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Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law with the secular, modern world. In general, Modern Orthodoxy’s overall approach is “the belief that one can and should be a full member of modern society, accepting the risks to remaining observant, because the benefits outweigh those risks.” In the following letters, we will see the Rebbe’s approach to this attempt and why the Rebbe sees it as futile and wrong.

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In a postscript to a letter of encouragement, written on 4th of Adar II 5738, to a young woman who wrote to the Rebbe of her advancement in Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe added the following:

Your using the term “modern orthodoxy” prompts me to make the following observation.

Although this term is frequently used, if you reflect on it you will realize the inner contradiction in terms. For, orthodoxy refers to a full commitment to a life regulated by the Torah, Toras Emes, and its Mitזvoth, by which Jews live, whereas “modern” implies a compromise and adjustment supposedly in keeping with “modern” ideas.

But where truth is concerned, there can be no compromise or accommodation, for even 99% of truth is not the whole truth, and therefore not truth at all.

Needless to say, 99% is better than 98%, but one must not delude oneself in believing that it is the whole truth. Indeed, the Rambam rules that if a Jew accepts the whole Torah except one letter, he is deemed as if he denied the whole Torah. And one of the explanations of it is, as mentioned above, that truth and compromise are contradictory.

The above does not mean that unless a Jew observes all the 613 Mitzvoth, he is not an observant Jew. Indeed, the Torah declares, “A Jew, though he has sinned, remains a Jew.” It states further that no sinner is rejected, and eventually everyone who has strayed will return to the fold.

What is emphasized above is that any thought that the Torah is in any way “outdated” and needs to be “modernized” that is heresy and a denial of the Divine origin and eternal nature of the Torah and Mitzvoth. There is surely no need to elaborate to you further on the above.

Inventions to Confuse the Public and to Facilitate Deviation from Torah

This letter was addressed to an activist involved with a Yeshiva that was being pressured to rent out its facilities for parties and functions not in accordance with halacha. Included in this letter is also the Rebbe’s sharp definition of modern orthodoxy:

…With regard to the limitations set up for the use of the Yeshiva facilities, as far as I know, the facilities are not made available to an affair which would involve Sabbath desecration, which unfortunately is quite prevalent nowadays. Another aspect of the limitations is the question of safeguarding the laws of Shulchan Aruch in relation to the marriage celebrations, especially public singing by women, mixed dancing, etc.

The latter aspect is particularly in conflict not only with the principal of a truly Orthodox Yeshiva, but even with the so-called “neo-Orthodox” or “modern Orthodox,” or other similar strange names which have been invented to confuse the public and to facilitate deviation from the way of the Torah and Mitzvoth.

What would we think of a person who preaches one way of life and then goes about contradicting it in his own conduct?

The so-called “New” brand of Conservatism

In another letter dated 23 Adar I, 5717, written to a young man who was considering becoming a conservative rabbi, the Rebbe makes note of a phenomenon that was common back then of orthodox rabbis serving in conservative congregations. In this letter too, the Rebbe mentions modern orthodoxy in less than positive terms:

…It is well-known that there are many members in Conservative congregations, and sometimes even so-called spiritual leaders in the movement, who themselves negate completely the Conservative philosophy, accepting and following fully the whole Torah, and, in the latter case, have accepted positions as rabbis in Conservative temples for various reasons.

This is also the case with regard to the person to whom you refer in your letter, who obviously does not belong at all in the Conservative movement, nor in the so-called “New” brand of Conservatism, which goes under the name of “Modern Orthodoxy.”

On the other hand, it is clearly obvious that such a situation is pregnant with constant inner conflicts, which are often even outwardly apparent. Therefore, it is certainly inadvisable and illogical to select a career which is bound to bring with it constant conflict and friction, both within himself and in relation to the environment, etc.

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With Hashem’s help we will bring portions of this important letter, as well as letters of the Rebbe on the movement of “Torah im Derech Eretz” from 19th century Germany, which is considered a harbinger of modern-orthodoxy.

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