“But to make it easier lets put it this way – can Yeshivish people respect the MO viewpoints and rabbonim? Some yes, many no. [that goes both ways”
I’m actually going to go for honesty here.
What do you mean by modern orthodox? Do you mean ‘dati leumi’, that is stringent adherence to halacha incorporating religious zionism? Then yes, the ‘Yeshivish’ or say Charedi community ultimately has a single disagreement with them – the place of Eretz Yisrael in our day and age. The rest – the flowing skirts, the headcoverings (heck! no shaitels! kol hakavod!) , the different dress, yada yada – that’s all societal. Then, when a real viewpoint comes up them, it should be respected. heck, most ‘yeshivish’ people eat OU – in which case you are relying on the Rav Herschel Shachter (him and Rav Belsky are the OU’s go to people). So I hope the yeshivish world respects his psakim. He is a master in all Chederey Torah (and does not say Hallel on Yom HaAtzamaut, see B’Ikevy HaTzaon, Siman Lamed Ches – I think).
Do you mean MO which slowly but surely seems to start looking like conservative – aka open mingling of the genders, mixed swimming, a breakdown of all of traditional halacha – then we have a problem. We have a fundamental disagreement. I see two schools of MO – and this is just my own prejudice and limited knowledge – one represented by R’ Herschel Shachter, and the RCA chevra. And one represented by Avi Weiss. R’ Herschel Shachter and the RCA Beis Din? Don’t agree with them on everything. But we share a common ground, like we do with Chassidim & Sfardim – different approaches, a single Halacha.
Avi Weiss? I have no common ground. YU’s ‘forums’ and dorms for mischavey zachar? No common ground.
And one must separate R’ Herschel – and the other YU magidey Shiur from YU itself.
I recall a friend who was leaving YU. R’ Herschel asked him why. He said – ‘Rebbe told me that going to this class was an issur dorayasah (an art class which featured – well , the inappropriate) – but the Administration didn’t listen to you. I am going to listen to you. It’s time to go’. And leave he did.
In other words, I don’t consider them to a branch of orthodoxy. Dati LeUmi etc. – certainly. And then respect is prerequisite.
And I believe that goes both ways. If I am – well – a caveman, I don’t suppose I am respected either. But if I am a Halachic standpoint which is too stringent – then I suppose there is mutual respect.
Do we speak of those funny orange turbans things? Respect. Uncovered hair? Nope.