Open Orthodoxy Update, Parshas Lech Lecha
JOFA shares an article from Mike Moskowitz, former Senior educator at Uri Lt’zedek, who now works for Congregation Simchat Torah, a gay synagogue. The article discusses bar/bat mitzvah services for those who identify as gender non-conforming.
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah appoints R. Dov Linzer, its Rosh Yeshiva, as its new president.
Rabbi Dr. Alan Brill, a member of Torat Chayim who taught at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, spoke at the “knowledge festival” celebrating the installation of an idol in an Indian Temple (2017).
Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz expressed his appreciation to those non-Orthodox clergy who live-stream High Holiday services. He also appeared on video comparing the meat industry to slavery and segregation. At an anti-Kavanaugh protest, he held the megaphone for a female Conservative rabbi as she sang, “We shall overcome.”
And, finally, this star graduate of YCT continued his fight against Jewish tradition by attacking our liturgy. His post was “liked” by Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Past President of YCT. Similarly, Torat Chayim, an Open Orthodox affiliated organization, touted another of its members who refuses to say the blessing shelo asani isha, while a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat composed a new prayer reminiscent of feminist changes instituted by the Conservative movement.
Open Orthodox rabbis continue issuing Kosher certification.
The more things change, the more they stay the same, with OO showing that its mantra is openness at the expense of adherence to halacha. Don’t be shocked if OO ordained individuals preside at a same gender marriage ceremony or allow a giyures or grusha to marry a kohen. The latter two have already happened in the US
What is preventing the oo movement from dissolving?
In other words, why are its financial backers so interested in financing a movement that is just a copycat of the other failed heterodox movements?
What is at the root of the desire to see the term Orthodox redefined in anti religious way?
As usual, they excel at creative consumer fraud, or “how low can you go?” Knowing what they’re capable of, I wonder if these updates to this audience are worth the effort. Some 40 years ago, I heard a conservative rabbi say of a reform rabbi, “He’d marry a pig and a dog if there was money in it.”