I have often pondered the value of the Solomon Schechter School system.
The Solomon Schechter schools are the primary educational institutions of the Conservative movement. On the one hand they are indeed teaching a view of Judaism that from an Orthodox viewpoint is considered to be heretical. The heresy consists of a belief in the concept of biblical criticism which denies that the events at Sinai ever took place. They say instead that it was written much later in various different periods in Jewish history, mostly during the Babylonian Exile. They do, however, say that biblical narrative is an allegory written by the scribes and was divinely inspired.
On the other hand, Solomon Schechter schools teach that Mitzvah observance as mandated by the Torah, the Talmud and the Codes are binding. While they dispute Orthodoxy’s interpretation of those codes in some instances they agree to their binding nature generally.
So a child who attends such a school has a mixed bag of information to deal with, a combination of heresy and Halacha observance. In light of the proliferation of the Solomon Schechter schools, (...a somewhat late development in their history but never-the-less an increased presence on the Jewish landscape)the question arises as to how one should view attendance in such schools by those who would otherwise attend public schools.
Most of those attending those schools will quite likely continue to assimilate into oblivion, but, a significant minority will be inspired to continue in the movement as committed Conservative Jews believing themselves to be a legitimate denomination. This is a dangerous proposition in that the Torah world will have to face yet another group of educated Jews with apostate beliefs who will be difficult to distinguish from Modern Orthodox Jews with a legitimate view of the events at Sinai. They will think, act and look like Orthodox Jews, observing Mitzvos some attending Orthodox synagogues and participating in Jewish life in much the same way that the Modern Orthodox do. The only difference will be their views about the events at Sinai. Many/most do not believe it ever happened.
On the other hand, they will be learning elements of Judaism that are essentially true. And perhaps they will be motivated to seek truth by looking into Orthodox Judaism after seeing the hypocrisy of the Conservative movement. This has indeed happened. Many times. Without Solomon Schechter, these very sincere Baalei Teshuva would never have been exposed to Judaism at all.
Until a few years ago many of the graduates of the Solomon Schechter elementary schools attended the Modern Orthodox High school here in Chicago. After four years at an Orthodox high school many (but not all) of those graduates remain Orthodox.
An additional argument in favor of those schools is that it is much easier to mainstream kids who have had an elementary education consisting of reading Hebrew, learning Chumash, Navi, Jewish history, and other Jewish subjects, than it is trying to educate Baalei Teshuva who have virtually no background. Without the Solomon Schechter Schools, most of these kids would have gone to public schools and would have almost certainly been lost to assimilation.
So are we better off with the Solomon Schechter school system, or are we better off without Them?
I simply don’t know.
