HOUSES OF WORSHIP

Jewish Year Abroad
By BEN HARRIS
February 29, 2008; Page W11

By the middle of my post-high-school year of yeshiva study in Israel, it was obvious which of my classmates would return home much as they had left and which would return transformed. In the latter group were the boys who had begun to trade evenings at the bars on Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street for the study hall, where they spent hours imbibing rabbinic wisdom. Their hair grew shorter and their sidelocks longer. Baseball caps declaring allegiance to the Yankees and Mets were replaced with velvet yarmulkes. Now they declared allegiance to a higher authority.

Religious transformations like these have become such a phenomenon in the Orthodox Jewish world that they have birthed their own derisive catchphrase. "Flipping Out," a term first popularized by an Orthodox rock band, is now the title of a book published by Yashar Books in cooperation with New York's Yeshiva University, the flagship institution of Modern Orthodoxy. Jews who identify themselves as Modern Orthodox keep kosher, observe the sabbath and practice other rituals but are otherwise well integrated into society, living and working among people of other faiths.

A year of yeshiva study in Israel is now a rite of passage, with some Modern Orthodox high schools sending 90% of their graduating seniors to programs designed to fortify them with religious values before they go off to a secular American college. But some of these teenagers, once in Israel, choose to remain in yeshivas for a second or third year to continue their study of Torah and Talmud (biblical commentary). Others turn down admission to the Ivy League in favor of Yeshiva University, which offers a dual curriculum of liberal arts and religious instruction. In one case described in the book, a student's parents were so horrified at their son's intention to forgo admission to Harvard that they forged his signature on a commitment letter to the university. In the most extreme cases, returnees no longer respect the authority of rabbis they have known their entire lives, or refuse to eat in the home of their parents, whose adherence to Jewish dietary laws is deemed insufficiently rigorous.

"I suspect on some level [the Israel year] moves the community to a more separatist position," said Rabbi Yosef Blau, the director of religious guidance at Yeshiva University, who supports Israel study but considers it a double-edged sword. "In Israel, the line between the Orthodox and the non-Orthodox is quite sharp, and that gets reflected back."

Exact figures are hard to come by, but YU estimates that some 2,000 Modern Orthodox high-school graduates depart for single-sex Israeli yeshivas each year. Most attend programs for foreigners, where instruction is typically in English, room and board are included, and 12-hour days of study -- generally a mixture of Bible, Talmud and Jewish law and philosophy, though the diet is more Talmud-centered for men -- are supplemented by trips to sites of religious significance.

"They're basically given the message that they are doing what they were created to do, which is to study Torah, that they are princes and princesses of Judaism, that that is all that they have to do," says Samuel Heilman, a sociologist of American Jewry and the author of "Sliding to the Right." He fingers the Israel year as a chief reason for Modern Orthodoxy's supposed shift toward traditionalism. Critics of the shift point to everything from the style of yarmulke worn by Modern Orthodox men to the reluctance of some returning yeshiva graduates to kiss their female relatives. In 2006, 10 alumni of a right-wing yeshiva in Israel left YU after a year, citing ideological differences.

Survey data in "Flipping Out," the first effort to quantify the effects of the year in Israel, will provide ammunition to the critics. Rabbi Shalom Berger, one of the book's three authors, found that prior to landing in Israel, less than 20% of students rank high on a scale of ritual practice. After the year of study, the number surges to nearly 70%. Rabbi Berger also found that students are more committed to lifelong Torah study and show stronger ties to Israel after they return. But only a tiny minority, he says, eschew higher education entirely and dedicate their lives to studying Torah. Most will eventually attend college and go on to productive careers.

For many Orthodox educators, particularly at Yeshiva University, which recruits heavily from the programs in Israel, these findings are cause for celebration, not concern. With its motto of "Torah Umadda," literally "Torah and secular knowledge," YU has long been the standard-bearer of the ideal of marrying Orthodox practice to secular education. "I believe our tradition is such that we should be confident that we can contribute to the world based on our values," said YU President Richard Joel, five of whose children have studied in Israeli yeshivas. "We're not supposed to view the modern world as the enemy."

What remains unclear is the extent to which the educators in Israel, a country without a tradition of liberal-arts education, share Mr. Joel's commitment to the Modern Orthodox ethos. I have earned two academic degrees from top universities since I left the yeshiva in Israel, all while continuing to observe many of the rituals urged upon me a decade ago by my rabbis there, though I take certain liberties with the law that they would almost certainly frown upon.

Still, I consider that year to have been one of the most enriching of my life. The headmaster, I'm sure, wouldn't agree. Some weeks before my departure, he called me to his office to tell me that I had wasted my time. "Maybe," he said, "if you had learned a little more Torah."

Mr. Harris writes about religion for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.


link.

[Note to admins: this is a temporary link so please allow the article in its entirety to remain.]

I wonder if the next step amongst the MO,will be to discourage learning in EY for a year.

Not so far-fetched.

Thanks for the article.

When that happens, the sems/yeshivas that cater to that crowd may change their tune. This is a huge amount of revenue we're talking about.

It won't happen. As much as those parents hate their children frumming out they know it still beats them getting high on drugs all day...

I think this says it all...

Falling into the gap trap

mosheshmeal
.

...

I have no hatred or disdain for the MO at all. I don't see how my comments are obnoxious or convey otherwise.

The article speaks of increased religious commitment due to the year in Medinat Yisrael Reishit Tzemichat Ge'ulateinu [in Dr. Heilman's book, that what only one reason among several for the Slide to the Right]. You claim that the MO will therefore discourage the year in Medinat Yisrael Reishit Tzemichat Ge'ulateinu. That implies the MO don't want increased religious commitment and will discourage that which leads to increased religious commitment.

I would have hoped someone involved in the chinuch of the MO would comment on the article something like,
"What a positive trend. This speak well of the MO values among the youth and it's certainly a positive trend. I hope it continues and increases" rather than, "well, I bet they are going to discourage it in the future".

The article mentions a "slide to the right" where "They're basically given the message that they are doing what they were created to do, which is to study Torah, that they are princes and princesses of Judaism, that that is all that they have to do". Clearly not only an increased religious commitment but a rejection of Modern Orthodoxy's core philosophy. It mentions things such as the velvet yarmulkes and leaving YU because of ideological differences.
"Critics of the shift point to everything from the style of yarmulke worn by Modern Orthodox men to the reluctance of some returning yeshiva graduates to kiss their female relatives. In 2006, 10 alumni of a right-wing yeshiva in Israel left YU after a year, citing ideological differences."
So it is much more than religious commitment. It is a trend that leans towards the rejection of Modern Orthodoxy in favor of "flipping out". A euphemism I imagine for becoming more Yeshivish.

That's right. Why is that a bad thing in your view? And where do you see evidence that this trend is being discouraged?
The article is describing the Slide to the Right and one of the reasons, namely the year in Medinat Yisrael Reishit Tzemichat Ge'ulateinu. Why would your comment be, "it will be discouraged" rather than "that's great" if not for your view that the MO don't really want increased religious commitment? The trend is to the Right. The evidence would appear to be that your prediction is mistaken.

You can't argue that this article had a distinct negative slant...

It not about religious commitment as much as it is [1] a rejection of Modern Orthodoxy and [2] becoming more Yeshivish.
I find it interesting that you of all people equate becoming more religiously observant with becoming less MO. I would expect that religious commitment is not compromised by embracing Modern Orthodoxy. Or am I missing something here?

I never said it was. I wondered given the current trends to becoming more right wing,would it be discouraged in the future.

I'm just surprised [well, I'm not actually surprised] that your immediate reaction to something positive is to dismiss it as a passing trend that will be discouraged.

And yes, in these peoples' minds, being more Rightist/yeshivish and less MO is being more religiously committed. They are wrong, but from their point of view they sincerely believe it to be true. I think it's unfortunate that these kids equate being more religiously committed with wearing a velvet kippah, but that's what they think. The positive thing is that they are committed to increased religious observance. That they equate that with imitating the Rightists is a bit unfortunate in my opinion, but I would think you, Nooch, would welcome the trend as positive instead of speculating that some sort of MO equivalent of the Tznius Patrol is going to rip those velvet kippot off their heads.

If this is seen as a threat to Modern Orthodoxy,by those very people who equate greater religious commitment to being Yeshivish,you don't think it will be discouraged?

Being more yeshivish, possibly. Being more religiously committed, no.
In any event, why wasn't your first comment, "This is great"?

Precisely!

Nobody is ripping the velvet kippot off their heads or stopping the kids from going to Medinat Yisrael Reishit Tzemichat Ge'ulateinu for the year. If anything, the trend is probably increasing, and hence the news article.

Again, why couldn't your first reaction to the article be, "This is great" rather than "This is going to be discouraged"?

Personally, I welcome any honest version of increased religious observance.
My speculation stems from my suspicions that its not just the youth who are equating it to being more Yeshivish.The adults of the hamon am within the MO circles do too.

Oh, and about the kippah patrol...rofl!

Then accept the article - it is reporting increased religious observance (it's just too bad people think wearing a velvet kippah is equated with increased religious observance). Be happy rather than speculate it's a passing trend that will be discouraged. Why put a negative spin on something you could have opted to put a positive spin on?

As for your speculation, if anything, the trend is increasing and not decreasing.

ETA: sorry I sounded so harsh in my first post in this thread.

Yes it is increasing. Baruch Hashem!
I just think that like any trend, people will reevaluate the pros and cons and go from there. If the MO wake up one day and realize their youth are being "converted" to Yeshivishness after their stint in Israel,how do you think they are going to address this "problem"?

I wish there were more MO yeshivas in Israel for American kids to go to. (And/Or more programs that combine learning and community service activities)

Well, I personally don't really think there is a one-way street of a Slide to the Right. I think there is a concomitant Slide to the Left as well. The Rightists are also internalizing certain Leftist values as well, so the "problem" isn't as big a problem as the Rightists imagine the Leftists think it is.

Anyway, have a good night. I'm putting the kids to bed.

We'll see.

I don't think it'll happen either.

I could see it happening in the yeshivish crowd as people begin to not be able to afford it, but MO? Nope. Especially since MO is very Zionist, they wouldn't discourage their kids from going to Israel even at the expense of this frumming out phenomenon.

In theory there's more to the year in Israel than the year in Israel that is strongly related to MO-y.

I was reading recently that frum communities where men are increasingly shunning secular studies and work are becoming progressively more impoverished. This has been much commented on.
After reading the above article the thought occurred that American students studying in Israel (and then marrying a learner) are suppling a new source of capital to help keep those communities afloat.

melech- while you are right that nooch could have put a positive spin on the situation, the entire article had a negative slant. people like me and you see it, and say BH so many people becoming more religious, but that is not at all how the article sounds. it sounds like the MO community is scared of diminishing numbers
(im not sure that i can point to an exact sentence, but that is the impression i got from the whole article)

This was obviously a negative article.



Let me guess, I'm not allowed to assume this is common.

Off topic: You have a lot to contribute, TRA. It's too bad seemingly only threads denigrating the MO, about cars, or challenging claims that NK are holocaust deniers can get you out of lurkdom. I miss your more active presence.

Does the writer of this article (or the average person, for that matter) differenciate between an increased commitment to Torah and being more yeshivish?

As someone who I know (MO, for those who care) said, "If I sent my kid to one of the best beer drinking schools in the world, I would expect him to come home with a greater appreciation for beer. Instead, I sent my child to one of the best Torah institutions out there, with an incredibly dedicated staff. Why was everyone else surprised when he came back with a greater appreciation for, and commitment to, Torah?"

Huh? Why would they be getting high on drugs?

That's a very good point, and one I think some posters in this thread are missing. Personally, I think it's good when people become more committed to halachic observance, torah values, and religious living. In that sense, it's a good thing that the year in Medinat Yisrael Reishit Tzemichat Ge'ulateinu is having that effect. What I, and I assume others, are concerned about is that the perception is that one has to mimic the yeshivish in order become more committed to halachic observance, torah values, and religious living because imitating the yeshivish comes with a whole package. If anything, I think there is concern not that these kids are becoming more religiously committed.

Either you are joking or you are extremely naive.

Are you saying that kids who don't go to Israel after high school are getting high on drugs all day long? wth.

No. I'm saying that the kids that would be getting high on drugs all day are sent by their parents to Israel instead since they would prefer they frum out than the alternative.

And yes, any visit to "crack square" (they call it "crack square"!!! a.ka. Kikar Tzion) will open up your eyes a bit to the sorry state of the religious Jewish youth of America in Israel. (Or you could visit Brooklyn.)

What percentage of religious Jewish youth of America abuses drugs? You are crazy.

Never mind

Too high a percentage. And I repeat you are very naive. And that is very dangerous.

Perhaps you are just too isolated in D.C. there. I repeat visit Ocean Parkway or Kikar Tzion or even the Catskills during the Summer.

kikar tzion and crack square are two different places.......

Shows you what I know.

(They're near each other though? No?)

I apologize publicly again to Nooch. My comments in this thread were hurtful and out of line. I was wrong to make the comments I did. I sincerely regret my comments that had no basis in fact.

lol
down the block, i unfoirtunately know too well....

Thank you.

May you and your family be blessed with long life,happiness and success.

I have to say I'm not so into the velvet yarmulkes.
What is it with velvet? Why do people think velvet means "more observant"?
And I always thought of velvet as sort of a feminine fabric. Like maybe a velvet dress or a velvet shirt for a woman... After all, it's so soft and velvety...

i have actually heard that the hebrew/yiddish word for velvet is semet which stands for "Sur Mera va'Aseh Tov
(unless of course someone realized that only afterwards which is likely........
the "rosh yeshiva" yarmulkas were/are silk not velvet anyways......

Tell me if I'm wrong but it happens a lot
Crack Square on motzai shabbat
I took out money in Kikar Tzion
walk right past the bouncer in front of Egon
I check out the scene in the huka bar
http://www.bangitout.com/articles/viewarticle.php?a=1844

I just came back from a wonderful shiur on Megillas Esther by Rabbi Leibtag of Tanach.org .

It reminded me once again that Modern Orthodoxy and charedization and the influence of the Jewish year abroad and all these topics are not so much, to me, about wearing black suits or velvet yarmulkes, or kissing your auntie, etc. It's more about the dogmatic and distinctly non-rational fundamentalist/literalist way in which Torah is taught in right-wing circles.

That to me is the real shame of it, because here are kids who are taking a year off their lives to immerse themselves in a Torah environment, and I wish they could spend that time in a place that does not require of them to shut off half of their brain......