There is an interesting and most logical approach taken by the Ramban
(Nachmanides) in his famous disputation with Pablo Christiani at the court of
King James of Aragon in 1263. One of the basic accusations at the time was
that proofs could be brought from the Jewish prophets and Talmud proving the
truthfulness of Xtianity. To this, the Ramban began his argument by saying
that, in advance, no proof could be intellectually honest since, if it was,
why weren't the prophets and rabbis of the Talmud adherents of Xtianity?
With this in mind I say that all of the above arguments of Rabbi Weiss need
not be contested or debated.
Did any of the above Gedolim promote or support T'filla groups?
A. no
Did their wives attend these groups?
A. no
Does Rabbi Tendler support these groups?
A. no
Does his wife attend?
A. no
Does one exist in his shul (synagogue) in Monsey?
A. no
Did Rabbi Nissan Alpert Z.Tz.L. write a t'shuvah (responsa) opposing these
groups?
A. yes.
Was he one of, if not the, premier student of Rabbi Feinstein Z.Tz. L.?
A. yes.
Did not four other Roshei Yeshiva (Deans) of Yeshiva University, the
greatest of the Rav Z.Tz.L.'s students ["The Rav" is a common reference to
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik -- YM], write responsa in opposition to these
groups?
A. yes.
I believe that Rabbi Menken's original position stands firm.
Sincerely,
Yitzchok D. Frankel
Long Beach, NY
November 13, 1996