That might surprise people, since I use them frequently. But
using labels does not mean I have a love affair with them. Quite the contrary.
As they apply to the Jewish people, labels are a reflection of the divisiveness
that exists among us. For someone like me, who craves unity, it’s easy to see
why I dislike them. I love unity. Labels tend to highlight the very opposite.
That said, I reject the oft-repeated claim that labels cause
- or even contribute to - our divisions. They do not. The divisions came first,
making labels necessary as a way to identify differing Hashkafos or
philosophies that often contradict one another. Those differences lead to
different worldviews, different ideas about right and wrong, good and evil, and
ultimately different visions of what Judaism demands of us.
Divisiveness is the enemy of unity. The unity of the Jewish
people is something I have longed for as far back as I can remember. Yet
whenever I use labels to define our differences, I am occasionally accused of
adding to that divisiveness.
As unfortunate as labels may be, they are a necessary evil.
They expose incompatibilities that are irreconcilable. It is important to know
where one is coming from when interacting with people that have these
differences. Thus, the need to ‘label’ Jewish denominations. Orthodox Judaism
is theologically and philosophically incompatible with any of the heterodox
denominations. While there can be unity in matters of public concern to the
Jewish people as a whole (For example fighting antisemitism) unifying beyond
that asks for compromise that is not possible from the perspective of
Orthodoxy.
Labels merely provide a convenient way to identify differing
understandings of Judaism and to recognize that they are fundamentally
irreconcilable.
When it comes to Orthodox Judaism, however, I have always
maintained that there should ideally be no labels among us. I have always felt
that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. Which is our shared
belief system and commitment to observing Halacha. Our shared observance of
Halacha occupies far more of our daily lives than does our Hashkafa and
philosophical disagreements.
And yet Orthodoxy seems to have more labels than any other
segment of Judaism.
Why?
Sadly, because those differences always seem to override our
similarities. Despite the fact that our common observance of Halacha binds us
together in so many ways, our differing worldviews keep us apart. Thus,
preventing the kind of unity that one would think is a no-brainer.
Some of those labels include: Sephardim, Chasidim, Charedim,
Moderate Charedim, Left-Wing Modern Orthodox, Centrist Modern Orthodoxy, and
Hirschian Orthodoxy. Many of these can be subdivided even further—especially
Chasidim.
All of these groups share is a common belief system and
commitment to Halacha. There is even some cross-fertilization among them. Yet
our philosophical differences have become so pronounced that, in some cases,
they have bred genuine hostility…
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