Carlbach
This past Shabbas I went to Moshav Moadiim (sp). This is a Carlbach startup community between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Rav Shlomo Carlbach did a lot of wonderful things for the Jewish people. He was accepting of each person and was constantly helping people. As he walked through New York he constantly was giving money to each homeless person that he came across. As what the Rabbi who I stayed by said "at least three dollars." He gave whatever he could afford. One thing though was that though he was Orthodox, he did not follow the laws of modesty with women. As what one of my rabbis had told me about his experience, as he walked to the stage for a concert, he kissed every woman that he came across.
The Moshav was a place of acceptance. The music, dancing,and company was wonderful. This felt like the Renesauns camp with the diversity. However the interaction between men and women were continuous. There were several halachot (Jewish Laws) that were pushed aside. We began Shabbas late. There are a set of prayers to welcome in the Shabbas Queen (a manifestation of G-d's continuing of the world). Yet we began these when it was night and very much into the night. This is not to be done in Israel.
I loved how the community interacted with each other. There practice of personal interactions was a fresh relief to see. However the Torah knowledge and halachic understanding was not what I expected. The rabbis knew a low level of Kabbalah (in order to know a high level one has to know all of the Oral Tradition and follow it). Though this Kabbalah helps people grow, I also saw that it stunted growth of individuals there. People used it by there personal understanding to justify there own views of what live should be.
Through this I know understand why even the Modern Orthodox Rabbis have difficulty with Traditional Rabbis. They might do the prayer service correct but what about the services outside the shul (synagogue).
The Moshav was a place of acceptance. The music, dancing,and company was wonderful. This felt like the Renesauns camp with the diversity. However the interaction between men and women were continuous. There were several halachot (Jewish Laws) that were pushed aside. We began Shabbas late. There are a set of prayers to welcome in the Shabbas Queen (a manifestation of G-d's continuing of the world). Yet we began these when it was night and very much into the night. This is not to be done in Israel.
I loved how the community interacted with each other. There practice of personal interactions was a fresh relief to see. However the Torah knowledge and halachic understanding was not what I expected. The rabbis knew a low level of Kabbalah (in order to know a high level one has to know all of the Oral Tradition and follow it). Though this Kabbalah helps people grow, I also saw that it stunted growth of individuals there. People used it by there personal understanding to justify there own views of what live should be.
Through this I know understand why even the Modern Orthodox Rabbis have difficulty with Traditional Rabbis. They might do the prayer service correct but what about the services outside the shul (synagogue).