Gedoylim and Askanim
I know this has been done a few times on a few other blogs (sorry I don't have the references), but in light of my last post, it seems appropriate to do this again.
Who do you think are the, say, 20 most influential Modern Orthodox leaders of all time? Some rules to help narrow the discussion:
Who do you think are the, say, 20 most influential Modern Orthodox leaders of all time? Some rules to help narrow the discussion:
- Has to be American, or has to have been American at some point. With all respect to Rav Shagar, we need some way to focus this, and the easiest way to do that off the bat is by being mechaleq between Modern Orthodoxy and Dati Le'umi (I know, I know, even though Rav Shagar, with his emphasis on postmodernism, autonomy, and personal spirituality, is almost more American than Israeli).
- Does not have to be a Rabbininc leader -- influential lay leaders count as well.
- Does not have to be alive. I guess that's the official "The Rav (tm) Clause."
- Each name needs a short explanation/justification. Otherwise it'll be hard to have a discussion.
- Women are welcome, for sure.
- Please keep the discussion cordial and respectful.
9 Comments:
Nobody seems to be biting at this one.
1) 20 is an awful lot for the non-historians among us.
2) MO has been around a long time. In fact, just curious, but is there an historically accepted "beginning" to MO? When was the term first coined, and by whom?
For example, was Dr. Bernard Revel MO? Or was he ante-MO?
See, that's a good one. Wouldn't you want to see his name on Wikipedia under Modern Orthodox Judaism?
Certainly not a list but some names to throw into the bag: Rabbi Teitz, Rabbi Benjamin Blech, Dr. Isadore Twersky; Dr. Bernard Rosensweig, Rabbi Maurice Lamm, Rabbi David Shatz, Rabbi David Schnall, Rabbi Buchwald, Richard Joel, and a few YU roshei yeshiva (Rabbi Rosensweig, Rabbi Twersky, Rabbi Sacks, Rabbi Neuburger)
Oh, and of course, R. J David Bleich
Sarah Schneier - the woman behind the women's learning renaissance.
Influential in what way
Giving money?
A source of ideas?
An administrator?
If does not need to be alive-there are a lot-Rabbis Jung. J. Lookstein, Drachman, Revel, Belkin, the Rav and many more who are certainly responsible for the fact that MO was established in the US.
As well as many parnassim - Harry Fischel, Max Stern, etc., and some live ones too. [Wouldn't want to insult any live parnassim by listing some and not others; who knows who's reading this!]
How about Ber Manischewitz as MO? He certainly was American, and he CERTAINLY innovated much in Jewish practice. Everyone who thinks of matzah as square has him to thank.
Being too busy to research is very annoying. I really wish I had more time for this, because I like where the discussion is going. Maybe next week...
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home