Why I Am a Modern Orthodox Rabbi By Rabbi Judah Kerbel/TOI (printed with permission) | May 06, 2021
In a recent, thought-provoking article, Rav Efrem Goldberg declared that he is not a Modern Orthodox rabbi. Rabbi Goldberg admirably does not want to be boxed into a certain ideological camp, but would rather be part of a “post-ideological, broad and diverse Torah community.” There is something noble about being able to learn from different parts of klal Yisrael and to transcend differences to serve Hashem holistically.
Yet, I feel it is important to clearly articulate why although I share much of Rabbi Goldberg’s aspirations in this regard I still think it is important to unabashedly consider myself a Modern Orthodox rabbi. My goal is not to critique Rabbi Goldberg first, because I respect him and benefit from his Torah, and over the years he has been gracious to me with his time. Second, because who am I to tell someone how to label or catego