The Next Generation of Modern Orthodoxy Next Generation.indb 1 4/3/12 3:43 PM Chancellor of Yeshiva University, meets each year to consider major issues of concern to the Jewish community. Forum participants from throughout the world, including academicians in both Jewish and ah, Jewish educators, and Jewish communal professionals, gather in conference as a think tank to and disseminate a new and vibrant Torah literature addressing the critical issues facing Jewry today. gratefully acknowledges the support of the Joseph J. and Bertha K. Green Memorial Fund established by Morris L. Green, of blessed memory. OF 19 r10 draft 08 balanced.indd ii 9/23/2008 8:19:37 AM Next Generation.indb 2 4/3/12 3:43 PM The Next Generation of Modern Orthodoxy EditEd by Shmuel Hain Robert S. Hirt, Series Editor the michael scharf publication trust of the yeshiva university press new york Next Generation.indb 3 4/3/12 3:43 PM Copyright © 2012 Yeshiva University Press Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The next generation of modern orthodoxy / edited by Shmuel Hain. p. cm. -- (Orthodox Forum series) Includes index. ISBN 978-1-60280-206-3 1. Orthodox Judaism--Congresses. 2. Judaism--21st century--Congresses. I. Hain, Shmuel. BM30.N49 2012 296.8’32--dc23 2012013967 Distributed by KTAV Publishing House, Inc. 888 Newark Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306 [email protected] www.ktav.com (201) 963-9524 Fax (201) 963-0102 v Next Generation front-chp 11 rev 2.indd 4 4/10/12 10:16 AM Contents Contributors xi Series Editor’s Preface xvii Robert S. Hirt Editor’s introduction xxi Shmuel Hain part 1 Tikkun Olam, Social Justice, and Jewish/Gentile Relationships 1. Re-anchoring Universalism to Particularism: the Potential 3 Contribution of Orthodoxy to the Pursuit of Tikkun Olam Dyonna Ginsburg 2. Privilege, Perspective, and Modern Orthodox youth 23 Rivka Press Schwartz 3. The Universalism of Particularity 36 Meir Y. Soloveichik part 2 Personal Autonomy and Religious Authority 4. Ba’al Ha-Bayit-Centered Halakhic Consultation 53 Shayna Goldberg and Judah Goldberg 5. Authority and Autonomy: An Ethical Perspective 74 Tully Harcsztark 6. The decline and Fall of Local Rabbinic Authority 86 Gil Student v Next Generation.indb 5 4/3/12 3:43 PM part 3 Spirituality, Scholarship, and the Beit Midrash 7. Tradition and Modernity in the House of Study: 113 Reconsidering the Relationship between the Conceptual and Critical Methods of Studying talmud David C. Flatto 8. Scholarship Needs Spirituality—Spirituality Needs 137 Scholarship: Challenges for Emerging talmudic Methodologies Yakov Nagen (Genack) 9. The World of Women’s torah Learning: developments, 174 Directions, and Objectives Esti Rosenberg part 4 the Odyssey years: Perspectives on identity and Membership 10. The Modern Orthodox diaspora as a Strategic Asset 205 Aharon Horwitz 11. How Orthodoxy and Orthodox Synagogues Can Meet 220 the Needs of the Odyssey Generation Asher Lopatin 12. An Emerging Approach to Emerging Adulthood 241 and Modern Orthodoxy Michelle Waldman Sarna part 5 the Future of the Modern Orthodox Educational System 13. Toward a Passionate Modern Orthodoxy 265 Gil S. Perl 14. Enhancing the Coherence and Efficacy of 278 Modern Orthodox Education Shira Weiss Next Generation.indb 6 4/3/12 3:43 PM part 6 the Future of Modern Orthodoxy 15. Contemporary Challenges for Modern Orthodoxy 299 Yitzchak Blau 16. The Future of Modern Orthodoxy 318 Shmuel Hain 17. The End of the Middle of the Road: Re-envisioning 332 Modern Orthodoxy for the twenty-first enturyC Yehuda Sarna List of Participants 351 index 355 Next Generation.indb 7 4/3/12 3:43 PM Next Generation.indb 8 4/3/12 3:43 PM Other VOlumes in the OrthOdOx FOrum series Rabbinic Authority and Personal Autonomy edited by Moshe Z. Sokol Jewish tradition and the Non-traditional Jew edited by Jacob J. Schacter israel as a Religious Reality edited by Chaim i. Waxman Modern Scholarship in the Study of torah: Contributions and Limitations edited by Shalom Carmy tikkun Olam: Social Responsibility in Jewish thought and Law edited by david Shatz, Chaim i. Waxman, and Nathan J. diament Engaging Modernity: Rabbinic Leaders and the Challenge of the twentieth Century edited by Moshe Z. Sokol Jewish Perspectives on the Experience of Suffering edited by Shalom Carmy Jewish business Ethics: the Firm and its Stakeholders edited by Aaron Levine and Moses Pava tolerance, dissent, and democracy: Philosophical, Historical, and Halakhic Perspectives edited by Moshe Z. Sokol Jewish Spirituality and divine Law edited by Adam Mintz and Lawrence Schiffman Formulating Responses in an Egalitarian Age edited by Marc d. Stern Judaism, Science, and Moral Responsibility edited by yitzhak berger and david Shatz the Conceptual Approach to Jewish Learning :למדות edited by yosef blau Rabbinic and Lay Communal Authority edited by Suzanne Last Stone Next Generation.indb 9 4/3/12 3:43 PM War and Peace in the Jewish tradition edited by Lawrence Schiffman and Joel b. Wolowelsky Gender Relationships in Marriage and Out edited by Rivkah blau yirat Shamayim: the Awe, Reverence, and Fear of God edited by Marc d. Stern Religious Zionism Post disengagement: Future directions edited by Chaim i. Waxman toward a Renewed Ethic of Jewish Philanthropy edited by yossi Prager the Relationship of Orthodox Jews with believing Jews of Other Religious ideologies and Non-believing Jews edited by Adam Mintz xi Next Generation.indb 10 4/3/12 3:43 PM Contributors Rabbi Yitzchak Blau teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum Orayta yeshiva and for the Webyeshiva. He previously taught at yeshivat Hamivtar and at the yeshivah of Flatbush High School. A member of Tradition’s editorial board, he is the author of Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada. Rabbi blau lives in Alon Shevut with his wife and four children. Dr. David Flatto is an assistant professor of Jewish studies and constitutional law at Penn State University. Rabbi Flatto received a b.A. and semicha from yeshiva University, a J.d. from Columbia Law School, and a Ph.d. in the department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He has also been an adjunct professor at yeshiva University and a visiting researcher at yale Law School and New york University School of Law. Ms. Dyonna Ginsburg is the Executive director of bema’aglei tzedek (“Circles of Justice”), an israeli NGO that uses cutting-edge educational tools and social action campaigns to create a more just israeli society informed and inspired by Jewish values. Upon completing her b.A. in political science at Columbia University, dyonna Ginsburg made aliyah in 2002 and obtained an M.A. in Jewish Education from Hebrew University. From 2003 to 2006, she served as international director of yavneh Olami, an international student organization based in Jerusalem. Rabbi Dr. Judah Goldberg holds a b.A. from yeshiva University and M.d. and an M.A. in bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania. He studied for several years at yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shevut, israel, and under its auspices received semicha from Rabbi Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg of Jerusalem. Currently xi Next Generation.indb 11 4/3/12 3:43 PM ii Contributors he is a member of the Kollel Gavo’ah of yeshivat Har Etzion, as well as a practicing emergency physician. Mrs. Shayna Goldberg made aliyah with her family in July 2011 and currently teaches at the Stella K. Abraham beit Midrash for Women of yeshivat Har Etzion (Migdal Oz) and Michlelet Mevaseret yerushalayim (MMy). Previously she served as a yoetzet Halakhah for Congregation Ahavath torah in Englewood, New Jersey, Congregation Rinat yisrael in teaneck, New Jersey,. and Kehilat Kesher in tenafly, ewN Jersey, and taught halakhah at Ma’ayanot yeshiva High School for Girls. Rabbi Shmuel Hain was recently appointed Rosh beit Midrash at SAR High School, where he teaches advanced Judaic studies classes and serves as Rosh Kollel of the yeshiva University/torah Mitzion Kollel. From 2005 to 2011, Rabbi Hain served as Rosh beit Midrash of the Graduate Program for Women in Advanced talmudic and biblical Studies at yeshiva University. in that capacity, he chaired the talmud department and helped place over thirty women in full-time congregational and educational positions. Rabbi Hain also serves as rabbi of young israel Ohab Zedek, a vibrant, community synagogue in North Riverdale. Rabbi Tully Harcsztark is founding principal of SAR High School in Riverdale, New york. He is also co-founder of davar, a unique learning community in teaneck, New Jersey. He served as the rabbi of Congregation Keter torah in teaneck for five years. A graduate of yeshiva College, he received his semicha from RiEtS and an M.A. in Jewish History from the bernard Revel Graduate School. Rabbi Robert S. Hirt (Series Editor of the Orthodox Forum Publications) is Vice President Emeritus of the Rabbi isaac Elchanan theological Seminary, an affiliate ofy eshiva University, and occupies the Rabbi Sidney Shoham Chair in Rabbinic and Community Leadership at the Rabbi isaac Elchanan theological Seminary. Rabbi Hirt co-edited Shimon Huberband’s critically acclaimed book on the Holocaust, Kiddush Hashem: Jewish Religious and Cultural Life in Poland during the Holocaust, and Next Generation.indb 12 4/3/12 3:43 PM Contributors iii has contributed to tradition: the Journal of Orthodox Jewish thought, and other educational publications. Mr. Aharon Horwitz is a founder and co-director of the Presentense Group. Familiar with both Jewish communal and human-service organizations, he works with start-ups on strategic planning, innovative marketing, and transmedia communications strategies. He studied political science and Arabic at Columbia University, and he volunteers for the Jerusalem-based social- justice organizations bema’aglei tzedek and AtZUM’s task Force on Human trafficking, and is a recipient of the World Zionist Organization’s Herzl Prize.