Understanding the Problem is Half the Solution

Rav Aharon Lopiansky (Baltimore Jewish life)

I am a fan. Rav Aharon Lopiansky is the Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington – Tiferes Gedaliah. He is Charedi - and studied at Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem under some of the greatest Roshei Yeshiva of the 20^th century. He even married one of their daughters. (He is the brother in law of the late Mir Rosh HeYeshiva, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel.)

I am a fan because he does not shy away from the truth. He is is a seeker of Emes – just as my own Rebbe, R’ Ahron Soloveichik was.

Rav Lopiansky has recently published a book entitled Ben Torah for Life. It deals with a very serious reality in the Charedi world: the phenomenon of going OTD. These are Jews from Charedi backgrounds who leave the sheltered world of the Yeshiva that they attended and find a world that is not quite the way it was described by their Rebbeim and Roshei Yeshiva. And then might begin to question everything they were taught.

I have not read the book. However, a Facebook group to which I belong had a review of that book by a fellow who had apparently gone through the system all the way through Kollel - and then went OTD. Based on his description, some of the subsequent comments, and a brief description of the book on Amazon... I want to make the following observations.

Rav Lopiansky understands that the life one leads in the sheltered environs of the Yeshiva world does not necessarily prepare him for life outside of that world. Although most students that leave Kollel make a successful transition without going OTD, many do not. They can easily become disillusioned from what they were taught by what they actually see. That can and sometimes does lead to a crisis of faith. Rav Lopiansky speaks to the issue from his perspective as a Charedi Rosh HaYeshiva.

The reviewer gives credit to Rav Lopainsky for his keen observation of the fact that this problem exist - and to its extent. Which is mostly due to the false impression of the outside world that he was influenced to believe is the case. 

But the reviewer is critical of his solution or remedy. He says that instead of trying to change the narrative from the inside, he doubles down on the exceptionalism that these people were indoctrinated to believe about themselves as Jews in the first place. The reviewer notes that Rav Lopiansky’s approach is to focus on that exceptionalism in ways that are less obvious and easier to sell. In that way he is at least partially successful in convincing some of the potential OTD Jews to retain their religious convictions and standards.

I hear that criticism and agree with it to a certain extent. If it is true that he does not attack the systematic  denigration of the non Jewsih world by the Yeshiva world, it is a major flaw in his approach. That said, I do not blame him at all for trying to reinforce the positive. Meaning that the Jewish people are indeed exceptional by definition as God’s chosen people. 

We are an Am Segula - the treasured protectorate of God. We are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. As such we are mandated by God to act that way. Which is what the Torah is all about. Torah law is Jewish law. It is not the law of the nations.

But that does not mean that by default the nations of the world are evil. The opposite of holy is Chol (mundane) Not evil. Non Jews are not the antithesis of the Jewish people. That fact has been demonstrated many times by the righteous gentiles of the world. Of which I am absolutely convinced there are a lot more of than we are aware. If this is not emphasized in the book, it is indeed a flaw in my view.

At the same time, I cannot fault a Charedi Rosh Yeshiva for promoting his Hashkafa as the correct one. And trying to convince those who are confronted by a world not quite as described that their Charedi Hashkafos are the correct ones after all - using explanations more compatible with the realities they experience than what they were fed up to that point.

My own view on this subject has been expressed here more than once. I am a firm believer in telling the truth about the outside world. I am also a believer in people finding the niche that is right for them and not necessarily trying to stuff them into the narrow box of any specific Hashkafa. Orthodox Judaism is not a 'one size fits all' Hashkafa

I am a firm believer that if problems develop for individual that contradict the Hashkfa in which they were raised, they should be shown other legitimate Hashkafos. And the encouraged to explore them to see how compatible they are with their own world view. At the end of the day that will result in more 'at risk' Jews to keep the faith and remain observant – albeit with a different Hashkafa; in a different world; with a different lifestyle more compatible with his new found reality.

That said, not everyone at risk of going OTD can be convinced to remain faithful and observant. But I believe that a lot more would if there was a broader approach along those lines.

But… as I said at the outset. I did not read the book. It’s quite possible that as an Ish Emes - a man of truth - Rav Lopiansky would not disagree with me – even as he understandably promotes his own Hashkafos in his book.  

Or not. I guess I have to read the book.