YU and Edah

News Analysis

Anyone in MYP is familiar with the general lack of support for Edah amongst the Roshei Yeshiva. But many of the YU students who attended the recent Edah conference noticed that a significant number of people presenting at the conference also teach at YU or have semikha from RIETS. What remains unclear to many students is what the specific objections of the Roshei Yeshiva are and how YU fits into the new vision of Modern Orthodoxy that Edah is attempting to put forward.

The Rosh Yeshiva most associated with opposition to Edah is Rabbi Moshe Dovid Tendler. His primary complaint against Edah is that its goal, in his view, is to blur the lines between Orthodoxy and other factions. "Feminism is their driving force and the cargo is pluralism," explains Tendler. He complains that not being able to tell people that they are non-Jews (i.e. those who are Jewish only by patrilineal descent) is perverting the definition of a Jew. Although Tendler has often been understood as attacking Reform Jews, his actual complaint is more refined. He stresses that what he calls "irreligious Orthodox Jews" are our people. Rather, the problem is with the Reform and Conservative rabbinic leadership, who have the education and "know better," and are purposely leading their people astray. He wants the laity to realize that they are "tinokot shenishba" and encourages them to reject a movement which will allow a "patrilineal descent, non-theist, gay Rabbi."

Part of why Tendler is the most noticeable voice in YU is that most Roshei Yeshiva are unwilling to talk to the press. This leaves their invective towards Edah and other current issues which they present in shiur to be, for the most part, publically unexamined.

However, Rav Hershel Shachter, arguably the most widely respected Rosh Yeshiva at YU, did discuss his views on the issue with this reporter. He started off by saying that Edah is "interested in dealing with contemporary issues with a halakhic approach ... which is commendable." However, he stressed that the people who review the relevant halakhot must be the greatest talmidei khakhamim, which those involved in Edah are not, nor do they claim to be. He sees women's issues as a major focus, although not the only halakhic issue dealt with by Edah, and feels that they are not contacting the proper authorities.

Rav Tendler feels that Edah has not found acceptance among YU students since, he believes that most students see it as deviating from Orthodoxy. He says that the current generation of students is the best ever and that the students are in agreement that halakhic Judaism is in full consonance with what the gedolim say.

Rav Shachter is more open to the ideas that Edah presents, but felt that another organization was unnecessary, as YU is capable of addressing the issues. He blamed the YU leadership for not taking positions on the issues or addressing people's concerns.

Mashgiach Ruchani Rabbi Yosef Blau does not feel that the issue of Edah's relations to YU is a crucial matter, nor, according to Blau, do the Roshei Yeshiva feel that the issue of Edah in general is relevant enough to YU for them to take an official position on it. However, he did note that the large YU attendance at the conference shows that a lot of people are interested in Edah's positions. He also does not feel that it is true, as many in Edah have claimed, that there has been a major shift to the right among Modern Orthodox Jewry. He noted, in contrast, that haredim had picked up three major aspects of Modern Orthodoxy, namely acceptance of the state of Israel, having jobs, and teaching women.

Blau argues that YU's lack of initiative in addressing the issues addressed by Edah, especially non-controversial ones such as improving t'fila, is due to a shifting of focus from "the movement to the University." He explained that YU is both the leader of Modern Orthodoxy as well as a university, and at different times focuses on different things. In the past, YU ran seminars and adult education programs, but they have now shifted their focus towards improving the University.

Most people in the Yeshiva seem to recognize that many of Edah's issues are relevant, but would prefer for them to be dealt with within our current structure. Rabbi Norman Lamm expressed this view in a letter to The Jewish Week in which he stated that he was not opposed to Edah's goals but he was opposed to setting up a new organization.

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, a member of the Edah board who described himself as "the one who gives the Roshei Yeshiva something to complain about," feels that YU would not want to be involved in Edah since they do not agree with his goals. He argues that most of the Roshei Yeshiva have departed from Modern Orthodoxy and see it as a necessary evil or want to get rid of it. He claims that they focus on bein adam l'makom to the exclusion of bein adam l'khaveiro, and that in YU, "people who focus on Torah U'Madda are kept down."

However, judging from the conference, most people do not share Greenberg's view of YU. Many of the rabbis who teach at YU and are involved in Edah value what the school stands for, but are committed to pushing the changes which Edah proposes. Keep in mind what Edah lists as its main goals enhancing one's spiritual life and involving more Jews in serious Torah learning. These are not things with which very many rabbis would disagree.

When all is said and done, many YU people went to the conference and many didn't. Many of us identify with Rabbi Berman's view of things and many of us don't. But as varying views of what Modern (or for those who don't like that term, non-Haredi) Orthodoxy unfold over the next few years, there are a couple of things most rabbis would tell you to keep in mind.

First, if someone presents an opinion, whether it's your Rosh Yeshiva or Yitz Greenberg, find out what is behind their statements. Do not summarily accept or reject anything. This leads not to a less respectful community, but a more educated one, and one which is better able to formulate opinions.

Second, and most important, Judaism is a person's personal connection with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. It does not involve membership in any organization. Recently, the papers reported that following the Haredi demonstration in Israel two weeks ago, hundreds of Israelis signed up with the Reform movement. This seems extraordinarily silly; just because they signed up to join a movement, does that mean they are any more or less religious? Or does it mean that they wrote their names on a piece of paper? So don't be hesitant to explore new ideas or go to listen to a rabbi presenting his views. What's the worst that will happen? You won't validate his opinion by going and you won't permanently commit yourself to being a follower of this individual or anyone who donated money to make his speech possible. The worst that will happen is that you'll disagree, and you'll probably go home with a clearer understanding of your own beliefs.

YU will continue to turn out talmidei khakhamim and both religious and lay leaders of Modern Orthodoxy. It will always be the main focus of modern, halakhic Judaism because of the broad spectrum of ideas represented here and the broad spectrum of bright and ambitious students which graduate from this school. But this requires that YU maintain its intellectual freedom and excellence and not resort to fear-mongering and divisive or defensive tactics.

Related Stories:

• Edah Holds Conference
• Yeshiva's Demise, Edah's Rise, and the Emerging Progressive Orthodox Balance
• Edah and the "Luchos Ho'edus"