo Miller, Toronto’s Rosh Kollel and one of the most internationally prominent orthodox spiritual leaders. “The Jewish people has given their lives for over 3,000 years to defend Torah tradition.”
Several orthodox rabbis in the GTA went on record to support Chabad Flamingo Rabbi Mendel Kaplan and his defence of Torah Judaism in connection to the attack against him by Kulanu Toronto, the local LGBTQ group under the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto umbrella.
Kulanu had alleged that Rabbi Kaplan made homophobic remarks in a sermon and in email correspondence and urged York Regional Police (YRP) to question his suitability as chaplain (see Jewish Tribune, Feb. 17 and 24, 2011). He was completely vindicated following a detailed, almost-six-month-long investigation by the diversity unit.
Despite the investigation’s conclusion, YRP Inspector Ricky Veerappan told the Tribune two weeks ago that he had just received correspondence from Justine Apple, executive director of Kulanu Toronto, in which “they’re asking us to review the findings.” There were no new allegations against the rabbi.
“It makes me very angry,” said Chabad Flamingo member Dr. Dov (Erwin) Dumbroff, distinguished professor emeritus, University of Waterloo. “I object to the fact that my rabbi is being harassed,” and “to spend time and money after he was exonerated is unwarranted.”
“We will be formulating a response to Kulanu Toronto,” Veerappan said, adding that until it is done, he would be unable to comment on whether YRP would relaunch the investigation.
That same day, Feb. 22, a story in the Canadian Jewish News reported that Bernie Farber, CEO of Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), had offered to “ease tensions” between Kulanu and the spiritual leader.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Rabbi Kaplan told the Tribune last week. “But tell me, can an involved party now seek a neutral role as a peacemaker?”
As reported in the Jewish Tribune, Veerappan confirmed that Farber had also questioned the rabbi’s ability to hold the chaplaincy role in discussions with the police.
The Tribune has been urging the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) CEO for weeks now, through emails and telephone calls, to give his side of the story, but to no avail.
However, speaking to the Tribune only a few days ago, Veerappan confirmed that this newspaper’s reporting on the issue was “accurate. I stand by the comments I made on behalf of YRP,” as reported in this publication, concerning CJC leadership’s role in questioning the rabbi’s ability to hold the chaplaincy position.
“CJC is supposed to have an interest in all Jews equally,” declared Rabbi Dovid Schochet, senior rabbi, Va’ad Harrabonim of Ontario. “The moment that they become politically involved in excluding a group, that would mean that this group could no longer rely on CJC and they would have to look for other representation of their interests.”
In an article sent to 800 members of his contact list and accessible on the internet, Rabbi Avram Rothman of the Thornhill Community Shul, while berating Apple for not attempting to dialogue with Rabbi Kaplan before informing the police, stated that Farber’s involvement “is a much more serious problem. Here we have the leader of an organization that publicly states that it represents the entire Jewish community advocating that Rabbi Kaplan should lose his position because he expressed a reasonable opinion of orthodoxy on this issue….
“It does appear that Mr. Farber’s actions and statements showed that he is prepared to disenfranchise Rabbi Kaplan and perhaps the orthodox community because he disagrees with them.”
“I think it’s a matter of grave concern,” said Rabbi Chaim Strauchler of Shaarei Shomayim.
Rabbi Mordechai Ochs of Torah Emeth Congregation said that if CJC supported the YRP investigation, “it is a disgrace.”
“Let me be clear. I am not at war with Kulanu,” Rabbi Kaplan stressed. “They attacked me and tried to besmirch my reputation, claiming I cannot serve as a police chaplain unless I subscribe to their view of morality. That was a violation of my religious freedom and human rights, discrimination against my beliefs in Torah Judaism. Yet I bear them no ill will. Tolerance for all is a critical cornerstone of my beliefs.
“My only issue is how could an institution like the CJC take positions that are antithetical to Torah values while purporting to represent the entire Jewish community? The question now is: How can they justify having persecuted a rabbi for believing and preaching that classic Torah traditions are divinely ordained and therefore immutable?”
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