Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Transdoxy

I called it "Transdoxy". They are really Conservative but call themselves Orthodox. Like women who call themselves men and vice versa. 

Here is the story of one such shul in the NY area, copied from their website: 

We are an inclusive Modern Orthodox community
We daven Nusach Ashkenaz
Mechitza down the middle of the room (creating equal access for both women and men in our kehilah)
Carrying the Sefer Torah on both the men and women’s side
Boys and girls chant Anim Zmirot, Ain Kelokainu, Aleinu and Adon Olam
Men and Women can recite the mishebeirach prayers.
Men and Women serve as gabbaim on each side of the mechitza to enable distribution of kibbudim.
Any person who has reached the age of mitzvot is welcome to read from the Torah and receive an aliyah (women will read on one side of the mechitza and men on the other side of the mechitza).
Any person who has reached the age of mitzvot is welcome to read the haftarah on behalf of the shul (women will read on one side of the mechitza and men on the other side of the mechitza).
Men and Women are given the kibbud of p’ticha (opening the Aron) before Anim Z’mirot and before the Torah is taken out and returned to the Aron.
On the occasions when Megilot are read, any person who has reached the age of mitzvot is welcome to read the megilah for the community (women will read on one side of the mechitza and men on the other side of the mechitza).

About our Marta Datra [!!!] 

[Here is a record of the saga of Rabba D's path to the Rabbinate. You know the usual story - 4 years in Brisk Yerushalayim. Came back. Got married. Learned in Lakewood for 10 years. Got Smicha. 7 kids etc. etc.]

Maybe I am being a bit harsh. They are COMPLETELY Orthodox with regard to the fact that they daven Nusach Ashkenaz.