Reply To: Ahavas Yisrael for those in YU/the MO community (Ask me anything)

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DaMoshe
Participant

Here is my response to each line item:

1. There are halachos which govern how genders may interact and how they can’t. Do the schools require situations of yichud? Do they require physical contact? No, they don’t. In many of the schools, classes actually are separated above a certain ago, and certainly for specific subjects they are separate.
Once again, as I mentioned earlier, the Yeshivish world has taken on many chumros, which are not halachah.
Regarding NCSY, I already addressed that in a prior post.

2. MO does not demonize the Yeshivish world. We may disagree with it, but that is not the same as demonizing it. As for R’ Lamm zt”l’s quote, I agree, he used a term he likely shouldn’t have. But look at it like this: a caveman is shut off from the world. When he eventually leaves the cave, he is exposed to society, with which he is not familiar. He can be overwhelmed with it all. So too people who grow up in the yeshiva world and have things kept hidden from them, such as Internet access, interacting innocently with the opposite gender, and other things. MO teaches people how to deal with these things properly. When yeshivish people are exposed to it (and they are at some point), many of them don’t know how to deal with it, and they are overwhelmed.

3. No MO person I know equates secular studies with Torah study. The idea of knowledge for the sake of knowledge is because since Hashem created the world, and all knowledge has a place in the world, by gaining as much as we can, it will help us to better understand and appreciate Hashem. It will also help us understand learning Torah. For example, a good understanding of trigonometry is extremely beneficial when learning Maseches Sukkah.

4. Tznius is an area where the yeshivish world (influenced mostly by Chassidim) took on many unnecessary chumros. Learn the basic halachos before accusing others of looking for leniencies. As for techeles, if there’s an easy mitzvah to possibly fulfill, why not do it? Why try to relate techeles to tznius, when they have nothing to do with each other?

5. I’m not even sure why you believe either one of these. How does MO incubate feminism, and why would you think MO invented meta-halacha?

6. Can you please provide some examples of how self-determinism was made part of Judaism, and what the issue with it is?
As for leisure – it’s a very important part. R’ Pam zt”l was known to tell people that if you don’t allow children time to play when they’re young, they will play when they’re older. Having downtime is important for your mental health at any age, and helps you to function properly when you are not relaxing.

7. You are just incorrect on this, and I don’t know why you’d think otherwise.

8. Again, where do you get these ideas from? Spiritual achievements secularized? Denying Hashem’s sole control over the world? Just because Hashem controls the world does not mean that people are incapable of doing harm or repairing the world. Hashem set up a derech hatevah, and our actions do affect the world around us.

9. In this area, you are partially correct. There are some MO who do affirm these areas, although many oppose them as well.
As for the death penalty, it is NOT prescribed in the Noahide Laws. The law is for a fair system of laws to be set up. Penalties are up to the society setting up the system. If a non-Jew violates one of the Noahide Laws at a time when there is a Sanhedrin, then yes, the Sanhedrin can impose the death penalty.

10. This is something that is unique to each individual, so you’ll have to provide some examples. You must also differentiate between admiring specific actions and admiring the person. I will also note that this is not limited to MO, but is also done by the yeshivish world and chassidish world.
11. Times change, and the evils given in the Torah can take different forms. Calling them out for what they are today is not an issue.

12. Israel is a separate debate. You can be dedicated to the country without liking the government.

13. When the derech is one you are choosing, then you’re correct, they won’t be guiding people to it. They do, however, guide their followers to a derech which is perfectly legitimate, even if you disagree.

14. Disagree with all of these.

15. Who are you to judge who is sincere and who isn’t?

16. Disagree, I have never heard this said by anyone.

17. Where did you get this idea from?

18. The Torah is not reexamined. Sources are found that are legitimate sources from known Rishonim and Acharonim.
19. If you are sick, you go see a doctor. If you have a halachick question, you ask a Rabbi. What is the problem there? My own Rosh Yeshiva (a well known Chareidi RY) once told me how “some people won’t blow their nose without asking their Rebbe first if it’s ok.” He was bemoaning the fact that many Rabbonim give advice in areas they’re not qualified to, and people should seek out experts in the area instead of asking their Rebbe.