M e o r o t A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse (formerly Edah Journal) Tishrei 5770 Special Edition on Modern Orthodox Education CONTENTS Editor’s Introduction to Special Tishrei 5770 Edition Nathaniel Helfgot SYMPOSIUM On Modern Orthodox Day School Education Scot A. Berman, Todd Berman, Shlomo (Myles) Brody, Yitzchak Etshalom,Yoel Finkelman, David Flatto Zvi Grumet, Naftali Harcsztark, Rivka Kahan, Miriam Reisler, Jeremy Savitsky ARTICLES What Should a Yeshiva High School Graduate Know, Value and Be Able to Do? Moshe Sokolow Responses by Jack Bieler, Yaakov Blau, Erica Brown, Aaron Frank, Mark Gottlieb The Economics of Jewish Education The Tuition Hole: How We Dug It and How to Begin Digging Out of It Allen Friedman The Economic Crisis and Jewish Education Saul Zucker Striving for Cognitive Excellence Jack Nahmod To Teach Tsni’ut with Tsni’ut Meorot 7:2 Tishrei 5770 Tamar Biala A Publication of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah REVIEW ESSAY Rabbinical School © 2009 Life Values and Intimacy Education: Health Education for the Jewish School, Yocheved Debow and Anna Woloski-Wruble, eds. Jeffrey Kobrin STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Meorot: A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse (formerly The Edah Journal) Statement of Purpose Meorot is a forum for discussion of Orthodox Judaism’s engagement with modernity, published by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. It is the conviction of Meorot that this discourse is vital to nurturing the spiritual and religious experiences of Modern Orthodox Jews. Committed to the norms of halakhah and Torah, Meorot is dedicated to free inquiry and will be ever mindful that “Truth is the seal of the Holy One, Blessed be He.” Editors Eugene Korn, Editor Nathaniel Helfgot, Associate Editor Joel Linsider, Text Editor Editorial Board Dov Linzer (YCT Rabbinical School), Chair Moshe Halbertal (Israel) Naftali Harcsztark Norma Baumel Joseph Simcha Krauss Barry Levy Adam Mintz Tamar Ross (Israel) Meorot publishes one online edition per year, and will be available periodically in hard-copy A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Orthodox Modern of Forum A M e o r o t editions. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent the views of YCT or the editorial board. YCT retains copyrights to all material published in the journal. Directions for Submissions Meorot invites submissions of original scholarly and popular essays, as well as new English translations of Hebrew works. Popular essays should be between 800-2000 words. The journal particularly welcomes halakhic, philosophic, and literary studies relating to qedushah in modern experience, the religious significance of the State of Israel, Jewish ethics, emerging Torah conceptions of and opportunities for women, Talmud Torah as an intellectual and spiritual discipline, pluralism, and Judaism’s relation to gentiles and contemporary culture. Submissions to Meorot should be sent online to [email protected], or mailed in duplicate to Editor, Meorot, c/o YCT Rabbinical School, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 244, New York, N.Y. 10015. Submissions should include a one paragraph abstract and one line biography of the author. Paper submissions should be accompanied by a diskette with essay in RTF, TXT or MSWORD format. Notes should appear as footnotes. Communications should be directed to the above email address. Meorot 7:2 Tishrei 5770 Reader responses should be sent to the editor at [email protected] for possible A Publication of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah electronic publication at the journal’s website. Rabbinical School © 2009 Graphic Design: Erica Weisberg Technical Assistant: Michelle Green Editor’s Introduction to the Special Tishrei 5770 Edition Nathaniel Helfgot Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt”l often fresh voices that are now making their mark on noted in his shi`urim and derashot that the the scene. mitsvah of talmud torah (Torah study) is presented in our liturgy and in The second section contains a study by Dr. Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah as, first and Moshe Sokolow describing the knowledge, foremost, an obligation to engage in attitudes and skills that an ideal graduate of a transmitting Torah to others and initiating yeshiva high school should have upon them into the covenantal community. completion of his/her studies. This essay was Indeed, as the Rav famously noted, the also sent to a number of thoughtful educators first blessing of birkhot ha-Torah speaks of for their comments, and their responses follow the Almighty Himself as a teacher (ha- Dr. Sokolow’s essay. The section also contains melammed torah le-ammo yisra’el) who partakes two articles on the economics of Jewish in the noble act of transmitting Torah to education that dominates much of the day his beloved people, Israel. school discussion today, plus probing essays by Jack Nahmod on striving for cognitive In that vein, it is my great pleasure to have excellence and by Tamar Biala on teaching served as guest editor of this special issue modesty (tsini’ut) in Modern Orthodox schools. of MEOROT dedicated to Modern Orthodox education. Many of the issues The last section contains a review essay on a A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Orthodox Modern of Forum A M e odiscussed r o in t these pages are ones which we recent curriculum, Intimacy and Life Values, which as a Modern Orthodox community have has been published and is already being used in grappled with in the past, while others some of our day schools. have risen to the surface more forcefully in recent years. It is always healthy to It is my hope that these essays stimulate us to continue to reflect on perennial dilemmas reflect further so we can better understand where as we confront the new challenges that we are and where we should go as a community await us in the future. to realize our goals of producing living models of Modern Orthodox Torah. As culture and The issue is divided into three sections. knowledge progress, so must our educational The first is a symposium on a broad range methods in order to realize our constant ideals of of issues that affect the Modern Orthodox educating our daughters and sons toward Torah, high school and post-high school (i.e., avodah, gemilut hasadim and all human knowledge year-or-more in Israel) educational system. to nurture the next generation committed to the We sent a series of ten questions to profound worldview and values of Modern prominent men and women educators Orthodoxy. both Israel and the United States for their responses and comments, understanding I am certain you will enjoy the articles in this that not all these questions could be edition and invite you to share your thoughts with us by writing to us at analyzed directly in the space allotted to Meorot 7:2 each participant. The eleven responses we [email protected] Tishrei 5770 received are included in this symposium. I A Publication of Best wishes for a ketivah va-hatimah tovah, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah am pleased that the respondents include a Rabbinical School Nathaniel Helfgot © 2009 mix of veteran educators whose names are well-known to the readers of academic and Guest Editor, Special Edition on Modern Torah journals, combined with new and Orthodox Education SYMPOSIUM On Modern Orthodox Day School Education Abstract: This special Meorot symposium focuses on both classical and contemporary issues in Modern Orthodox education. The questions and responses address a range of topics relating to curricular, ideological and affective elements in the educational system in high school education both in North America and Israel. They also touch on issues that emerge in post-high school settings in Israel such as yeshivot and midrashot, where many of our graduates study after completion of high school in America. The participants in the symposium include both well-known and new voices. A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Orthodox Modern of Forum A M e o r o t Meorot 7:2 Tishrei 5770 © 2009 A Publication of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School SYMPOSIUM On Modern Orthodox Day School Education The following ten questions were sent to twenty five prominent Modern Orthodox educators (fifteen men and ten women) from the United States and Israel for their responses. Participants were given freedom to answer as many or as few questions, and in whatever fashion, they chose. Their responses follow. (ed.) 1. What should the ideal educated Modern Orthodox high school graduate look like in terms of practice, knowledge, and skills as well as his or her affective relationship to Judaism and Kelal Yisra’el in the 21st century? 2. What elements in the fields of limmudei qodesh and limmudei hol are missing in the curriculum of the average Modern Orthodox school? 3. Do you consider that present proportional allocations of time to Humash versus Talmud versus Jewish History versus Hebrew to be correct? What would be your ideal allotment of time? 4. What role should Israel education/experiences play in today's curriculum and school context? What should Israel education entail in Modern Orthodox day and high schools? 5. How should sexuality be addressed in the Modern Orthodox day school and how in the Modern Orthodox high school? How should issues related to homosexuality be discussed, if at all? 6. What areas of the post-high-school year in Israel need revamping and why? 7. What curricular, affective or experiential elements should be explored in sensitizing and making Modern Orthodox students think about their relationship to the "other," i.e. other gender; Conservative, Reform, and secular Jews; gentiles? 8. What should be done and how much time devoted to preparing students to thrive in non-Orthodox and pluralistic environments, such as college, the professions, and suburbia? 9. What skills among faculty and administrators should be strengthened to ensure the success of educating Modern Orthodox students for life and the continued success of the Modern Orthodox day school educational system? 10.