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Modern Orthodox Judaism (also Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy ) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law with the modern world .

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94-794: The Park East Synagogue is a Modern Orthodox Jewish synagogue for Congregation Zichron Ephraim at 163 East 67th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City , New York , United States. Built in 1890, the synagogue building was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1980 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building was built in 1889–1890. The architects were Schneider and Herter , who designed numerous tenements in Manhattan's Lower East Side and Hell's Kitchen neighborhoods. The building

188-471: A personal — as opposed to philosophic —" synthesis " between Torah scholarship and Western, secular scholarship, entailing, also, positive involvement with the broader community. Here, the "individual has absorbed the attitudes characteristic of science, democracy, and Jewish life, and responds appropriately in diverse relations and contexts". The resultant mode of Orthodox Judaism is referred to as " Centrist Orthodoxy ". This philosophy, as formulated today,

282-735: A concert with the Tel Aviv University Buchmann-Mehta School of Music symphony orchestra in cooperation with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Zubin Mehta. On 30 January 2008, the first permanent exhibit on the Holocaust and the United Nations was unveiled. Produced by the Holocaust and United Nations Outreach Programme, it presents an overview of the Holocaust in the context of World War II and

376-443: A discourse between modernity and halakhah . The resultant " Open Orthodoxy " seeks to re-engage with secular studies, Jews of all denominations and global issues. Some within this movement have experimented with orthodox egalitarianism where gender equality solutions are found through halakhah . This has led to women taking on more leadership roles . Others in this movement are increasingly re-engaging with social justice issues from

470-751: A discussion by Daniel Mendelsohn about his book The Lost: A Search for Six of the Six Million . The Department of Public Information also marked the Holocaust Remembrance Week with two exhibits in the United Nations visitors' lobby. The first, entitled "The Holocaust against the Sinti and Roma and Present Day Racism in Europe", focused on the experience of the Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust. The second exhibit featured artwork, created by Holocaust survivors, exploring

564-472: A full acceptance of the importance of being able to financially support oneself and one's family. The specific expression of Modern Orthodoxy, however, takes many forms, and particularly over the past 30–40 years, describes a political spectrum . Among the issues have been the extent to which Modern Orthodoxy should cooperate with the more liberal denominations, support secular academic pursuits combined with religious learning, and embrace efforts to give women

658-475: A halakhic point of view. Tikun Olam ("repairing the world") is re-mapped onto the values of social justice and basic Judaism is increasingly abandoned. See Yeshivat Chovevei Torah , Shalom Hartman Institute , Hebrew Institute of Riverdale , Partnership minyan , Shira Hadasha , Maharat . It is also noted that many Modern Orthodox are "behaviorally modern" as opposed to "ideologically modern" , and, in truth, fall outside of "Modern" Orthodoxy, at least in

752-539: A large extent with "Religious Zionism" in its narrower form ("Throughout the world, a 'religious Zionist day school' is a synonym for a 'modern Orthodox day school'" ). At the least, the two are not in any direct conflict, and generally coexist, sharing both values and adherents. Further, in practice, except at their extremes, the differences between Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy in Israel are not pronounced, and they are often identical, especially in recent years and for

846-479: A larger role in Jewish learning and worship; the acceptability of modern textual criticism as a tool for Torah study is also debated. To the ideological right , the line between Haredi and Modern Orthodox has blurred in recent years; some have referred to this trend as "haredization". In addition to increasing stringency in adherence to Halakha , many Modern Orthodox Jews express a growing sense of distance from

940-573: A more qualified approach than Modern orthodoxy, emphasizing that followers must exercise caution in engagements with the secular world. Differences between the movements may be more than a question of degree: some Hirsch scholars argue that Hirschian philosophy is at odds with that of Modern Orthodoxy, while some Modern Orthodox scholars maintain that Modern Orthodoxy accords with Hirsch's worldview. These philosophical distinctions (though subtle), manifest in markedly divergent religious attitudes and perspectives. For example, Shimon Schwab , second rabbi of

1034-459: A public objection from Israeli government minister Yoel Razvozov . In February 2022, Goldschmidt and his wife Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt announced that they would create the Altneu along with former Park East members. The Park East Day School educates children from early childhood through eighth grade. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI visited the synagogue in the midst of a visit to New York City. This

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1128-478: Is Yitzchak Meir Helfgot . In a letter sent to synagogue membership on October 4, 2021, a group of congregants expressed concern with the synagogue's trajectory and appointed committee which included a longtime assistant rabbi, Benjamin Goldschmidt, the son of Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt . Less than two weeks later, Goldschmidt was fired. The dismissal of Goldschmidt sparked a protest within the synagogue community and

1222-453: Is (generally) presented as "unquestioned allegiance to the primacy of Torah, and that the apprehension of all other intellectual disciplines must be rooted and viewed through the prism of Torah", Haredi groups have sometimes compared Modern Orthodoxy with early Reform Judaism in Germany : Modern Orthodox rabbis have been criticised for attempting to modify Jewish law , in adapting Judaism to

1316-472: Is built in the Moorish Revival style and features a prominent rose window . One of its most remarkable characteristics is the asymmetrical twin towers, as the eastern tower is taller. In comparison, most other synagogues of the period featured twin towers of similar height. The towers are also adorned differently. Each of the towers originally was also topped by a bulbous dome that has since been removed. It

1410-427: Is highly rational and intellectual . Many Orthodox Jews find the intellectual engagement with the modern world as a virtue. Examples of Orthodox rabbis who promote or have promoted this worldview include: There are a few organizations dedicated to furthering Modern Orthodoxy as a religious trend: Others include: International Holocaust Remembrance Day The International Holocaust Remembrance Day , or

1504-528: Is largely anecdotal, and is based on individual behaviour, as opposed to any formal, institutional position; see above re "the behaviorally modern": There are at least two distinct types of Modern Orthodox. ... One is philosophically or ideologically modern, while the other is more appropriately characterized as behaviorally modern. ... [The] philosophically Modern Orthodox would be those who are meticulously observant of Halakhah but are, nevertheless, philosophically modern. ... The behaviorally Modern Orthodox, on

1598-468: Is not disputed—comprising distinct philosophic and pragmatic contributions—Hirsch's role is less clear, with some Hirsch scholars arguing that his "Torah im Derech Eretz" philosophy is in fact at odds with that of Modern Orthodoxy; see further below and in the Hildesheimer article . Today, the movement is additionally, and particularly, influenced by the philosophy of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and

1692-547: Is one of fewer than a hundred surviving nineteenth-century American synagogues . The synagogue building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Over the doorway, engraved in granite and written in Hebrew, is a verse from Psalm 100 . "Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise." Congregation Zichron Ephraim was established by Rabbi Bernard Drachman and Jonas Weil to promote Orthodox Judaism as an alternative to Reform Judaism popular on

1786-668: Is part of Chelsea's 'Say No to Antisemitism' campaign funded by club owner Roman Abramovich . Included on the mural are depictions of footballers Julius Hirsch and Árpád Weisz , who were killed at Auschwitz concentration camp , and Ron Jones, a British prisoner of war known as the 'Goalkeeper of Auschwitz'. Commemorations are held at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, and at Yad Vashem , in Jerusalem. In Austria , commemorations of

1880-470: Is the dominant mode of Modern Orthodoxy in the United States , while Torah Umadda remains closely associated with Yeshiva University. Modern Orthodoxy draws on the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1864–1935), as well as the writings and interpretations of his son Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook (1891–1982), both as regards their views on Jewish peoplehood and as they regard the (related) interaction with

1974-517: Is thus also important to clarify its position with reference to other movements in Judaism: see § Comparison with other movements below. Further, given this wide range of views, some see the possibility that, in fact, "[t]here is no longer a cohesive, singular Modern Orthodoxy"; see further below . Modern Orthodoxy traces its roots to the works of Rabbis Azriel Hildesheimer (1820–1899) and Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888). While Hildesheimer's role

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2068-422: Is to a large extent a product of the teachings and philosophy of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993), Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University . In Rav Soloveitchik's thought, Judaism, which believes that the world is "very good", enjoins man to engage in tikkun olam . " Halakhic Man " must therefore attempt to bring the sanctity and purity of the transcendent realm into the material world. Centrist Orthodoxy

2162-670: The International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust , is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust , which resulted in the genocide of one third of the Jewish people , along with countless members of other minorities by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945, an attempt to implement its " final solution " to the Jewish question . 27 January

2256-512: The Shulchan Aruch and in the Acharonim . The movements differ, however, in their approach to strictures ( chumras ) and leniencies ( kulas ). Modern Orthodoxy holds that strictures are not normative , rather, these are a matter of personal choice; "severity and leniency are relevant only in circumstances of factual doubt, not in situations of debate or varied practice. In the latter situations,

2350-601: The Shulkhan Arukh and poskim , from those of the Reform movement (and the Conservative movement), which were not. It is foolish to believe that it is the wording of a prayer, the notes of a synagogue tune, or the order of a special service, which form the abyss between [Reform and Orthodoxy].... It is not the so-called Divine Service which separates us, [rather it] is the theory—the principle [of faithfulness to Jewish law] ... if

2444-466: The State of Israel , and institutions and individuals are, typically, Zionist in orientation; relatedly, involvement with non-orthodox Jews will extend beyond " outreach " to include institutional relations and cooperation; see further under Torah Umadda . Other "core beliefs" are a recognition of the value and importance of secular studies, a commitment to equality of education for both men and women, and

2538-709: The Tzohar Foundation ). In some areas, Modern Orthodoxy's left wing appears to align with more traditional elements of Conservative Judaism , and in fact some on the left of Modern Orthodoxy have allied with the formerly Conservative Union for Traditional Judaism . Nonetheless, the two movements are generally described as distinct. Rabbi Avi Weiss , from the left of Modern Orthodoxy, stresses that Orthodox and Conservative Judaism are "so very different in ... three fundamental areas: Torah mi-Sinai , rabbinic interpretation, and rabbinic legislation". Weiss argues as follows: In general, Modern Orthodoxy does not, therefore, view

2632-666: The USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education and the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris. The electronic notes provide survivor testimony and information materials that will equip speakers with the tools needed to conduct briefings on the Holocaust and lessons to be learned from it. The United Nations bookstore made available ten volumes of autobiographical accounts of Holocaust survivors published jointly by The Holocaust Survivors' Memoirs Project and Yad Vashem –

2726-541: The Western world , Centrist Orthodoxy underpinned by the philosophy of Torah Umadda ("Torah and secular knowledge") is prevalent. In Israel , Modern Orthodoxy is dominated by Religious Zionism ; however, although not identical, these movements share many of the same values and many of the same adherents. Modern Orthodoxy comprises a fairly broad spectrum of movements; each movement draws upon several distinct, though related, philosophies, which (in some combination) provide

2820-409: The sciences as well as to (German) literature, philosophy and culture. Torah im Derech Eretz remains influential to this day in all branches of Orthodox Judaism. Neo Orthodoxy , the movement descended from Hirsch's Frankfurt community, regards itself as positioned, ideologically, outside of contemporary Modern Orthodoxy; see further below . Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer , along with Rabbi Hirsch,

2914-596: The Charities Bureau at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, when he alleged that Park East has failed to hold regular membership meetings to ensure financial transparency. Kurtz also alleged that Park East’s trustees are directly appointed not elected, in a process which he has called “blatantly illegal”. Rabbi Harold Einsidler is the religious spiritual organizer; his wife Toby is the office and youth leader. The synagogue's chief cantor

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3008-645: The Day of Commemoration. In Brazil, an observance was held on 25 January with the president of the country, Jose Inacio Lula da Silva, and the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, César Maia. In Madagascar, a permanent exhibit on the Holocaust was unveiled at the United Nations Information Centre. The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme also coordinated a video conference for students with

3102-511: The General Assembly on 1 November 2005, established 27 January as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution urges every member nation of the U.N. to honor the memory of Holocaust victims, six million Jews, "one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities," and encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent future acts of genocide . It rejects any denial of

3196-501: The Holocaust as an event and condemns all manifestations of religious intolerance , incitement , harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief. It also calls for actively preserving the Holocaust sites that served as Nazi death camps, concentration camps, forced labor camps and prisons, as well as for establishing a U.N. programme of outreach and mobilization of society for Holocaust remembrance and education . Resolution 60/7 and

3290-564: The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes Remembrance Authority. An initiative of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel , the Holocaust Survivors' Memoirs Project has collected over 900 manuscripts. Its mission is to provide both the victims and the survivors of the Holocaust with the dignity of a permanent historical presence, not as impersonal statistics but as individuals with names, voices and emotions. The United Nations bookstore also had

3384-531: The Holocaust Remembrance Week took place at United Nations Headquarters with the unveiling of an exhibit "No Child's Play – Remembrance and Beyond" in the Visitors' Lobby. This travelling exhibit, produced by Yad Vashem , the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem, opened a window into the world of children during the Shoah. It focused on toys, games, artwork, diaries and poems highlighting some of

3478-691: The Holocaust and human rights issues. Also, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provided information material in English and Spanish to a number of United Nations information centers for use in their reference libraries. To help carry out its educational mission, the Department of Public Information participated in a panel discussion with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) in

3572-578: The International Holocaust Day was an initiative of the State of Israel. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Silvan Shalom , was the head of the delegation of Israel to the United Nations. The essence of the text lies in its twofold approach: one that deals with the memory and remembrance of those who were massacred during the Holocaust and the other with educating future generations of its horrors. The International Day in memory of

3666-591: The International Holocaust Remembrance Day at United Nations Headquarters . In the General Assembly Hall a memorial ceremony and lecture was held under the theme "Remembrance and Beyond". It featured welcoming remarks by former Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information Shashi Tharoor; a videotaped message by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan ; statements by the permanent representatives of Israel and Brazil to

3760-509: The Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin , carrying his tallis bag, visited and prayed at the synagogue on Shabbos morning. Since 1962, the synagogue's rabbi has been Arthur Schneier . Rabbi Schneier serves Park East Synagogue full-time while also drawing a salary from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation he founded. This leadership structure was criticized in 2021 by Daniel L. Kurtz, former head of

3854-620: The New York Synagogue, recited the Kaddish . During the observance the United Nations Department of Public Information also launched a new website and resource for United Nations member states, educators and non-governmental organizations entitled "Electronic Notes for Speakers" developed for the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme by Yad Vashem – the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes Remembrance Authority, Jerusalem, and

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3948-543: The Preservation of Democratic Values" at the memorial ceremony and concert held in the General Assembly Hall. Other speakers included Srgjan Kerim (Macedonia), president of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, and Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. The ceremony also featured

4042-624: The Remembrance Day are held at the Heldenplatz in Vienna since 2012. The broad platform Jetzt Zeichen setzen! calls for participation of the civil society. Speakers include survivors of the Holocaust, antifascist activists and politicians hailing from parties throughout the political spectrum . In Israel on International Holocaust Remembrance Day government officials, diplomats and ambassadors visit Yad Vashem and there are ceremonies throughout

4136-559: The Torah Im Derech Eretz community in the United States, has been described as being "spiritually very distant" from Yeshiva University and Modern Orthodoxy. From the viewpoint of Neo-Orthodoxy, that movement differs from Modern Orthodoxy (and particularly Centrist Orthodoxy) on three main counts. Broadly defined, Religious Zionism is a movement that embraces the idea of Jewish national sovereignty , often in connection with

4230-543: The Torah is to you the Law of God how dare you place another law above it and go along with God and His Law only as long as you thereby "progress" in other respects at the same time? ( Religion Allied to Progress , Samson Raphael Hirsch ) Some observe that the ability of Modern Orthodoxy to attract a large following and maintain its strength as a movement is inhibited by the fact that it embraces modernity —its raison d'être —and that it

4324-672: The UN Besiana Kadare on behalf of Albania co-hosted together with the World Jewish Congress and the United Nations Department of Global Communications an event on the theme "A story of humanity: the rescue of Jews in Albania". Kadare delivered remarks at the United Nations at a briefing entitled "Holocaust Remembrance: Demand and Defend your Human Rights", marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and reflecting on

4418-686: The United Nations information centres in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and Lomé, Togo, and educators at the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris. At the United Nations office in Ukraine a round-table discussion was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ukrainian Holocaust Study Centre. In Tokyo on 29 January, an educational workshop targeting young students focused on the links between

4512-658: The United Nations, and by Gerda Weissmann Klein , Holocaust survivor , author and historian Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation; narration of photographs of Holocaust victims memorialized on "Pages of Testimony" in the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem; as well as a performance by The Zamir Chorale of Boston; and a lecture by Professor Yehuda Bauer, academic advisor to Yad Vashem, and the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. On January 29,

4606-589: The Upper East Side. Rabbi Drachman served as spiritual leader for fifty-one years. He died in 1945. Rabbi Zev Zahavy was appointed rabbi of the synagogue on September 1, 1952. He was known as a dynamic spokesman for Orthodox Judaism and many of his sermons were reported on in the New York Times. He and his wife Edith, a noted educator, founded the Park East Day School. On March 16, 1957, Robert Briscoe ,

4700-784: The afternoon of 28 January to highlight the importance of Holocaust education, organized by B'nai B'rith International. A second exhibit, "Carl Lutz and the Legendary Glass House in Budapest", was co-sponsored by the Carl Lutz Foundation and the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Hungary. Carl Lutz , the Swiss Vice-Consul in Budapest, had issued certificates of emigration to place tens of thousands of Jews under Swiss protection. In January 2019, Albanian Ambassador to

4794-533: The approach of Reform Judaism and Humanistic Judaism , which do not consider halakha to be normative . This section deals with criticism relating to standards of observance and to social issues. See "Criticism" under Torah Umadda for discussions of philosophy . There is an often repeated contention that Modern Orthodoxy—beyond its approach to chumrahs ("strictures") described above —has lower standards of observance of traditional Jewish laws and customs than other branches of Orthodox Judaism . This view

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4888-639: The banner of "Modern Orthodoxy". In fact, even among its leadership, there is limited agreement "on the philosophical parameters of modern Orthodoxy". The boundaries here, with respect to Haredi and Conservative Judaism, have therefore become increasingly indistinct. At the same time, some elements of Haredi Judaism appear to be more receptive to messages that have traditionally been part of the Modern-Orthodox agenda. Similarly, at Modern Orthodoxy's left, many appear to align with more traditional elements of Conservative Judaism . In discussing "Modern Orthodoxy", it

4982-490: The basis for all variations of the movement today. In general, Modern Orthodoxy's "overall approach ... is the belief that one can and should be a full member of modern society, accepting the risks to remaining observant, because the benefits outweigh those risks". Jews should engage constructively with the world that they are in to foster goodness and justice within both themselves and the larger community, such as by avoiding sin in their personal lives while also caring for

5076-522: The belief in the ability of the Jewish people to bring about a redemptive state through natural means, and often attributing religious significance to the modern State of Israel . The spiritual thinkers who started this stream of thought include Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer (1795–1874) and Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov Reines (1839–1915). Thus, in this sense, Religious Zionism in fact encompasses a wide spectrum of religious views including Modern Orthodoxy. Note, however, that Modern Orthodoxy, in fact, overlaps to

5170-453: The closely related Torah Umadda , as well as by the writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook . ( Religious Zionism , strictly speaking a distinct philosophy, has an indirect influence.) Hirsch's Torah im Derech Eretz ( תורה עם דרך ארץ ‎ – "Torah with the 'Way of the World'/Society") is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism that formalizes a relationship between halakhically observant Judaism and

5264-463: The conclusion should be based solely on the legal analysis." See Torah Umadda § Moderation . Note though, that in recent years, many Modern Orthodox Jews are described as "increasingly stringent in their adherence to Jewish law". As to the contention that Modern Orthodoxy's standards of observance of halakha are "relaxed", as opposed to moderate, see below under Criticism . In the Haredi view, on

5358-402: The distinction between Modern Orthodoxy and Haredi Judaism , there is basic agreement that they may be distinguished on the basis of three major characteristics: A fourth difference suggested, relates to the acceptability of moderation within Jewish law . Both Modern Orthodoxy and Ultra Orthodoxy regard Halakha as divine in origin, and as such, no position is assumed without justification in

5452-626: The establishment of the Agudas Yisrael party in Eastern Europe. See Rabbinic authority § Orthodox Judaism and da'as Torah for further elaboration of these differences. Modern Orthodoxy's efforts to encourage religious observance among non-Orthodox Jews has been likened to similar efforts by the Chabad movement. The similarity between the two groups in their relationships towards the non-Orthodox, and its adoption by some Haredi groups, has blurred

5546-426: The extent to which Orthodox Jews should seek the input of rabbinic scholars not just on matters of Jewish law, but on all important life matters. Most rabbinic leaders from Haredi communities view the concept as inextricably linked to the centuries of Jewish tradition. Within Modern Orthodox Judaism, many rabbis and scholars view the matter as a modern development that can be traced to changes in Jewish communal life in

5640-462: The faith and traditions of Judaism". He was, however, "the pragmatist rather than the philosopher", and it is his actions, rather than his philosophy, which have become institutionalized in Modern Orthodoxy, and through which his influence is still felt. Torah Umadda ( תורה ומדע ‎ – "Torah and secular knowledge") is a philosophy concerning the secular world and Judaism, and in particular secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. It envisions

5734-436: The founding of the United Nations. It is seen by the 400,000 visitors who visit the United Nations Headquarters annually. In preparation for the exhibit opening, Elizabeth Edelstein, Director of Education for the Museum of Jewish Heritage , briefed the United Nations tour guides on the history of the Holocaust to further their understanding of this watershed event. Around the world United Nations offices organized events to mark

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5828-422: The genocide of six million European Jews during World War Two, and the little-known record of Albanians during the Holocaust in Albania , which took in thousands of Jews who would otherwise have ended up in the Nazi death camps . In January 2020, Chelsea FC unveiled a mural by Solomon Souza on an outside wall of the West Stand at Stamford Bridge stadium to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. The mural

5922-478: The importance of education in promoting tolerance and ending discrimination against all minorities , particularly in light of the adoption by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006 of the landmark Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities . Additionally, a musical performance was given by HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Chamber Choir, a project of the Zamir Choral Foundation, founded and directed by Matthew Lazar. Netanel Hershtik, cantor of

6016-415: The joint launch of a new United Nations Holocaust Remembrance postage stamp issued simultaneously, for the first time, with a national stamp by the Israel Postal Company. The two stamps bear the same design. On 28 January 2008, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the daughter of United States Congressman Tom Lantos , himself a Holocaust survivor, delivered a keynote address "Civic Responsibility and

6110-463: The larger, secular culture. ("Western civilisation has moved from what was once called the Judeo-Christian ethic to a consumer-driven , choice-fixated culture.... Such a world is not chol , but chiloni , not secular , but secularist . It is impermeable to the values of kedushah ." ) Here, "the balance has tipped heavily in favor of Torah over madda (secular studies) ... [and many] have redefined 'madda' as support for making one's livelihood in

6204-453: The lessons of the Holocaust so that future generations may work to prevent hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice. Marie Noel, a student at the College of Saint Elizabeth, shared her experiences visiting former concentration camps in Poland. The memorial ceremony also focused on the disabled community as one of the many victim groups of the Nazi regime. Thomas Schindlmayr of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs highlighted

6298-451: The lines between the modern and Haredi segments of Orthodoxy. Both Modern Orthodoxy and Neo Orthodoxy , the movement directly descended from Hirsch's Frankfurt community, have combined Torah and secular knowledge with participation in contemporary Western life , and thus some maintain that there is a degree of practical and philosophical overlap between the two. The movements are nevertheless distinct, and in general, Neo-Orthodoxy has taken

6392-404: The meaning and experience of the Holocaust. On 31 January, a special screening of Volevo solo Vivere ( I Only Wanted to Live ), directed by Mimmo Calopresti , took place. The film tells the moving story of nine Italian survivors of Auschwitz. The following day Nazvy svoie im'ia ( Spell Your Name ), directed by Serhiy Bukovsky, was also screened. The film, about the Holocaust in Ukraine, tells

6486-456: The modern world. Hirsch held that Judaism requires the application of Torah philosophy to all human endeavor and knowledge compatible with it. Thus, secular education becomes a positive religious duty. "Judaism is not a mere adjunct to life: It comprises all of life ... in the synagogue and the kitchen, in the field and the warehouse, in the office and the pulpit ... with the pen and the chisel." Hirsch's vision, although not unqualified, extended to

6580-417: The more traditional Orthodox, they do not observe all of the rituals as deemed obligatory by the traditional community. Their sense of "freedom of choice", although never articulated theoretically, is as evident as it is among many other contemporary Americans who view themselves as religiously traditional, but, nevertheless, are selective in their religiosity. Additionally, whereas the Modern Orthodox position

6674-423: The movement apparently overlaps with Conservative Judaism and with Haredi Judaism at its respective boundaries. At its centre too, the movement appears to share practices and values with Neo Orthodoxy and with Religious Zionism. Therefore, in clarifying what Modern Orthodoxy in fact entails, its positioning must be discussed with reference to these movements. Although there is some question as how precisely to define

6768-538: The needs of the modern world . Note that claims of this nature have been commonplace within Orthodox Judaism since the first "reforms" of Samson Raphael Hirsch and Azriel Hildesheimer . Thus, in Europe of the early 19th century, all of Judaism that differed from the strictest forms present at the time was called "Reform". Then, as now, Modern Orthodoxy took pains to distance its "reforms", which were consistent with

6862-469: The nineteenth century. Thus, while the notion of da'as Torah is viewed by Haredi rabbis as a long-established tradition within Judaism, Modern Orthodox scholars argue that the Haredi claim is a revisionist one. According to Modern Orthodox scholars, although the term "da'as Torah" has been used in the past, the connotations of absolute rabbinic authority under this banner occurs only in the decades that follow

6956-451: The other hand, "the most severe position ... is the most likely basis for unity and commonality of practice within Orthodox community, and is therefore to be preferred". Further, "such severity ... results in the greatest certainty that God's will is being performed". Haredi Judaism thus tends to adopt chumras as a norm. Related to this is the acceptance of the concept of Da'as Torah -

7050-470: The other hand, are not deeply concerned with philosophical ideas ... by and large, they define themselves as Modern Orthodox [either] in the sense that they are not meticulously observant [or] in reference to ... right-wing Orthodoxy. [This] group is appropriately described as "modern" in the sense that those who see themselves as part of it are committed to the tradition, in general, but feel free to pick and choose in their observance of rituals. In contrast to

7144-494: The personal stories of the children and providing a glimpse into their lives during the Holocaust. The exhibition told the story of survival – the struggle of these children to hold on to life. On 25 January, the screening of the movie Fateless by Lajos Koltai took place in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium. On 27 January, the United Nations Department of Public Information held the first universal observance of

7238-424: The philosophical sense; see below . This phenomenon is sometimes termed "Social Orthodoxy". The distinction is as follows: The ideologically modern are "meticulously observant of Halakha", and their interaction with the secular comprises a tangible expression of their ideology, wherever it may lie on the spectrum described. The "behaviorally modern", on the other hand, define themselves as "Modern Orthodox" only in

7332-522: The process by which the Conservative movement decides halakha as legitimate—or with the non-normative weighting assigned to halakha by the Conservative movement. In particular, Modern Orthodoxy disagrees with many of Conservative Judaism's halakhic rulings, particularly as regards issues of egalitarianism . See further on the Orthodox view and the Conservative view . Modern Orthodoxy clearly differs from

7426-498: The second annual observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust was held in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters. Shasta Tharp, former Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, introduced a programme that began with a video message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Statements were then made by Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, president of

7520-539: The second observance of the Holocaust Victims Memorial Day on 19 January 2008 In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Holocaust Remembrance Weeks were organized by The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme . This programme is part of the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Public Information and was established under General Assembly resolution 60/7. On January 24, the opening of

7614-630: The secular world, not culturally or intellectually engaging with it." Although defining themselves as "centrist", institutions here include the Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), the Rabbinical Council of America , and the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary . Adherents on the ideological left have begun to develop new institutions that aim to be outward looking while maintaining

7708-733: The secular world. In Israel , the Religious Zionism of the Dati Leumi ( דתי לאומי ‎, "National Religious") dominates Modern Orthodoxy. Here too, the ideological basis is largely drawn from the teachings of Rav Kook, and there is therefore much overlap; philosophical differences, as well as other "non-modern" forms of Religious Zionism, are discussed below . See also Mizrachi ; Bnei Akiva ; National Religious Party ; Hesder ; Mechina ; Gush Emunim ; Torat Eretz Yisrael . As above, Modern Orthodoxy comprises various approaches, ranging from traditionalist to revisionist, and

7802-569: The sense that they are neither Haredi ("Ultra-Orthodox") nor Conservative : these, in other words, are "not deeply concerned with philosophical ideas", and, often, are not as careful in their observance. This "Orthodoxy of convenience" has maintained a certain stability over time: as long as these don't seek to legitimize their behaviour in halakhic terms, the leadership of the (Modern) Orthodox world have no particular difficulty with them. Various highly differing views (or non views) – ranging from traditionalist to revisionist – are thus offered under

7896-542: The sixty-first session of the General Assembly, and Ambassador Dan Gillerman , Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations. The keynote "Remembrance and Beyond" address was given by Madame Simone Veil , a Holocaust survivor, president of the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah and a member of the Constitutional Council of France. The observance focused on the importance of infusing today's youth with

7990-489: The story of local people who escaped brutal execution and those who rescued friends and neighbours during the Holocaust. Both films, produced by USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, were shown in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium. On 2 February, the third discussion paper in the Holocaust and Genocide series was published, about Hitler, Pol Pot and Hutu Power. Throughout

8084-471: The unfortunate . Thus, Modern Orthodoxy holds that Jewish law is normative and binding , while simultaneously attaching a positive value to interaction with the modern world. In this view, as expressed by Rabbi Saul Berman , Orthodox Judaism can "be enriched" by its intersection with modernity; further, "modern society creates opportunities to be productive citizens engaged in the Divine work of transforming

8178-431: The victims of the Holocaust is thus a day on which we must reassert our commitment to human rights. [...] We must also go beyond remembrance, and make sure that new generations know this history. We must apply the lessons of the Holocaust to today's world. And we must do our utmost so that all peoples may enjoy the protection and rights for which the United Nations stands. — Message by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for

8272-504: The week of January 28, 2008, the United Nations Department of Public Information organized a number of events around the world to remember the victims of the Holocaust and underscore the value of human life. The 2008 observance focused on the need to ensure the protection of human rights for all. It coincided with the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . Holocaust Remembrance Day began with

8366-412: The world to benefit humanity ". At the same time, in order to preserve the integrity of halakha , any area of "powerful inconsistency and conflict" between Torah and modern culture must be filtered out. Modern Orthodoxy also assigns a central role to the "People of Israel". Here two characteristics are manifest: in general, Modern Orthodoxy places a high national , as well as religious, significance on

8460-837: The younger generation. Nevertheless, the two movements are philosophically distinct on two broad counts. Applying the above distinction, in Israel today, Modern Orthodoxy—as distinct from (right-wing) Religious Zionism—is represented by only a select group of institutions: the Religious Kibbutz Movement , Ne'emanei Torah Va'Avodah , the Meimad political party, and the Shalom Hartman Institute , Yeshivat Har Etzion / Migdal Oz and Yeshivat Hamivtar / Ohr Torah Stone Institutions / Midreshet Lindenbaum (some would include Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva , Yeshivat Ma'ale Gilboa , and

8554-563: Was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945. The day remembers the killing of six million Jews, two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population, and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. It was designated by United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005. The resolution came after a special session

8648-507: Was held earlier that year on 24 January to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of the Holocaust. Many countries have instituted their own Holocaust memorial days . Many, such as the UK's Holocaust Memorial Day , also fall on 27 January, while others, such as Israel's Yom HaShoah , are observed at other times of the year. Resolution 60/7, adopted by

8742-433: Was insistent that Orthodox Jews living in the west should not segregate themselves behind ghetto walls. On the contrary, modern Jewish education must teach Jews how best to confront and deal with modernity in all of its aspects. His approach, "Cultured Orthodoxy", was defined as representing "unconditional agreement with the culture of the present day; harmony between Judaism and science; but also unconditional steadfastness in

8836-423: Was the third papal visit to a synagogue and the only such visit in the United States. In 2016, members of the synagogue heckled and jeered U.N. Director General Ban Ki-moon as he gave an address in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day . Modern Orthodox Judaism Modern Orthodoxy draws on several teachings and philosophies, and thus assumes various forms. In the United States , and generally in

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