I ask an Orthodox rabbi: “Why do you think most Jews are not
Orthodox? Is the principal obstacle difficulty or expense or
intellectual or moral? And what did you think of the Newsweek top 50 rabbis list?”
Rabbi Ari Kahn, author of three books on Torah including Echoes of Eden, replies: Most Jews are not Orthodox because their parents are not orthodox. Which pushes the question back at least one possibly 3 or 4 generations.
Judaism has had a hard time confronting modernity. If we limit the discussion to the American Ashkenazik experience – the question could have been posed a hundred years ago, and the answer would be – the community reflects the individuals who chose to live in America. Prior to World War One, most Jews who arrived on your shores did so not because they were seeking religious freedom, they were seeking better lives. In other words the foundation of the American Jewish community was not a God seeking religious community, if anything, quite the opposite.
Those who came between the wars – or those who survived WW2 and then came – had a great deal of difficulty communicating old world sensibilities with a new generation, a generation who saw a new world and new opportunity.
Orthodoxy was not equipped to compete with the allure of the new modern world. In time a new generation of religious institutions and leaders developed who created a new type of orthodoxy, one which may very well survive and thrive. It has taught adherents that they can have the “American dream” and religion. Unfortunately most adherents do not see Modern Orthodoxy or Centrist Orthodoxy as excellence in two spheres, rather they see it as a compromise. While the leaders may preach and sloganize, the average adherent lacks passion. The unaffiliated Jew or for that matter the Reform or Conservative follower do not see this modern Jew as “authentic”, perhaps the random Chabad shaliach or other chasid, but not the modern orthodox.
So as the Jew on the outside peers in, he/she see a compromise that lacks authenticity (and often lacks passion) and they see authenticity which is nostalgic but not really a viable option for most.
Regarding the list of 50 Rabbis – being that I live overseas – I was not expecting to be on the list J – but seriously, it is uneven, and reflects more PR than substance.
