Whither Modern Orthodoxy

Logo of  YU - Modern Orthodoxy's Flagship Yeshiva (Forbes)

 CJN columnist Norma Joseph, associate director of the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies at Concordia University(said) Montreal is an anomaly – it has relatively few liberal synagogues and its Orthodox shuls attract people who may not practise an Orthodox lifestyle. This diversity has given her the freedom to pursue a professional career and be a feminist…

As modern Orthodox women are beginning to be ordained (often taking the title of maharat or rabba), the movement is still working out what role women will play in religious leadership. While some congregations have been willing to hire the newly ordained women, others have decided they are not ready. 

The problem of biblical criticism, different ways of understanding the Torah, has also generated controversy in the United States, rabbis say. At the heart of the debate is whether the Torah, which Orthodoxy defines as the divine word of God given directly to Moses, is identical to the Torah we have today, Rabbi (Martin) Lockshin said.

“I think modern Orthodoxy in Canada is strong, but facing serious challenges,” Rabbi Torczyner said…

As an example, he points to what once were called “alternative lifestyles.”

“In the space of just a few years, we’ve seen a radical change in the way the western world looks at those relationships,” he said. “And while there are messages that could be consistent with themes within Judaism, the reality is you’re thinking about one change and already the next one has come along. Modern Orthodoxy ends up being behind the times in terms of how to deal with the new reality.”

“One of the challenges [for modern Orthodoxy] is separating from the ultra-right Orthodox, who have seemed to have marketed themselves as the only true Orthodoxy,” she said. “We need to bring back the centre and own it, and to market it with a pleasure and passion and not leave it just to the chassidic or haredi movement.