Black list: the frumer than thou game

I would think most American Jews don’t understand the significance of the Rabbinical black list which came out of Israel. Unfortunately going back in Jewish history, Jews and particularly Rabbis played the frumer than thou game. Individuals believe they know it all and their opinions are G-d given. Even among the most religious there have always been divisions where Rabbis vilified each other and did not accept each other’s religious positions. A prime example is the kosher certification game where some wont accept certifications like the Orthodox Union and wont allow their congregants to buy from stores unless they are using specific supervisions. I grew up in a Holocaust home in Kansas City MO that wasn’t Sabbath observant. Because of the influence of my Rabbi and youth group I decided to become a Rabbi and attend Yeshiva University. In Kansas City I was considered a RAbbi because I was one of the few young observant people. Coming to NY I discovered I had no Yichus, family religious credentials which would have made me acceptable to religious families. After being ordained as a Rabbi, I quickly learned that as Rabbis we were judged by our peers. Among Rabbis kosher certifications and witnessing at Religious rites are often rejected. But, the regular Jew, not a Rabbi, does not understand nor care about these judgments. People just follow whatever their Rabbi says.