Open_Orthodoxy Avi_Weiss

1 open orthodoxy

1.1 yeshivat chovevei torah
1.2 ordination of women

1.2.1 sara hurwitz


1.3 criticism rabbi avrohom gordimer

open orthodoxy

weiss coined term open orthodoxy in 1997 describe form of modern orthodoxy emphasizes halakha, collective body of jewish law, intellectual openness, spiritual dimension, broad concern jews, , more expansive role women. views halakha being more flexible , open innovation more traditional counterparts in orthodox judaism. states orthodox judaism, including open orthodoxy, fundamentally differs conservative judaism in 3 areas. first, unlike conservative judaism,

orthodox jews believe torah given god @ mount sinai in current form. second,
orthodoxy believes legal authority cumulative, , contemporary posek [decider] can issue judgments based on full history of jewish legal precedent , whereas conservative jews believe precedent provides illustrations of possible positions rather binding law. conservatism, therefore, remains free select whichever position within prior history appeals . third,
orthodoxy characterized ritually-observant members meticulously keep shabbat (the sabbath), kashrut (the dietary laws), taharat ha-mishpaha (the laws of family purity), , pray 3 times day , whereas conservative judaism not composed of ritually observant jews. thus, in our community if permissive custom accepted, can meaningful.

more traditional rabbis have opposed approach. rabbi steven pruzansky, trustee of rabbinical council of america (rca) on board of beth din of america, argues weiss approach closely resembles 20th century american conservative judaism , in opinion more aptly called neo-conservative rather orthodox judaism. concluding opinion piece in matzav.com states:

clarity , honesty @ least demand recognize before our eyes creation of new movement in jewish life outside orthodox world, 1 have seen before. can termed ... neo-conservatism. open orthodoxy deceptive brand name, advertising slogan, , attempt remain tethered torah world re-shape within, far reality. reality living through rise of neo-conservatives.

chicago rabbi moshe averick, columnist jewish magazine algemeiner journal , author of nonsense of high order: confused , illusory world of atheist, agrees pruzansky weiss has created new jewish movement in america, comparing him isaac mayer wise (founder of reform judaism) , solomon schechter (founder of conservative judaism in united states). compares weiss s ordination of 3 women maharat on june 16, 2013, so-called trefa banquet of 1883, marked split between reform , traditional judaism in america. says averick: weiss movement, form of judaism enthusiastically embraces ideologies of feminism , liberal-progressive-modernism while coating strong orthodox flavor, accurately labeled ortho-feminist progressive judaism, term coined rabbi steven pruzansky ... neo-conservative judaism ... has managed fit neatly slot left of orthodox judaism , right of conservative judaism. in october 2013, dozens of rabbis defined members in standing or [who] identify rabbinical council of america , signed letter arguing open orthodoxy has plunged ahead, again , again, across border divides orthodoxy neo-conservatism

in november 2015, conference of european rabbis stated conference views great pain deviations religious foundations emanating movement called open orthodoxy , , warns act in spirit, alumni of aforementioned movement... not recognized rabbis, entails. rabbi jonathan guttentag of manchester, uk, explained systematically testing boundaries of normative jewish practice, open orthodoxy has pushed envelope bit far, and... led positions take proponents outside orthodox umbrella.

similarly, in fall of year, agudath israel of america denounced moves ordain women, , went further, declaring open orthodoxy, yeshivat maharat, yeshivat chovevei torah, , other affiliated entities similar other dissident movements throughout jewish history in having rejected basic tenets of judaism.

in contrast, dr. steven bayme, national director of jewish communal affairs @ american jewish committee, sees open orthodoxy authentic form of modern orthodoxy. in reference installation of rabbi asher lopatin incoming president of yeshivat chovevei torah rabbinical school, dr. bayme said: event demonstrated power of orthodoxy modern, in sense of synthesizing modern scholarship , culture judaic tradition , learning, , open orthodoxy , open jews , open hearing other viewpoints.

yeshivat chovevei torah

in 1999 weiss founded yeshivat chovevei torah (yct), rabbinic seminary in riverdale neighborhood of bronx after resigning yeshiva university, had taught @ stern college women decades. school s graduates work rabbis in synagogues, college hillels , schools, rabbinical council of america not permit membership school s graduates unless have been ordained traditional orthodox rabbinical school. in june 2013, weiss handed on presidency of yeshivat chovevei torah chicago rabbi asher lopatin.

ordination of women

in may 2009, weiss announced opening of yeshivat maharat, new school train women maharat, acronym hebrew מנהיגה הלכתית רוחנית תורנית (halakhic, spiritual, , torah leader), title created female version of rabbi. school s mission, according website, train orthodox women spiritual leaders , halakhic authorities in four-year full-time course. sara hurwitz appointed dean of yeshivat maharat. on june 16, 2013 first class of female maharats graduated yeshivat maharat.

sara hurwitz

in june 2009 weiss ordained sara hurwitz rabbi, giving title of maharat . first formally ordained orthodox woman.

in february 2010 weiss announced hurwitz henceforth known title of rabba . move sparked widespread criticism in orthodox world. agudath israel council of torah sages issued public statement suggesting weiss should no longer considered orthodox declaring these developments represent radical , dangerous departure jewish tradition , mesoras hatorah, , must condemned in strongest terms. congregation woman in rabbinical position of sort cannot considered orthodox. rumors circulated in jewish press rca considered expelling weiss. under pressure rca, weiss pledged not ordain else rabba , although hurwitz retains title. shortly afterwards, rca passed resolution praising increased torah education of women in orthodox world encouraging halachically , communally appropriate professional opportunities them, stating: cannot accept either ordination of women or recognition of women members of orthodox rabbinate, regardless of title. in 2015 yaffa epstein ordained rabba yeshivat maharat, weiss founded. in 2015, rabbi lila kagedan ordained rabbi same organization, making first graduate take title rabbi.

criticism rabbi avrohom gordimer

according dr. marc shapiro, rabbi avrohom gordimer has assumed mantle of defender of faith , sees goal exposing non-orthodox nature of open orthodoxy . dr shapiro stated deny them simple courtesy of mentioning names ... in opinion disgraceful . rabbi gordimer responded in article in cross currents. rabbi ysoscher katz, chair, department of talmud,

yeshivat chovevei torah rabbinical school, has threatened legal action against cross currents despite claims on facebook open these debates, if continue publish avrohom gordimer’s libelous , unfounded accusations against me. in august 2015 gordimer announced after 3 years of documenting , critiquing various aspects of open orthodoxy, taking break...my decision temporarily withdraw discourse purely volitional. unrelated countless personal attacks on me , becoming persona non grata among some. not due exertion of external pressure. rather, stepping aside short term in order encourage best suited speak – nothing more that.