In case there is any doubt about whether that ever actually happened, an unlikely source shows us that it definitely did happen.
I once described Eytan Kobre as the resident pit-bull of Mishpacha Magazine. I was strongly criticized for referring to him that way by some people. But I stood my ground because of the way he attacked those with whom he disagreed. While I had no issue with strong disagreement, I did have an issue with the way he tackled it. For him it was always black and white. This was the case with his views about the play Fiddler on the Roof. He trashed it for all the reasons I stated above.
But he has re-thought his approach because of Refoel Franklin. Mr. Franklin is a Baal Teshuva that Eytan Kobre wrote about in a previous issue of the Mishpacha Magazine. In the course of interviewing him, he was surprised to hear how Mr. Franklin became observant. It was the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof. After seeing that movie, he was inspired to check out his heritage and that ultimately led him to become observant.
I applaud Mr.Kobre’s intellectual honesty here. He now affirms what we Centrists know intuitively. That many issues that may seem black and white – are not. There is a lot of grey in them. In his latest column in Mishpacha he tells us that he will from now on be mindful of any possible redeeming factors that mitigate outwardly negative things. I am very happy that this very erudite and talented writer has had a change of heart and now recognizes that there is indeed a lot of grey in the world.
So it is with this – that I withdraw my pit-bull reference. I now regret it and apologize. I don’t know if he ever heard of me, or if he did – that he ever reads my blog or even acknowledges my existence. Nonetheless, I feel an apology is owed and it is my sincere hope that he accepts it.