Rosh Hodesh Adar 5765
Honored Rabbis, shelit\"a,
We the undersigned are deeply disturbed by the ban issued against Rabbi Nosson Slifkin and his writings.
We are specifically concerned about the following:
1. What appears to have been a rush to judgment.
Many signers of the ban did not read the books in question. Some relied on misleading excerpts from the books as compiled by opponents of Rabbi Slifkin; many more simply relied on what they were told by those opponents.
Further, Rabbi Slifkin was apparently not given the chance to defend himself, and few if any of the signers spoke with Rabbi Slifkin directly.
2. That a world older than 5765 years is not a new concept in Judaism.
Indeed, the shita of an Old World is known as the Shitat Sefer Temunah and has been known since at least the last 1900 years. Its adherents included many pre-Ari mekuballim including Yitzhak mi Akko, the student of the RAMBAN who investigated and authenticated the Zohar and who is often quoted in Reishit Chochma. How a view held by prominent Tana\'im and Rishonim could now be viewed as kefirah troubles us.
Indeed, we view the abundance of physical evidence supporting that view to be wonderous proof to the authenticity of our Mesorah.
3. The idea that Chaza\"l could err in medicine and science is not new.
Indeed, it is the position of both the RAMBAM and his his son Avraham. It is found in the introduction to Ein Ya\'akov and has been an accepted shita for at least 800 years. It was not originated or popularized by Rabbi Slifkin.
4. The ban against Rabbi Slifkin is also a ban against many others.
The ideas the ban deemed kefira are held by many of us and by many of our rabbinic leaders. Perhaps without realizing it, the ban has written many thousands of otherwise good Jews out of Judaism and out of the world to come, chas vashalom!
Therefore, in light of the above, we respectfully request your Honor to rethink his participation in this ban and act to save both the lives of Rabbi Slifkin and his family and our lives as well.
Thank you and may HaShem bless you with all good.
Signed,