Rabbi of Crawley- I have so many issues with your premise that I don’t even know where to begin.
I guess a good place to start would be to let you know that I identify my practice of Judaism to be in the category of “Modern Orthodox”. My family and friends are Modern Orthodox. The high school I went to and the seminary I attended identify as Modern Orthodox. So I have a pretty good handle of Modern Orthodox hashkafa and practices.
Modern Orthodoxy is not an attempt to ” water down” halacha. It’s the chariedim or “yeshivish” that insist on taking the halacha above and beyond the basic rules. Which isn’t a bad thing. But you can’t tell others that a chumra is halacha. I keep all the halachot that I am obligated in and take upon myself the chumrot I
think will enhance my religious life.
You have no right to tell me that just because my conviction in God stems from a more rational approach instead of the “just believe” approach and that I choose to live a life that interacts with tje world around me that it has any less meaning and importance.
Also, I am a Zionist. I beleive in the State of Israel and I support it in whatever way I can. It is the only place that Jews are truly safe from persecution. In a time of real trouble it is not America, England, France or any other country that will save you. Despite what they say they all hate you for the simple reason that you were born a Jew. And when push comes to shove I beleive Israel will always be there to protect the Jewish people even when all others have abandoned us. The current religious situation is not ideal but it’s better than having no state at all.
The Torah was given to Man and it is our job to interpret it and live by it’s rules. I do not think that one interptation within orthodoxy is any more valid than the other. It is each person’s responsibility to find the path that is right for them. And neither you or I have have any right to tell another person that the path they have chosen is wrong. Only God can judge.