R. David Holzer published a fascinating book of his many taped conversations of R. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, titled The Rav Thinking Aloud. R. Holzer was R. Soloveitchik’s assistant for a few years and carried around a tape recorder to record their conversations. He also has notes from other conversations that he did not record. What we end up having is topic after topic of word-for-word conversations with R. Soloveitchik.
It’s a fascinating book. To add to the experience, R. Holzer selected some of discussions in which R. Soloveitchik said some very surprising things. Such as:
- His opposition to kohanim becoming doctors (p. 110)
- His belief in the miracles described in the Talmud (p. 92)
- His statement that the Patriarchs worked so unless you think you are more righteous than them, you should work also (p. 128)
- His opposition to using financial concerns as a reason to permit the use of birth control (p. 95)
- How he introduced the Lubavitcher Rebbe to the Brisker approach to studying Talmud when they were in Berlin (p. 42)
There is much more in the book than I mentioned. However, I find it hard to believe that R. Soloveitchik would have approved the publication of this book. He was a perfectionist and these are just off-the-cuff remarks. Granted, he knew he was being recorded and there are plenty of disclaimers by the author that these were not polished remarks, but I still feel a little voyeuristic reading these conversations. Especially since there is at least one comment in the book (about R. Soloveitchik’s less than stellar opinion of a leading rabbi’s learning) that I do not think should have been published.
Simcha posts: "I confess that I thumbed through it and found it fascinating. But I agree with Mycroft. These were private conversations that the Rov has with David. Unless the Rov gave him permission to publish these private conversations, I vehemently object to their publication. I understand that the family is quite upset with this book."
Anon posts: "Interesting that Rav Shachter seems to take a completely oposite opproach with regard to financial concerns and birth control. In more than one public shiur he has criticised people who have children if they cannnot afford it and end up having other people supporting them (e.g. subsidising their tuition)."
Steven writes: While I agree that context is critical, I have no problem with the tapes being used. Unless you are going to be equally strident against all the private discussions quoted by any of his students. This would then include R’ Rakeffet who has also generated some controversy and made extensive use of tapes.
His perfectionism not withstanding, he knew that he was being taped. The tapes become part of the historical record. Access / ownership of the tapes is not the families to control.
NATE POSTS: The author writes that there were times where RYBS refused to allow him to be recorded. This implies that he was asked permission. Also, Tape recorders back then were not ipods and could not be easily hidden. There is a picture of the tape recorder he used and it is quite large.
It’s hard to believe that he didn’t know he was being recorded.
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Y. Aharon posts: The issue of the type of investments that a charitable organization such as YU is allowed to entertain is a halachic matter that should be judged by its halachic authorities. There is a vast difference between investing your own funds and those which have been contributed. You can risk your own money as much as you wish (your spouse may have a say, however), but not those of others. The fact that YU had invested most of its endowment in riskier hedge funds besides the fund "managed" by Merkin is a good sign that no rabbinic approval was sought or given. There is an "interesting" dichotomy at work here where the rabbinic arm of YU appears to be kept at arms length from financial issues, as if halacha is irrelevant in monetary matters. This is all besides the conflict of interest issue in allowing Merkin to invest endowment money in his own fund. It’s time for YU to greatly improve its business ethics. A start would be to consult with its rabbinic staff on what the halacha has to say on the subject.
