Ashkenazi of Hungarian lineage. But my father, who was raised int he cradle of Hungaruan chareidiut studied at the Ferec Joseof Rabbikepzo Intiszet, the Rabbinical Seminary in Budapest, which was identified with the neologue community. (Most of the students there came from Orthodox families. So much for the cherem on the place) As such he had a good apperciation fo Wissenschaft des Judentums and used it frequenttly when he learned. Despite a 30 year war with G-d brought about my the Holocaust, he died a shomer Torah u’Mitzvos. I was sent to a Modern coed day school, where Limudei Kodesh was taught Ivrit b’Ivrit. Yom Ha’Atzmaut was a school holiday. I went to a non-hat wearing yeshiva high school, and spent a year in an American black hat styled yeshiva in Israel. Then I went to YU. My personal hashkafa these days is sort of a mixed bag. I believe firmly in Torah u’Maddah as a way of life. At the same time, I also respect religious determinations based on scholarly examination of sources, as opposed to adopting that which seems “frummer.” I bristle at the adoption of policy based upon meta-halachik concerns. Before I accept those, they have to make sense to me and be relevant to my life. I have little use for the notion of “Da’as Torah” Ironically, I am very envious of the piety and seeming spiritual tranquility brought about by adopting that which I reject and I long for that spiritual peace of mind. So I guess I’m very modern/rationalistic in my outlook but not happy with the result.
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