Table of Contents

List of IllustrationsForewordby Jacob J. SchacterPrefaceAcknowledgments
Part 1. Orthodox Judaism and the Modern American Experience1. Engaging ReformIntroductionSection 1: Charleston Clamorings and Other “Heresies”“Retrograde Instead of Advancing”Mordecai Noah (1825)New Lights and Old LightsA Member of the Reformed Society of Israelites (1825)This Happy LandIsaac Harby (1825)A Jewish Luther Jacob Mordecai (1826)An Open Letter to Gustavus PoznanskiIsaac Leeser (1843)“Some Wolves Clothed in Sheep’s-Cover”Abraham Rice (1848)What Prevails among the Jewish People?Mordecai Noah (1850)Section 2: Living Orthodox JudaismThis Is Religious Liberty in AmericaAbraham Kohn (1843)Our Holy Place Trustees of the Congregation Shearith Israel (1847)Strange Misbehavior Max Lilienthal (1854)An Aunt’s AdmonishmentAnna Marks Allen (1858)Conclusion2. The Traditional Talmud and Response to Reform Prayer BooksIntroductionSection 1: Talking Talmud“The Talmud Is Not Divine” (1843)Benjamin Cohen CarillonAt the Risk of Being Considered Hyper-orthodox (1843)Henry GoldsmithA Return to the Maimonidean View? (1844)Abraham RiceThe Cleveland Conference (1855)Isaac LeeserIt Is Decidedly Heretical (1856)Morris J. RaphallSection 2: The Modified MahzorAn Ornament for Parlor-Tables (1855)Bernard IllowyA Letter from an “Enlightened Orthodox” Jew (1859)Benjamin Franklin PeixottoOn Burning Reform Prayer Books (1865)Eliyahu HolzmanMinhag Ashkenaz and Minhag Reform (1866)Samuel Myer IsaacsConclusion3. An Orthodox MinistryIntroductionSection 1: The Impaired and Itinerant “Rabbi”Rabbinic Tenure (1854)Max LilienthalA New Calling (1862)PalestineIsaac Leeser’s Successor (1869)Alfred T. JonesSection 2: Defenders of TraditionThe Ethics (1885)Alexander KohutBackward or Forward? (1885)Kaufmann KohlerWhat Is Progress? (1885)Alexander KohutSection 3: An Orthodox Seminary?To the Hebrews of America (1886)Henry Pereira MendesA School for the Intelligent Orthodox (1887)Sabato MoraisTo Preserve Judaism Above All Else (1900)Jacob H. SchiffConclusion
Part 2. The Contest for Modern Orthodox Judaism4. The Arrival of Eastern European ImmigrantsIntroductionSection 1: Resisting a Treifene MedineSabbath at the Polish Shul (1872)William M. RosenblattThe Chief Rabbi’s Sermon (1888)Abraham CahanThe Charleston Responsum (1894)Naftali Zvi Yehudah BerlinFather and Mother (1890)Anzia YezierskaDaughter of the Ramaz (1893)S. N. BehrmanThe Bylaws of the Agudath Ha-Rabbonim (1902)The Union of Orthodox Rabbis of AmericaSection 2: Accommodating to a Goldene MedineThe Orthodox Convention (1898)Orthodox Jewish Congregational Union of AmericaWhat Is Orthodoxy? (1898)Henry Pereira MendesModern Orthodoxy in the Light of Orthodox Authorities (1898)Gotthard DeutschPictures of Jewish Home Life (1902)Esther J. RuskayYoung Israel (1913)Hebrew StandardProposal for a Five-Day Work Week (1915)Bernard DrachmanThe Synagogue Council of America (1927)Abraham BursteinConclusion5. TrailblazersIntroductionSection 1: The Revel RevolutionAn Orthodox High School (1916)Solomon T. H. HurwitzThe Question of the Time (1926)Eliezer LadizinksyYeshiva College (1928)Bernard RevelThe Hebrew Theological College of Chicago (1926)Hyman L. MeitesSection 2: Solomon Schechter and the OrthodoxIs Schechter Orthodox? (1902)Emanuel SchreiberThe “General Religious Tendency” of the Seminary (1902)Solomon SchechterA Dangerous Situation (1904)American HebrewThe Orthodox Rabbis and the Seminary (1904)Judah David EisensteinA Reaffirmation of Traditional Judaism (1929)Max DrobConclusion6. The Parting of the Ways: Orthodox and Conservative JudaismIntroductionSection 1: What’s in a Name?A Definition of Modern Orthodox (1913)Henry Pereira MendesThe “Modern Orthodox” Rabbi (1928)Solomon ZucrowWhat Is Orthodox Judaism? (1930)Leo JungThe Rabbinical Council of America (1934)Solomon ReichmanOrthodox–Traditional–Torah-True Judaism (1940)Joseph LooksteinSection 2: Mixed Seating and “Modern Orthodox”“A Modern Orthodox Congregation” (1925)Joseph RudnickMay Men and Women Sit Together in Shul? (1954)Joseph B. SoloveitchikA “Family Seated” Orthodox Synagogue (1956)Julius KatzSection 3: Heresy HuntingA New Religious Group in American Judaism? (1943)S. Felix MendelsohnThe Excommunication of Mordecai Kaplan (1945)Agudath Ha-RabbonimThe Conservative Beth Din (1954)Fabian SchoenfeldThe Synagogue Council Ban (1956)Eleven Roshei YeshivaA Conservative Converts to Orthodox Judaism (1958)C. E. Hillel KauvarA Convert within Your Gates (1958)Samson R. WeissConclusion
Part 3. A Modern Orthodox Movement7. Becoming Modern Orthodox JewsIntroductionSection 1: The New Orthodox LeftThe Search for a Modern Orthodox “Ideologist” (1965)Charles S. LiebmanMaking Orthodoxy Relevant in America (1966)Irving “Yitz” GreenbergDear Yitzchak (1966)Aharon LichtensteinThe Radicals (1967)Walter WurzburgerSection 2: A Modern Orthodox MovementThe College Bowl Sensation (1963)Yeshivah of Flatbush Student GovernmentWatching with Great Enthusiasm and Excitement (1963)Fifth Graders of Hillel Day SchoolModern Orthodoxy Is Not a Movement (1969)Emanuel RackmanA Modern Orthodox Movement (1969)Norman LammConclusion8. Orthodox, Inc.IntroductionSection 1: The Day SchoolMaimonides School (1941)Shulamith MeiselmanA Rabbinical Supervisory Council for Day Schools (1944)Torah UmesorahOrthodox Student Pride (1967)Gwendolyn R. ButtnickSection 2: Beyond the SchoolCamp Moshava (1945)Lillian X. FrostNational Conference of Synagogue Youth (1956)Abraham I. RosenbergDrisha Institute for Jewish Education (1980)Soshea LeiblerSection 3: Yeshiva UniversitySynthesis (1944)Samuel BelkinA New Beginning (1978)Yeshiva University Office of AdmissionsSection 4: Industrializing KashrutThe “OU” Symbol (1933)Herbert S. GoldsteinHow Kosher Is OU? (1958)Alexander RosenbergSection 5: Interfaith DialogueThe Self-Appointed Spokesman (1964)National Council of Young IsraelConfrontation (1964)Joseph B. SoloveitchikThe New Encounter (1967)Irving “Yitz” GreenbergConclusion9. The Orthodox Synagogue and RabbinateIntroductionSection 1: Rites of PassageThe Friday Night Bat Mitzvah (1944)Oscar Z. FasmanFancy Parties and Busy Fathers (1961)Joseph SpeiserSection 2: A More Orthodox Sanctuary?Law Is Law (1952)William N. CinerThe Reacculturation of the “Yeshiva Student” (1960)Ralph PelcovitzThe Social Politics of Shul (1976)Samuel C. HeilmanSection 3: The “New” Orthodox RabbiMy Return to the Rabbinate (1968)AnonymousA Hero for the “Religiously Apathetic” (1972)Steven “Shlomo” RiskinNeeded: Pastoral Training (1988)Sherman P. KirshnerConclusion10. The State of Orthodox BeliefIntroductionSection 1: What Does Orthodoxy Believe?The Core of Judaism (1959)Herman WoukMinimal Set of Principles (1961)Leonard B. GewirtzThe State of Orthodox Belief—An Open View (1966)Marvin FoxThe State of Orthodox Belief—A Less-Open View (1966)Immanuel JakobovitsSection 2: Halakhah, the Modern Orthodox Way?Halakhic Man and the Mathematician (1944)Joseph B. SoloveitchikAuthentic Halakhah and the “Teleological Jurist” (1954)Emanuel RackmanThe Letter and the Spirit of the Law (1962)Immanuel JakobovitsNew York’s Most Powerful Rabbi? (1979)Ronald I. RubinConclusion11. Responding to Tragedies and TriumphsIntroductionSection 1: The HolocaustNever Again! (1971)Meir KahaneThe Voluntary Covenant (1982)Irving GreenbergSection 2: Zionism and the State of IsraelThe Religious Zionist’s Responsibilities in “Galut” to “Eretz Israel” (1941)Bessie GotsfeldA Few Words of Confession (1962)Joseph B. SoloveitchikAn Expression of the “Jewish Soul” (1970)Joel B. WolowelskyThe Six-Day War (1973)Eliezer BerkovitsSection 3: Communism, Vietnam, and Soviet JewryThe Rosenberg Case (1953)National Council of Young IsraelThe Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (1964)Jacob BirnbaumRabbi Ahron Soloveichik’s Opposition to the Vietnam War (1968)Kol HamevaserA Prayer for Soviet Jews (1981)Haskel LooksteinConclusion12. The Orthodox FamilyIntroductionSection 1: Ritual Purity and Birth ControlFive Reasons Why Every Jewish Woman Should Adhere to Family Purity (1941)Women’s Branch of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of AmericaHedge of Roses (1966)Norman LammCommandment Number One: Birth Control (1959)Herbert S. GoldsteinSection 2: Tay-Sachs: An Ashkenazic “Disease”Tay-Sachs Disease (1973)Allan KaplanAn Official Policy for Genetic Screening (1973)Association of Orthodox Jewish ScientistsThe Pros and Cons of “Mass Hysteria” (1977)Moshe D. TendlerSection 3: The Prenuptial AgreementCreativity in “Family Law” (1973)Emanuel RackmanIn the Matter of Prenuptial Agreements (1993)Rabbinical Council of AmericaWhy Orthodox Rabbis Should Insist on a Prenuptial Agreement (1993)Saul J. BermanConclusion13. From Rebbetzin to RabbahIntroductionSection 1: The Rabbi’s WifeThe Rabbi’s Wife (1925)Sara Hyamson“My Occult Powers” (1947)Channa GersteinThe Role of the Rabbi’s Wife (1959)Theodore L. AdamsA Rebbitzen Respectfully Dissents (1959)Helen FelmanSection 2: A Female Synagogue LeaderIs Now the Time for Orthodox Women Rabbis? (1993)Blu GreenbergThe Female “Congregational Educator” (1997)Richard KestenbaumNew Roles for Rebbetzins (1998)Abby LernerYes, We Are Orthodox, and Yes, We Hired a Female Member of Our Clergy! (2013)Adam ScheierConclusion14. Sliding to the Right and to the LeftIntroductionSection 1: The Center under SiegeAn American Zionist Lives a “Schizoid Life” (1976)David LandesmanA Modern Orthodox Utopia Turned to Ashes (1982)David Singer“Centrist Orthodoxy” (1984)Gilbert KlapermanGifter Slaughters Lamm for Passover (1988)Mordechai GifterBaruch Lanner Will Be Your Rabbi (1989)Elie Hiller“Frum from Birth” (1993)AnonymousSection 2: Sliding to the RightAn “Unorthodox” Ad? (1984)Haskel LooksteinThe Misleading Salesmen of Torah u-Madda (1988)Paul EidelbergTrashing Torah u-Madda (1988)Behnam Dayanim and Dov PinchotThe Israel Experience (1990)Esther Krauss“I Never Saw the Rav Read a Secular Book” (1993)Abba BronspiegelSection 3: Sliding to the LeftModern Orthodoxy Goes to Grossinger’s (1976)Shlomo RiskinThe RIETS Responsum on Women’s Prayer Groups (1984)Five Yeshiva University Roshei YeshivaThe Affairs of the Rabbinical Council (1985)Louis BernsteinPiety Not Rebellion (1985)Rivka Haut“Very Little Halachic Judaism” (1985)Eliezer Berkovits“Modern Orthodox” and “Traditional Conservative”: Is an Alliance Possible? (1989)Avi WeissJewish Women Hear Muffled Voices (1990)Laura ShawTake Rav Soloveitchik at Full Depth (1999)Aharon LichtensteinConclusion15. Reconsidering Modern Orthodox Judaism in a New CenturyIntroductionSection 1: Loosening GripModern Orthodox Gedolim (2004)Dena FreundlichStalemate at Stern College (2006)Cindy Bernstein and Norman LammModern Orthodoxy’s Demise (2011)Gary BaumanSocial Orthodoxy (2014)Jay P. LefkowitzThe Freundel Affair (2014)Kesher Israel Board of DirectorsSection 2: Modern Orthodoxy Reclaimed?Open Orthodox Judaism (2003)Dov Linzer and Avi WeissThe Close of Edah (2006)Saul J. BermanShirah Hadashah (2007)Tova HartmanA Statement of Principles (2010)Nathaniel HelfgotTaking Back Modern Orthodox Judaism (2014)Asher LopatinConclusion
Source AcknowledgmentsNotesAuthor’s Note on SourcesIndex 

About the Author

Zev Eleff is the chief academic officer of the Hebrew Theological College, Chicago. He is the author of five books, including Living from Convention to Convention: A History of the NCSY, 1954–1980, and editor of Mentor of Generations: Reflections on Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. He has also authored more than thirty scholarly articles. Jacob J. Schacter is University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University, New York.  

Reviews

"With the consistent integration of several points of view regarding many of the issues addressed, Modern Orthodox Judaism's readers are able to appreciate the complexity of these issues and the earnestness of purpose of those grappling with them."—Yaakov Bieler, Jewish Book Council

"Modern Orthodox Judaism stands an as an exemplary book and should be widely employed and consulted by scholars and students of American Judaism and American religion."—David Ellenson, American Jewish History

"An outstanding contribution to the study of our community."—Leonard Matanky, Jewish Action

"Modern Orthodox Judaism incorporates and annotates samplings of many of the most significant writings from the quills, pens, typewriters, word processors, computers, and ipads of the movers and shakers who articulated and shaped an ever-changing modern Orthodoxy, in each generation and into the future."—Aaron I. Reichel, Review of Rabbinic Judaism

"Eleff has provided a useful compendium for those interested in American Orthodoxy."—Samuel Heilman, American Jewish Archives Journal

"According to demographic projections, within two generations the majority of American Jews will be Orthodox, for the first time in nearly 150 years. How large a part of that community will be "modern"? And in what sense? In charting Modern Orthodoxy's past and present, Eleff has given us tools that may help us foresee its future."—Daniel Ross Goodman, Jewish Review of Books

"This valuable documentary history fills a real need for anyone interested in both the social and intellectual aspects of the Jewish religious movement known by many as Modern Orthodox Judaism. The volume shows sensitivity to the history of the movement and the dynamics of its change over time. It highlights public aspects of the movement as it responded to and participated in such epochal happenings as the Holocaust, the rise of Zionism, and the establishment of the State of Israel while not neglecting more internal questions of religious doctrine and practice such as the Jewish family and the role of feminism in traditionalist Judaism."—David B. Starr, Religious Studies Review

“This is an original volume with enduring value. . . . Even in fifty to one hundred years, anyone studying Modern Orthodoxy will want to have access to the sources reproduced in this work.”—Adam S. Ferziger, professor at Bar-Ilan University and author of Beyond Sectarianism: The Realignment of American Orthodox Judaism 
 

“A pathbreaking documentary history of Modern Orthodoxy in America. There is nothing like it. The documents are well chosen and many will be new—even to scholars.”—Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University 

“Dr. Eleff’s volume enables readers to grapple with the complex issues of identity and ideology, religious practice and social behavior, rootedness in tradition and openness to new ways of thinking and acting that define Modern Orthodoxy.”—Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University