Massachusets News
By Naomi Schaefer

August 2--Grand Rabbi Y.A. Korff does not like the spotlight, but recently he surprised even some of his supporters when he left his office and chapel on School Street in Boston to testify about the Defense of Marriage Act before the legislature on Beacon Hill.

He says it was a "short walk, but a big step."

Grand Rabbi Korff, known to his followers as "the Rebbe" has provided spiritual guidance in the Boston area for a number of decades to both Jews and non-Jews from all over who have sought him out. Given the tremendous responsibility of offering advice to even those who ask for it, he is, as he told the legislature "loath to offer it gratuitously to others." But when the Rebbe was asked to join the movement to ensure that the Commonwealth not recognize same-sex marriages, he agreed immediately. He told the legislature he was there because "the issue at hand is critical to the basic fiber and structure of the family and therefore to the health of our community and society in general."

As the Rebbe explained to Massachusetts News, it was in part a question of words. He does not think you can use the word "marriage" to describe the union of a man and a woman and then use the same word to describe the union between two men or two women. The level of love, he explains, may be the same, but the meaning is entirely different for society. And he worries that to call these other alternatives "marriage" would debase the term "marriage" itself.

The Rebbe admits that he is something of an anomaly among observant Jews, in that most observant Jews do not become involved in secular matters. Most Jews, he explains, came to the United States with the attitude that, "This is a free country where we won't tell other people what to do, if they will allow us to observe our rituals and customs." In many cases, Chassidic Jews in particular, have formed completely isolated communities so that they may practice Judaism without the influences of the culture around them. 

But, as the Rebbe explains it, his dedication to guiding people in matters both religious and secular is part of a tradition in his family. He is a direct descendent of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, which is a sect of Judaism begun in Russia in the 18th Century. People would come to the Baal Shem Tov not just for blessings, but for help in all areas of their lives, from business to politics. Some would even come just to be in the presence of what the Rebbe calls his "holy spirit."

The Rebbe explains that his own policy with regard to how and where to become involved is shaped by the Baal Shem Tov's. "If I were to stay out of the so-called secular field entirely, then politicians and businessmen would have to be told to go away. Yet our view of "religion" is that it embraces all areas of life." The Rebbe does not discourage anyone from coming to seek his help or advice. Almost three years ago, he opened up a small chapel next to his home in Newton, which he says is a place for anyone with a good heart. "The day that any Jew comes into the doors there and doesn't feel comfortable, that's the day the doors should close."

By all accounts the chapel attracts Jews from all walks of life with many different religious backgrounds. Some know Hebrew, some don't. Some are very observant, some are not. The Rebbe says that he doesn't believe in labels like orthodox, reform and conservative, and believes that they only serve to separate Jews from one another. One person, who attends the Rebbe's chapel for services says he is one of a number of people there who are disillusioned with other temples. He says he finds just being in the Rebbe's presence to be something of a sanctuary from the outside world. 

But the Rebbe understands the need to interact with the outside world, however unpleasant it may be at times. He serves as the Chaplain for the city of Boston; in this capacity he is often consulted by the mayor's office, the fire department and the police department on all manner of issues. He has talked to the D.A. about the death penalty and the chief of police about sensitivity training for police officers. 

Given all of this experience, Massachusetts News asked the Rebbe a question which has been the subject of many recent polls, that is, do you think this country is headed in the right direction? "I don't think that most of our society is heading in any direction," he answered, "but people are beginning to recognize that the values and institutions which have been around for centuries have been undermined by concepts like free love and free speech."

While the Rebbe, who holds law degrees from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Harvard Law School, Brooklyn Law School and the Boston University School of Law, clearly understands the legal implications of the right to free speech, he is more concerned with the cultural effects of it. "Freedom of speech does not give people the right to speak derogatorily about others. Freedom of speech does not give a child the right to speak disrespectfully to his elders."

In fact, many of the problems in society today, the Rebbe claims, can be traced to the way we speak to each other. When we see children shooting each other or even teachers, this is a clear demonstration to the Rebbe that there is a lack of respect for authority in our society. He attributes this lack of respect with the way that Americans have become familiar with each other, almost immediately upon meeting. He emphasizes that "we are not all equal and we are not all friends," but there is a need to respect each other. 

We are each created, the Rebbe says, in God's image. And the fact that we are human entitles us to basic rights, but how we address each other, he explains, is the most powerful "stagesetter" for how we treat each other. Today, he says, salesmen call customers by their first names and children call parents by their first names. 

The Rebbe is particularly incensed by this last point. There is a difference, he insists, between generations. A lot of parents pride themselves on being their child's friend. But the Rebbe explains, "The best friend a child can have is a good parent." Unfortunately, he laments, parents cannot shield their children from all of the bad influences in our culture. 

While many blame the academic establishment for the gradual cultural shift in America, the Rebbe doesn't think that secular education is bad. "The academic world has always had more liberal and free thinkers." The real problem, he contends, is "what's coming out of Hollywood." According to the Rebbe, one can't expect to raise children who watch violence and bad language on television to think that there is something wrong with it. Similarly, he says that you can't expose adults to infidelity and drugs in all venues of entertainment and expect people not to become inured to it. 

When presented with all of these problems, the Rebbe admits that it seems like an uphill battle. And the solutions are not easily found. Somewhat reluctantly, he suggests that change could be brought about by legislation. "They teach you in law school that you can't legislate morality. No, but you can legislate behavior." He cites a recent law passed in Louisiana which requires students to address their teachers as "Mr." or "Mrs." People have been laughing about it, the Rebbe says, but little things like that can change the whole atmosphere of a school. He claims that Judaism is a religion which legislates behavior and out of that behavior comes morals. Just as smiling is contagious, the Rebbe says that if you act civil, you will breed civility in others. 

Society, according to the Rebbe, has in the last five or ten years pushed the envelope in terms of what is considered civil public behavior. This relates not just to our conversations, but to billboards and street posters. The problem with these, the Rebbe says, is that you don't have to buy a ticket to see half-naked people and you don't even have to turn on the TV. "They are cramming it down our throats." The Rebbe believes that people will find it more and more difficult to isolate themselves and their children from the bad influences of society. The result, he hopes, will be that more religious and political leaders will become involved in trying to change secular society, the same way that he does.