Blacklist of Koferim / Heretics by Rav Yosef Mizrachi chlita

Halacha

Why publishing such a list is not only NOT lashon hara but a MITZVAH requirement of every Jew to warn the Jewish public The Chafetz Chaim Laws of Lashon Hara 4:7-8 , Chafetz Chaim klal 8 seif 5

The Chafetz Chaim Laws of Lashon Hara 4:7-8 says: 1) "One is allowed to repeat the wrongdoings of one who was raised in a religious environment and has cast off the yoke of Heaven. The reasoning is simple. If we allow a Rasha to rise up unchecked in our midst and we do not take a stand against the evil, our silence is not counted as righteousness, but as foolishness for allowing a cancer to grow unhindered." 2) Speaking Lashon Hara About a Heretic The prohibition against speaking Lashon Hara applies when spoken about someone who is considered “amitecha”עמיתך (of your people), namely in observance of Torah and mitzvot. However, regarding those who are recognizably “apikorsim” (heretics), it is a mitzvah (fulfillment of a positive commandment) to disparage and shame them, to their face and behind their back, for everything that one witnesses or hears about them. The Torah states (Lev. 25:17 & Lev. 19:16) “One should not wrong his fellow” and “Do not act as a talebearer among your people,” but heretics do not fit under this category for they do not act as “your people.” Therefore, we follow the practice (as taught in Avot D’Rabbi Natan, a work from the Talmudic era), “those who hate you, L-rd, I will hate, and your rebellious ones I will dispute.” An “apikorus” (heretic) is one who denies the laws and prophecies of Israel, whether the Written Law or Oral Law. Even if he says, “All the Torah is true with the exception of one Scriptural verse, kal v’chomer, g’zeira shava, or one grammatical detail,” he is included in this category. ["Kal v’chomer” and "g’zeira shava” are Talmudic terms for two of the logical principles from which we understand many laws.] even intentionally wish to destroy it

IYH Do bitter teshuvah especially during Neilah on Y.K. if you ever listened to them, looked at their faces or chas v shalom supported any of them.

1. Ephraim Mirvis - Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, based in the UK.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Supported same-sex marriage.
   Halachot Violated: Violates the Torah’s prohibition against same-sex relations (Leviticus 18:22) and the traditional understanding of marriage.
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Issurei Bi’ah 21:9 - "A man shall not lie with a male as he lies with a woman; it is an abomination."

2. Jonathan Sacks - Former Chief Rabbi and renowned author, based in the UK.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Promoted the idea that all religions have equal validity.
   Halachot Violated: Contradicts the principle of “Avodah Zarah” (idolatry) and the exclusivity of the Jewish faith as the chosen people (Deuteronomy 6:4).
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Avodah Zarah 1:1 - "It is forbidden to worship any deity other than the Holy One, blessed be He, and it is forbidden to believe that any other deity has any power."

3. Joseph Dweck - Senior Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation in London, UK.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Suggested reevaluating traditional interpretations of gender roles.
   Halachot Violated: Challenges the halachic framework regarding gender roles and responsibilities as outlined in the Torah and Talmud.
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Ishut 1:1 - "A man is obligated to honor his wife more than himself and to love her as himself."

4. Dror Cassuto - Rabbi involved in outreach, based in Beit Yisroel neighborhood in Jerusalem.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Challenged the authority of traditional rabbinic interpretations.
   Halachot Violated: Undermines the principle of “Torah Shebe’al Peh” (Oral Torah) and the authority of rabbinic law.
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Torah Shebe’al Peh 1:1 - "The Oral Law is a tradition from Moses at Sinai, and it is a commandment to follow it."

5. Daniel Korobkin - Rabbi of Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation in Toronto, Canada.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Engaged with non-Orthodox movements.
   Halachot Violated: Violates the prohibition against associating with non-Orthodox practices and the principle of “Lo Titgodedu” (Deuteronomy 14:1).
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Avodah Zarah 12:1 - "It is forbidden to associate with those who worship idols or to learn from them."

6. Moshe Daniel Borisov - Individual claiming to live solely according to the Written Torah, rejecting rabbinic authority and interpretations.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Denial of the Oral Torah's authenticity and authority. Accusation of the sages of intentionally distorting G'd's will and separating the Jewish people from Him.
   Halachot Violated: Undermines the principle of “Torah Shebe’al Peh” (Oral Torah) and the authority of rabbinic law.
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Torah Shebe’al Peh 1:1 - "The Oral Law is a tradition from Moses at Sinai, and it is a commandment to follow it."

7. Nathan Slifkin - Author known for writings on Judaism and science, based in Beit Shemesh, Israel.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Advocated for evolutionary theory.
   Halachot Violated: Challenges the traditional creation narrative in Genesis, which is foundational to Jewish belief.
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Yesodei HaTorah 1:1 - "The foundation of all foundations and the pillar of all wisdom is to know that there is a First Being who brought all existence into being."

8. Chen Shaulov - Individual publicly denouncing the Zohar, Kabbalah, and leading rabbinic figures. A Beit Din (court of Jewish Law) in Israel declared Shaulov a heretic and pronounces a cherem (ban or excommunication) against him, prohibiting anyone from listening to his teachings.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Public rejection of the Zohar and Kabbalah, including the teachings of prominent Kabbalists like Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Chaim Vital. Disrespect and denigration of major rabbinic authorities, including the authors of the Shulchan Aruch and the writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital.
   Halachot Violated: Undermines the principle of "Torah Shebe’al Peh" (Oral Torah).
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Torah Shebe’al Peh 1:1 - "The Oral Law is a tradition from Moses at Sinai, and it is a commandment to follow it."

9. Yonathan Ha Levy - Rabbi in Los Angeles, California, USA.
   Severe Act of Heresy: Reinterpreted traditional Jewish law to align with contemporary moral views.
   Halachot Violated: Strays from established halachic principles and undermines the authority of the Torah.
   Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:1 - "One must not deviate from the words of the sages, neither to the right nor to the left."

10. Nathan Lopez Cardozo - Rabbi and philosopher known for innovative thought, based in Israel.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Questioned the literal interpretation of the Torah.
    Halachot Violated: Challenges the belief in the divine authorship of the Torah and the principle of “Emunah” (faith).
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Yesodei HaTorah 1:1 - "The Torah is from Heaven, and it is a commandment to believe in its divine authorship."

11. Manis Friedman - Chabad rabbi known for teachings on relationships, based in the USA.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Stated that “G’d needs you,” implying a dependency of God on human actions.
    Halachot Violated: Contradicts the fundamental belief in God’s self-sufficiency and omnipotence, which is central to Jewish theology.
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Yesodei HaTorah 1:1 - "God is not dependent on anything; He is self-sufficient and does not require anything from His creations."

12. David Wolpe - Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Beverly Hills, California, USA.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Engaged in public discussions undermining the authority of the Torah.
    Halachot Violated: Challenges the principle of “Kedushat HaTorah” (sanctity of the Torah) and the obligation to uphold its teachings.
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Kedushat HaTorah 1:1 - "The Torah is holy and must be treated with the utmost respect and sanctity."

13. Shmuly Boteach - Rabbi and author known for relationship advice, based in the USA.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Promoted modern relationship ideas that compromise traditional Jewish values on family structure.
    Halachot Violated: Challenges the Torah’s teachings on family and marital fidelity, which emphasize the sanctity of marriage (Genesis 2:24).
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Ishut 1:1 - "The relationship between husband and wife is sacred, and fidelity is a fundamental principle."

14. Asher Meza - Rabbi known for outreach efforts, based in the USA.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Advocated for a lenient approach to Jewish law.
    Halachot Violated: Undermines strict halachic observance and the importance of following traditional Jewish law as outlined in the Torah.
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:1 - "One must follow the halacha as established by the sages and not take a lenient approach that deviates from tradition."

15. Moshe Weinberger - Rabbi known for Jewish spirituality, based in the USA.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Offered interpretations lacking a foundation in halacha.
    Halachot Violated: Strays from the established halachic framework, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of Jewish practice.
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:1 - "The authority of the sages is paramount, and their interpretations must be adhered to."

16. Efrem Goldberg - Rabbi of Boca Raton Synagogue in Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
    Severe Act of Heresy: Participated in interfaith dialogues that some view as compromising the integrity of Torah teachings.
    Halachot Violated: Violates the prohibition against interfaith worship and the principle of maintaining the distinctiveness of Jewish faith (Exodus 34:15-16).
    Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Avodah Zarah 12:1 - "It is forbidden to engage in interfaith worship or to compromise the distinctiveness of the Jewish faith."

IYH kindly partner with R. Mizrachi's efforts of kiruv, kollelim and avrechim in E.Y. and Torah lectures