The Greening of American Orthodox

Judaism: Yavneh in the 1960’s by Benny Kraut (Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 2010)

Reviewed by Jeffrey S. Gurock

Biography: Jeffrey S. Gurock is Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History at University.

M e o r o t

A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Orthodox Modern of Forum A

Meorot 9 Tishrei 5772 © 2011

A Publication of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School

The Greening of American : Yavneh in the 1960’s by Benny Kraut (Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 2010)

Reviewed by Jeffrey S. Gurock

I remember, when almost twenty years ago, Jewish Religious Students Association. He Prof. Benny Kraut, of blessed memory, was staunchly remained committed to its vision of interviewed for the post of Dean of Yeshiva what Modern Orthodoxy could become, years College. As long-time head of Jewish Studies at after it had ceased to be, in his view, the the University of Cincinnati, with many dominant viewpoint at Yeshiva—or almost teaching awards, a plethora of publications to anywhere else in the American Orthodox his credit, and an alumnus of the college who world. And most of the key people who would surely lived an Orthodox life-style, he was an have actualized his hopes and dreams were not attractive candidate. He also had a noteworthy the revered resident eminences at his alma family connection, valued at the institution, as mater. one of his qualifications. His late father in law, Morris Besdin had developed the James Striar School, a branch of the university that One could be Orthodox, intellectually was ostensibly designed to bring in less inquisitive and rigorously steeped in modern observant, but decidedly committed, Jews into culture and have fun at the same time. the world of Torah that Yeshiva College proffered. His own leadership in Yavneh, both when he As I recall the meeting—I was on the search attended McGill University in Montreal and committee—the vetting of Kraut did not go subsequently when he transferred to Yeshiva very well. Although Kraut unquestionably was (1966-67), was for Kraut, “a life shaping both the gentleman and the intellectual, there experience.” There he perceived himself as was a sadness and even a touch of anger to among “a cadre of extraordinarily talented and Kraut‟s persona and to his understanding of accomplished young men and women, the institution; a stance that perplexed the university peers of high-minded religious committee. After reading The Greening of seriousness” who personified the possibility American Orthodox Judaism: Yavneh in the 1960s, “that one could be fully Orthodox, Kraut‟s labor of love about the institution of intellectually inquisitive and rigorously steeped his youth and young adulthood that he was in modern culture and have fun at the same deeply dedicated to, and is no more, I believe I time.” He recalled, with pride, the weekend better understand what troubled Kraut as he retreats and conventions, their events held “in attempted to articulate his vision for the front of many hundreds of people” where they Yeshiva College he aspired to lead in the explored and hammered out their ideas. And 1990s. he noted adoringly that at one of these At that late date, Kraut was still fighting the conclaves, he met his future wife, Penny, good battles that both inspired and roiled his which added a personal love connection to his beloved organization, Yavneh— the National admiration for Yavneh.

Meorot 9 Tishrei 5772 Gurock 2 But Kraut and his confreres, drawn not only Orthodox Jew and attend an Ivy League from within Yeshiva but from a myriad of top school.” No less important, they would band flight secular colleges and universities where together to diminish the sense of “alienation” Orthodoxy‟s modern voice had not yet been or marginality that such observant students felt heard, were out to do more than merely on these campuses, whether was caused by the understand themselves and their place within limited availability of kosher food or the crisis the Torah community and wider-worlds of of exams that were scheduled on the Sabbath thought. They were determined to redirect and holidays. And there always was a great American Orthodoxy‟s orientation. For him desire to provide a locus to foster members‟ the “greening” metaphor of the 1960s meant continued growth in their own Judaic that Yavneh‟s devotees would “epitomize and learning—through shi’eurim, lectures or embody modern orthodoxy‟s grand shabbatonim- even as they fought the good possibilities.” battles on secular campuses. Interestingly, at the very outset of Yavneh‟s existence, there Crucially important in helping Yavneh was some thought that members find their way religiously and students were not to be part of their endeavor, intellectually was a heuristic history professor since they did not have to confront these issues then at Yeshiva, Rabbi Irving “Yitz” where they went to school. But soon these Greenberg, who characterized those whom he students—and perhaps Kraut was the best inspired as “the first Jewish university exemplar—“assumed national leadership generation that produced an intellectually positions.” revolutionary atmosphere and orientation of Jewish attitudes and reevaluation of Jewish But along with creating their own community ideals and values.” To the extent that of the like-minded and religiously-committed Greenberg, throughout his long, distinguished came the question of how separate they wanted and controversial career, ever marshaled foot to be from other Jewish college students. After soldiers who campaigned incessantly for large- all, they perceived themselves as open both to scale communal adoption of central parts of new ideas and to divergent Jewish religious his highly-nuanced vision of Orthodoxy, these viewpoints and life-styles. And there was a cadres were his people. Fittingly, a portion of discernible sub-text, within segments of the organization, that they should fulfill a traditional mandate to bring those estranged The Orthodox Jew has a legitimate mutually- from or ignorant of the tradition closer to Orthodoxy—albeit with a very soft touch. enriching place in the world of secular learning Yet, Yavneh leaders often were of several this book first appeared in a jubilee volume for minds over whether spokespeople for Greenberg, whom Kraut characterized as “the Conservative Judaism were welcome to speak central adult figure in Yavneh‟s first six years and teach them Torah. In the most heated case (1960-1966) and whom he revered for having of Columbia‟s Yavneh, they were talking about “fundamentally deflected the basic trajectory of Jewish Theological Seminary professors who my (professional) life.” were ensconced just up the block from them on Morningside Heights. There also were often Given their implicit marching orders, it meant frequent contretemps with campus and that Yavneh members were determined to national Hillel officials over what religious “show that the Orthodox Jew has a legitimate pluralism meant. In asserting that they mutually-enriching place in the world of represented and served all Jewish students in secular learning and that one could be an university settings, many Hillel directors, of

Meorot 9 Tishrei 5772 Gurock 3 decidedly Conservative and Reform Orthodox youngsters who came to universities orientations, did not look kindly towards after a year or more of intensive study in Israel accommodating Yavneh‟s unbridgeable perceived Yavneh‟s intellectual offerings to be Orthodox needs and restrictions. Meanwhile “far less fulfilling.” They were more than Yavneh‟s leaders, who were both Orthodox happy to continue their more narrowly focused and decidedly independent-minded individuals, informal Talmudic learning through their own resented Hillel‟s claims of suzerainty over study circles. Moreover, those who wanted Jewish campus life. “Jewish studies” courses had a multitude of credit-bearing courses available on campus. At the same time, a segment of Yavneh‟s own But Kraut‟s sad assessment was that the type heterogeneous leadership sought to gain the of American Orthodoxy that he was proud to approbation of the Orthodox right, reaching be part of, and that he prayed would persist out to some renowned Torah sages as a and grow, did not flourish beyond the brief “means of bridging the gulf that presently shining moment of the 1960s. Rather, to the separates the Jewish college student “ who author‟s regret, the efflorescent “religious opted for a diversified secular and religious right,” with its “assertion of sole religious education “from the realm of the „Ben Torah.” authority and authenticity,” captured the hearts Reportedly Rabbi Greenberg “was none too and minds of all too many American Orthodox pleased at this rightward drift within Yavneh‟s college students, even those enrolled in the national office.” Kraut‟s honest and forthright most secular of universities. recital of campaigns and conflicting concerns is told chapter by chapter within a well- documented book that relies on the The “religious right” with its assertion of sole organization‟s archives—which he “rescued in religious authority captured the hearts and 1985 from the second floor of the Manhattan minds of all too many Orthodox college Mizrachi building—, interviews and his own personal, admittedly partisan, heartfelt students recollections.

To some extent, the saga of ”Yavneh Still proud of Yavneh to the end, Benny Kraut sputtering to an end during the 1980-81 saw the spirit of Yavneh live on, if not as academic year” is typical of that of many one- Orthodoxy‟s majority viewpoint but, in his generational youth organizations of that and view, as its most dynamic minority. He other times. Kraut recounts in calm, prosaic perceived continuity through such institutions language such common issues as “the lack of as Edah, which had its own short existence in an independent financial base, student the 1990s; this journal and Yeshiva‟s continuity and professional executive” as University‟s Torah U-Mada Journal, and undermining factors. But there was an implicitly through Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, additional dimension to Yavneh‟s decline. The He was also sure to enumerate his elite of next generation of Orthodox college students contemporary Orthodox life who still have needed neither the social nor the cultural their say, a “who‟s who of modern (or centrist support their predecessors needed. More or left) Orthodoxy.” For himself, Prof. Kraut painfully for Kraut, many did not want the maintained his own independent spirit to the open type of Orthodoxy Yavneh offered. The end of his lamentably short life. Such a free good news for the larger Orthodox community and even defiant disposition is typified by a was that many universities eventually began to letter of submission that he sent to Prof, go out of their way to meet the religious needs Michael A. Meyer, Chair of the Publications of these bright students. Concomitantly, Committee of the Hebrew Union College

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Press: “I am sure some Orthodox Jews will circles as possible.” It is a credit to his friends, not buy the book because of its publisher. That colleagues and associates who deeply loved won‟t stop me from publishing with you if you him, and respected his labors, that this accept it, nor should it dissuade the press from thoughtful book has been brought to light after promoting the book in as many Orthodox its author‟s tragic passing in 2008.

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