RCA - Rav Ovadia Update

Someone on the YWN Coffee Room posted:

I spoke with my Rav (who's an RCA member) about the letter over Shabbos.

He said the membership of the RCA was never consulted about the letter, and the first they heard of it was when it was leaked. He said the internal message board for RCA members was the busiest he'd seen it in a long, long, time - and none of it was positive. Most members were furious with the 3 people who wrote the letter, and they let them know about it!

He said that Friday afternoon, an internal letter was sent to RCA members from the 3 writers, apologizing for claiming that they spoke for the membership of the RCA, when they had never discussed the issue. He did not know if they will also be apologizing to Chacham Ovadia.

I have inside sources (a senior RCA member) who could not divulge everything written in the RCA forums, but did tell me a few things that could be - and apparently already were - made public:

1) Rabbi Leonard Matanky from Chicago, who is one of the 3 signers of the letter, believes that the letter was very poorly written, and should not have Has Veshalom implied that the quote mentioned was directed against Rav Ovadia Shlit"a.  Rather, the letter was directed toward those who attacked Rav Stav at the Kotel Rav's daughter's wedding.

2) Rabbi Matanky, who is currently in Israel, along with R' Reuven Tradburks (Executive Director of RCA Israel) went to Rav Ovadia's shul to personally apologize to him.  He wasn't there, as he is in severe pain and was recently hospitalized (Refu'ah Sheleima to Rav Ovadia Yosef ben Gurjia).  Instead, they conveyed their apologies to his son, Rav David Yosef Shlit"a.

3) As is known, the letter was not intended to be made public at all.  Before Rav Stav even saw the letter, someone on his staff posted it to Facebook.

4) A letter of clarification from the RCA should be forthcoming soon.

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I hope this clears the air somewhat.  I hope this letter of clarification is written very soon, but I wish it would have been written earlier.

I tried to stay positive throughout this ordeal, and I hope I didn't transgress בצדק תשפט עמיתך in my writings.  I knew and continue to believe that the RCA is an honorable organization.  Apologies offered to those who were slighted by my posts on the matter.  My intent is Lesheim Shamayim.

Still awaiting the public clarification...