What does anyone suppose would happen if Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law would sponsor anything jointly with The Conservative Movement’s Rabbinical Assembly?
Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the Conservative Movement’s left leaning, University of Judaism and one of their leading lights will be giving a lecture entitled, “Unity Within Diversity, Theories of Law in Conservative Judaism”.
Would such a lecture given at YU’s Cardozo be cause for protest? I certainly think it would. And rightfully so. In fact I think it would be pretty outrageous!
Yeshiva University has been severely criticized many times, not the least of which was for allowing homosexual living arrangements on one of its campuses. It did so because it was so mandated by federal rules governing universities that accept federal funding. To put it the way Dr. Lamm did at the time, it was either that or closing down Einstein Medical School.
Rabbi Mordechai Gifter famously responded at the time that his alma mater, Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchak Elchanan (REITS) should close before allowing that on any of its campuses as that gives the appearance of granting the Torah’s blessing to a Toevah. One can quibble about who was right in that instance. But is there any question that Rabbi Gifter and virtually every other rabbinic leader would condemn a jointly sponsored lecture by YU’s Cardozo and Conservative Judaism’s Rabbinical Assembly?
Well, that is precisely what is going to take place. Only it isn’t YU’s Cardozo. It is Touro Law Center. That’s right, Touro, the college founded by Dr. Bernard Lander as a more appropriate college alternative to Yeshiva University. This is the same institution that many right wing Roshei Yeshiva promote over YU. One who’s Hashkafos are more in line with their own Charedi Hashkafos. Touro, where education is about Parnassa and not Hashkafa.
How can it be that not a single word has been heard in protest? Not one word has been uttered in opposition? Where is the Agudah Moetzes? Where is Rabbi Gifter’s spiritual heir? Why do we not hear the condemnation that would almost certainly be heard if this were taking place in any of the affiliated YU schools? Rabbi Keller famously condemned YU for hosting a group of Cardinals. Where are they now? Is Touro the holy grail? Are they immune from criticism?
