I\u2019ve been asked over the years how a self-described Orthodox Jew raised in the Boston area, steeped in the lessons of the Rav (R. Joseph Soloveitchik, tz\u2019l), and whose affiliations have been 100% mainstream Orthodox can be a proud card-carrying member of the transdenominational Union for Traditional Judaism?<\/p>\n
To be honest, my wonderment is almost the reverse \u2013 why haven\u2019t more members of the Orthodox community over the past four decades affiliated with the UTJ?<\/p>\n
My first exposure to the UTJ was 20+ years ago, when the organization was headquartered in Mt. Vernon, NY. I attended a yom iyun and was introduced to presentations on kashruth (specifically, the processing of dyes in food and beverages and how one cherry flavor could be kosher and another treif), the development of halakha, and textual learning of an episode in the Chumash and how that text compares and contrasts with ancient codes that existed during the time the Torah was given.<\/p>\n
When the program concluded, I was on both an intellectual and spiritual high.\u00a0 I had never experienced religious learning that so seamlessly synthesized history, textual analysis, religious codes and an intense respect of the past with a welcoming of present-day issues and understandings.<\/p>\n
In the intervening decades, I have learned Torah from some of the most incredible minds, from Rav David Weiss Halivni to Hakham Isaac Sassoon to Rabbis David Novak, Alan Yuter, Ron Price, Richie Wolpoe, Reuven Kimelman and many more. I\u2019ve also appreciated the UTJ\u2019s consistently fearless approach to in being among the first to host events around the major concerns of sexual predation in religious communities; challenges and disparagements confronting mature singles in Orthodox communities;\u00a0and seeking halachic solutions that adhere to traditional Jewish law while opening a more welcoming pathway for those in the openly gay community.\u00a0 In all these discussions, opinions are diverse, but the tone is always respectful.<\/p>\n
So perhaps the question I opened up with should be reframed: How could a self-described Orthodox Jew \u2026 NOT be a proud card-carrying member of the Union for Traditional Judaism?<\/p>\n
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To join UTJ visit\u00a0https:\/\/utj.org\/join-us\/.<\/a>\u00a0 You can also donate at\u00a0https:\/\/utj.org\/donate\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Why Would an Orthodox Jew Join UTJ?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":2208,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,82,78],"tags":[],"coauthors":[90],"class_list":["post-2228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-denominations","category-halakhah","category-modern-judaism"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t