Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities. ... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Modern Orthodoxy draws on several teachings and philosophies, and thus assumes various forms. In the United States, and generally in the Western world, "Centrist Orthodoxy" — underpinned by the philosophy of Torah Umadda ("Torah and Knowledge/Science) — is prevalent. In Israel, Modern Orthodoxy is dominated by Religious Zionism; however, although not identical, these movements share many of the same values and many of the same adherents ^[1]. The term Western world, the West or the Occident (Latin occidens -sunset, -west, as distinct from the Orient) [1] can have multiple meanings dependent on its context (e. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement, a branch of which is also called Mizrachi, is an ideology that claims to combine Zionism and Judaism, to base Zionism on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ...

Philosophy

Modern Orthodoxy comprises a fairly broad spectrum of movements each drawing on several distinct, though related, philosophies, which in some combination provide the basis for all variations of the movement today; these are discussed below.

In general, Modern Orthodoxy holds that Jewish law is normative and binding, while simultaneously attaching a positive value to interaction with the modern world. In this view, Orthodox Judaism can “be enriched” by its intersection with modernity; further, “modern society creates opportunities to be productive citizens engaged in the Divine work of transforming the world to benefit humanity”. At the same time, in order to preserve the integrity of halakha, any area of “powerful inconsistency and conflict” between Torah and modern culture must be avoided. ^[2]. Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... In philosophy, normative is usually contrasted with positive, descriptive or explanatory when describing types of theories, beliefs, or statements. ... Tikkun olam (Hebrew: תיקון עולם) is a Hebrew phrase which translates to repairing the world. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ...

Modern Orthodoxy, additionally, assigns a central role to the "People of Israel" ^[3]. Modern Orthodoxy, in general, places a high national, as well as religious, significance on the State of Israel, and Modern Orthodox institutions and individuals are, typically, Zionist in orientation. An additional manifestation is that involvement with non-orthodox Jews will extend beyond "outreach" to continued institutional relations and cooperation; see further under Torah Umadda. Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... A bilingual poster in Romanian and Hungarian promoting a film about Jewish settlement in Palestine, 1930s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ...

Roots

Modern Orthodoxy traces its roots to the works of Rabbis Azriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899). He is regarded as pioneering, having made distinct philosophic and pragmatic contributions. Modern Orthodoxy also traces its roots to Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888). This, however, is controversial, with some Hirsch scholars arguing that Hirschian philosophy is deeply at odds with that of Modern Orthodoxy [Joseph Elias, The Nineteen Letters, Introduction]. See further discussion in the Hildesheimer article. Rabbi, in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’, or more literally, ‘great one’. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ or ‘distinguished (in knowledge)’. Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word ribbī; the modern Israeli pronunciation rabbī is derived from a... Israel Azriel Hildesheimer (May 20, 1820 – July 12, 1899) was a German rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... Pragmatism is a philosophic school that originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Sanders Peirce, who first stated the pragmatic maxim. ... Rabbi S.R. Hirsch Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. ... Israel Azriel Hildesheimer (May 20, 1820 – July 12, 1899) was a German rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism. ...

Torah im Derech Eretz

Hirsch’s Torah im Derech Eretz (תורה עם דרך ארץ – “Torah with the way of the Land”) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism which formalises a relationship between halakhically observant Judaism and the modern world. Hirsch held that Judaism requires the application of Torah philosophy to all human endeavor and knowledge compatible with it. Thus, secular education becomes a positive religious duty. "Judaism is not a mere adjunct to life: it comprises all of life... in the synagogue and the kitchen, in the field and the warehouse, in the office and the pulpit... with the pen and the chisel" ^[4]. Hirsch's vision, although not unqualified, extended to the sciences as well as to (German) literature, philosophy and culture. Torah im Derech Eretz remains influential to this day in all branches of Orthodox Judaism. Torah im Derech Eretz (Hebrew תורה עם דרך ארץ - Torah with the way of the land) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ...

Note that Neo Orthodoxy, the movement descended from Hirsch’s Frankfurt community regards itself as positioned, ideologically, outside of contemporary Modern Orthodoxy; see further below. Torah im Derech Eretz (Hebrew תורה עם דרך ארץ - Torah with the way of the land) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. ... For other uses, see Frankfurt (disambiguation). ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. ...

Hildesheimer's pragmatism

Azriel Hildesheimer, along with Rabbi Hirsch, was insistent that for Orthodox Jews living in the west, there was no possibility to segregate oneself behind ghetto walls. On the contrary, modern Jewish education, must teach Jews how best to confront and deal with modernity in all of its aspects ^[5]. Israel Azriel Hildesheimer (May 20, 1820 – July 12, 1899) was a German rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism. ...

His approach, "Cultured Orthodoxy", was defined as representing "unconditional agreement with the culture of the present day; harmony between Judaism and science; but also unconditional steadfastness in the faith and traditions of Judaism" ^[6].

He was, however, "the pragmatist rather than the philosopher", and it is his actions, rather than his philosophy, which have become institutionalized in Modern Orthodoxy ^[7], and through which his influence is still felt.

• He established Jewish education for males and females, which included both religious and secular studies.
• He established Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary, one of the first Orthodox yeshivot incorporating modern Jewish studies, secular studies and academic scholarship in its curriculum.
• He was non-sectarian, and worked with communal leaders, even non-Orthodox ones, on issues that affected the community.
• He maintained traditional attachments to the Land of Israel and worked with the non-Orthodox on its behalf.

Secular education is a term that refers to the system of public education in countries with a secular or separation between religion and state. ... The Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary (Rabbiner Seminar für das Orthodoxe Judenthum) was founded in Berlin on 22 October 1873 by Rabbi Dr. Azriel Hildesheimer for the training of rabbis in the tradition of Orthodox Judaism. ... This article is about the Jewish male educational system. ... Jewish studies also known as Judaic studies is a subject area of study available at many colleges and universities in the Western World. ... Kingdom of Israel: Early ancient historical Israel — land in pink is the approximate area under direct central royal administration during the United Monarchy. ...

Torah Umadda

Torah Umadda (תורה ומדע - "Torah and secular knowledge") is a philosophy concerning the secular world and Judaism, and in particular secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. It envisions a personal (as opposed to theoretical) "synthesis" between Torah scholarship and Western, secular scholarship, entailing, also, positive involvement with the broader community. Here, the "individual has absorbed the attitudes characteristic of science, democracy and Jewish life and responds appropiately in diverse relations and contexts" ^[8]. The resultant mode of Orthodox Judaism is referred to as "Centrist Orthodoxy". Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Identity is an umbrella term used throughout the social sciences for an individuals comprehension of him or herself as a discrete, separate entity. ... In mathematics, theory is used informally to refer to a body of knowledge about mathematics. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ...

This philosophy, as formulated today, is to a large extent a product of the teachings and philosophy of HaRav Joseph Soloveitchik (1903-1993), Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University. In "Rav Soloveitchik's" thought, Judaism, which believes that the world is "very good", enjoins man to engage in tikkun olam. "Halakhic Man" must therefore attempt to bring the sanctity and purity of the transcendent realm into the material world ^[9]. Centrist Orthodoxy is the dominant mode of Modern Orthodoxy in the United States, while Torah Umadda remains closely associated with Yeshiva University. Torah Umadda is related to Hirsch's Torah im Derech Eretz, but see below for a comparison between the two. Rav Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov, Yoshe Ber) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... 1900 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Rosh yeshiva (Hebrew: ראש ישיבה) (pl. ... Yeshiva University is a private Jewish university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... Tikkun olam (Hebrew: תיקון עולם) is a Hebrew phrase which translates to repairing the world. ... Rav Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov, Yoshe Ber) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism is a philosophy that attempts to adapt Orthodox Judaism and interaction with the surrounding non-Jewish, modern world. ...

Religious Zionism

Modern Orthodoxy draws on the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1864 – 1935) - both as regards its views on Jewish Peoplehood and as regards the interaction with the secular world. Abraham Isaac Kook (1864 - 1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the (now) Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav, and a renowned Torah scholar. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ...

“Rav Kook” saw Zionism as a part of a divine scheme finally to result in the resettlement of the Jewish people in its homeland, bringing salvation ("Geula") to the Jewish people, and the entire world. In Rav Kook’s thought Kodesh and Chol (sacred and profane) play an extremely important role. Here, Kodesh is the inner taam (reason) of reality and the meaning of existence while Chol is that which is detached from Kodesh and is without any meaning; Judaism, then, is the vehicle "whereby we sanctify our lives, and attach all the practical, secular elements of life to spiritual goals which reflect the absolute meaning of existence - G-d Himself" ^[10]. Zionism is a political movement that supports a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, where Jewish nationhood is thought to have evolved somewhere between 1200 BCE and late Second Temple times,[1][2] and where Jewish kingdoms existed up to the 2nd century CE. Zionism is...

In Israel, the Religious Zionism of the "Dati Leumi" (דתי לאומי, "National Religious") dominates Modern Orthodoxy. Here too, the ideological basis is largely drawn from the teachings of Rav Kook ^[11], and there is therefore much overlap; philosophical differences, as well as other "non-modern" forms of Religious Zionism, are discussed below. Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement, a branch of which is also called Mizrachi, is an ideology that claims to combine Zionism and Judaism, to base Zionism on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. ...

See also Mizrachi; Bnei Akiva; National Religious Party; Hesder; Mechina; Gush Emunim; Torat Eretz Yisrael.

The Mizrachi (acronym for Merkaz Ruchani or religious centre) is the name of the religious Zionist organization founded in 1902 in Vilna at a world conference of religious Zionists called by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov Reines. ... Bnei Akivas emblem (semel) Bnei Akiva, founded in the land of Palestine in 1929, is the largest youth movement of religious Zionists in the world. ... Mafdal party logo The National Religious Party (Hebrew: Mafdal, מפדל) is an Israeli political party representing the religious Zionist movement. ... Hesder (in Hebrew: arrangement; or Yeshivat Hesder ישיבת הסדר) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces. ... A Mechina (Hebrew: מכינה; preparatory) is an Israeli educational institution for post-secondary youth, aimed at preparing them either for their army or national service, or for entrance to an institution of higher education in Israel. ... Gush Emunim גוש אמונים (Hebrew: Block [of the] faithful) was an Israeli political movement. ... The Hebrew expression Torat Eretz Yisrael (literally Law of the Land of Israel) refers to all Jewish teachings regarding the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael), in particular those written from or confirming to a religious-Zionist point of view. ...

Comparison with other movements

Various, highly differing views are offered under the banner of Modern Orthodoxy, ranging from traditionalist to revisionist. In addition, some elements of Haredi Judaism ("Ultra-Orthodox Judaism") appear to be more receptive to messages that have traditionally been part of the Modern-Orthodox agenda. At the same time, Modern Orthodoxy’s left wing may appear to align with more traditional elements of Conservative Judaism. Thus, in clarifying its position, it is useful to discuss Modern Orthodoxy with reference to other movements in Judaism. Haredi or chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ...

Haredi Judaism

See also under Centrist Orthodoxy and Divine Providence for further elaboration of the differences discussed here.

Although there is some question as how precisely to define the distinction between Modern Orthodoxy and Haredi Judaism, there is basic agreement that they may be distinguished on the basis of three major characteristics: ^[12] Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... In theology, Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in peoples lives and throughout history. ... Haredi or chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Look up Characteristic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

1. Modern Orthodoxy adopts a relatively inclusive attitude stance toward society in general, and the larger Jewish community in particular.
2. Modern Orthodoxy is, in comparison, accommodating, “if not welcoming” to modernity, general scholarship and science.
3. Modern Orthodoxy is almost uniformly receptive toward Israel and Zionism, viewing the State of Israel (in addition to the Land of Israel) as having inherent religious significance.

A fourth difference suggested, relates to the acceptability of moderation within Jewish law. Both Modern Orthodoxy and Ultra Orthodoxy regard Halakha as Divine in origin, and as such, no position is assumed without justification in the Shulkhan Arukh and in the Acharonim. The movements differ, however, in their approach to strictures (chumras) and leniencies (kulas). Modernity is a term used to describe the condition of being modern. Since the term modern is used to describe a wide range of periods, modernity must be understood in its context. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Zionism is a political movement that supports a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, where Jewish nationhood is thought to have evolved somewhere between 1200 BCE and late Second Temple times,[1][2] and where Jewish kingdoms existed up to the 2nd century CE. Zionism is... Kingdom of Israel: Early ancient historical Israel — land in pink is the approximate area under direct central royal administration during the United Monarchy. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ... Acharonim (Hebrew - sing. ...

• Modern Orthodoxy holds that strictures are not normative, rather, these are a matter of personal choice ^[13]; "severity and leniency are relevant only in circumstances of factual doubt, not in situations of debate or varied practice. In the latter situations, the conclusion should be based solely on the legal analysis". Note though, that in recent years, many Modern Orthodox Jews are described as "increasingly stringent in their adherence to Jewish law" ^[14].

• In the Haredi view, on the other hand, "the most severe position... is the most likely basis for unity and commonality of practice within the Orthodox community and is therefore to be preferred". Further, "such severity... results in the greatest certainty that God's will is being performed." ^[15]. Haredi Judaism thus tends to adopt chumras as a norm.

(As to the contention that Modern Orthodoxy's standards of observance of halakha are, in fact, "relaxed," as opposed to moderate, see below under Criticism.) In philosophy, normative is usually contrasted with positive, descriptive or explanatory when describing types of theories, beliefs, or statements. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. ...

Neo-Orthodoxy/Torah Im Derech Eretz

Neo Orthodoxy, the movement directly descended from Hirsch’s Frankfurt community, is often regarded as positioned, ideologically, outside of contemporary Modern Orthodoxy. In general, both communities have combined Torah and secular knowledge in contemporary western life. Neo-Orthodoxy, however, has done so in a more qualified fashion, emphasizing that followers must exercise caution in engagements with the secular world. Philosophical distinctions, though subtle, manifest in markedly divergent religious attitudes and perspectives. In fact, Shimon Schwab, second Rabbi of this community in the United States, is described as being "spiritually very distant" from Yeshiva University and Modern Orthodoxy. Neo-Orthodoxy differs from Modern Orthodoxy, and particularly Centrist Orthodoxy, on three counts ^[16]. Torah im Derech Eretz (Hebrew תורה עם דרך ארץ - Torah with the way of the land) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. ... Shimon (Simon) Schwab (December 30, 1908 - March 28, 1993) was an Orthodox Judaism rabbi and communal leader in Germany and the United States, initially in Baltimore and later in Washington Heights in New York City. ...

• The role of secular life and culture: In the Hirschian view, interaction with the secular - and the requisite acquisition of culture and knowledge - is encouraged, insofar as it facilitates the application of Torah to wordly matters. For Modern Orthodoxy, on the other hand, secular culture and knowledge are seen as a complement to Torah, and, to some extent, encouraged for their own sake. Some would suggest that in Modern Orthodoxy, Judaism is enriched by interaction with modernity, whereas in Neo-Orthodoxy human experience (and modernity) are enriched by the application of Torah outlook and practice.
• Priority of Torah versus Secular knowledge: In the Hirschian view, Torah is the "sole barometer of truth" by which to judge secular disciplines, as "there is only one truth, and only one body of knowledge that can serve as the standard... Compared to it, all the other sciences are valid only provisionally." (Hirsch, commentary to Leviticus 18:4-5). By contrast, in the view of Modern Orthodoxy, although Torah is the "preeminent center", secular knowledge is considered to offer "a different perspective that may not agree at all with [Torah] ... [but] both together present the possibility of a larger truth." (Torah Umadda, p. 236).
• Broader communal involvement: Neo-Orthodoxy, influenced by Hirsch's philosophy on Austritt (secession), "could not countenance recognition of a non-believing body as a legitimate representative of the Jewish people", and is therefore opposed to the Mizrachi movement, which is affiliated with the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency [1]. Modern Orthodoxy, on the other hand, is characterised by its involvement with the broader Jewish Community and by its Religious Zionism.

Torah im Derech Eretz (Hebrew תורה עם דרך ארץ - Torah with the way of the land) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. ... Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, also the third book in the Torah (five books of Moses). ... Rabbi S.R. Hirsch Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. ... The Mizrachi (acronym for Merkaz Ruchani or religious centre) is the name of the religious Zionist organization founded in 1902 in Vilna at a world conference of religious Zionists called by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov Reines. ... The World Zionist Organization, or WZO, was founded as the Zionist Organization, or ZO, on September 3, 1897, at the First Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland. ... The Jewish Agency for Israel also known as The Jewish Agency (or sochnut in Hebrew), was previously called the Jewish Agency for Palestine (during the British Mandate of Palestine) is an Israeli organisation that advocates for Israel and is composed mainly, but not entirely, of Jewish people. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement, a branch of which is also called Mizrachi, is an ideology that claims to combine Zionism and Judaism, to base Zionism on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ...

Religious Zionism

Religious Zionism is a movement within Judaism which often overlaps with Modern Orthodoxy. Religious Zionism embraces the idea of Jewish national sovereignty, often in connection with the belief in the ability of the Jewish people to bring about a redemptive state through natural means, and often attributing religious significance to the modern State of Israel. This attitude is rejected by most Haredim, but not all (particularly the Hardal movement). Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement, a branch of which is also called Mizrachi, is an ideology that claims to combine Zionism and Judaism, to base Zionism on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Hardal (Hebrew: חרדל, חרדי לאומי Translit. ...

Thus, Religious Zionism encompasses many Modern Orthodox and Conservative Jews, as well as some Haredim, and, therefore, a wide spectrum of religious views.

In Israel today, Modern Orthodoxy - as distinct from Religious Zionism - is represented by only a handful of institutions: the Religious Kibbutz Federation, Neemanei Torah V’Avoda, the Meimad political party, and the Shalom Hartman Institute (some would include Yeshivat Har Etzion and Yeshivat Hamivtar / Ohr Torah Stone Institutions). Kibbutz Dan, near Qiryat Shemona, in the Upper Galilee, 1990s A kibbutz (Hebrew: ; plural: kibbutzim: קיבוצים; gathering or together) is an Israeli collective intentional community. ... Meimad is a left-leaning religious political party in Israel, founded in 1988. ... Yeshivat Har Etzion Yeshivat Har Etzion, commonly known as Gush, is a Hesder Yeshiva located in Alon Shvut, a settlement in Gush Etzion near Jerusalem, Israel. ... Yeshivat Hamivtar Orot Lev is a mens yeshivah located in Efrat, Judea, and focused on teaching Post college students. ...

In practice though, except at their extremes, the differences between Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy in Israel are not pronounced, and they are often identical, especially in recent years and for the younger generation.

Conservative Judaism

In some areas, Modern Orthodoxy’s left wing appears to align with more traditional elements of Conservative Judaism, and some on the left of Modern Orthodoxy have even allied with the formerly Conservative Union for Traditional Judaism. Nonetheless, the two movements are completely distinct. Rabbi Avi Weiss - from the left of Modern Orthodoxy- stresses that Orthodox and Conservative Judaism are “so very different in … three fundamental areas: Torah mi-Sinai, rabbinic interpretation, and rabbinic legislation” ^[17]. Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ... The Union for Traditional Judaism is a non-denominational Jewish communal services organization. ... Rabbi Avraham Weiss (usually known as Avi Weiss or Rav Avi) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi who heads the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Bronx, New York. ...

• Torah mi-Sinai: Modern Orthodoxy, in line with the rest of Orthodoxy, holds that Jewish law is Divine in origin, and as such, no underlying principle may be compromised in accounting for changing political, social or economic conditions. By contrast, Conservative Judaism holds that Poskim should make use of literary and historical analysis in deciding Jewish law, and may reverse decisions of the Acharonim that are held to be inapplicable today. “The Conservative Movement maintains that the purpose of the law in the first place is largely to concretize moral values, and so the specific form of the law can and should be changed if it is not effectively doing that" ^[18]. (Within the context that “[t]he halakhic system, historically considered, evinces a constant pattern of responsiveness, change and variety. Conservative Judaism did not read that record as carte blanche for a radical revision or even rejection of the system, but rather as warrant for valid adjustment where absolutely necessary" ^[19].)

• Rabbinic interpretation: (Modern) Orthodoxy contends that legal authority is cumulative, and that a contemporary posek (decisor) can only issue judgments based on a full history of Jewish legal precedent. In contrast, the implicit argument of the Conservative movement is that precedent provides illustrations of possible positions rather than binding law. Conservatism, therefore, remains free to select whichever position within the prior history appeals to it. "Conservative rabbis have great respect for the Shulkhan Arukh, but do not view it as the ultimate authority because it was written over 400 years ago and much has changed since then in the halakhah, in society and in our outlook on life" ^[20].

• Rabbinic legislation: Since the Orthodox community is ritually observant, Rabbinic law legislated by (today's) Orthodox rabbis can meaningfully become binding if accepted by the community (see minhag). Conservatism similarly holds that “no law has authority unless it becomes part of the concern and practice of the community” ^[21] (and, in fact, the decision of when change is necessary is becoming “a communal matter at the congregational level”). However, its constituency is generally not composed of ritually observant members ^[22], and thus communal acceptance of a "permissive custom" is not “meaningful”, and, as a result, related Rabbinic legislation cannot assume the status of law.

In general, Modern Orthodoxy does not, therefore, view the process by which the Conservative movement decides halakha as legitimate - or with the non-normative weighting assigned to halakha by the Conservative movement. In particular, Modern Orthodoxy disagrees with many of Conservative Judaism’s halakhic rulings, particularly as regards issues of egalitarianism. See further on the Orthodox view and the Conservative view. Posek (Hebrew פוסק, IPA: , pl. ... Acharonim (Hebrew - sing. ... Posek (Hebrew פוסק, IPA: , pl. ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ... Minhag (Hebrew: מנהג Custom, pl. ... Egalitarianism is the moral doctrine that equality ought to prevail among some group along some dimension. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ...

Modern Orthodoxy clearly differs from the approach of Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism, which do not consider halakha to be obligatory. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern American-based Jewish movement, based on the ideas of the late Mordecai Kaplan, that views Judaism as a progressively evolving civilization. ...

Right and left

The philosophical spectrum within Modern Orthodoxy has been redefined by various challenges from both the right and the left over the last 30-40 years. Among the issues have been the extent to which Modern Orthodoxy should cooperate with the more liberal denominations, support secular academic pursuits combined with religious learning, and embrace efforts to give women a larger role in Jewish learning and worship ^[23].

To the ideological right, the line between Haredi and Modern Orthodox has blurred in recent years (some have referred to this trend as "haredization" ^[24]). In addition to increasing stringency in adherence to Halakha, many Modern Orthodox Jews express a growing sense of alienation from the larger, secular culture ^[25]. Here “the balance has tipped heavily in favor of Torah over madda … [and many] have redefined "madda" as support for making one's livelihood in the secular world, not culturally or intellectually engaging with it” ^[26].

At the same time, adherents on the ideological left have begun to develop new institutions that aim to be outward looking whilst maintaining a discourse between modernity and halakhah. The resultant Open Orthodoxy seeks to re-engage with secular studies, Jews of all denominations and global issues. This movement has its own Yeshiva in New York, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Some within this movement have experimented with orthodox egalitarianism where gender equality solutions are found through halakhah. This has led to women taking on more leadership roles. Others in this movement are increasingly re-engaging with social justice issues from a halakhic point of view ^[27]. Rabbi Avraham Weiss, born in 1944, (usually known as Avi Weiss or Rav Avi) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi who heads the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Bronx, New York. ... Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is a Modern Orthodox yeshiva founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss in 1999, and located in Manhattan, New York. ...

Various of the points of contention are addressed below.

Modern forms of textual criticism

Some Modern Orthodox scholars may acknowledge insights provided by some tools of modern textual criticism into Judaism's sacred works and rabbinic literature. However, it also maintains that the Torah is of divine origin, and has been transmitted with almost perfect fidelity from the time of Moses until today. Modern Orthodox Jews often study academic biblical criticism but rely on traditional authorities for normative interpretation of the Torah. The documentary hypothesis is only of academic interest for observance. Modern Orthodoxy is ambivalent, at best, about the use of academic criticism for other books of the Hebrew Bible because if one allows these techniques to be used here, one might then be tempted to eventually look at the Torah in this light as well. Orthodox Judaism makes clear distinctions between the books of the Hebrew Bible, holding that the first five books - the Torah - are of a special nature, being directly dictated by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The rest of the books of the Bible, the Neviim ("Prophets") and Ketuvim ("Writings") are also considered holy, but are less direct transcriptions of God's will. As such some forms of higher criticism of these book are sometimes considered acceptable. A certain amount of Modern Orthodox acceptance of higher criticism for non-Torah books of the Bible can be found in the Soncino Books of the Bible series, and in the Pentateuch and Haftarah by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz, both works which are widely used in the Modern Orthodox community. Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... It has been suggested that Tawrat be merged into this article or section. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... A relational diagram describing the various versions postulated by the biblical documentary hypothesis. ... 11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum Hebrew Bible is a term that refers to the common portions of the Jewish canon and the Christian canons. ... Tanakh (‎) (also Tanach, IPA: or , or Tenak) is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ... Chief Rabbi Hertz, 1920 Joseph Herman Hertz, 25 September 1872–14 January 1946, was the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire. ...

Criticism

Generalisations concerning Modern Orthodoxy are difficult to draw, and, as such, any criticism may be aimed at a straw man. This section deals with criticism relating to standards of observance and to social issues; as regards its philosophy see "Criticism" under Torah Umadda. A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ... A straw man argument is a logical fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponents position. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ...

Standards of observance

There is an often repeated contention that Modern Orthodoxy has lower standards of observance of traditional Jewish laws and customs than other branches of Orthodox Judaism ^[28]. This view is largely anecdotal, and is based on individual behaviour, as opposed to any formal, institutional position: ^[29] Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Modernity is a term used to describe the condition of being modern. Since the term modern is used to describe a wide range of periods, modernity must be understood in its context. ... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ...

Introduction of "reforms"

Whereas the Modern Orthodox position is (generally) presented as "unquestioned allegiance to the primacy of Torah, and that the apprehension of all other intellectual disciplines must be rooted and viewed through the prism of Torah" ^[32], Haredi groups have sometimes compared Modern Orthodoxy with early Reform Judaism in Germany: Modern Orthodox Rabbis have been criticised for attempting to modify Jewish law, in adapting Judaism to the needs of the modern world. Haredi or chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Note that claims of this nature have been commonplace within Orthodox Judaism since the first "reforms" of Samson Raphael Hirsch and Azriel Hildesheimer. Thus, in Europe of the early 1800s, all of Judaism that differed from the strictest forms present at the time was called "Reform". Then, as now, Modern Orthodoxy took pains to distance its "reforms" - those which could be justified as based on the Shulkhan Arukh and poskim – from those of the Reform movement, which could not. Rabbi S.R. Hirsch Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. ... Israel Azriel Hildesheimer (May 20, 1820 – July 12, 1899) was a German rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ... Posek פוסק (Hebrew; pl. ...

See further under Torah im Derech Eretz; Torah Umadda.

Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... It has been suggested that Tawrat be merged into this article or section. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Rabbi S.R. Hirsch Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. ... Torah im Derech Eretz (Hebrew תורה עם דרך ארץ - Torah with the way of the land) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. ... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ...

Sociological objections

Some observe ^[33] that the ability of Modern Orthodoxy to attract a large following and maintain its strength as a movement is, (ironically), inhibited by the fact that it embraces modernity - its raison d'être - and that it is highly rational and intellectual. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Irony is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says and what is generally understood (either at the time, or in the later context of history). ... Modernity is a term used to describe the condition of being modern. Since the term modern is used to describe a wide range of periods, modernity must be understood in its context. ... Look up raison dêtre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Rational may be: the adjective for the state of rationality acting according to the philosophical principles of rationalism a mathematical term for certain numbers; the rational numbers the software company Rational Software; now owned by IBM, and formerly Rational Software Corporation This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... An intellectual is one who tries to use his or her intellect to work, study, reflect, speculate on, or ask and answer questions with regard to a variety of different ideas. ...

• The very term “Modern Orthodoxy” is, in some sense, an oxymoron. One of the characteristics of all religious orthodoxies, is the submission to the authority of its tradition - authority and tradition are a prerequisite for orthodoxy, and within an orthodoxy, the individual is expected to perceive himself as not having any choice but to conform to all of its dictates. Modernity, by contrast, emphasizes a measure of personal autonomy as well as rationalist truth ^[34]. Some implications are that Modern Orthodoxy is, almost by definition, inhibited from becoming a strong movement, because this would entail organization and authority to a degree "which goes against the very grain of modernity". A related difficulty is that Modern Orthodox rabbis who do adopt stringencies may, in the process, lose the support of precisely the "Modern" group which they sought to lead.

• Modern Orthodoxy’s "highly intellectual and rational stance" presents its own difficulties. Firstly, the ideology entails built-in tensions and frequently requires conscious living with inconsistency ^[35] (for instance, modernity vs. orthodoxy). In fact, even amongst its leadership there is limited agreement "on the philosophical parameters of modern Orthodoxy" ^[36]. Secondly, there are also those who question whether "the literature... with its intellectually elitist bias fails to directly address the majority of its practitioners" ^[37]. The suggestion here is that Modern Orthodoxy may not provide a directly applicable theology for the contemporary Modern Orthodox family; see further discussion under Torah Umadda.

-1... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... An oral law is a code of conduct in use in a given culture, religion or other regroupement, by which a body of rules of human behaviour is transmitted by oral tradition and effectively respected, or the single rule that is orally transmitted. ... Authority- is a very talented rocknroll band out of Columbia, S.C. This power rock trio has its roots in rock, funk, hardcore, and a dash of hip hop. ... Modernity is a term used to describe the condition of being modern. Since the term modern is used to describe a wide range of periods, modernity must be understood in its context. ... Rabbi, in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’, or more literally, ‘great one’. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ or ‘distinguished (in knowledge)’. Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word ribbī; the modern Israeli pronunciation rabbī is derived from a... Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ...

Important figures

Many Orthodox Jews find the intellectual engagement with the modern world as a virtue. Examples of Orthodox rabbis who promote or have promoted this worldview include: A Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) is a religious Jewish scholar who is an expert in Jewish law. ...

• Marc D. Angel - former president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and rabbi of Shearith Israel, a Spanish Portuguese synagogue in New York.
• Yehuda Amital - A Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust, Rabbi Amital emigrated to Israel in 1944, and resumed his yeshiva studies in Jerusalem. During the War of Independence, he served in the Hagana armored corps, taking part in the famous battle of Latrun. Subsequently, he took an active role in the development of Yeshivat Hadarom, where he was involved in the formulation of the idea of Yeshivat Hesder. Following the Six Day War, Rabbi Amital founded and assumed leadership of Yeshivat Har Etzion. He is a dominant public figure in Israel who is widely respected on matters of religious and national concern.
• Samuel Belkin, former President of Yeshiva University
• Eliezer Berkovits - philosopher, author of many works including Not In Heaven: The Nature and Function of Halakha and Faith after the Holocaust.
• Saul Berman - director of Edah, a Modern Orthodox advocacy organization.
• Benjamin Blech
• Shalom Carmy - professor of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at Yeshiva University; a prominent Modern Orthodox theologian
• J. Simcha Cohen, presently rabbi in West Palm Beach, Fl., formerly rabbi of the Melbourne, Australia, Mizrachi community. Author of a series of Modern Orthodox response collections.
• Shmuel Goldin, Congregation Ahavath Torah, Englewood, N.J.; Chair, Shvil Hazahav
• Rabbi Professor David Hartman - founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute
• Leo Jung, Rabbi at the Jewish Center
• Norman Lamm - Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva University ; Orthodox Forum; author of Torah U-Maddah. One of the leading voices for the validity and importance of Modern Orthodoxy.
• B. Barry Levy - former professor at Yeshiva University, now professor at McGill University. His work attempts to reconcile modern day biblical scholarship with Orthodox theology.
• Mendell Lewittes - Author of Jewish Law: An Introduction.
• Aharon Lichtenstein - Lichtenstein grew up in the United States, earning Semicha at Yeshiva University, and a Ph.D. in English Literature at Harvard. He is committed to intensive and original Torah study, and articulates a bold Jewish worldview that embraces modernity, reflecting the tradition of his teacher and father-in-law, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. In 1971, Lichtenstein answered Rabbi Amital's request to join him at the helm of Yeshivat Har Etzion. He is a source of inspiration for a wide circle of Jewry, for both his educational attainments and his intellectual leadership. Author of Leaves of Faith - The World of Jewish Learning, and By His Light: Character and Values in the Service of God.
• Haskel Lookstein - Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, NY
• Joseph Lookstein- Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, NY
• Michael Melchior - Affiliated with Meimad
• Emanuel Rackman - Chancellor Bar Ilan Univ, Israel ; member of Edah; former president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and author of One Man's Judaism. A leader in defending the rights of agunot, women who are prevented from receiving a divorce under Jewish law.
• Shlomo Riskin - Formerly rabbi of the Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan, he emigrated to Israel to become the Chief Rabbi of Efrat.
• Sol Roth - author of "Judaism and Culture"
• Hershel Schachter - one of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's most prominent students, dean of the Katz Kollel at the Yeshiva University-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary (RIETS). Has published several works attempting to establish a definitive view of Rabbi Soloveitchik's Weltanschauung.
• Marc Schneier - Rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue, NY
• Joseph B. Soloveitchik - Known as "The Rav", he was effectively the spiritual and intellectual guide of Modern Orthodoxy in America for the mid-20th century. He is the author of "The Lonely Man of Faith" and "Halakhic Man," an outspoken Zionist, an opponent of extending rabbinic authority into areas of secular expertise, and a proponent of some interdenominational cooperation, such as the Rabbinical Council of America participation in the now-defunct Synagogue Council of America. He was known as a stern, even severe, leader who described in his writings the spiritual loneliness and internal isolation of the modern religious "man of faith".
• Rav Dr. Moshe David Tendler - Rav Tendler is the Rabbi Isaac and Bella Tendler Professor of Jewish Medical Ethics, and is a Professor of Biology, as well as being a Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivat Rav Yitzchak Elchanan (MYP/RIETS). Holding a PhD in Microbiology, Rav Tendler is among the most prominent students of both Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt'l (his father-in-law) and Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. Rabbi Tendler is the leading expert on medical ethics as it pertains to Jewish law. He is the author of Practical Medical Halakhah, a textbook of Jewish responsa to medical issues, and "Pardes Rimonim", a book about the halachot of Taharat Mishpacha. Rabbi Tendler is currently Rabbi of the Community Synagogue in Monsey, NY, and is the chairman of the Bioethical Commission, RCA, and of the Medical Ethics Task Force, UJA-Federation of Greater New York.
• Joseph Telushkin - Author, teacher, lecturer.
• Avi Weiss - Dean, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale Bronx, NY. Author, teacher, lecturer, and activist.
• Joel B. Wolowelsky - Yeshivah of Flatbush; Orthodox Forum; Tradition; MeOtzar HoRav.
• Walter Wurzburger- former pulpit Rabbi, editor of Tradition magazine and head of the RCA.
• Alan Schwartz - Rabbi of Congregation Ohab Zedek (OZ) on the UWS (Upper West Side, Manhattan) and professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University's undergraduate colleges

Marc D.Angel is Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish and Portuguese synagogue in New York City. ... The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is one of the worlds largest organizations of Orthodox Jewish rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union, or OU. History The roots of the organization go back to 1923 when... Rav Yehuda Amital (born 31 October 1924), a noted Orthodox Jewish rabbi, is a Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion and a former member of Knesset. ... Hesder (in Hebrew: arrangement; or Yeshivat Hesder ישיבת הסדר) is a yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with (a shortened) military service in the Israel Defense Forces within a national religious framework. ... Yeshivat Har Etzion Yeshivat Har Etzion, commonly known as Gush, is a Hesder Yeshiva located in Alon Shvut, a settlement in Gush Etzion near Jerusalem, Israel. ... Samuel Belkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Eliezer Berkovits (1908, Nagyvarad - 20 August 1992), was a rabbi, theologian, and educator. ... Rabbi Saul J. Berman is a prominent member of the Modern Orthodox community. ... Rabbi Shalom Carmy is a tenured professor of Jewish Studies and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University. ... Yeshiva University is a private Jewish university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... David Hartman (born 1931) is an American rabbi and philosopher of contemporary Judaism and an internationally renowned Jewish author. ... Rabbi Leo Jung (June 20, 1892, Uherský Brod, Moravia – 1987, New York, United States) was one of the major architects of American Orthodox Judaism. ... Rabbi Dr. Norman (Nachum) Lamm, (born 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), is a major American Modern Orthodox Jewish communal leader. ... Yeshiva University is a private Jewish university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... McGill University is a publicly funded, co-educational research university located in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... Aharon Lichtenstein (born 1933) is a noted Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva. ... Rav Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov, Yoshe Ber) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... -1... Shlomo Riskin (born 1940) is the American founder of the Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City. ... Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rabbi Hershel Schachter (born 1941) is a Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Yeshiva University, in New York City. ... Rav Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov, Yoshe Ber) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary or RIETS (Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan) is the most important yeshiva component of Yeshiva University. ... Rabbi Marc Schneier is the founding rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, New York and the New York Synagogue in Manhattan. ... Rav Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov, Yoshe Ber) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is one of the worlds largest organizations of Orthodox Jewish rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union, or OU. History The roots of the organization go back to 1923 when... Moshe David Tendler is the rabbi of The Community Synagogue of Monsey. ... Modern Orthodox Jewish rabbi, author, and teacher. ... Rabbi Avraham Weiss (usually known as Avi Weiss or Rav Avi) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi who heads the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Bronx, New York. ... Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is a Modern Orthodox yeshiva founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss in 1999, and located in Manhattan, New York. ... Dr. Joel B. Wolowelsky is the Dean of the Faculty at Yeshivah of Flatbush high school, and an author on topics pertaining to the role of women in Judaism and halakhic medical ethics. ... The Yeshivah of Flatbush is a Modern Orthodox private Jewish day school located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, New York which includes both an elementary school and a high school. ... The Upper West Side is a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River. ... Yeshiva University is a private Jewish university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ...

Modern Orthodox advocacy groups

There are a few organizations dedicated to furthering Modern Orthodoxy as a religious trend: The largest and oldest are the Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), which sponsors youth groups, kashrut supervision, and many other activities and its rabbinic counterpart, the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA). Both have Israel and diaspora (outside the land of Israel) programs. OU logo. ... The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is one of the worlds largest organizations of Orthodox Jewish rabbis; it is affiliated with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more commonly known as the Orthodox Union, or OU. History The roots of the organization go back to 1923 when...

• Edah, with its slogan of: The Courage to be Modern and Orthodox, is a non-membership advocacy operation. It is seen as representing the left wing of Modern Orthodoxy. Edah has announced its intention to close by the end of the Summer 2006, with leader Saul Berman and at least some of its programs transferring to a new continuing education arm of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
• Meimad is a political/intellectual alternative to Israel's highly nationalistic religious parties or those hostile to modern secularist values
• The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) a forum for enhancing the roles of Orthodox Jewish women within the Orthodox community, and reducing Orthodox religious disabilities against women. Considered a far-left organization by centrist-Orthodox mainstream.

EDAH is a Modern Orthodox Jewish organization, generally associated with the liberal wing of Modern Orthodoxy. ... Rabbi Saul J. Berman is a prominent member of the Modern Orthodox community. ... Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is a Modern Orthodox yeshiva founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss in 1999, and located in Manhattan, New York. ... Meimad is a left-leaning religious political party in Israel, founded in 1988. ... JOFAs logo, evoking the waters of Miriams well The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) was founded in 1997 with the aim of expand[ing] the spiritual, ritual, intellectual, and political opportunities for women with the framework of halakha, or Jewish law. ...

See also

• Torah Umadda
• Orthodox Union
• Yeshiva University
• Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
• Divine Providence in Contemporary Jewish thought
• Partnership minyan
• Shira Hadasha

Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... OU logo. ... Yeshiva University is a private Jewish university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) is a Modern Orthodox yeshiva founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss in 1999, and located in Manhattan, New York. ... In theology, Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in peoples lives and throughout history. ... Partnership minyan (pl. ... Kehillat Shira Hadasha, the halakhic egalitarian minyan of Jerusalem, was founded in 2001 by a group of Jerusalem residents, including Tova Hartman. ...

Selected Modern Orthodox congregations

• Young Israel throughout the United States and Israel
• Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac, MD, USA
• Kehilat Orach Eliezer in New York, NY, USA
• Kesher Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, USA
• Ohab Zedek Congregation in New York, NY, USA
• Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York, NY, USA
• Pacific Jewish Center Synagogue in Venice Beach, California, USA
• Synogogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, NJ, USA
• Ahavas Achim B'nei Jacob and David of West Orange, NJ, USA
• Beth Tfiloh Beth Tfiloh Baltimore, MD, USA
• Lower Merion Synagogue Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
• Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Chicago, IL, USA

Kehilat Orach Eliezer traces its roots to 1983 when Rabbi Rabbi Louis (Eliezer) Finkelstein zl, former chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, became unable to leave his home to attend Shabbat and holiday services. ... Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School is an Orthodox Jewish day school in Pikesville Baltimore County, Maryland. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_4_47/ai_54600118#continue
2. ^ http://shma.com/feb01/berman.htm
3. ^ Rabbi Norman Lamm: Some Comments on Centrist Orthodoxy
4. ^ http://www.ucalgary.ca/%7Eelsegal/363_Transp/Orthodoxy/SRHirsch.html
5. ^ http://www.yutorah.org/_shiurim/%2FTU9%5FShapiro%2Epdf
6. ^ http://www.yutorah.org/_shiurim/%2FTU9%5FShapiro%2Epdf
7. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_n1_v42/ai_13796421/print
8. ^ http://www.yutorah.org/_materials/ACF4B2B.pdf
9. ^ http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/rav/rav13.htm
10. ^ http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/rk1-kook.htm]
11. ^ http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=1219
12. ^ http://www.edah.org/backend/JournalArticle/4_1_waxman.pdf
13. ^ http://www.edah.org/backend/coldfusion/search/diverse.cfm#Chumrah
14. ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/orthostate.html
15. ^ http://www.edah.org/backend/coldfusion/search/diverse.cfm#Chumrah
16. ^ Joseph Elias, Introduction to "The Nineteen Letters", Feldheim
17. ^ http://www.yctorah.org/downloads/articles/aw-open-orthodoxy.pdf
18. ^ http://www.adath-shalom.ca/dorff158.htm
19. ^ http://www.jtsa.edu/about/cj/sacredcluster.shtml#6
20. ^ http://www.responsafortoday.com/about/about.htm
21. ^ http://www.adath-shalom.ca/dorff158.htm
22. ^ http://www.jtsa.edu/about/cj/sacredcluster.shtml#6
23. ^ http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/15764/edition_id/307/format/html/displaystory.html
24. ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/orthostate.html
25. ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/orthostate.html
26. ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/orthostate.html
27. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/subdivisions/modernorthodoxy_2.shtml
28. ^ http://www.hashkafah.com/index.php?showtopic=1926&st=20
29. ^ http://yuweb.addr.com/v63i9/news/edah.shtml
30. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_n1_v42/ai_13796421/print
31. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_4_47/ai_54600118
32. ^ http://yuweb.addr.com/v67i7/culture/toyou.html
33. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_n1_v42/ai_13796421/print
34. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_n1_v42/ai_13796421/print
35. ^ http://www.yutorah.org/_materials/ACF4B2B.pdf
36. ^ http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/jl-383-helmreich.htm
37. ^ http://www.edah.org/backend/JournalArticle/4_1_brill.pdf

External links

Ideology

• Modern Orthodoxy - BBC Religion and Ethics, Alexander Goldberg
• Modern Orthodoxy, Rabbi Hershel Schachter
• History and philosophy of Modern Orthodoxy, Prof. Alan Brill, Yeshiva University
• The Ideology of Modern Orthodoxy Rabbi Saul J. Berman
• Some Comments on Centrist Orthodoxy (JPEG) Rabbi Dr Norman Lamm
• Modern Orthodoxy, Sh'ma Journal, February 2001
• American "Centrist" Orthodoxy, Prof. Eliezer Segal
• Religion Allied to Progress, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
• Torah Im Derech Eretz, Rabbi Aryeh Carmell
• "Torah u'Maddah" and "Torah and Derech Eretz", Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
• "Open Orthodoxy: A Modern Orthodox Rabbi's Creed" Rabbi Avraham (Avi) Weiss (pdf)

Alexander Goldberg was born in Guildford in 1974. ... Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rabbi Hershel Schachter (born 1941) is a Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Yeshiva University, in New York City. ... Yeshiva University is a private Jewish university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... JPG redirects here. ... Rabbi Dr. Norman (Nachum) Lamm, (born 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), is a major American Modern Orthodox Jewish communal leader. ... Rabbi S.R. Hirsch Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. ... Shlomo Riskin (born 1940) is the American founder of the Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City. ... Rabbi Avraham Weiss (usually known as Avi Weiss or Rav Avi) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi who heads the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Bronx, New York. ...

Issues

• Religious Zionism And Modern Orthodoxy, Rav Yosef Blau
• Modern orthodoxy in Israel, Charles S. Liebman
• Fundamentalist or Romantic Nationalist?: Israeli Modern Orthodoxy, Shlomo Fischer
• Dilemmas of modern orthodoxy: sociological and philosophical, Prof. Chaim I. Waxman
• Modern Orthodoxy in America: Possibilities for a Movement under Siege, William B. Helmreich and Reuel Shinnar
• Revisionism and the Rav: The Struggle for the Soul of Modern Orthodoxy, Prof. Lawrence Kaplan
• American Modern Orthodoxy: Confronting Cultural Challenges Prof. Chaim I. Waxman
• Caught In The Middle, David Van Biema, cnn.com
• Yeshiva U. confronts fault lines of modern Orthodoxy, Julie Wiener, Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• Orthodox Judaism and The Liberal Arts, Rabbi Shalom Carmy
• The State of Orthodox Judaism Today, Michael Kress
• The "Torah Only" Attitude to Torah Im Derech Eretz, Mordechai Plaut

• Women's Prayer Services - Theory and Practice, Rabbis A Frimer & D. Frimer
• Torah Study for Women, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein

Rabbi Yosef Blau Yosef Blau is an Orthodox rabbi. ... Rabbi Shalom Carmy is a tenured professor of Jewish Studies and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University. ...

History

• Samson Raphael Hirsch: The Father of Neo-Orthodoxy, Louis Jacobs
• Rabbi Esriel Hildesheimer's Program of Torah u-Madda, Marc B. Shapiro
• American Orthodoxy: Part I; Part II, Moshe D. Sherman

Resources

• Introduction to the Philosophy of Rabbi Soloveitchik, vbm-torah.org
• torahweb.org, Roshei Yeshiva at Yeshiva University