Leading Rabbis Denounce Forged Signatures in Letter Against Vizhnitz Hasidic Community
A controversy has erupted following the publication of a letter purportedly signed by prominent rabbis opposing the central Vizhnitz Hasidic community. In a special statement titled "Clarification of Matters," several leading Torah authorities and rabbis categorically denied signing the letter or declared their signatures invalid. The clarifications were compiled in an advertisement distributed throughout ultra-Orthodox communities, featuring copies of the letters and signatures alongside the rabbis' statements.
Notably, Rabbi Avigdor Nebentzel explicitly stated he did not sign the letter against the Vizhnitz community. Rabbi Sharial Rosenberg also clarified that his signature was not on the published letter. Rabbi Shmuel David Cohen Gross accused that his signature was fraudulently obtained and declared any previous endorsement null and void. Rabbi Azriel Auerbach emphasized he never intended to oppose any Hasidic community, while Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch confirmed that after clarifications, his signature was considered canceled. Rabbi Pinchas Shuv expressed regret over his previous statements, and Rabbi Natan Cohen Kopshitz supported the clarifications. Rabbi Amram Offman, a member of the Edah HaChareidis council, stated he did not sign the letter and that his signature was therefore invalid.
The advertisement explained that the community had refrained from responding for a long time but decided to act after attempts to mislead leading rabbis and use their names to persecute a sacred community. The notice stressed that the publication aims to halt defamation campaigns and prevent misuse of Torah leaders' names and signatures to harm the community's loyalty to the Vizhnitz Rebbe and its traditions. Ahead of the Days of Judgment, the notice called on the public to reject falsehoods and dissociation from "acts of strife and discord."
Representatives of the Vizhnitz community stated that the rabbis' clarifications demonstrate the letter does not reflect their true positions and expressed hope that this would end the ongoing persecution saga against their community and leadership.
