RABBI WEIN ON A MAN OF PRINCIPLE

During my recent stay in the United States last month, I was invited to speak in a few institutions and at certain events taking place in the New York area. I accepted a number of these invitations and I spoke at a leading institution of learning that is usually identified as being the flagship of the modern Orthodox section of American Jewry. I also spoke at a banquet held in honor of one of the oldest Charedi yeshivot here in Israel. I was gratified that my words were received well at both venues and I gave some thought to any political implications that others may derive from the fact that I was the speaker at both events. However, last week, someone here in Israel who apparently knew of my schedule when I was in the United States remarked to me, only half-jokingly : “I thought that you are a man of principle but I see that you are willing to speak for completely conflicting ideologies and to do so without compunction."