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| Rabbi Asher Lopatin seen here with the Zidichover Rebbe |
I identify
with the right wing of Modern Orthodoxy called Centrism. I guess being a
Centrist means looking to my right and to my left and seeing both sides rejecting my views as either illegitimate (by the
right) or out of touch (by the left).
But
the truth is that Centrism is not some sort of middle ground. We are as proactive in Mitzvah observance as the right. And our attitude towards the
secular world – both intellectually and culturally is the same as the left. We
view it as positive when it does not contradict our Torah values and even as an
enhancement of our Torah observance in many cases. I’d like to believe that I could
live in both worlds of the right and the left. But I don’t think I could live
in either. I could neither live in a world that rejects all of secular culture
or in a world that embraces values I consider counter to Torah values.
That said I
will always defend both the right and the left as valid members of Orthodoxy. I
have recently defended the Agudah for example – even though I disagree with
some of their policies. But I also defend
the left even though I sometimes disagree with their policies.
Which brings
me to a letter signed by a large number of RCA rabbis (although it was not an
official RCA document). The RCA is the fraternity of Modern Orthodox rabbis
that represents a wide spectrum of Modern Orthodox views, from those that are
almost Charedi to those who are almost Open Orthodox. The letter was critical
of Rabbi Asher Lopatin and Open Orthodoxy.
In short they were responding to a plea to
the right by Rabbi Lopatin written in the Yated. He asked to be allowed to
build bridges with them.
Rabbi
Lopatin was hurt by all the shrill voices of condemnation of him and his views
before he has even begun his presidency of Yeshiva Chovevei Torah (YCT). The point of
that RCA letter was that if Rabbi Lopatin is so upset at his critics who want
to remove him from Orthodoxy – that he ought to look in the mirror. It is he –
they say – that by his actions and his views ‘put him on the other side of the
divide’.
While I
understand what they were saying and even agree with them to a point (For example - I criticized
his round-table discussion with the leaders of Reform and Conservative Judaism)
- I would not have signed that letter. I know Rabbi Lopatin. He is a good man
and truly believes in across the board Achdus.
Rabbi
Lopatin is a bridge builder. He wants it all. I don’t know if he is going to
get it - but I would cut him some slack as he tries. He had an excellent
relationship here in Chicago with the right. Why not let him try and mend some
fences in the larger Orthodox world? It is one of his stated goals in taking
over the leadership role at YCT.
Given the
chance he might even modify his approach to pluralism so as to make it more
palatable – if not completely acceptable to the right. Before publicly criticizing
him he should be given the opportunity to seek the Achdus we so sorely lack.
And by Achdus, I do not mean agreement. I mean acceptance and friendship. As I
have repeatedly said, I agree with Rabbi Lopatin’s goal - which is
outreach to the Jewish masses. I just disagree
with some of his methods based on my understanding of the directives of my
mentor and his, Rav Ahron Soloveichik, and his brother, the Rav.
The truth is
that all Orthodox denominations have failed at outreach. Centrists included.
This can be seen by our relatively small numbers as compared to the rest of
Jewry. Even with all our outreach efforts and growth - we are only ten percent
of the total number of Jews in America. As I have said in the past – that 70%
of non Orthodox Jews intermarry is not something to be disregarded. We are
hemorrhaging badly.
Rabbi Lopatin’s movement is at least trying even if it is in
ways that are problematic to the rest of Orthodox Jewry. But what about the rest
of us?
Rabbi Simcha Kraus who identifies as a Centrist believes
that we Centrists can do more and has written an article along these lines. He puts the blame squarely on the ‘move to the
right’. This affects all segments of Orthodoxy (with the possible exception of
the left). There was a time in America
when Centrist values were more mainstream. Even in right wing Yeshivos. But no
more. Here is an excerpt that tells the story:
Then came the "turn to the right" that is so often touted by Orthodox triumphalists as a great success. In fact, this was a retreat from the challenge of the non-Jewish worlds, from fellow Jews who were not as Orthodox, and from modernity as a whole. The sad result has been described by the late Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik…
While Rabbi Soloveitchik claimed to have successfully transmitted the intellectual heritage of Judaism to his students, he admitted to failure in transmitting the Jewish religious experience. This, he felt, was because the students "act like children and experience religion like children."
He went on: "This is why they accept all types of fanaticism and superstition. Sometimes they are even ready to do things that border on the immoral. They lack the experiential component of religion, and simply substitute obscurantism for it. After all, I come from the ghetto. Yet I have never seen so much naive and uncritical commitment to people and to ideas as I see in America. All extremism, fanaticism and obscurantism come from a lack of security. A person who is secure cannot be an extremist."
Immaturity and obscurantism, superstition and intolerance, abound in the Orthodox community, and the problem has worsened since Rabbi Soloveitchik's day. Every problem has a simple answer, it seems, and life is robbed of all its complexity.
Do you have doubts about the divinity of the Torah? Bible codes "prove" the truth of the traditional view.
Does the death of 6 million innocent Jews in the Holocaust give you theological problems? There is "proof" that the Jews were punished for assimilation, for Zionism or for something else. Similar "proofs" explain why the World Trade Center tragedy took place.
Is someone sick? Have the mezuzahs checked. Marital problems? Have the ketubah checked? Are you still single? Stop speaking lashon hara.
Contemporary Jews are thirsty for Jewish spiritual sustenance, but give them medieval obscurantism and superstition, and they will run the other way - as proven by the new data. Orthodoxy is losing the battle of ideas because our culturally outmoded thinking and language cannot convince anyone even minimal intelligence or cultural sophistication.
Need I say more?
