<HTML>Leadership in Jewish education
In 1982 the journal Tradition, asked twenty-two leaders of modern
Orthodoxy to comment on "the state of Orthodoxy", and specifically to
respond to the question "What have been Orthodoxy's greatest achievements
and greatest failures on the American scene?". Virtually all noted the
advancement of Jewish education (including day schools, Torah U'mesorah,
and Yeshiva University) as Orthodoxy's greatest achievement. Several
respondents noted the lack of appreciation for, and devotion to, the State
of Israel as Orthodoxy's greatest failure.=20
Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein (Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Har Etzion, one of the
major Yeshivot Hesder), argued that Orthodoxy suffered from two major
failings, narrowness and the inability to produce quality leadership.
Regarding the first, Rav Lichtenstein wrote:
=09Narrowness manifests itself in cultural insularity and limited
horizons; in pettiness and smugness; above all, in misplaced priorities
and skewed perspectives. This last is reflected in the prevalent attitude
toward the State of Israel which is generally regarded favorably but not
recognized as a momentous historical development.
With regard to the second failing, Rav Lichtenstein pointed out that the
American Orthodox movement "...has produced almost no indigenous gedolim
neither in the narrower sphere of halakha nor in the broad realm of public
leadership". =09
I believe that these issues, spotlighted by Rav Lichtenstein 17 years ago,
are even more relevant today than they were then. From interaction with
students and from conversations with colleagues, it appears to me that
Israel is not a priority in day schools today. As far as the leadership
issue is concerned, I still believe that the problem is much more deep
seated than a concern with a comfortable income.
Any further insight into the underlying reasons for these problems would
be appreciated.
Shalom Berger</HTML>
