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. The resultant mode of Orthodox Judaism is referred to as "Centrist Orthodoxy." Hebrew (עִבְרִית ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel, the West Bank, the United States, and by Jewish communities around the world. ... The Philosopher (detail), by Rembrandt Philosophy is a study that includes various diverse subfields such as aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people with around 14 million followers (as of 2005 [1]). It is one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths and one of the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. ...

Philosophy

Torah Umadda, as formulated today, is to a large extent a product of the teachings and philosphy of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (1903-1993), Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University. “The Rav” articulated a paradigm which allowed for a "synthesis" between Torah scholarship and Western, secular scholarship, as well as positive involvement with the broader community; see Rav Soloveitchik’s philosophy and below. Torah Umadda remains closely associated with Yeshiva University. Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbÄ«;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbÄ«) in Judaism, means 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). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University. ... A Rosh yeshiva (Hebrew: ראש ישיבה) (plural in Hebrew: Roshei yeshiva, but also referred to in the English form as Rosh yeshivas) is a rabbi who is the academic head, or rosh (ראש), of a yeshiva (ישיבה), a college of higher Talmudic study. ... Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... Since the late 1800s, the word paradigm (IPA: ) has referred to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline or other epistemological context. ... Synthesis (from the Greek words syn = plus and thesis = position) is commonly understood to be an integration of two or more pre-existing elements which results in a new creation. ... Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University. ...

Torah and secular knowledge

In the view of Torah UMadda, "Jewishness and Jewish faith ... and the universal concerns and preoccupations of humanity" are not "fundamentally inapposite"; Judaism and culture are, "in essence part of one continuum". Jewish knowledge and secular knowledge, Torah and Madda, do not, therefore, require "substantive reconciliation"; in fact, the study of Torah with other knowledge results in a heightened and enriched Judaism. As articulated by Rabbi Norman Lamm: The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) in Judaism, means 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). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Norman (Nochum) Lamm, or Dr. Norman Lamm, (born, 1927, Brooklyn, USA), major modern Orthodox Judaism Jewish communal leader. ...

Torah ... on the one side and worldly knowledge ... on the other, together offer us a more over-arching and truer vision than either one set alone. Each set gives one view of the Creator as well as of His creation, and the other a different perspective that may not agree at all with the first ... both together present the possibility of a larger truth. (Torah Umadda, p. 236)

Synthesis

Although Torah UMadda regards science and religion as separate, where the "wisdom of the world" maintains its own domain of significance, it nevertheless conceives of a "synthesis" between the two realms. In this understanding, "synthesis does not refer to a logical unity of the theories of science, democracy and Judaism"; rather, the idea of synthesis has a psychological and a sociological meaning. Here, the "individual has absorbed the attitudes characteristic of science, democracy and Jewish life and responds appropiately in diverse relations and contexts." [1] Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Science For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... Synthesis (from the Greek words syn = plus and thesis = position) is commonly understood to be an integration of two or more pre-existing elements which results in a new creation. ... Psychology (ancient Greek: psyche = soul or mind, logos/-ology = study of) is an academic and applied field involving the study of the mind and behavior, both human and nonhuman. ... Social interactions of people and their consequences are the subject of sociology studies. ...

We prefer to look upon science and religion as separate domains which need not be in serious conflict and, therefore, need no reconciliation. If we seek the blending of science and religion and the integration of secular knowledge with sacred wisdom, then it is not in the subject matter of these fields but rather within the personality of the individual that we hope to achieve the synthesis. (Samuel Belkin, inaugural address, 1943)

Given this conception, the realization of Torah UMadda may find "different legitimate expressions in each individual." [2] In fact, in his book, Rabbi Lamm explores six separate models of Torah Umadda, including those presented by Maimonides, Samson Raphael Hirsch, and Abraham Isaac Kook. The philosophy recognizes the challenge this is likely to pose to its adherents, and posits a framework in which "the confrontation between Judaism and secular culture results in heightened creativity within Judaism." [3] It has been suggested that Personality psychology be merged into this article or section. ... Samuel Belkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... An abstract model (or conceptual model) is a theoretical construct that represents physical, biological or social processes, with a set of variables and a set of logical and quantitative relationships between them. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Moshe ben Maimon (March 30, 1135–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher. ... 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. ... Abraham Isaac Kook (1864 - 1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate of Palestine, the founder of the (now) Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz Harav, and a renowned Torah scholar. ... The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ...

Centrality of Torah

Despite the simultaneous acceptance of both Torah and secular knowledge and culture, the philosophy demands "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." [4] In the words of Rabbi Lamm, "Torah Umadda does not imply ... coequality. Torah remains the unchallenged and preeminent center." Rabbi Lamm is careful to point out that Torah Umadda demands strict adherence to Halakha (Jewish law). "Not a single fundamental of Judaism has been disturbed by us, we adhere to the same ikkarim (principles of faith), we are loyal to the same Torah, we strive for the same study of Torah and observance of mitzvot that our parents and grandparents before us cherished throughout the generations." (Some Comments on Centrist Orthodoxy.) Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that one is expected to uphold in order to be said to be in consonance with the Jewish faith. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. ... Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaisms religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah (commandment) of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. ... Mitzvah (Hebrew: מצווה, commandment; plural, mitzvot; from צוה, tzavah, command) is a word is used in Judaism to refer to (a) the commandments, of which there are believed to be 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or (b) any Jewish law at all. ...

Other paradigms

Another model of Torah Umadda [5], less emphasized in Modern Orthodox literature, de-stresses the intellectual role of Madda. Rather, to some degree, "the theories and methods of secular disciplines [can] be used to secure not intellectual ends, but practical ends in [daily life]." God's blessing to Adam and Eve "Fill the land and conquer it" (Genesis 1:28) is interpreted by Rav Soloveitchik (as well as Samson Raphael Hirsch and Isaac Breuer) as a positive mitzvah calling man to develop and improve God's world; this mitzvah of creative activity expresses the divine image in all branches of human culture. [6] Thus, secular knowledge enables the religious Jew "to fulfill the biblical mandate of "Fill the land and conquer it" ... to carry out their responsibilities to others and, further, by increasing the modalities for improving human welfare, to expand the range of these responsibilities; and, finally, to fulfill the mandate of imitatio Dei." See further under Joseph Soloveitchik; Divine Providence. Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin), also called The First Book of Moses, is the first book of Torah (five books of Moses), and is the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also the first book of... 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. ... Imitatio dei (Latin, imitating god) is a religious concept according to which virtue among man is found by resembling God, to which man should aspire. ... Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University. ... Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is a theological term which refers to the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in peoples lives and throughout history. ...

Relationship with Torah im Derech Eretz

Torah im Derech Eretz — "Torah with worldly involvement" — is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism which formalises a relationship between Torah Judaism and the modern world, first articulated by Samson Raphael Hirsch in c. 1840. In some senses Torah Umadda and Torah im Derech Eretz are somewhat similar — both value the acquisition of secular knowledge, coupled with adherence to halakha. Both, additionally, emphasise worldly involvement. In fact, Torah im Derech Eretz is sometimes put forward as one paradigm upon which Torah Umadda (and Modern Orthodoxy in general) is based. 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. ... Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... 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. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... 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. ... Since the late 1800s, the word paradigm (IPA: ) has referred to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline or other epistemological context. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ...

At the same time though, the two are distinct in terms of core emphasis. In the Hirschian view, the acquisition of secular culture and knowledge is a solely a religious duty. In this view one must shine the light of Torah thought onto the entire realm of human experience. To quote Hirsch, "Judaism is not a mere adjunct to life: it comprises all of life. To be a Jew is not a mere part, it is the sum total of our task in life. To be a Jew in the synagogue and the kitchen, in the field and the warehouse, in the office and the pulpit ... with the needle and the graving-tool, with the pen and the chisel — that is what it means to be a Jew." ("Religion Allied to Progress"). In the view of Torah Umadda, on the other hand, secular and religious studies are seen as seperate domains; the ideal being a synthesis of the two in the outlook and personality of the individual. 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. ...

A second dissimilarity, although not unconnected to the first, exists in the degree of supremacy accorded Torah. In the Hirschian view, Torah is the sole barometer of truth by which to judge secular disciplines.Thus, "[w]e are confident that 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).In contrast, in the view of Torah Umadda although Torah is the preeminent center, secular knowledge is considered to offer "a different perspective that may not agree at all with the first (Torah) ... both together present the possibility of a larger truth." (Torah Umadda, p. 236). Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. ... Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, also the third book in the Torah (five books of Moses). ...

A third difference in emphasis is that, to some extent, Torah Umadda places a higher value on constructive involvement with the broader Jewish community than Torah im Derech Eretz. Rabbi Hirsch was known as a fierce opponent of engaging and joining those elements of Judaism not Orthodox. To some degree the followers of Torah Umadda have a position more similar to that of Azriel Hildesheimer. Israel Azriel Hildesheimer was a German rabbi, and leader of Orthodox Judaism. ...

Centrist Orthodoxy

Centrist Orthodoxy is the dominant mode of Modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States and the western world, it is also influential in Modern Orthodoxy in Israel. Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ... The term Western world or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ...

Characteristics

Centrist Orthodoxy's outlook is characterised by "education, moderation, and the centrality of the people of Israel." [7]

In general, differences between Centrist Orthodoxy and other Orthodox movements result from the particular emphasis placed on each of these; see further discussion under Modern Orthodox Judaism. Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ...

Education

The Movement's approach to knowledge and education, "Torah Umadda", is discussed above. As mentioned, based on Rabbi Soloveitchik's teachings, "Madda" entails "worldly involvement" in addition to its intellectual component - and places a high value on contribution to general society. Adherents of Centrist Orthodoxy are thus well represented, proportionately, in the professions and in academia [8] - and to some extent in politics. Members of Haredi communities, by contrast, will typically not undertake any post high school secular education (except for specific exceptions for livelihood purposes), and will, in general, minimise involvement with the secular; see further discussion under Divine Providence. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University. ... A profession is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing. ... Plato is credited with the inception of academia: the body of knowledge, its development and transmission across generations. ... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ... High school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is a theological term which refers to the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in peoples lives and throughout history. ... Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is a theological term which refers to the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in peoples lives and throughout history. ...

Moderation

For Centrist Orthodoxy, moderation "is the result neither of guile nor of indifference nor of prudence, it is a matter of sacred principle ... it is not the mindless application of the arithmetic mean... [rather] it is the earnest sober and intelligent assessment of each situation... [Thus], moderation issues from a broad weltanschauung rather than from tunnel vision." This moderation, "seeking what is allowed rather than forbidden", is manifest in three ways. Firstly, along with the Haredi community, the ideology demands adherence to the halakha; however it is not insistent that strictures (chumras) are normative, rather, these are a matter of personal choice [9] (see 2.1 and 4.1 under Modern Orthodox Judaism). Secondly, relative to the Haredi community - but less so than in non-orthodox communities - women are starting to play a public role within the community [10], [11] (in roles other than strictly religious [12]). Thirdly, the movement will engage with the broader Jewish community, as discussed below, and with the secular world, as opposed to the Haredi approach of minimising such contact. In mathematics and statistics, the arithmetic mean of a set of numbers is the sum of all the members of the set divided by the number of items in the set (cardinality). ... Normal vision. ... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... In philosophy, normative is usually contrasted with descriptive or explanatory when describing types of theories, beliefs, or statements. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ...

Centrality of the People of Israel

All Orthodox ideologies place a high value on ahavat yisrael (love of a fellow - individual - Jew) and all regard the Land of Israel as holy - and residence there as a mitzvah. However, for Centrist Orthodoxy, the "People of Israel", additionally, play a central role. The resulting difference, relative to other philosophies, manifests in two ways. Firstly, involvement with non-orthodox will extend beyond "outreach" - in which many Haredi organisations engage - to continued institutional relations and cooperation (despite the "deviationist violations of Torah and Halakha" of the non-orthodox). Secondly, Centrist Orthodoxy places a high national, as well as religious, significance on the State of Israel. Centrist Orthodox institutions and individuals are therefore Zionist in orientation, and rates of Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from this community are high relative to others [13]; study in Israeli Hesder Yeshivot is also common. Thus, although Centrist Orthodoxy and Religious Zionism are not identical, they share many of the same values and many of the same adherents [14]. This article concerns the concept of The Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael) in Jewish and Christian thought throughout the history from its Biblical sources to the present day. ... Mitzvah (Hebrew: מצווה, commandment; plural, mitzvot; from צוה, tzavah, command) is a word is used in Judaism to refer to (a) the commandments, of which there are believed to be 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or (b) any Jewish law at all. ... Baal teshuva (or baal teshuvah) (Hebrew: lit. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... // Nationalism is an ideology that holds that (ethnically or culturally defined) nations are the fundamental units for human social life, and makes certain cultural and political claims based upon that belief; in particular, the claim that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state, and that each nation... A bilingual poster in Romanian and Hungarian promoting a film about Jewish settlement in Palestine, 1930s. ... Aliyah (Hebrew: עלייה; ascent or going up) is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). ... 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. ... Kippot Sruggot: Modern Orthodox Jewish students carry the flag of Israel at a public parade in Manhattan, NY, USA The Religious Zionist Movement, or Religious Zionism, also called Mizrachi, is an ideology combining Zionism and Judaism, which offers Zionism based on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ...

Institutions

The Institutions of American Centrist Orthodoxy include [15]:

• Yeshiva University and The "Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary" ("RIETS"), the main institution for the training and ordination of Orthodox congregational Rabbis in America.
• The Rabbinical Council of America, the central body of Centrist Rabbis. Its "Bet Din of America" long headed by Rabbi Soloveitchik, is a respected source of Jewish legal decisions [16].
• The Orthodox Union ("OU"; Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America) established in 1898, is largest union of American Orthodox congregations. Its activities include the administration and certification of kashrut; support for a broad range of religious educational institutions and projects; lobbying the American government on various issues of importance to religious Jews (and occasionally, on matters related to Israel) [17]. It also incorporates NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth) which offers social, educational and outreach programming in hundreds of communities [18].
• Young Israel (The National Council of Young Israel) founded in 1912, serves as the national coordinating agency for nearly 150 Orthodox congregations; the goal of NCYI is "to broaden the appeal of the traditional community synagogue as the central address for Jewish communal life by providing educational, religious, social, spiritual and communal programming" [19].

Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... // See related article about rabbis (who may or may not have formal semicha (ordination). Semicha (סמיכה) (meaning leaning [of the hands]) is a Hebrew word referring to what may be roughly translated as the ordination (in Hebrew: semichut סמיכות) of a rabbi within Judaism. ... 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... A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ... Posek (Hebrew פוסק, IPA: , pl. ... OU logo. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... It has been suggested that Kosher foods be merged into this article or section. ... Young Israel is a branch of Modern Orthodox Judaism. ...

Criticism

The section below deals with criticism levelled against Torah Umadda as a philosophy; for criticism levelled against Modern Orthodox Judaism in general, see the discussion there. Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ...

Ultra Orthodoxy / Haredi Judaism

Critics of Torah Umadda – particularly within the Haredi camp - see the complementarity of Torah and secular knowledge proposed by the philosophy, as suggesting that the Torah is not of itself whole or complete; in their view, Torah Umadda is thus premised on a flawed appreciation of Torah. Furthermore, they believe that Torah Umadda is problematic in that its synthesis allows for an "encroachment" of the scientific worldview on Jewish theology; Torah Umadda thus represents a dilution of the "pure sanctity" (taharat hakodesh) of the Torah. Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... The word complement (with an e in the second syllable, not to be confused with a different word, compliment with an i) has a number of uses. ... For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... A world view, also spelled as worldview is a term calqued from the German word Weltanschauung (look onto the world). The German word is also in wide use in English, as well as the translated form world outlook. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people with around 14 million followers (as of 2005 [1]). It is one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths and one of the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. ...

Neo-Orthodoxy

Critics within Neo-Orthodoxy, the movement directly descended from Hirsch’s Frankfurt community, claim that the equality between Torah and secular, posited by Torah Umadda, in fact results in a diminution in the status of Torah - and a misrepresentation of the teachings of Rabbi Hirsch: "even to suggest that anything can be parallel to Torah is a blasphemy of the highest order" [20]. In fact, the distinctions between the two approaches, though intellectually subtle, manifest in markedly divergent religious attitudes and perspectives. As such, Shimon Schwab, second Rabbi of this community in the United States, is described as being "spiritually very distant" from Yeshiva University. [See above section "Relationship with Torah im Derech Eretz" for further differences delineated. See also further discussion in Torah im Derech Eretz.] 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. ... 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. ... Skyline of Frankfurt (help· info) is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany. ... 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. ... 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. ...

Modern Orthodoxy

Although not directly critical, some on the right of the Religious Zionist Movement differ with Torah Umadda in its approach to secular knowledge. In this view – a variation on “practical madda” above, here based on Numbers 33:53 per Ramban – engagement with the secular is permissible, and encouraged, but only insofar as this benefits the State of Israel. Secular knowledge, then, has a practical, as opposed to philosophical value; thus, for example, the study of engineering or medicine is deemed valuable, whereas the study of literature and the humanities is discouraged. The Religious Zionist Movement, or Religious Zionism is an ideology combining Zionism and Judaism, which offers Zionism based on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ... The Book of Numbers is the fourth of the books of the Pentateuch, called in the Hebrew ba-midbar במדבר, i. ... Nahmanides is the common name for Moshe ben Nahman Gerondi; the name is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Ben Nahman, meaning Son of Nahman. He is also commomly known as Ramban, being an acronym of his Hebrew name and title, Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman, and by his Catalan name... Literature is literally acquaintance with letters as in the first sense given in the Oxford English Dictionary (from the Latin littera meaning an individual written character (letter)). The term has generally come to identify a collection of texts, which in Western culture are mainly prose, both fiction and non-fiction... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Within the Torah Umadda camp itself, there are those who question whether "the literature on Torah u-Madda with its intellectually elitist bias fails to directly address the majority of its practitioners"; further, there are suggestions that "the very logic of the practice is far removed from the ideology". The contention here is that the "Torah u-Madda suburbanite" does not in reality engage in secular studies in order to achieve the intellectual synthesis described above, but rather "view[s] a college degree as the gateway toward professional advancement." Thus, although Torah Umadda may allow students at Yeshiva University "to navigate the use of their college years", it may not provide a directly applicable theology for the contemporary Modern Orthodox family. An intellectual is a person who uses his or her intellect to study, reflect, or speculate on a variety of different ideas. ...

History

Torah Umadda is closely associated with Yeshiva University. The actual philosophy underlying the combination of Torah and secular wisdom at Yeshiva University was variously articulated, first by Rabbi Dr. Bernard Revel, by his successors Rabbi Dr.Samuel Belkin and Rabbi Dr. Joseph Soloveitchik, and most recently, and formally, by Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm. It was only as recently as 1946, however, that the University adopted "Torah Umadda" as its slogan. (In 2005, Yeshiva University president Richard Joel initiated a campaign to replace the university's "Torah U'Madda" motto with the more generic "Bringing wisdom to life" [21].) Today, Yeshiva University publishes the Torah Umadda Journal which "explores the complex relationships between Torah, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences", as well as studies on related topics in the Library of Jewish Law and Ethics (with Ktav Publishing House). Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... Bernard (Dov) Revel was an Orthodox rabbi and scholar. ... Samuel Belkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University. ... Norman (Nochum) Lamm, or Dr. Norman Lamm, (born, 1927, Brooklyn, USA), major modern Orthodox Judaism Jewish communal leader. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Richard M. Joel (born 1950) is the fourth president of Yeshiva University, a Modern Orthodox Judaism Jewish university with a network of schools, colleges, and universities in New York City. ...

The phrase itself is thought to originate with Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschutz, who mentions "Torah u-Madda" in his Yaarot Devash. This use of "Madda" as "secular knowledge" is, however, recent. In Rabbinic literature, "secular knowledge" is usually referred to as chokhmah חכמה. The first book in Maimonides' compendium of Halakha, the Mishneh Torah, is entitled "Madda" מדע - there, though, the term refers to knowledge of the fundamentals of Judaism. "In the first book I will include all the commandments that are principles of the law of Moses and that a man should know before all else, such as the Unity of God and the prohibitions related to idolatry. And I have called this book Sefer ha Madda the Book of Knowledge." Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbÄ«;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbÄ«) in Judaism, means 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). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Jonathan Eybeschutz (Kraków 1690 - Altona 1764), was a Talmudist, Halachist and Kabbalist, holding positions as Dayan of Prague, and later as Rabbi of the Three Communities: Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek. ... Jonathan Eybeschutz (Kraków 1690 - Altona 1764), was a Talmudist, Halachist and Kabbalist, holding positions as Dayan of Prague, and later as Rabbi of the Three Communities: Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek. ... Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Moshe ben Maimon (March 30, 1135–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... The Mishneh Torah or Yad ha-Chazaka is a code of Jewish law by one of the most important Jewish authorities, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides or by the Hebrew abbreviation RaMBaM (usually written Rambam in English). ... 613 mitzvot (or 613 Commandments. ... There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that one is expected to uphold in order to be said to be in consonance with the Jewish faith. ... In theology, the doctrine of divine simplicity says that God is without parts. ...

See also

• Bar-Ilan University – a Tel Aviv based university which aims "to blend tradition with modern technologies and scholarship, and teach the compelling ethics of Jewish heritage to all”.

• Hebrew Theological College - a Chicago based institution, "preparing its graduates for roles as educators and Rabbis", while providing "broad cultural perspectives and a strong foundation in the Liberal Arts and Sciences."

• Lander College - a New York City based college, combining Torah study with secular, University study, based on a philosophy of Torah Uparnassa (Torah and Livelihood).

• Islamization of knowledge - a variety of attempts and approaches to synthesize the ethics of Islam with various fields of modern thought.

Bar-Ilan University (BIU, אוניברסיטת בר-אילן) is a university in Ramat Gan, Israel. ... Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ... Hebrew Theological College The Hebrew Theological College, also known as Beis Hamidrash LaTorah, Located in Skokie Illinois, was founded in 1922 as one of the first Modern Orthodox Jewish institutions in America, and is therefore also one of the first Jewish institutions in the United States outside of the New... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Lander College for Men (LCM) is the honors division of Touro College. ... Nickname: The Big Apple Official website: City of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ... Islamization of knowledge is a term which describes a variety of attempts and approaches to synthesize the ethics of Islam with various fields of modern thought. ...

References

• An Inaugural Address (PDF), in "Essays in Traditional Jewish Thought", Rabbi Dr Samuel Belkin, Philosophical Library, 1956.
• Diverse Orthodox Attitudes to Torah U'Maddah, Rabbi Saul J. Berman
• Judaism in Culture: Beyond the Bifurcation of Torah and Madda, Rabbi Alan Brill
  • Contemporary Fads and Torah u-Madda: A Response to Alan Brill, Rabbi Yitzchak Blau
• American Orthodoxy in the Twenty First Century, Rabbi Yosef Blau
• Torah Im Derech Eretz, Rabbi Aryeh Carmell
• Orthodox Judaism and The Liberal Arts, Rabbi Shalom Carmy
• Today's Orthodox Judaism, Michael Kress
• Some Comments on Centrist Orthodoxy (JPG) Rabbi Dr Norman Lamm
• "Torah Umadda: The Encounter of Religious Learning and Worldly Knowledge in the Jewish Tradition", Rabbi Dr Norman Lamm, Jason Aronson, 1990. ISBN 0876688105
• Orthodox women's calls for recognition being heard, Debra Nussbaum Cohen, Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• Torah u'Maddah and Torah and Derech Eretz, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
• The Idea of Synthesis (PDF), in "The Jewish idea of Community", Rabbi Sol Roth, Yeshiva University Press, 1977. ISBN 089362005X
• Religious Zionism: Between Openness and Closedness, Prof. Avi Saguy
• Torah Umadda Revisited (PDF), Rabbi Jacob Schachter
• American "Centrist" Orthodoxy, Prof. Eliezer Segal
• Modern Orthodoxy in crisis: a test case, Prof. Edward S. Shapiro
• Practical Endeavor and the Torah u-Madda Debate Rabbi Dr David Shatz
• Torah Perspectives on Women's Issues, Rabbi Mayer Twersky
• Dilemmas of modern orthodoxy: sociological and philosophical, Prof. Chaim Waxman
• What Does Torah U’Madda Mean to You?, The Commentator, December 31, 2002

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Samuel Belkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Rabbi Shalom Carmy is a tenured professor of Jewish Studies and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University. ... A photo of a flower compressed with successively higher compression ratios from left to right. ... Norman (Nochum) Lamm, or Dr. Norman Lamm, (born, 1927, Brooklyn, USA), major modern Orthodox Judaism Jewish communal leader. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Resources

• Torah u'Maddah Journal
  • Articles by topic
  • Articles by author

• The Library of Jewish Law and Ethics
  • Halakhah and Politics: The Jewish Idea of the State, ISBN 0881251291
  • Economics and Jewish Law, ISBN 0881251062
  • Economic Public Policy and Jewish Law, ISBN 0881254371
  • Jewish Woman in Jewish Law, ISBN 0870683292
  • Business Ethics: A Jewish Perspective, ISBN 0881255823
  • Case Studies in Jewish Business Ethics, ISBN 0881256641
  • Free Enterprise and Jewish Law: Aspects of Jewish Business Ethics, ISBN 0870687026
  • Equity in Jewish Law: Halakhic Perspectives in Law : Formalism and Flexibility in Jewish Civil Law, ISBN 0881251313
  • Equity in Jewish Law: Beyond Equity : Halakhic Aspirationism in Jewish Civil Law, ISBN 088125326X
  • Morality, Halakha and the Jewish Tradition, ISBN 0870687271
  • Jewish Ethics and Halakhah for Our Time: Sources and Commentary, ISBN 0881250449
  • Contemporary Halakhic Problems (5 vols), ISBN 0870684507, ISBN 0881254746, ISBN 0881253154, ISBN 087068275X, ISBN 1568713533
  • Judaism and Psychology: Halakhic Perspectives, ISBN 0870687034
  • Holocaust and Halakhah, ISBN 0870682962
  • Medicine in the Bible and the Talmud, ISBN 0881255068