Since its inception in 1912, the Young Israel movement has attempted to steer the precarious balance that is American Modern Orthodoxy. But according to sources inside the Young Israel as well as outside observers, the National Council of Young Israel may have run aground. A fresh series of controversial decisions asserting a greater dominance for the NCYI in ideological and halachic issues, as well an alleged neglect of support services for their synagogue, have coalesced to create a maelstrom of criticism and discontent for the venerable institution that, to some, foreshadows its potential decline.
As reported in this newspaper, the National Council decided this summer that before any Young Israel synagogue could hire any rabbinic candidate, the rabbi’s ideological credentials and scholarly competency would first need to be examined and interviewed by an NCYI-appointed committee. This decision was originally announced in a memorandum sent to all Young Israel branches dated August 1, 2007, and recently acquired by The Commentator. The memorandum referred to other recent NCYI edicts from the Young Israel Council of Rabbis Vaad Halacha, including a new ban on Young Israel synagogues holding or sponsoring women’s prayer services and megillah readings, and a ruling barring females and converts from becoming synagogue presidents. Conversations with dozens of Young Israel officials and rabbis, as well as a survey of Young Israel presidents and vice presidents, revealed some disquiet with the content of those decisions as well unease with NCYI’s push to increase its own authority at the expense of individual synagogues. Most ominously, it also exposed simmering resentments toward the NCYI and raised serious questions as to the NCYI’s continuing value to established Young Israel synagogues.
NCYI officials refused numerous requests to comment for this article. But their August memorandum, Viewpoint article and earlier conversations with The Commentator did clarify some of their positions. They argued that the NCYI was continuing with past traditions, citing decades-old policies requiring shomer Shabbat officers and closed parking lots, as well as kosher mehitzot. Additionally, they claimed robust support among the majority of Young Israel synagogues.
Many Young Israel officers, however, feel that these restrictions are a major break from past rules. They believe that the earlier directives regarding Shabbat observance and mehitzot are far more essential to and objectively representative of normative Judaism than the new rules mandating exclusively male, born Jews as president and NCYI-approved rabbinic candidates. And the high number and bitter rancor of disgruntled respondents seemed to disprove the NCYI’s claims of widespread support.
Converts are Jews just like the rest of us, except that they are not like the rest of us. They have very different backgrounds from the typical Jew and made tremendous life changes in order to join the Jewish people. In most aspects, they are treated just like every other Jew. However, there are ways in which they are treated differently.
The Torah enjoins us to love specifically the convert (Devarim 10:19). We have to recognize that a convert has no Jewish family to support him in his new community and, therefore, we all must substitute as his family. Just like a widow and an orphan, a convert relies on the community for emotional sustenance and we must make extra effort to ensure that this is realized.
II. Positions of Authority
However, there is another way in which a convert is treated differently. A convert may not hold a position of Jewish communal authority (Mishneh Torah, Hilkhos Melakhim 1:4). This is clear from the sources and, even if not always put into practice, is a rule of how Jewish communities should conduct themselves. I understand that there are places in which this rule is overlooked – sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes out of convenience and other times out of ethical misgivings. I sympathize with those who choose not to follow this rule but do not condone their practice. Torah is to be followed, even if we have questions.
