I am not sure whether the
Volvo
commercial with Jean-ClaudeVan Damme performing a truly “epic”
split led to more sales of trucks. What I do know is that in addition
to going viral, the commercial got me thinking, and for me, the split
has become a metaphor.
It is either a sign of my
nuanced views and/or an indication of my poor writing skills that as
I have worked to try to create a middle ground between the worlds of
Right-wing Modern Orthodoxy and Open Orthodoxy, it has been assumed
by some that I am a musmach of YCT, a believer in the need for the
ordination of women, a supporter of partnership minyanim, a puppet to
the “right-wing” roshei yeshiva of YU, a charedi and beholden to
Rabbis Gil Student or Ysoscher Katz. In fact, I am none of the above.
I am however, a believer in
serious learning opportunities for women, making women as comfortable
as possible in shul within the limits of halacha, that moderation is
not a dirty word, that halacha has rules, and that Rabbis Katz and
Student, are acting l'sheim shamayim and have contributed to the
world of Torah. Although I am more comfortable within the world of
YU, and lean towards halachic conservativism, I am sympathetic to
some of the motivations behind psak that has come from musmachim of
and teachers at YCT. I have been spiritually and intellectually
nurtured by many of the Roshei Yeshiva at YU, even as I do not fully
identify with most of them hashkafically.
I
suppose that it is fitting that I write these words on Yom
Yerushalayim, living in a community where most shuls said tachanun
this morning. More and more, I find myself most sympathetic to
Israeli institutions where serious Torah scholarship, combines with
moderation and a willingness to make slow but steady progress in
advancing thoughtful progressive change. Yeshivat Har Etzion's Roshei
Yeshiva and rabbeim serve as models of what I aspire to in Torah. At
Gush, as the yeshiva is known, there is a commitment to openness to
the challenging questions on Torah and halacha, within a clear spirit
of yirat shamayim. Beit
Hillel acts to promote women's learning and leadership positions,
tolerance and a values based approach to psak and the klal.
I
find myself wondering what it is about Israel that allows for these
institutions to achieve a balance that American institutions struggle
to achieve. Looking for the chance to, once again teach Torah, I
wonder if there is an institution which would be comfortable with my
views. Being that aliyah is most likely at least a few years off, I
remain stuck in this uncomfortable split, hoping that the supports on
which I am precariously balanced, don't move further apart.
