http://www.jewishideas.org/marc-d-angel/models-sephardic-rabbinic-leadership
Rabbi (Ovadia) Yosef, drawing on a passage from the Hidah (Rabbi Hayyim Yosef David Azulai), suggested a distinction between the Ashkenazic and Sephardic approaches to halakha. Historically, the Hidah noted, the Ashkenazim tended toward the quality of “gevurah,” strength. They viewed halakhic stringencies as a positive expression of love of God. The stricter the demands of halakha, the more self-sacrifice and heroism were entailed in fulfilling the commandments. In contrast, the Sephardim tended toward the quality of “hessed,” compassion. They viewed halakha as a loving means of serving God. Whereas Ashkenazim veered toward halakhic stringency, Sephardim tilted toward halakhic leniency. As Rabbi Yosef said: “The Sephardic rabbis are of the school of Hillel, tending toward hessed, and they do not have stringencies; they walk on the ‘king’s highway.’ However, Ashkenazic rabbis tend toward gevurah, and are from the school of Shammai who were strict.” Rabbi Yosef assured his audience that he himself was of the school of Hillel, and wished that “the Ashkenazim would be in order as we are.
Before the creation and wide-spread use of the adjectives yeshivish, charedi, and modern there was the word "Litvish" which described many holy Jews of Eastern Europe. While many people today claim to be the carriers of the Litvish way, it is my view that all groups have departed from it. This blog explores the practices and values of Litvish Jews and compares them to present day practices and values.
Typical Sephardic condescension toward Ashkenazim. No surprise that they paint themselves as Beis Hillel, who the halacha is like, the nice guys, and us as the rejected Beis Shammai.
ReplyDeleteTell it to Rashi, Tosfos, the Rama, and the gedolei Ashkenaz of the ages. Maybe they should have just closed up and shop and converted to Sephardic, according to this, huh? How ridiculous.
Of course, Ashkenazim strongly reject such narishkeit. It is like a primitive version of some modern guy psychoanalyzing psak halacha. We don't need modern psychobabble mixing into halacha and we don't need this kind of claptrap either.