Modern Orthodox Judaism

Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as "MO") is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. It is broadly defined as the effort to adapt Orthodox Judaism to modernity and to avoid the social and/or cultural isolation which living in strict accordance with halakha would seem to impose http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_4_47/ai_54600118.

Criticism of Modern Orthodoxy

Generalisations concerning Modern Orthodoxy are difficult to draw, and, as such, any critiscm may be aimed at a straw man. In general though, critiscm here relates to either standards of observance or to social issues.

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Relatively relaxed standards of observance

There is an often cited contention that Modern Orthodoxy differs with other branches of Orthodox Judaism as regards standards of observance of traditional Jewish laws and customs http://www.hashkafah.com/index.php?showtopic=1926&st=20. This view is largely anecdotal, and is based on individual behaviour, as opposed to any formal, institutional position http://yuweb.addr.com/v63i9/news/edah.shtml: ?There are at least two distinct types of Modern Orthodox.. One is philosophically or ideologically modern, while the other is more appropriately characterized as behaviorally modern? philosophically Modern Orthodox would be those who are meticulously observant of Halakhah but are, nevertheless, philosophically modern?.The behaviorally Modern Orthodox, on the other hand, are not deeply concerned with philosophical ideas... by and large, they define themselves as Modern Orthodox in the sense that they are not meticulously observant in reference to? right-wing Orthodoxy.? http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_n1_v42/ai_13796421/print (see also http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_4_47/ai_54600118).

Related Topics:
Orthodox Judaism - Traditional Jewish laws and customs

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Introduction of "reforms"

Modern Orthodox Rabbis have been criticised for attempting to modify Jewish law and the Codes of Jewish Law in the name of adapting Judaism to the needs of modern world. In fact, Haredi groups have sometimes compared Modern Orthodoxy with early Reform Judaism in Germany. It is true that in early 1800s Europe, all of Judaism that differed from the strictest forms present at the time was called "Reform". Even so, even at that time, the early "reformers" within Orthodoxy addressed this claim explicitly, taking pains to distance their "reforms" - those which could be justified as based on the Shulkhan Arukh and poskim ? with those of the Reform movement, which could not; see further under Torah im Derech Eretz. As above, this remains the formal policy of contemporary Modern Orthodoxy, and this difference thus persists more than a century later.

Related Topics:
Jewish law - Codes of Jewish Law - Haredi - Reform Judaism - Germany - Europe - Judaism - Poskim - Torah im Derech Eretz

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:"It is foolish to believe that it is the wording of a prayer, the notes of a synagogue tune, or the order of a special service, which form the abyss between us (i.e. reform and orthodoxy)... It is not the so-called Divine Service which separates us, is the theory - the principle (of faithfulness to Jewish law...) The subordination of religion to any other factor means the denial of religion: for if the Torah is to you the Law of God how dare you place another law above it and go along with God and His Law only as long as you thereby "progress" in other respects at the same time?" (Religion Allied to Progress, Samson Raphael Hirsch)

Related Topics:
Jewish law - Torah - God - Samson Raphael Hirsch

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