Pluralism is Not the Answer

Rabbi Steven Gotlib

It’s not a simple matter. But it is an important one that deserves our attention now more than ever. Pluralism is something Rabbi Steven Gotlib struggles with.

I understand where he is coming from and even sympathize with him. But pluralism is not an option for Orthodox Jews. Orthodox Jews believe that heterodox movements are illegitimate. There is no way around that. We are not to even participate with them in a way that would show equity between us, let alone combine as a unified Judaism of different streams. As I understand the term, pluralism requires us to consider ourselves religiously different but equal.  

That is precisely what the big debate was about back in the early to mid-20^th century. There was no argument. Orthodox Rabbinic leaders across the spectrum – From R’ Aharon Kotler to Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik forbade such associations on any matters of religious doctrine. The only debate was whether we could join with them as a matter of the general welfare of the Jewish community - such as addressing antisemitism on college campuses. Rav Soloveitchik said we could (perhaps even should – strength in numbers). But the rabbinic leadership to his right forbade even that in the belief that any participation at all gives them some recognition. Which would in essence promote them as a legitimate from of Judaism.

But these decisions were made it was a time when heterodoxy was in ascendancy. Orthodoxy as we know it today was in its infancy. We needed to stay strong and build our community. And certainly not do anything to build up a community that promoted a false version of Judaism.

Today quite the opposite is true. Heterodoxy is in steep decline and Orthodoxy is in ascendancy with a speeding bullet. While this does not take away the prohibition of tacitly recognizing heterodox movements, it should not be overlooked that (non Orthodox) American Jewry is at an unprecedented existential crisis right now. We are hemorrhaging Jews at shockingly record numbers. Intermarriage among non Orthodox Jews is at an all time high at over 70%.

It should also not be overlooked that there has been a spiritual awakening the likes of which has not been seen since the days of the 6 Day War. (Although for entirely opposite reasons.) 

The massive increase in antisemitism has forced a lot of young Jews to examine who they really are. A lot them are seeking ways to find that out.

We ought not waste an opportunity presenting itself at a time where so many Jews are abandoning their heritage.

But is pluralism cannot be the way to do that. We still cannot forge a pluralistic relationship with heterodox rabbis that would define us as a united religious community with different streams. At the same time we must not completely abandon any relationship at all.

There is room for compromise in my view. A compromise that would be in the spirit of Rav Soloveitchik’s permissible sphere. We ought to seek relationships based on common communal interests and work together towards a common communal goal. The time to worry about whether even this kind if relationship legitimizes them is long gone. And surpassed by the need to reach out to the many Jews now seeking to be reached. And that means reaching out to heterodox rabbis willing to work with us.

I am reminded once again of Lakewood trained Rabbi Yosef Reinman’s collaboration with Reform Rabbi Amiel Hirsch on a book and a tour promoting it. The Agudah Moetzes forced Rabbi Reinman to withdraw from the tour and repudiate the book. As a card carrying Charedi Rav, he of course agreed to do that but regretted losing a wonderful opportunity to meet and educate Reform Jews about the Torah. And this was over 15 years ago. Imagine how much more urgent an opportunity like that is today. And how much more successful he would be.

It is long past time for the Charedi leadership to re-think a policy they may have had some merit when it was instituted. But has long since lost the urgency of what it was trying to accomplish. They need to look to Rav Soloveitchik’s paradigm for the sake of all of Klal Yisroel.

A good place to start would be in the area antisemitism on college campuses. We can surely unite as Jews for that common purpose. There is no better time than the present. The time to act is now.