I never understood any definition that was offered to define MO. After hearing answer like it means working and engaging the world, I ask myself is a Satmar Chosid computer programmer Modern Orthodox?? Is Rabbi Abraham Twersky MD, Modern Orthodox? Does it mean that someone who learns in Kollel cannot be Modern Orthodox?
If its about leniencies, there are relatively strict and lenient people within all segments of Orthodoxy. Some married women shave their heads, some wear shaitlach but prohibit human hair, some permit even that. Some people keep a 72 minute Motzoi Shabbos and some are Maikel and keep 45 or 50, even though it is an issue of sofek chilul shabbos. Yet these leniencies would not qualify one as Modern Orthodox. So the question is, how much does one have to be lenient in order to enter the realm of “Modern Orthodoxy”? And since Rabbi Yoshe Ber Soloveichik was the preeminent authority for Modern orhtodox Jewry, does that mean he, too was lenient? In what? He was makpid on Cholov Yisroel, for instance. Does this make those who follow Rav Moshe’s heter are more Modern Orthodox than Rabbi Soloveichik?
How do you know who is MO?