Recently newspaper articles about various organizations which deal with and aid those leaving religion have been published. One of those mentioned was Yaron Yadan's organization, which distributes Daat Emet [True Knowledge] pamphlets to the Charedi public in an attempt to present Judaism's true stand on a variety of issues.

I have happened upon one of these pamphlets, titled "Morality in Halacha." Part of the introduction reads: "And we will see here that Halacha does not deal with morality nor with conscience...but only with the decrees of G-d and His commands." As a professional who has long dealt with teaching and researching Jewish law in different universities, I can unambiguously state that this is all hot air, one big bluff.

The pamphlets do not bring central sources which present stances opposing that which the author shows. The discussion is systematically biased, superficial, and makes no effort to clarify and deeply analyze the sources' significance and modern stands on the issues (for example: the relationship to gentiles and to sinners).

Therefore, what we have before us is a deliberate attempt to mislead an innocent group of people which by and large is not capable of dealing with this kind of issue. There is no real difference between Yadan's actions and those of Shas against which he complains.

Dr. Shimon Etinger
Law Faculty, Bar-Ilan University

From: Haaretz, June 18, 2002