Edah Holds Conference

YU Refuses to Participate as Institution

On Sunday and Monday of President's weekend, February 14-15, Edah's first international conference met at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The conference, entitled "Orthodoxy Encounters a Changing World," drew over 1500 attendees from across North America, England, and Israel. Participants came to voice support for Modern Orthodoxy and learn about important issues which it confronts.

Attendees chose from over fifty forums, text-study sessions, and presentation/discussions on a broad range of topics. The large attendance far exceeded the expectations of the conference's organizers; a couple of weeks before the conference only 400-500 were expected. Just as impressive was the encouraging showing of youth, with over 225 exuberant college students from all over the continent attending.

The conference opened with a keynote address delivered by the director of Edah, Rabbi Saul Berman. Berman elucidated the goals of Edah and the direction of Orthodoxy in the modern world. Our generation's new paganism, Berman explained, consists of several problematic elements in society, namely materialism, "value relativity," in which the concept of absolute truth is abandoned, and self-centeredness.

In Modern Orthodoxy, a difficult path is taken in combating these problems, namely that of maximum integration with society while maintaining a total commitment to halakha. This idea is implicit in Edah's slogan, "The Courage to be Modern and Orthodox." Berman invited all Jewry to join Edah in this quest, fighting the "new paganism" by employing the tools of open-mindedness, intellectual integrity, persuasion for improvement rather than rabbinic authoritarianism, and the Torah's values of tolerance and urgent ethical duties.Berman's vision calls for a true two-way street between culture and Torah values. We must draw from culture's true wisdom to enrich the life of Torah, prudently choosing what to absorb, and enrich culture by bringing to it the eternal values of Torah. Edah's task, as described by Berman, is to bring this vision of responsibility to the whole of Jewry. Other important values which Berman stressed included productivity in society as an imitation of God and empowerment through classical Jewish texts in order to yield Jewish values.

From after the first keynote address until the closing keynote address on Monday afternoon, conference participants chose from the many presentations and sessions offered by scholars and rabbis. One of the most commonly addressed issues was feminism - both in regard to women's increased role in ritual religious life and to problems faced by women such as those of agunot.

Other common themes which received significant attention included halakhic creativity, autonomy, and adaptiveness, textual criticism and accuracy in both Talmud and Tanach, religious problems facing Israel and its democracy, the direction and origin of Modern Orthodoxy, and the views and heritage of Rav Soloveitchik. The conference also contained a special dinner and discussion for college students entitled, "Being Modern and Orthodox on Campus."

A common criticism directed against Modern Orthodoxy today is the leniency some of its adherents take in practicing halakha. It was clear from many of the speakers at the conference that Edah does not advocate this sort of leniency in practice. Rather, the importance of full halakhic adherence was stressed throughout the conference. Rabbi Berman said, "We should not for a moment yield to anyone a claim of greater integrity than ours in our commitment to halakha."

Openness and respect for differing opinions was a recurring theme felt throughout the conference. Although not every speaker's thoughts were agreed upon, there was always a sense of respect for everyone working within the halakhic framework.

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, a YU alumnus and RIETS musmakh who is now rabbi of Efrat, in his speech on "Previous Minority Opinions in the Halakhic Process," called the Edah conference, "maybe the most important statement in Orthodoxy made in the last two decades." In his presentation, he related a story from the gemara from which emerged the idea that the majority of Chazal hold that God wanted an open transmission of the Torah with room for human halakhic creativity. He called these different opinions within the framework of halakha "the glory of Judaism."

Riskin also used this story, in which Rabban Gamliel died as punishment for delegitimizing Rabbi Eliezer, who was the minority opinion against him regarding a halakha, as an illustration of what is deserved by people who denigrate those whose opinions in halakha differ from their own. In this context, Riskin made reference to YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Moshe Tendler's controversial censure of Edah, which Tendler declared to be "beyond the pale of Judaism." Rabbi Tendler also attempted to forbid people from attending Edah's conference. Riskin believes that not giving Edah a chance is "narrowing the broad world of Torah," which is "the most profound chilul Hashem imaginable."

Another common criticism of opponents of Modern Orthodoxy is its supposed lack of spirituality. It was clear that Edah fought vigorously to dispel this notion. The tefilah services at the conference were accompanied by meaningful explanations and heartfelt tunes, and practiced with devout seriousness. Speakers placed emphasis on infusing daily life with uplifting spirituality by living according to the Torah's moral code.

Although YU chose to abstain from participating in the Edah conference as an organization, its influence pervaded much of the conference. Current YU and SCW professors who were presenters included Rabbi Berman himself, as well as Rabbis Walter Wurzburger, Avi Weiss, Shmuel Goldin, and Dr. Steven Bayme. Approximately forty of the presenters had studied at YU at some point, either for undergraduate, graduate, or semikha work. Although President and Rosh HaYeshiva Dr. Norman Lamm chose not to attend, he did submit some of his past speeches to be included in the Edah packets. There was a large showing of YU students in attendance, with an estimated fifty undergraduate men and women participating.

The students who attended the conference, representing the next generation of Modern Orthodox leadership, found the conference to be a very positive experience. Seth Braunstein, a Junior at Queens College, said, "What I heard at this conference was a true expression of my most inner feelings of what Orthodoxy should be."

David Mirsky, a YC senior, remarked, "I was thoroughly impressed by the entire experience. It was surely a watershed event for Modern Orthodoxy, and I hope that all Jews will be touched by this open confrontation with many of the divisive issues which tend to fracture us."

Rabbi Riskin was extremely enthusiastic about what the conference meant for Modern Orthodoxy. "This proves that Modern Orthodoxy is alive and well," he said. "Everyone was premature in writing our obituary notices."

Related Stories:

• News Analysis: Edah and YU
• Yeshiva's Demise, Edah's Rise, and the Emerging Progressive Orthodox Balance
• Edah and the "Luchos Ho'edus"