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| YCT announcement - Photo credit: VIN |
I have mixed emotions about this. But I am in fact pleased
that Agudah has responded to it – even if in a negative way. This shows that
they must recognize YCT as an Orthodox institution. Which it is, in my view. I
don’t for example believe they would be criticizing the Conservative Movement
if they invited Reform rabbis to a roundtable of their own.
My feelings about this issue are mixed for the following
reasons.
On the one hand – there is the rather well known decision by
the Gedolei HaDor of the previous generation to forbid any interaction with non
Orthodox movements. The fear was that by doing so, it would tacitly imply recognizing
their legitimacy. Orthodoxy rejects heterodox movements and considers them illegitimate.
It is also rather well known that Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik
made a distinction between interacting with them on any theological matters – which
he also forbade; and interacting with them on non theological matters that
impacted on the welfare of all of Jewry – which he permitted.
I agree with Rav Soloveitchik’s perspective. The question is
whether this round table falls into the category of theological discussion or
not. I’m not sure - but if I had to peg it, I would lean toward putting such a
roundtable on the theological side of the argument and thus forbid it.
That said, I wonder if that would be true if matters of
actual theology were expressly left out of the discussion. And the round table
was limited to a discussion of practical non-theological rabbinics. Like psychological
counseling or how to go about giving advice to congregants. The truth is that
heterodox rabbis probably have a lot to offer in the realm of practical non
theological rabbinics. As would say a
mental health professional or even a priest or minister for that matter.
On the other hand, since this is a Yeshiva hosting heterodox
rabbis I would be hard pressed to say that there would be no theological aspect
to it. It is a virtual impossibility to completely leave out theology in
such a discussion. Which is why I would be opposed to it.
There is, however, another thing to consider. What is extant today was
not extant when the Gedolei HaDor forbade such interactions. Times have
changed in ways which make me wonder if we should re-examine our positions. Let
me hasten to add that I do not advocate the policies of Open Orthodoxy that YCT
represents. They have rejected the prohibition of interacting with non-Orthodox
rabbis and now freely advocate full engagement with them at all levels –
including theological ones.
But I think it is fair to evaluate the reasons they have
done it. Times have indeed changed. When the prohibition was made, it was a
time that Reform and Conservative movements were on the ascendancy. They were a
real threat to Orthodox Judaism. Orthodoxy in America was in relative infancy
then. To wit - Rav Aharon Kotler who was the driving force behind the
prohibition headed a Yeshiva of about 300 students when he died. Today there are
over 6000 students there and they are growing exponentially. There are also now
many smaller Yeshivos like Lakewood that are now thriving. They did not exist
at that time.
There is no question that the small group of Orthodox Jews at
the time were seen by most non Orthodox observers as a dying relic of an
ancient past. While Heterodox movements were flourishing and growing by leaps
and bounds. It is very understandable
that the Gedolei HaDor did not want to give any semblance of recognition to
them. Their ‘David’ was fighting a very large Goliath.
But today - the tables have turned. We are the ones growing.
They are either shrinking (Conservative) or redefining Jewishness to include
non Halachic Jews (Reform).
It is therefore a fact that heterodoxy is no longer the
threat to Orthodoxy it once was – if at all. It is now apathy and indifference
that is the enemy. Jews are leaving Judaism in droves. They do not see any
denomination as relevant to their lives. They see themselves as secular human
beings in the brotherhood of man - without the slightest connection to Judaism.
One might even say that Conservative and
even Reform Judaism today is at least trying to get them to
retain their Jewish identity if nothing else.
In the light of all this, perhaps this is a Hora’as Shah –
time to act and change the paradigm. Maybe YCT is not so terribly wrong headed in partnering up with
these movements. I do not see legitimizing them as a danger anymore. The danger
is in the growing numbers of unaffiliated Jews who have no problem with
intermarriage and tend to buy into the ‘Apartheid’ narrative about Israel found
in the secular liberal/leftist environment in which they live.
This is not to say that I agree with YCT. I don’t. I am not
qualified to make judgments about Hora'as Shah. I am just thinking out loud. For example one
might argue that giving them legitimacy in any setting, no less
a Yeshiva, is forbidden in principal – having nothing to do with whether doing
so is some sort of existential danger to Orthodoxy. I can just as easily see
this argument as I can YCT’s argument.
Perhaps the fact that there is another aspect to this
now that did not exist before is why Agudah has not thrown YCT out of Orthodoxy
– as publications like the Yated have advocated. They must realize that they
are Orthodox in that they follow Halacha… and that their intentions with respect
to heterodoxy are good – even if badly mistaken for the reasons stated. And for
that, I applaud them.
