The Role of Pop Culture in Torah Growth and Education: a Conversation

Engaging Secular Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin Director of Education, NCSY and Faculty, IBC and Sy Syms School of Business Culture and Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman Rosh Yeshiva, RIETS and Rabbi, Ohr Saadya, Teaneck, NJ moderated by Rabbi Yaakov Glasser David Mitzner Dean, YU’s Center for the Jewish Future Rabbi, Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton, NJ THE ROLE OF POP CULTURE IN TORAH GROWTH AND EDUCATION: A CONVERSATION hanukah accentuates the place specifically during a period of society that is characterized by its threshold between the Jewish time when people are “in the street.” own ideals and culture is contingent home and the public domain. The religious and cultural crisis upon our ability to discern and filter, CBoth the position of the menorah that ultimately led to the Chanukah embrace and reject; to relate to the and the timing of lighting relate to story has much to do with the complexity and nuance of the world the ritual act of observance, as well as challenge of living a unique Jewish around us. to the distinction between our own life within the larger environment of In no area of societal engagement internal home environment and the the outside world. Total isolation is is this more complex than popular outside world. We ideally light the virtually impossible, while complete culture. Popular culture emanates menorah in the doorway of our home, integration has shown to be an almost from the population that creates, or minimally at a window through certain path toward assimilation. nurtures, and sustains it. We are part which we can project the light out Clearly, our capacity to survive and of that population, and therefore into the street. The lighting takes thrive within the framework of a 11 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5779 exposed to much of its substance. and understood, and is of course a While his focus was on film, he could Its influence is inevitable, yet also concern. But the term “pop culture” have just as well been commenting incredibly challenging. How do we requires greater definition. Often, on any medium depicting the human relate to the popular culture around in discussing the parameters of condition. us? How do we determine which engagement, we talk about “low So which is it? Presumably, both elements are opportunities for the culture” and “high culture.” I don’t descriptions are possible. Further, a edification of our religious life, and know if I’m qualified to define person’s reaction joins the intent of which threaten it? How do we create these terms, but I would not use the producer with the sensitivities of a framework of engagement that the particular medium or genre as the consumer, making the eventual relates to the reality within which defining what is low culture and response a highly individual outcome we live, yet also rises above it when what is high culture. I would rather that transcends the vessel that the standards are not appropriate define high or low culture based on contains the product. to our values? How do we teach our what the product seeks to evoke, children that certain elements of the or even more subjectively, what the High culture, accordingly, would be culture may prove enjoyable and unique personality of the individual that which elevates and edifies, while enriching, while others are hostile and consumer takes from the experience. low culture desensitizes and demeans. This classification might not be a incongruent with our way of life? How To illustrate, Rav Moshe Feinstein, do we place limits on our exposure binary reality inherent in the artistic zatzal, in his Teshuvos (Igros without projecting inconsistency and output, but can be descriptive of the Moshe II, 79), is dismissive of the hypocrisy to those around us? The unique experience that occurs to the possibility of any redeeming value consumer, which can vary widely discussion that follows explores the in theatrical pursuits, noting, among religious and communal dynamics from the experience of a different other objections, that they reduce consumer. that frame these questions. our aversion to the seriousness of murder and the value of human life. Of course, the intent of the creator What are the challenges and This is an understandable and in fact does play an outsized role, which opportunities that you see in documentable concern: the U.S. Army adds to concerns inherent in whatever our community’s relationship has trained soldiers to overcome might be called “low culture.” to pop culture? a resistance to killing the enemy Objectionable content may not by exposing them to war movies; only be incidentally present, but this resistance to killing was also may represent the purpose of the RABBI far less common once such movies production, greatly intensifying the FELDMAN: Our had permeated the general culture. already significant obstacles therein. Yeshiva is known for, Undeniably, such depictions have the among other This, again, is a classification that capacity to dehumanize the other and qualities, balancing exists outside of medium and genre. disconnect the viewer. an appreciation of the wisdom and With all due respect to Marshall culture of all of humanity with an And yet other reactions are possible McLuhan, the medium may be the absolute commitment to the too. The late film critic Roger Ebert message, but not absolutely so. While principles of Torah, which is notably compared movies to “a one medium or another may be more necessarily exclusive of much of what machine that generates empathy,” or less conducive to a particular type is present within that culture. claiming that they “let ... you of experience, it is also true that every Accordingly, by that reality, it is the understand a little bit more about medium has unique capacities in how relationship with culture itself that is different hopes, aspirations, dreams it communicates, and in the hands of both the challenge and the and fears [and] help ... us to identify a thoughtful artist can enhance any opportunity. with the people who are sharing this message. journey with us.” Also, “The great Likewise, the same applies when The significant problem of movies enlarge us, they civilize us, addressing “pop” culture. The objectionable content is well known they make us more decent people.” manifestations of culture can be at 12 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5779 once popular and also high, low, or That being said, I do think it is training ground for such development. any place in between. Shakespeare, in important to be aware of the risks that Nonetheless, many bnei aliyah have his day, was the ultimate in popular are attached to sports fandom. The found opportunities within both to culture. [Similarly, the oeuvre of admiration of professional athletes display and to mold refined character, Alfred Hitchcock has generated generally focuses on skills and abilities and we all benefit from their efforts. many hundreds of pages of scholarly that do not have inherent moral or analysis.] spiritual value, and then draws us RABBI The crucial question then is not into idolizing of individuals who may BASHEVKIN: Let’s whether the product was designed not have any other traits worthy of start with a given. for the masses, or appreciated by emulation by bnei Torah (of course We’re talking about them, but rather what effect it has on they may indeed be upstanding and communities that its beholder. This, in turn, is greatly admirable people, but that is not a are already engaged in outside culture. shaped by the eye of that beholder, as necessary prerequisite for athletic Whether its subscriptions to the Wall well as by his ear, mind, and soul. skill). Street Journal, television, art, movies, or theater, many in our community Every individual needs to understand Again, many spiritually sensitive people engage with culture in different ways. I himself and what he extracts from have found great inspiration and moral would like to leave aside a halakhic his interaction with any form of insight from their engagement with discussion, since, as far as I know this culture, popular or otherwise. The the sports world. However, as with is not being published in the Purim strength and character of our internal all cultural intake, this is contingent edition, and such a discussion is foundation will greatly impact what on the consumer’s own inherent woefully out of my scope of expertise. such engagement brings, and thus moral framework, since the game will Sadly, much of outside culture is. define both the challenge and the generally not provide such messages or highlight them naturally. opportunity. I want to start by highlighting Regarding sports, I’m in a minority I have heard many rebbeim modify the an important distinction in the on this question because I am more statement of the Talmud that one can question. A February 1949 article in cautious about sports than I am about be recognized “b’koso, kiso, u’b’kaaso” Harper’s, titled “Highbrow, Lowbrow, some other aspects of general culture, (in one’s [uninhibited] intoxicated Middlebrow,” by Russel Lynes, which I think is a less common state, in one’s spending priorities, introduced to a wider audience the attitude. I should mention first that and in one’s state of anger,” Eiruvin distinctions within different forms 65b), to include “ ,” i.e. one’s many wonderful bnei Torah, many b’kaduro of culture. Namely, there are two character can be discerned by how outstanding talmidei chachamim who major poles in culture. There’s elite are far beyond me, have benefited they behave on the basketball court.

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