Rabbi Weissman: Bereishis and more

 I found this in the “blogger trash file”. Not sure it made it as a regular post.

Don't Say What Israel Should Have Done Differently

An uncomfortable discussion we need to have

This week we start a new annual Torah cycle with Bereishis. Maybe this time around we will pay better attention and internalize the most basic, fundamental lessons.

Or we can double down again on the same failed ideologies, keep doing the same things, and expect better results. Your choice.

After Adam and Chava ate from the forbidden fruit and tried to hide from Hashem’s presence (which never works) Hashem challenged them. “Did you eat from the tree which I commanded you not to eat from?”

Of course, Hashem knew the answer to this question, and Adam and Chava knew that He knew. Chazal explain that Hashem in His mercy was giving them an opening to take responsibility for their sin and do teshuva, in which case they could have avoided the full brunt of the punishment, and the entire course of history would have been changed for the better.

Instead of taking responsibility, Adam blamed Chava for giving him the fruit, even brazenly noting that Hashem had given Chava to him as a companion in the first place. Not my fault!

Adam did have a point. He wouldn’t have eaten the fruit had Chava not given it to him (and, as the Midrash teaches, wailed and nagged until he relented). Indeed, Chava was punished for her role in causing Adam to sin.

Chava in turn blamed the snake for persuading her to eat the fruit. She too had a point. She would never have taken the fruit if not for the snake’s clever ploys to wear down her better judgment. Indeed, the snake was punished for instigating everything.

However, despite the fact that Adam and Chava both had a point, shifting the blame didn’t earn them clemency; it sealed their fate. Although others had influenced and even pressured them to sin, ultimately it was their decision to eat from the fruit, and they were responsible for the consequences of their own actions.

As if this sort of thing hasn’t happened countless times already, the Jewish world is spilling endless digital ink over the “hostage deal”.

By the way, did you stop to consider who decided it should be called that, and why? Why didn’t they call it the “letting loose an army of terrorists deal”, or just the “terrorist deal” for short?

When I bring this to your attention the answer is obvious, but the fact that I need to bring it to your attention underscores how subtle and sophisticated the brainwashing is — even and especially from media outlets you still believe are somewhat working for you and not for them.

In any case, this “deal” is hardly what you would have accepted in the aftermath of October 7, 2023, nor was this the promised reward after all those “painful sacrifices” you were asked to make. You were promised a resounding victory. You were promised the complete and utter defeat of Hamas. You were promised that the IDF would rescue the hostages, or at least bring Hamas to its knees until they cried uncle and begged you to take the hostages back for nothing.

The sales pitch was not that after two years of extremely painful Molech sacrifices, state leaders, the IDF, and their media mouthpieces would celebrate the return 20 living hostages and 28 dead bodies in exchange for over 2000 genocidal terrorists, tons of supplies, American control over territory you paid so dearly to conquer, a cynical peace prize for Donald Trump, and then have the chutzpah to call it a victory.

Here’s an uncomfortable fact. For all the propaganda about the IDF fighting for the hostages, in nearly two years of operations in Gaza they rescued exactly zero hostages.

The spin doctors will claim that the IDF had to operate carefully to avoid killing hostages, and it’s only because of their resounding victory over Hamas that this incredible terrorist release deal could be made. Best deal in town. Couldn’t have happened any other way. Even Bibi said that anyone who claims otherwise is going against the truth.

We’re supposed to believe the IDF surgically operated so they wouldn’t accidentally kill the hostages, and neither would Hamas, but somehow, after nearly 20,000 IDF soldiers were maimed and killed, and many of the rest were broken mentally and financially, Hamas is desperate enough to exchange 20 hostages for 2000 of their finest killers.

That, and because Lord Trump spoke and it was so.

Are you buying that?

Here’s another uncomfortable fact. In addition to rescuing exactly zero hostages, when the IDF had their best known chance to rescue hostages, three to be exact, they inexplicably shot them ………:

On 15 December 2023, three Israeli hostages were killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the Battle of Shuja’iyya in the Gaza Strip. The men had emerged from a building and were approaching a group of IDF soldiers when they were shot dead, in spite of the fact that they were shirtless and visibly unarmed while waving a makeshift white flag and calling out for help in Hebrew.

So let’s recap. IDF brass threatened soldiers who warned them about an impending invasion, allowed one of the most fortified borders in the world to be conquered with a bulldozer, pickup trucks, and a donkey, ordered soldiers to stand down for 8+ hours, while hordes of executioners leisurely hunted down Jews, took selfies, and sat down for meals, and children and old men with canes had time to loot their communities, then jailed soldiers who defied orders and rushed to defend Jewish communities…

After that totally understandable and forgivable “intelligence failure”, for which no one was prosecuted for reckless manslaughter, let alone treason, the IDF proceeded over the next two years to destroy many thousands of Jewish soldiers physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially, ostensibly for the sake of saving the very hostages they allowed to be taken, and comes away with a final score of zero hostages saved and three executed in cold blood.

Then the IDF “forced” Hamas to accept a deal as bad as winning the lottery three times in a row, then declared victory:

I guess that settles it.

The media dutifully broadcast this message without the slightest hint of a smirk. See here.

So while the propaganda machine is busy making sure you focus strictly on the return of a few hostages, crown Trump as your lord and savior, and celebrate the very people who brought this destruction upon you, their mercenaries in Gaza (and Israel proper) are planning the next October 7, while the Erev Rav are planning the next intelligence failure.

Here’s the thing. It’s easy to blame “Israel” for once again capitulating to our external enemies, bowing to American pressure, and making senselessly lopsided deals. It’s easy to lecture “Israel” on what they should do and should have done. Many “right wing” and “religious Zionists” are once again playing that predictable game.

They’re making a terrible mistake.

They should blame themselves and everyone like them.

If, in the aftermath of October 7, you admonished people that “now is not the time to ask questions”, you should blame yourself. If you insisted that we must let the most incompetent “intelligence failures” in history send our loved ones into “war”, and only afterward ask questions, you need to face some uncomfortable questions, too. You share responsibility for all the soldiers who were maimed and killed for nothing. (By the way, can we ask questions yet, or is it conveniently irrelevant now?)

Based on official reports, the overwhelming majority were killed in death traps they never should have entered, ambushes they never should have been exposed to, friendly fire incidents, and truly bizarre accidents. The state and their media mouthpieces cycnially referred to all the above as “dying in combat”. I documented it here.

You didn’t let that deter you or even give you pause. You demanded more. You share the blame.

If you allowed yourself to be deluded that this pretextual “war” was a milchemes mitzvah, or you otherwise cheered for it and demanded more of it, you share the blame.

If you lionized the soldiers who died senseless deaths for nothing as heroes who died al Kiddush Hashem, thereby encouraging more to follow suit, you will have to answer for that.

If you gave them chizuk to keep going back for more, when otherwise they might have gotten hungry, and fed up, and refused to run into that booby-trapped building to “search for a tunnel” or whatever, and told their soulless commanders where to shove their uniforms, you might as well have played music for the Jews who went into the crematoria.

None of this absolves the snakes. They will get what is coming to them in full measure, God willing very soon. But just like Adam and Chava were remiss in shifting the blame for their own decisions and actions to others, those who supported our enemies from within should spend less time blaming them, and take responsibility for their own mistakes.

If you’re still supporting the very people and institutions that sold you out over and over and over again, you have forfeited the right to be shocked and complain when they sell you out…again. You allowed them to do it. You helped them do it.

How many times does Lucy need to pull the football away from Charlie Brown before he should stop blaming her and start blaming himself? This is what she does. If you keep going back for more, it’s on you.

How many times do the Erev Rav and their un-Jewish army need to show their true colors, their absolute contempt for you, before you stop cheerleading for them and inviting them to abuse you even more? This is what they do. If you keep going back for more, it’s on you.

Don’t tell me what Israel should have done differently. Tell me what you should have done differently.

And then start doing it.

If there were actually two sides in this “war”, and I were Hamas, I would insist that haredi draft dodgers be released from prison in any deal, just to see if Israel blinks.

I saw this billboard today by the entrance to Jerusalem. This creepy message is sponsored by an extremely wealthy, extremely Christian organization operating in the heart of Jerusalem.

Cyrus was no tzaddik, Trump is no savior, and these messianic Christians are no friends of the Jewish people.

Arutz Sheva, which some people still believe is a trusted bastion of right wing religious Zionist news and views, and not a controlled opposition mouthpiece for state propaganda, is busy celebrating Bibi, Trump, the IDF’s incredible “victory”, and the (presumed) impending return of the hostages.

They are not outraged by the terrorist surrender deal. They are outraged that people in Tel Aviv booed Netanyahu. In front of American dignitaries, no less!

Meanwhile, Michael Mordechai Nachmani was killed while the IDF was surrendering territory our slave soldiers would have been better off not entering in the first place. Although the media generally frames it that he died “in combat” or “while fighting” or “during operations”, he was picked off by a sniper while withdrawing.

The media also dutifully emphasized that Nachmani was killed right before the ceasefire went into effect, as if that somehow makes it okay.

Who knows? If he was killed just after it went into effect, they’d have every reason to lie about it, because right now we really need to be gushing over the hostages, and Trump, and the IDF’s smashing success, and not being sticklers over when another precious Jew was killed for no reason.

The more the controlled media emphasizes something, the less I believe it. That should be our relationship with pathological liars, even if they occasionally tell the truth.

Either way, his death, like so many others, was not a kiddush Hashem.

Visit chananyaweissman.com for the mother lode of articles and books.

Visit rumble.com/c/c-782463 for my Torah classes, Amalek and Erev Rav programs, and much more.

Buy my books on Amazon here or contact me directly to purchase in Israel.

Download Sefer Kibbutz Galuyos pdf here or ePUB here, or buy on Amazon here.

Download Tovim Ha-Shenayim as a PDF for free!

weissmans@protonmail.com

Rabbi Weissman: .......Cultish Thinking Part II

 [continued]

The Modern Orthodox believe their children should be saturated with television, movies, culture, and all the secular world has to offer. Filters are bad. That’s what the Charedim do, after all, they shut everything out. They believe their children should be saturated with the secular world because it will make them better Jews.

They believe constant entertainment is a good thing because, after all, the Torah allows for recreation to help one focus. Their children play sports on Shabbos and wear yarmulkes that demonstrate their allegiance to professional sports teams. Their educators have to be “cool” and “with it” to make Torah “interesting” and “relevant,” otherwise they don’t stand a chance. Modern Orthodox kids have no interest in things that aren’t constantly fun. (Interesting how all that recreation helps them focus.)

They believe in going on exotic vacations all over the world because Rabbi Hirsch wanted to see the Alps to admire the wonders of G–D’s creation. Most Modern Orthodox Jews never read anything by Rabbi Hirsch, but they consider themselves his followers because they want to have great careers and travel the world.

Modern Orthodox schools believe in mission statements, particularly ones that mention “excellence,” “supporting Zionism” (mainly by vacationing in Israel periodically and being buried there), and “the highest standards of Torah and secular education.” These schools feature all manner of sports teams and leagues, debate teams, model U.N., and numerous other clubs to facilitate entrance into the finest secular colleges and put students on the fast track to corporate success. But kids who want to immerse themselves in Torah study frighten their parents.

Some Modern Orthodox high schools even have a prom. Modern Orthodox parents figure their kids will fool around anyway, so best to have some supervision. The year in Israel will straighten them out.

Ah, the year in Israel. This has become a rite of passage in the Modern Orthodox world. The more intellectual Modern Orthodox go to intellectual yeshivas to fret over things on a high level.

The more assimilated Modern Orthodox spend a year drinking, playing sports, hanging out with the opposite sex, and having assorted other adventures. At some point during the year they will “get serious” and learn some Torah to justify the year, before going back to college and resuming their merry path. Others will “frum out” and become pseudo-Charedim, quasi-Charedim, or all-out Charedim, in which case they will transfer to a Charedi yeshiva and no longer eat in their parents’ home.

The Modern Orthodox community has yet to decide if they are more afraid of their children becoming hedonists or Charedim. Ultimately they count on the first year in college straightening them out from the year in Israel, which was supposed to straighten them out from their high school years.

Modern Orthodox institutions are run like corporations, down to the jargon and press releases. Whereas Charedi politicos will openly attack one another, Modern Orthodox institutions engage in genteel acts of betrayal. Platitudes and a smile always accompany the knife in the back. Leaders of Modern Orthodox institutions earn status points by being photographed with famous people and articulately saying nothing of substance.

Modern Orthodox rabbis do not have “Da’as Torah.” Consequently, they are not allowed to tell anyone or the community what to do. They are best off speaking about problems elsewhere or giving vague moral messages that everyone can agree with and do not come across as threatening.

Mussar is allowed no more than once or twice a year, and even that must be toned down. Modern Orthodox rabbis are best off being “one of the boys” with just enough distance (such as Charedi-style dress) to maintain a rabbinic posture. They basically serve as the shul’s version of a trophy wife.

Charedi rabbis can teach in Modern Orthodox institutions, but not vice versa. Charedim can promote Charedi stuff in Modern Orthodox communities and media, but not vice versa. Charedi rabbis can promise miraculous salvations for supporting their institutions, but Modern Orthodox rabbis are not endowed with these powers. Indeed, Modern Orthodox people give financial support to Charedi institutions as a way to buy their way into heaven—this is not reciprocated, of course.

The Modern Orthodox talk a good game, but ultimately do not believe in themselves and their way of life.

Not surprisingly, Modern Orthodox rabbis often suffer from a severe inferiority complex, and defer to Charedi rabbis who do not recognize them as legitimate. Some Modern Orthodox rabbis overcompensate and try to turn the tables, but they do not get very far. This is because the Modern Orthodox community as a whole suffers from an inferiority complex, a lack of identity, a lack of direction, a lack of leadership, and a lack of substance.

They know all this and they fret over it, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. They see the only alternatives as abandoning religious observance altogether or becoming Charedi, and they aren’t prepared to go in either direction. So they just muddle along, enjoy their modernity, and try not to worry too much about it all.

Dati Leumi

This is Israel’s version of Modern Orthodoxy, complete with oxymoron. They believe being “nationalistic” is part and parcel of being “Dati,” yet calling themselves “Dati” alone doesn’t suffice.

The Dati Leumi distinguish themselves by wearing big knitted yarmulkes and fully embracing everything Israel to overcompensate for the Charedi delegitimizing of everything Israel. The Dati Leumi do not suffer from the same inferiority complex toward Charedim as do the Modern Orthodox, and are often outspoken critics of Charedim. But they still suffer from a lack of organization, lack of unity, and a lack of direction. They are also not taken very seriously by secular Jews; secular Jews who want more religion go to the Charedim, and secular Jews who scorn religion take advantage of the Dati Leumi’s fear of alienating them. The Dati Leumi want to be loved by everyone and wind up being used and discarded.

Chardal

A cute acronym for Charedi Dati Leumi, which is an oxymoron extraordinaire.

Chardal Jews believe themselves to be good Charedim without being tainted by the evils of Modern Orthodoxy. True Charedim don’t buy it, so Chardal Jews have it pretty rough.

Modern Orthodox Machmir

This label was created only recently, and is also an oxymoron extraordinaire. For if Modern Orthodox is meant to imply “not so strict” and Machmir implies “taking the strict approach,” we have quite a schizophrenic on our hands.

We think those who apply this label to themselves mean to say that they are worldly, educated, and open-minded, but also completely committed to halacha. If that is the case, this is a poor choice of labels. As soon as you put “modern” into the mix, you get implications of laxity, hedonism, and identity crisis, and “machmir” does not sufficiently balance this. In addition, the Torah scorns one who is categorically “machmir.” Total commitment to halacha is not being “machmir”; it is the minimum expected of every Jew.

Consequently, instead of disassociating themselves from the “not so serious” aspects of Modern Orthodoxy, the Modern Orthodox Machmir confirm themselves as confused and desperate to be taken seriously without becoming Charedi.

Chardal Jews want to be considered open-minded without being considered “Modern,” and Modern Orthodox Machmir Jews want to be considered serious without being considered “Charedi.” Hence, while their ideologies and goals may appear strikingly similar, they cannot possibly marry one another.

Modern Orthodox Liberal

Jews who live like Goyim but want to be considered “religious.” It is unclear who would actually refer to himself by this label. Modern Orthodox hedonists refer to themselves simply as Modern Orthodox. It seems this label was created as the opposite side of the coin for Modern Orthodox Machmir, presumably so the Machmir types can look down on the rest of the Modern Orthodox much as Charedim do to them.

Modern Orthodox Centrist

This is a popular new label among Modern Orthodox who don’t want to be thought of as Machmir or liberal. The problem is that the people who use this label are the ones who struggle the most to define Modern Orthodoxy, without the “Centrist” further complicating things.

What does it mean to be in the center? Doesn’t everyone believe himself to be in the center and those who don’t resemble him to be an extremist one way or the other? If Modern Orthodoxy has shifted to the right, is the Centrist movement a breakaway from Modern Orthodoxy, or vice versa?

Since “the center” is so subjective, does it even mean anything at all? If so, who gets to define where the center is, or where it should be?

If Modern Orthodox Centrist just sounds good but doesn’t really mean anything, it is no wonder that it is a Modern Orthodox invention.

New Charedim

These Charedim wear blue shirts instead of white and work for a living. But they are still Charedim!

And they are not Chardal! And they are definitely not Modern Orthodox! And they are New Charedim, not Old Charedim, even though Charedim used to wear blue shirts! And they are not like Charedim who wear white shirts and work for a living!

Got it? Good.

Yeshivish

Not yet Charedi but hopes to become Charedi someday. After all, Charedi yeshiva students are Charedim. So who are Yeshivish? People who don’t come from Charedi families, but idealize Charedim and hope to become Charedi. What holds them back? They need to find someone to pay the bills. True Charedim already have a sponsor or have worked something out. Yeshivish people hedge their bets, though they would never admit it.

Yeshivish Modern

This label refers to Modern Orthodox people who are Charedi wannabes, typically yeshiva students who want to switch back and forth according to the needs of the moment. They will dress like Charedim, talk like Charedim, and pretend to think like Charedim, but when they are out with their friends they become Modern Orthodox. They believe they can be super frum and also have all the fun.

Yeshivish Modern should not be confused with Modern Orthodox Machmir. The former pretend to be Charedi and even believe themselves to be Charedi, whereas the latter forfeit the perks of pseudo-Charedi association in favor of slightly more integrity—as much as confused caricatures can have integrity.

Modern Yeshivish

This refers to Charedim who want to be normal, for G–D’s sake. Bad move. They think that when they call themselves Modern the listener will take it in a positive vein, a Charedi who is cool, “up with the times,” not a psycho-religious nut. But “Modern” is a loaded word in Charedi circles, a veritable kiss of death.

Hence, we can best define Modern Yeshivish as someone who is too reckless to be up with the times on labels, and that is neither Modern nor Yeshivish. They learn this soon enough and typically retreat back to full-fledged Charedi.

Carlebachian

A hippy. Someone who wants the benefits of being Chassidish without a Rebbe, religious distinctions, presumption of Torah scholarship, presumption of saintliness, or need to wear the levush. A little Kabbalah, something to drink or smoke, and some good jazz is all it takes. Dude!

EndTheMadness Guide to the Shidduch World is available on Amazon here and I have limited copies available in Israel for 70 shekels. Contact me directly at weissmans@protonmail.com to order.

Visit chananyaweissman.com for the mother lode of articles and books.

Visit rumble.com/c/c-782463 for my Torah classes, Amalek and Erev Rav programs, and much more.

Buy my books on Amazon here or contact me directly to purchase in Israel.

Download Sefer Kibbutz Galuyos pdf here or ePUB here, or buy on Amazon here.

Download Tovim Ha-Shenayim as a PDF for free!

weissmans@protonmail.com

Rabbi Weissman: .......Cultish Thinking Part I

 Transcending Cultish Thinking, and The EndTheMadness Label Lexicon

Plus the Archetype of a Jewish Wife and Mother

In this week’s Torah class we studied the carefully balanced essence of a Jewish wife and mother, based our very first role model: Sarah Imenu. Not surprisingly, what the Torah and Chazal teach us differs sharply from secular Western ideology (much of which has deeply infiltrated even the most “frum” circles), and what young women entering the shidduch world are likely to hear from teachers, mentors, and coaches, whose sources of “wisdom” are often dubious.

As always, we need to be less concerned with social pressure, stop taking things for granted, actually learn, think for ourselves, and ask penetrating questions when something doesn’t seem to fit with what the Torah teaches. The worst case scenario is that, instead of just doing things a certain way because “everybody does it”, we will become more informed and have a deeper understanding of ourselves and the choices we make.

Seriously, when did it become forbidden to ask questions? When did it become forbidden to ask questions and then continue to question the answers if they don’t seem to add up? That’s not rebelliousness; that’s learning.

We should stop assuming that the status quo is what it is because very smart and holy people took everything into account and made it this way. We should think about why we believe what we believe, and why we do what we do, as opposed to believing and doing other things. Is it simply an accident of birth? Is it simply a matter of social convenience? Is it simply a matter of blind trust in some authority figure?

Shouldn’t we be able to provide truly thoughtful, substantive answers to people outside our little club, to our children, and even to ourselves?

Why do we all have to choose some box, a quasi-religious social cult, and then forever after just fall into line?

I couldn’t care less about the color and fabric of your yarmulke, or whether you wear a hat. I care what’s going on inside your head. And so should you.

It’s high time we transcended the boxes, labels, color war, slogans, and shallow talking points. We are supposed to be a wise and understanding people, not a nation of clones and drones, differing mainly on to whom we outsource our critical thinking, while hoping and assuming these people will never steer us wrong, let alone betray us.

So how do the Torah and Chazal depict the archetype of a Jewish wife and mother? How is that depiction similar and different to what we see today? What changes do we need to make in our education and our society to better emulate our role models?

The class is filled with lessons on the dynamics between a husband and wife, modesty, the secret of youth, Avraham’s relationship with Yishmael, the connection between Sarah’s death and the Shofar blasts, and more. It is embedded above and on Rumble here.

In light of my recent criticisms of cultish thinking (an oxymoron) within the various segments of the Orthodox Jewish world (forget about the rest of the world), once again I present “The EndTheMadness Label Lexicon”. This is excerpted from EndTheMadness Guide to the Shidduch World, my 2014 magnum opus on what’s wrong with the shidduch world, what needs to be done to fix it, and so much that relates to it in Jewish society (buy it for yourself and someone else).

Labels, boxes, and cultish falling into line are a great place to start.

The EndTheMadness Label Lexicon

In recognition of the fact that labels are deeply entrenched in the collective psyche of our community and that many people will insist on using them no matter how cogent the reasons otherwise, we have created a lexicon to help label-users understand each other. We offer this lexicon as a service to the community and for the entertainment of those who know better.

At EndTheMadness we believe subtle sarcasm and exaggeration are wonderful tools for highlighting absurdity and challenging preconceived notions in ways corporate politeness cannot. In other words, don’t think for one moment that we are serious about supporting the usage of labels.

It’s all a ruse.

Charedi

Literal definition is one who “trembles” before G–D. This label is meant to imply strict adherence to all details of the Torah. However, it is absolutely forbidden to apply this label to anyone who does not adhere to certain rigid social expectations, regardless of his level of piety. Hence, social expectations are more important to Charedim than piety.

For men this includes the following: Wearing a black hat as often as possible (the more often, the more Charedi), white dress shirt, black pants, and dress shoes. In Charedi communities that permit the wearing of ties, this is the main expression of individuality in dress (but don’t get carried away with it). Black yarmulke only (a chic Charedi will have the yarmulke sliding out the back of his hat just to prove that he is wearing it, even though the yarmulke is normally worn on top of the head). Please note that every aspect of one’s appearance down to the watch, cufflinks, and haircut is covered in the social code, but this is a lexicon, not an encyclopedia.

The main criteria for identifying with the Charedi community (which can be highly advantageous for purposes of shidduchim or marketing) is to wear a black hat. People who wish to enter this community officially cross the line when they perform this rite of passage. (It has therefore become customary for boys to begin wearing a black hat for the first time when they become Bar Mitzva, even if the hat looks like a spaceship swallowing up their tiny head.) A proper Charedi man would sooner enter shul without his Tallis and Tefillin than without his hat. (Some Chassidic sects distinguish themselves with non-black yarmulkes and unusual hats, but Chassidim can get away with lots of weird things that regular Charedim cannot.)

Of course, to be a true Charedi includes not just the hat, but the programming beneath it. A true Charedi believes that he is an authentic replica of a holy Jew from the shtetl, where the Torah was given. Those who do not dress and think like him are in the employ of Satan, or like a child who has been kidnapped by the goyim and doesn’t know any better. They are to be pitied, feared, and scorned.

A true Charedi attaches himself to a rabbi who is presumed to be saintly and incapable of error. The rabbi is to be consulted for all matters, and his words considered prophecy. They refer to this as “Da’as Torah.” In reality, “Da’as Torah” is a party line and a propaganda tool, for Charedim smoke without shame, surf the Internet, and pretty much do whatever they want in their private lives regardless of rabbinic proclamations. Charedim have no shortage of opinions and personal practices that they have not cleared with “Da’as Torah.” However, a true Charedi knows to say the right thing, fall into line at the right time, and always keep up the appearance of a holy, trembling Jew.

In matters of Jewish law a true Charedi considers any leniency, no matter how appropriate and well-supported, to be a compromise. Charedim do not compromise. Hence, Charedim will always take the strictest possible approach to everything, and find no greater joy than implementing a new way to be strict and telling others about it.

There are many splinter groups under the general umbrella of Charedim and they strive with one another for pre-eminence in the Charedi world. The groups distinguish themselves primarily by differences in how they wear their hat, hairstyles, and other modes of dress, and by rival kashrus organizations. These details may seem trivial to the uninitiated, but true Charedim understand that they make all the difference.

Other marks of distinction:

• Charedim typically scorn education and scientific knowledge as the domain of heretics, yet delight in picking up random bits of information that the secular world knew years ago.
• Charedim scorn working for a living as beneath holy protectors of the Torah such as them and profess to idealize a life of poverty. One who works for a living is derided as “not cut out for learning.” In spite of this, Charedim worship money, particularly when it comes to shidduchim.
• Charedim scorn the State of Israel because they cannot legitimize a Jewish State that is not controlled by them.
• Charedim have mastered the art of deriding and even entirely disqualifying non-Charedim without explicitly stating that Charedim are the only legitimate expression of Judaism (which they do believe). For example, they will say:
• “All the Gedolim…” when they refer exclusively to Charedi rabbis, thus implying that only a Charedi can be a Gadol. (For example, if asked why he wears a black hat a Charedi will likely say “All the Gedolim wear a black hat,” when he would never accept as a Gadol anyone who doesn’t wear one.) Indeed, Charedim do not place any value on the Torah teachings or opinions of rabbis who do not identify as Charedi. A monk is just as significant.
• “The Yeshiva world…” when they refer exclusively to Charedi yeshivas.
• “The frum world…” when they refer exclusively to Charedi society.
• “A frum Jew…” when they refer to exclusively to a Charedi Jew.
• “A Torah home…” when they refer exclusively to a Charedi home

• Charedim engage in censorship and historical revision to cover up any evidence that Charedim used to be more open-minded than they are today. Evidence that a Charedi Gadol is imperfect or ever said or did anything that is inconsistent with Charedi policy is given similar treatment. Charedi policy does not bend for truth; truth gives way to Charedi policy.

Modern Orthodox

An oxymoron. The Modern Orthodox believe that the Torah expects one to be “modern,” yet “Orthodox” alone does not suffice for them.

The Modern Orthodox are infatuated with trying to define what it means to be Modern Orthodox and why it is so virtuous. They write entire books on the subject, bring together panels of academics to discuss it, and obsess over “the future of Modern Orthodoxy.” It seems there is something greater here that they are trying to protect, greater than Judaism itself, than Torah itself.

One can only hope they figure out what this is exactly.

We hear dire warnings that Modern Orthodoxy is “shifting to the right,” or “shifting to the left,” or that it is disappearing altogether. The Modern Orthodox struggle with a communal identity crisis, a dichotomy, a weltanschauung of its own weltanschauung, mutatis mutandis, or perhaps not. The Modern Orthodox are confused about who they are, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s part of what it means to be Modern Orthodox.

They may struggle to define themselves, but we are happy to do it for them.

Whereas a Charedi man who “makes it” is a Gadol Hador with “Da’as Torah,” a Modern Orthodox man who “makes it” is a Rabbi Doctor who publishes scholarly articles in academic journals. When teaching Torah he must make reference to numerous secular sources to show that he is enlightened. Spiritual relevance is unnecessary and even discouraged. Modern Orthodox are leery of spirituality, favoring intellectualism, and indeed are comfortable with spirituality only when it comes to intellectualizing it. They believe scholarly analysis of Judaism is the same as Torah study, if not preferable.

Not surprisingly, the Modern Orthodox community tends to be short on spirituality. They create think tanks to publish scholarly articles on the topic as we would expect them to do. But the truth is, as we noted before, that they are leery of spirituality. Spirituality threatens much of what the Modern Orthodox strive for in this world: the snooty educational credentials, the impressive career, the big bucks, the fancy home in the suburbs, the luxury car, expensive vacations.

This is why Modern Orthodoxy is constantly shifting this way or that. Some become more spiritual — “shift to the right”— and ultimately become Charedi, who successfully promote themselves as spiritual even if it’s mostly for show. Many others do like the goyim do, retaining only marginal affiliation to a proper Torah lifestyle. It is common for Modern Orthodox people to swing back and forth, unable to find a clear path.

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