The Delegitimization Of The "Orthodox Right"

We are all human beings and thus we are all biased [read Dan Ariely's AMAZING books and articles]. We often don't see reality as it is but as we would like it to be, as we imagine it, as others see it etc. etc. When you read any article or book it is interesting to try to notice the author's biases and unspoken premises. In some of the "left wing" Orthodox world there is a bias to present those who are more observant ["right wing" "Charedi" or the worst - "Ultra Orthodox"] as being close minded, intolerant, anti-science and human development, living in the dark ages [to name just a few of the positive qualities attributed to them] and as creating a *new* religious movement [in order to defend itself against external threats] as opposed to the tradition they claim to uphold [see the research of Prof. Yaakov Katz for this last point]. This is a GREAT strategy b/c that absolves the critics from having to maintain a high level of observance and puts them in a position of superiority and TRUE enlightenment. Hey, they are making this all up so I am not obligated. One example is hair covering. Since in the 20th century many otherwise Orthodox women didn't cover their hair, that means that this is a modern innovation that is part of the shift to the "extremist" "fundamentalist" right. [The Gemara and Shulchan Aruch already obligate married women to cover their hair but that is besides the point]. It is simply put a concerted, consistent attempt to delegitimize the "Yeshiva World". This is not to say that the Yeshiva World is not w/o faults. It has MANY. However, many of the accusations leveled against it are not fair.  

Here is a passage from an article that just came out by two outspoken left wing academics:

This system endowed Orthodox elites with top-down power to draw redlines. As Orthodoxy grew more comfortable in its American environs, these elites expressed fears of modern life in new ways.What is more, they recognized that their followers would, in all probability, abide, unwilling as they were to surrender social status by deviating from determined (albeit changing) socioreligious norms. Calls of apostasy and the outlawing of behaviors were useful to define "insiders" and "outsiders". 

In these instances, Orthodox Jews framed their heresy hunting with designs on eliminating modernist threats as pernicious outsiderness. A partial list of transgressions among the Orthodox Right, for instance, includes taking part in mixed-gender gatherings, enrolling in college, wearing clothing no longer considered modest (usually for women), and owning a television or other media devices capable of transmitting “inappropriate” popular culture.

1] I see this again and again. The Rabbis [here called derogatorily "elites"] are just interested in their "power". 

2] They are "heresy hunters". How very evil and pernicious they are!!!

3] Calls of apostasy are use useful not to preserve our heritage but to define "insiders" and "outsiders". For them, heresy is OK as long as you believe it. The Rambam's 13 principals aren't binding. Nor is ANYTHING. Chazal say that we must believe that Hashem gave the Torah to Moshe and he didn't make it up. Not binding. The psukim tell us about future redemption. Not a binding belief. Believe whatever you want. 

4] Don't only believe whatever you want but LIVE and PRACTICE as you see fit. "A partial list of transgressions among the Orthodox Right, for instance, includes taking part in mixed-gender gatherings, enrolling in college, wearing clothing no longer considered modest (usually for women), and owning a television or other media devices capable of transmitting “inappropriate” popular culture". Inappropriate is in quotation marks, implying that they are not really inappropriate. So the problem with mixed gender is an invention of the Right. What about the various Gemara's that forbid them [one example Kiddushin 81a]? What about the Shulchan Aruch [Even Ha'ezer 21]:

 1. "צריך האדם להתרחק מן הנשים מאד מאד".

2.  "אסור לקרוץ בידיו או ברגליו ולרמוז בעיניו לאשה".

3.  "ואסור לשחוק עמה, להקל ראשו כנגדה".

4.  "[אסור] להביט ביופיה". "והמסתכל אפילו באצבע קטנה של אשה ונתכוון ליהנות ממנה, עוונו גדול מאד". "[אסור] להסתכל בשערה".

5.  "ואסור להריח בבשמים המיוחדים לאשה, וכל שכן כשהיא אוחזתן בידיה או שהן תלויין עליה".

6.  "אסור להסתכל בבגדי צבעונין של אשה, שהוא מכיר אותה, אפילו הבגדים אינן עליה".

7.  "פגע אשה בשוק, אסור להלך אחריה, אלא רץ שתישאר לצדדין או לאחריו".

8.  "ואסור לשמוע קול זמר אשה".

9.  "אין שואלין בשלום אשה כלל. ואפילו על ידי בעלה אסור לשלוח לה דברי שלומים, לכן כשכותב אגרת לחבר, אסור לכתוב ולומר: תאמר שלום לזוגתך. אבל מותר לשאול לבעלה או לאחר, איך שלומה. וכן מותר לכתוב לחברו: הודיעני משלום זוגתך".

10.  "אין לנהוג אפילו עם אשתו בדברים של חיבה, כגון לעיין ברישה (=בראשה) וכדומה בפני אחרים".    

Any issue with TV is an invention of the "Orthodox Right". The disgusting pritzus, nivul peh, kalus rosh and many other deleterious primary characteristics of that medium are all part of their fertile imagination. 

Forget frum Jews. Goyim shouldn't watch TV either. It contaminates mind and soul.

So Judaism with no binding beliefs and no binding laws. What are you left with? It is like saying "Let's play baseball!! But with no bats, no balls and no bases. But let's call it baseball". 😉😕 

The problem is that the discussion is not about how to become better human beings, better Jews, more spiritual, how to get close to Hashem etc. etc. but about how the "Orthodox Right" establishment seeks to suppress its members into religious submission in order to preserve their power. 

And that - is sickening.    

"מהרסיך ומחריביך ממך יצאו".