Q. Kvod Harav. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan in his book Jewish Meditation, describes a method for doing Teshuva by applying the not so commonly used methods of meditation. Does the Rav recommend it?
What is Horav Miller Shlit’a say about it?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’ais not very familiar with this particular book, so he didn’t provide an opinion.
However, there is no question that Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan z’l was a major factor in the development of the Ba’alei Teshuva movement especially for the younger crowd.
Horav Moishe Feinstein Zt’l addressed him in one of his Teshuvos as “my friend the Rav’ (O.H. 1: 94) and many other Rabbanim recognized his great kiruv achievements in the NCSY and the close to fifty sefarim he wrote.
Altough, he was himself a Baal Teshuva and also in his beginnings served in conservative institutions, he then joined the Klausenburg Yeshiva and became close to the Rebbeh, who later suggested, after some time of learning at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn, that he go and further his studies in Israel.
Rav Aryeh enrolled at Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. In 1956, he received his rabbinical ordination from Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Hertzog and also from R. Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir.
Rav Kaplan zt’l died at his home of a heart attack on January 28, 1983, at the age of 48. He was buried in Har Hazeisim, Yerushalaim.
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