Moses' Liberal Farce

To the Editor:

I am impressed with Mr. Moses' erudition and eloquence, but appalled at his apparent lack of respect for Yeshiva and its leaders. Liberal Orthodoxy is a farcical misrepresentation. It seems to foster ideals akin to the Reform and Conservative movements, rather than supporting and bolstering Torah-true Judaism.

Moses decries the suburban neo-shtetl model, but Jewish communal life requires such closeness, as shuls and yeshivot must be within walking distance of residents, and residents must be numerous enough to populate these institutions. Or does Moses feel that liberal Orthodox Jews should head out to Dobbs Ferry or outer Long Island to pursue minyan-free lives?

Centrist Orthodoxy, a model that includes committed Jews from every side of the coin (also defined as "normal") stays comfortably distant from the political extremism of Agudah and the halakhic dysfunction of liberalism. That is precisely the mode of Judaism Yeshiva espouses and promotes. Admirably.

Michael Steinhart

New York

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