We have seen in the last installment how the teachings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch led to the birth of Modern Orthodoxy, which has since morphed into several forms. There is, however, an alternative understanding of Hirsch, which flourishes today in Washington Heights, New York, and has satellite communities in many other places.
Rabbi Joseph Breuer (1882-1980) was a grandson of Rabbi Hirsch. Born in Hungary, he became Rabbi in Frankfurt until after the rise of Naziism. He eventually reached the United States, setting up a Kehilah in New York, known as Khal Adath Jeshurun (KAJ), but now almost always simply called "Breuer's". The concept of Kehillah is generally misunderstood. Today it simply means "congregation". But KAJ represents the classical meaning of the word, which is an all-encompassing community structure. The original Kehillah concept, which was reestablished by Rabbi Breuer in the New World, meant a community council, headed by the rabbi and his Beit Din (court). The Kehillah runs schools, kosher supervision services, societies to care for the sick, burial services; cradle to grave care of the physical and spiritual needs of the members. The kehillah sets its own standards, not necessarily bound by what other Orthodox Jews do. Their standards for kosher food production and supervision are light years ahead of the usual supervising agencies. But it is not just in ritual that they excel. A restaurant will not get their certification unless it is spotlessly clean, and the books are in order.
Rabbi Breuer took a very strict stance when it came to halachah (Jewish Law), but an equally strict stance when it came to integrity and respect for law. For example, someone I know had made a simple, honest mistake when he filed his income tax papers, resulting in a slightly reduced tax debt than was actually owed. But it was something that the authorities would never notice. He asked Rabbi Breuer's successor what to do. "You must go to the tax office, tell them what has happened, and insist on paying the difference. Strictly Kosher means Strictly Honest". (Glatt Kosher is Glatt Yashar).
Rabbi Breuer felt that Modern Orthodoxy was a complete distortion of Rabbi Hirsch's philosophy. He believed that indeed, secular knowledge was important, but not a value in and of itself. Yes, Orthodox Jews should be doctors, lawyers, accountants. But that doesn't mean to accept secular society's values or notions. He demanded, as his grandfather did, that Orthodoxy maintain a clear separation from non-Orthodox streams, so as to protect itself from non-Torah values. He maintained the old German Jewish customs; retaining old Ashkenazic customs and rituals which had long since died out in other Ashkenazic communities. This included long recitations of poetic compositions (piyyutim) added to the prayers on any day of significance beyond the ordinary. Only a fraction of these are recited elsewhere, if at all. If you were to attend services at "Breuer's" or affiliated communities, you will find the Torah Scroll tied with... old-fashioned swaddling clothes. This is called a wimple. When a boy is circumcised, they put swaddling clothes on him. Afterwards, the mother embroiders on these clothes words and pictures relating to the baby and the family. These are then donated to the synagogue, and used to wrap the Torah scrolls. This is but one example of an ancient tradition that they preserve that has been forgotten elsewhere. The services are marked by great formality and dignity. The "homey" atmosphere of most synagogues is absent. There is a great emphasis on decorum and respect.
Many people outside the kehillah joke about the formality and exactness in all things that characterize Breuer's. Even punctuality in time is a concern. Nine o'clock means nine o'clock. Not later, not earlier. (Rabbi Breuer was known to say "early is also not on time.") But all respect Breuer's. It is strict in both law and custom. It is strict in giving each person a dignified welcome, and seeing to the needs of one's neighbors. Everyone knows that a "Breuer" is what he purports to be.
Sociologists call this Neo-Orthodoxy. In this case, the "Neo" part (literally "new") doesn't mean "less than", but rather a new synthesis between loyalty to an Old World tradition, while accepting the best of modern life, and trying to improve on that. Although I respect Breuer's, I find the formality and emphasis on medieval traditions off-putting. One of my sons once walked into the Breuer's synagogue on a Shabbat morning. Not satisfied with the kippah he was wearing, one of the community officials, without asking, placed a hat on his head. My son removed the hat, and went elsewhere to pray. I would have done the same. Breuer's is clearly not for everyone.
Rabbi Joseph Breuer (1882-1980) was a grandson of Rabbi Hirsch. Born in Hungary, he became Rabbi in Frankfurt until after the rise of Naziism. He eventually reached the United States, setting up a Kehilah in New York, known as Khal Adath Jeshurun (KAJ), but now almost always simply called "Breuer's". The concept of Kehillah is generally misunderstood. Today it simply means "congregation". But KAJ represents the classical meaning of the word, which is an all-encompassing community structure. The original Kehillah concept, which was reestablished by Rabbi Breuer in the New World, meant a community council, headed by the rabbi and his Beit Din (court). The Kehillah runs schools, kosher supervision services, societies to care for the sick, burial services; cradle to grave care of the physical and spiritual needs of the members. The kehillah sets its own standards, not necessarily bound by what other Orthodox Jews do. Their standards for kosher food production and supervision are light years ahead of the usual supervising agencies. But it is not just in ritual that they excel. A restaurant will not get their certification unless it is spotlessly clean, and the books are in order.
Rabbi Breuer took a very strict stance when it came to halachah (Jewish Law), but an equally strict stance when it came to integrity and respect for law. For example, someone I know had made a simple, honest mistake when he filed his income tax papers, resulting in a slightly reduced tax debt than was actually owed. But it was something that the authorities would never notice. He asked Rabbi Breuer's successor what to do. "You must go to the tax office, tell them what has happened, and insist on paying the difference. Strictly Kosher means Strictly Honest". (Glatt Kosher is Glatt Yashar).
Rabbi Breuer felt that Modern Orthodoxy was a complete distortion of Rabbi Hirsch's philosophy. He believed that indeed, secular knowledge was important, but not a value in and of itself. Yes, Orthodox Jews should be doctors, lawyers, accountants. But that doesn't mean to accept secular society's values or notions. He demanded, as his grandfather did, that Orthodoxy maintain a clear separation from non-Orthodox streams, so as to protect itself from non-Torah values. He maintained the old German Jewish customs; retaining old Ashkenazic customs and rituals which had long since died out in other Ashkenazic communities. This included long recitations of poetic compositions (piyyutim) added to the prayers on any day of significance beyond the ordinary. Only a fraction of these are recited elsewhere, if at all. If you were to attend services at "Breuer's" or affiliated communities, you will find the Torah Scroll tied with... old-fashioned swaddling clothes. This is called a wimple. When a boy is circumcised, they put swaddling clothes on him. Afterwards, the mother embroiders on these clothes words and pictures relating to the baby and the family. These are then donated to the synagogue, and used to wrap the Torah scrolls. This is but one example of an ancient tradition that they preserve that has been forgotten elsewhere. The services are marked by great formality and dignity. The "homey" atmosphere of most synagogues is absent. There is a great emphasis on decorum and respect.
Many people outside the kehillah joke about the formality and exactness in all things that characterize Breuer's. Even punctuality in time is a concern. Nine o'clock means nine o'clock. Not later, not earlier. (Rabbi Breuer was known to say "early is also not on time.") But all respect Breuer's. It is strict in both law and custom. It is strict in giving each person a dignified welcome, and seeing to the needs of one's neighbors. Everyone knows that a "Breuer" is what he purports to be.
Sociologists call this Neo-Orthodoxy. In this case, the "Neo" part (literally "new") doesn't mean "less than", but rather a new synthesis between loyalty to an Old World tradition, while accepting the best of modern life, and trying to improve on that. Although I respect Breuer's, I find the formality and emphasis on medieval traditions off-putting. One of my sons once walked into the Breuer's synagogue on a Shabbat morning. Not satisfied with the kippah he was wearing, one of the community officials, without asking, placed a hat on his head. My son removed the hat, and went elsewhere to pray. I would have done the same. Breuer's is clearly not for everyone.
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