2008 Woodie Awards
Modern Orthodox vs. Yeshivish
Immanuel Shalev
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Opinion
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I'm not Modern Orthodox, but I'm not Yeshivish. Like many YU students, I grew up in a Modern Orthodox community. I heard catch phrases like "Torah u-Maddah" and "Emunah v-Umanut", ideas that were the ethos of our way of life. Ideally, Modern Orthodoxy was a great way to interact with the rest of the world under a Jewish framework. Torah was priority one, but there were other priorities on the list. Obviously I am doing a poor job of expressing the central tenants of Modern Orthodoxy, but that is not my intention.
The Yeshivot in Israel that are attended by most YU students are not Modern Orthodox. However, the philosophies they impart don't often contradict those of Modern Orthodoxy. Instead, The Yeshivot tend to untangle the vague and confusing principles of MO education. It's true though, that pre-Israel education is vague and confusing. Students are taught about various mitzvot, and are given a general idea of halakha, but not about its evolution or its obligatory nature. Talmud Torah is stressed as a guidebook, but without any explanation as to how the study of ketubot really fulfills that role. Students are left to feel-out their way, and to sense the ideals of Judaism.
This is a huge problem in the modern world. For someone who doesn't understand the importance of davening, attendance to tefilah three times a day can be taxing. Contrasted with a rational and questioning modern world, the mindless recitation and chanting of liturgy can seem quite ridiculous. Gemara is often unapproachable, and explaining why you can't just pick out the strawberries from your salad on Shabbos can be exhausting. I have friends that have gone off the derech, and the phenomenon is, sadly, common.
The Yeshiva experience clearly delineates the tenets of Judaism, and explains the framework of halakha and its powerful authority. MO students return to their communities enlightened, purpose driven, and properly prepared. Their time is sacred, and their priorities are honed, yet they somehow clash with the world that was once their home.
The Yeshivot in Israel that are attended by most YU students are not Modern Orthodox. However, the philosophies they impart don't often contradict those of Modern Orthodoxy. Instead, The Yeshivot tend to untangle the vague and confusing principles of MO education. It's true though, that pre-Israel education is vague and confusing. Students are taught about various mitzvot, and are given a general idea of halakha, but not about its evolution or its obligatory nature. Talmud Torah is stressed as a guidebook, but without any explanation as to how the study of ketubot really fulfills that role. Students are left to feel-out their way, and to sense the ideals of Judaism.
This is a huge problem in the modern world. For someone who doesn't understand the importance of davening, attendance to tefilah three times a day can be taxing. Contrasted with a rational and questioning modern world, the mindless recitation and chanting of liturgy can seem quite ridiculous. Gemara is often unapproachable, and explaining why you can't just pick out the strawberries from your salad on Shabbos can be exhausting. I have friends that have gone off the derech, and the phenomenon is, sadly, common.
The Yeshiva experience clearly delineates the tenets of Judaism, and explains the framework of halakha and its powerful authority. MO students return to their communities enlightened, purpose driven, and properly prepared. Their time is sacred, and their priorities are honed, yet they somehow clash with the world that was once their home.