When the Enlightened Accused the Chafetz Chaim of Gossip: A Story You Didn’t Know

On December 14, 1928, Rabbi Yisrael Meir from Radin, known as the Chafetz Chaim, sent an "open letter" to the editorial team of the "Der Moment" newspaper. The letter begins: "I heard that an article was published in your paper, expressing surprise at how I did not avoid prohibited gossip and face-shaming in my protest letter regarding the rabbinate in Vilna, which I've devoted my life to. So, they falsely accused the Chafetz Chaim of speaking gossip... Is it possible?"

Back in those days, Russian authorities required the appointment of a rabbi who knew Russian and held degrees in various fields. It was well-known that many great Jewish leaders did not possess these qualifications, leading to the appointment of 'state rabbis,' often mere figureheads, with numerous jokes told about such rabbis who knew nothing of Judaism. Yet, sometimes the influence of the enlightened prevailed, successfully appointing a rabbi with real authority and influence.

The city of Vilna, dubbed "the Jerusalem of Lithuania," was a hub for great Torah scholars from the era of the Vilna Gaon onwards. It had seen great rabbis like Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen, Rabbi Bezalel HaKohen, and Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Grodzinsky serve in its rabbinate. In 1887, Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Grodzinsky passed away, and his famed son-in-law Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky took his place, though only unofficially, serving as the head of the rabbinic council and acting authority. He believed it unsuitable to appoint a single rabbi over a city with such illustrious scholars and continued with "Rabbi Kantor," a symbolic government-appointed rabbi, ensuring he remained primarily a civil servant without real influence, as was customary for state-appointed rabbis.

In 1910, the enlightened devised a plan to nominate the writer and enlightenment figure Chaim Chernovitz, a student of Bialik and Klausner, for the position of state rabbi. The secular and enlightened community in Vilna was enthusiastic about his candidacy. Chernovitz was a prominent public figure, and his appointment would surely place him in a significant position. The Orthodox community opposed this strongly, advocating instead for Rabbi Rubinstein, a respected figure with the necessary qualifications. Personally invited by Rabbi Grodzinsky, Rubinstein promised not to interfere with community matters, serving only as state rabbi. He was elected, restoring calm to the city.

All was well until World War I broke out. Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky was issued an arrest warrant due to his foreign citizenship and had to flee. Upon his return post-war, he found that Rabbi Rubinstein had taken control of the community institutions, as previous chief rabbis of Vilna had, breaking his promise to remain a nominal figure. Although the Orthodox protested, the enlightened representatives quickly acted to enforce his appointment with the authorities, claiming the Orthodox had no valid objection. Rubinstein was a respected Jew, and they themselves had agreed to his rabbinate.

An emergency assembly of Vilna's rabbis, including Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky, Rabbi Shimon Shkop, Rabbi Pesach Pruskin, Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin, the Rabbi of Brisk, Rabbi Hezekiah Yosef Mishkovsky, and others, issued a call to world Jewry to prevent secular activists from determining the rabbi's identity. The elder of the generation, the aged Chafetz Chaim, published a statement in an "open letter," writing: "How my ears burn from the news we hear about what is happening in Vilna regarding the rabbinate, where they trampled with pride and disdain for the fundamentals of faith... Evil has spread on our path, where they decided by majority to distance the great teachers of Israel from their influential role and to crown a leader unworthy of it. Woe to us that such has happened in our times."

The enlightened were outraged: how could the Chafetz Chaim speak gossip? Was he not defaming Rabbi Rubinstein as unworthy?

The Chafetz Chaim did not remain silent against the disrespect towards Torah and responded with a detailed letter, affirming that his words reflected Torah wisdom and the duty of the moment, devoid of any trace of gossip.

The young Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, then still a young man, also vigorously defended the honor of the Torah, explaining in a famous letter: "If it is permissible to speak negatively about a craftsman's work when necessary, when it comes to someone whose craft is Torah, is it not even more crucial for supporters of Torah to be informed? The knowledge of the sages' hearts and virtues is essential." If a rabbi is unfit for his role, it is akin to a professional failing in their job and deceiving clients. It is not gossip but necessary warning.

The debate was intense and fiery, with leading rabbis getting involved in various ways. Ultimately, the authorities appointed two rabbis, and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky was also made an official rabbi, which eased the opposition to Rabbi Rubinstein. This ensured there was also a fitting appointment that suited the Orthodox community in Vilna.