By Susan Esther Barnes
We Jews seem to have a lot of labels for ourselves these days. Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Chasidic, Renewal, Reconstructionist, Humanistic; the list goes on.
In some ways, the labels can be useful. If I’m visiting a synagogue for the first time, what label it gives itself can help me decide what to wear and how to behave once there. For example, in some synagogues I could probably show up in blue jeans and a t-shirt without feeling out of place. In some, I would be expected to wear at least a pair of slacks and a nice blouse. In others, I’d have to wear a long skirt, a long-sleeved blouse, and a wig or other hair covering.
Similarly, in some synagogues, I would be welcome wearing tefillin and a tallit, and in others I most certainly would not. In some, I would find women and men sitting together, and in others the men and women would sit in separate areas.
Therefore, knowing the denomination, or label, the synagogue identifies with helps me to prepare for my visit in a way that will lessen the chance that my clothing or behavior might result in an embarrassing faux pas.
On the other hand, even as the number of Jewish labels seem to be increasing, some people are rejecting such labels. Labels can be limiting. They can also lead to assumptions about the members which are not necessarily true. Some synagogues and prayer groups are using the terms “non-denominational” or “post-denominational” for themselves, although, of course, these too are labels.
One of the labels that has come to my attention in recent years is the term “Torah Jew.” My objection to this term is that currently it seems to be used only by Jews who others would most likely call Orthodox. The trouble I have with this is not that I think the Orthodox are not Torah Jews. It is clear to me that religious Orthodox Jews study and shape their actions according to their understanding of the Torah.
The problem I have with this term being applied only to Orthodox Jews is that it is equally clear to me that all other religious Jews also study and shape their actions according to their understanding of the Torah. We all read from identical copies of the same Torah scroll on Shabbat and at other services.
Applying the term “Torah Jew” to only one minority group implies they follow the Torah while the majority of religious Jews don’t. This is a falsehood, and a chilul hashem (desecration of God’s name). We may not all agree regarding how we interpret God’s intent, but we are all Torah Jews.
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1. I agree with the main point; the phrase "Torah Jew" sets my teeth on edge a little.
ReplyDelete2. On an unrelated note: you don't need the hair covering (even in the most frum shuls) unless people know you are married. At the Orthodox shuls I am most familiar with (which admittedly have a more mixed group than in Monsey or places like that) not all the married women cover their hair or wear long sleeves (though sleeveless would go a little too far, as would slacks I think).
Woodrow -
ReplyDelete1. I'm glad you agree.
2. I wear my engagement and wedding rings, which means people can figure out pretty easily that I'm married. It's good to know not all married women cover their hair in Orthodox shuls, or wear long sleeves. I can't say I've been to many Orthodox shuls.
100% agreed - just never thought to write it. It's similar in the orthodox community when folks label those who left the path as "thsoe who left the path" implying that there is one right path or derech - which is simply untrue.
ReplyDeleteCan I reprint this piece on my site with proper linkage and acknowledgments. My email is frumsatire@gmail.com
"The problem I have with this term being applied only to Orthodox Jews is that it is equally clear to me that all other religious Jews also study and shape their actions according to their understanding of the Torah. We all read from identical copies of the same Torah scroll on Shabbat and at other services".
ReplyDeleteWhat about the term "Orthodox Jew" ?
Do other denominations accept their religious opinions or beliefs to be less correct ?
What about "Conservative Jew" ?
Are "Orthodox" Jews not conservative ( compared to "Reform" Jews) ?
Are "Reform" Jews not conservative( compared to "Humanistic" Jews) ?
What about "Reform Jew" ?
Aren't most Jewish denominations existing today the result of some kind of reform to Judaism ?
And I could go on and on ...
I disagree with the author. The term Torah Jew was coined by Rabbi Gifter of blessed memory who used it to differentiate between those that simply hide under one label or another and those that truly act and live by the Torah.
ReplyDeleteIn sharp contrast to the author's association of Torah Jews and Orthodox Jews, Rabbi Gifter specifically used it to distance those that "dress" orthodox and those that are well, real Torah Jews.
In my opinion, many groups use labels as a way to to legitimize their abandonment of halacha. Those that practice the Torah and let it shape their lives - without compromise - are the ones all Jews should strive to emulate.
Tamir -
ReplyDeleteI agree that the labels you list are not completely accurate. There is a difference between a label that is inaccurate and one that rises (or sinks) to the level of a chilul hashem by making it appear that most religious Jews don't follow the Torah.
Anonymous -
Interesting history on the term. I am, of course, in the article referring to the current use of the term.
Also, I'm afraid it would be hard to find anyone who lets the Torah shape their lives without any compromise, but I agree with you in principle. The thing is that different people interpret the correct way to let it shape our lives differently.
Read more discussion about this post at Frum Satire at http://www.frumsatire.net/2011/05/23/why-the-current-use-of-the-term-torah-jew-is-a-chillul-hashem/
ReplyDeleteSusan B( May 24, 2011 1:03 PM): "... There is a difference between a label that is inaccurate and one that rises (or sinks) to the level of a chilul hashem by making it appear that most religious Jews don't follow the Torah".
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between a label "that rises (or sinks) to the level of a chilul hashem by making it appear that most religious Jews don't follow the Torah", and one that does so by making it appear that most religious Jews don't follow correct opinions or beliefs( i.e. Orthodoxy) ?
Or, between it( Chilul haShem of using the "Torah Jew" label) and "one that rises (or sinks) to the level of a chilul hashem" by making it appear that all other Jews aren't traditional( like the Conservative Judaism does by calling itself Masorti Judaism) ?
Tamir -
ReplyDeleteIt has to do with how these terms are commonly understood. If you ask your average person on the street what "Orthodox" of "Conservative" mean, I don't think you will get the definitions you supplied.
For Orthodox you'd probably hear something like, "Those guys in the black hats and coats" or "Those men with the hair curls" and for "Conservative" you'd probably get something even more vague, if you got anything other than a shrug.
However, if you ask an average person what "Torah Jew" means, it is likely the person will say it must be "A Jew who follows the Torah" or something close to it.
And if you further point to the guys in the black hats and say, "Those are the Torah Jews," then the average person will likely believe that the other types of Jews must not follow the Torah.
You may be educated on the history of the terms Orthodox, Conservative and Masorti, but most people aren't.
Susan B: "It has to do with how these terms are commonly understood".
ReplyDeleteWell, if that's the issue, even with the label "Torah Jew", doesn't it mean that the problem is with those who "commonly understand", rather than with those using the label ?
In other words: If the Chilul haShem is not in the way the labels are used, but in people's understanding of them, shouldn't you be complaining about[ commonly understanding] people committing Chilul haShem by not differentiating between the way the "Torah Jew" label is used, and what it's wording might infer ?
Susan B: "If you ask your average person on the street what 'Orthodox' of 'Conservative' mean, I don't think you will get the definitions you supplied".
I'd say that would really depend on which "average person" you'd ask, and on what "street".
Susan B: "For Orthodox you'd probably hear something like, 'Those guys in the black hats and coats' or 'Those men with the hair curls' and for 'Conservative' you'd probably get something even more vague, if you got anything other than a shrug".
Yes, maybe, if "average person" means "Gentile", and "on the street" means "in New York city"( or any other major city in the US).
If you widened you selection to include people outside the big cities and towns( or even outside the US) you could find that the "average person on the street" would give something like "Those guys in the black hats and coats" or "Those men with the hair curls"( or "Amish looking people") for the label "Jew"( if you got anything other than a shrug). Would that make Orthodox Jews calling themselves "Jews", a Chilul haShem as well ?
Susan B: "However, if you ask an average person what 'Torah Jew' means, it is likely the person will say it must be 'A Jew who follows the Torah' or something close to it.
And if you further point to the guys in the black hats and say, 'Those are the Torah Jews,' then the average person will likely believe that the other types of Jews must not follow the Torah".
Once such a person has given his definition of "Torah Jew", and "I" point to the guys in the black hats and say, "Those are Torah Jews"( if I'd say "those are the Torah Jews", I'd also be excluding "guys in the black hats" that are not present when I say it), why need he understand that the black-hatted guys are "Torah Jews", to the exclusion of religious non-Orthodox Jews ?
If "I" am more clear about equating "Torah Jew" with his understanding of "Orthodox Jew", I don't see why your "average person on the street" wouldn't understand that one is just a new label for the other.
Susan B: "You may be educated on the history of the terms Orthodox, Conservative and Masorti, but most people aren't".
Susan B: "It has to do with how these terms are commonly understood".
ReplyDeleteIf you want to talk about how a term is commonly understood, how About "Masorti" ?
Masorti( or Mesorati,"מסורתי") means "Traditional". In Israel especially, it is used as a term for those Jews who observe Halakha, but not to the extent the Dati or Charedi do.
Doesn't the Conservative Movement using "Masorti" for itself( as in "Masorti Judaism","יהדות מסורתית", or "the Masorti Movement", "התנועה המסורתית"), inferring that non-Conservative Jews are not traditional( when the term "Masorti" is also used for "traditional"), by your definition, constitute a Chilul haShem ?
At least "Torah Jew" wasn't being used for something else when Orthodox Jews started using it.
Tamir -
ReplyDeleteAs stated by more than one person on the comment thread at Frum Satire, many people use the term "Torah Jew" specifically to imply that they follow the Torah and other Jews do not. Thus, the chilul hashem is with those who use the term to imply something that is not true and which is intended to make other Jews look bad.
I could go through your other points one by one, but it is clear that you and I disagree on this subject, and nothing I write will convince you to change your mind, so I don't think doing so will be productive.
We definitely look forward to partnering with the Federation again soon.
ReplyDeleteIn my Opinion to this Online Torah is great and we can see and learn a lot of what is the meaning of Jewish and Torah and it will help us to know what is the different when you learn Jewish and Torah.We love to announce that we have a Jewish history and now you can receive our weekly torah portion.We definitely look forward to partnering with the Federation again soon.
Thank you so much for the great reading,
http://www.bethyosef.com/