The following is a verbatim quote in its entirety from the comment section of my post “Orthodoxy Against Itself”:
"Who says that the modern orthodox dont attack the heimisha frum crowd.Who has been spearheading a campaighn aganst milah. It is the modern orthodox that are more dangerous to authentic Judaism than the reform.The attack against milah and metziza bapeh reminds us of the nazis trying to destroy Judaism. It is the modern orthodox who welcome homosexuals into their temples and allowed gay clubs into their so called yeshiva college. It is the modern orthodox that try to cut the emotional chord to Torah Judaism by misleading their youth.Thank G-d things are changing and that here as well as in Israel modern orthodox youth are dumping their knitted yamulkas in exchange for the black velvet authentic ones.
Heshy"
Thank you, Heshy, for demonstrating exactly what, and just how severe, the problem is. Your words express better than I ever could exactly the kind of intolerance that has been bred by Charedi rabbinic leadership and what we are up against.
Heshy actually accuses Modern Orthodoxy of conducting a campaign against one of the most fundemental Mitzvos in the Torah, Bris Milah, and follows that up with painting us as more dangerous to Judaism than the Reform Movement. In the next line he actually compares Modern Orthodox Jews to Nazis.
A while back I posted my complaint about Rabbi Shimshon Sherer’s public statements in his Shul condemning Modern Orthodox rabbis wherein he said virtually the same things Heshy did, minus the “Nazi” comparison. Is it any wonder that a constituent of the right has taken the attack one step further?
Lest anyone think that Heshy is an anomaly and Charedim in general don’t really think this way, don’t be fooled. Heshy is the prototype for this type of thinking in the world of Charedi Bnei Torah, and I thank him for expressing his candor. It gives us clarity when one opens up the way he did. There is no room for disagreement and tolerance, as I said.
Instead of trying to figure out a way toward Achdus, it sounds as though a war is being declared by the right. Heshy has thrown down the gauntlet. Thank G-d, he says, that things are changing and modern orthodox youth are dumping their knitted kipot in exchange for the black velvet yarmulkes which he claims are the only authentic ones. This underscores the emphasis of the right on Chitzonus... appearances... the “Fernando” phenomenon I wrote about. But this is another issue... for another time.
What to do about it. One of the major problems, as I see it, is the fact that there is absolutely no contact what so ever between the two groups. YU students have never been exposed to a Shiur from a Charedi Rosh Yeshiva and Lakewood students have never been exposed to a Shiur from Centrist Rosh Yeshiva. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen. It does... perhaps more frequently than most of us realize. But it has never been on a large and significant enough scale and never in any official capacity. In my view such cross fertilization would once and forever change hearts and minds. It can only be beneficial to both worlds to have all the Bnei Torah be exposed to the Torah of all the great Tamidei Chachamim of both the Charedi camp and the Centrist camp. It must be mandatory. No boycotting. Of course neither YU nor Lakewood would ever institute such a program.
This is where philanthropy can be of immeasurable value. If there is any like minded philanthropist out there with a couple of million dollars to donate to both schools he could be of great help. In fact he could be the catalyst for change the Torah world so desperately needs.
Here’s the deal: Offer a one million dollar donation no strings attached to both schools if they implement a mandatory once a week Shiur Klali, in the Beis Hamedrash on Sugyos each Yeshiva is learning given by Roshei Yeshiva of the other Yeshiva. For example Rav Hershel Schachter, would give a once a week Shiur in the main Lakewood Beis HaMedrash to Lakewood Bachurim and Rav Malkiel Kotler would do the same in YU. Mandatory attendance in both schools.
This, in my view would work. It would end the bias and each would be able to view the other with fairness rather than baseless hatred. There would not have to be any Hashkafa discussions and no one would have to change their firmly held beliefs in Torah uMada or Torah Only. There would only be a new and improved respect and tolerance. Will the 2 schools do it? A million dollars is a lot of money.
Without a step like this we will only get more Heshies.
