Ultra-Orthodox Tensions: The Sefaria Controversy and the Struggle Between Tradition and Modernity
R’ Avrohom Gordimer is once again at the center of Ultra-Orthodox polemics
Over the past week, conversations have been circulating regarding Orthodox rabbis advocating a boycott of Sefaria, provoked by a newly introduced gender-sensitive translation of the Bible. See, for example, this article by Tani Levitt, “In a digital Torah library, the community of the book faces the prospect of book prohibition”, in the Forward (June 6, 2023, archived here).
I'd like to provide background on this new controversy, without getting
To provide background, Wikipedia, entry “Sefaria”:
Sefaria is an online open source, free content, digital library of Jewish texts […] According to its chief data officer Lev Israel in 2019, the service received 250,000 unique visitors monthly […] Sefaria has a vast library of Jewish text, including Tanakh, Talmud, and Jewish prayers alongside sources in philosophy, mysticism, Jewish law, and newer works.
Sefaria currently is the major digital resource for Jewish texts, thanks to its incredibly user-friendly interface, and broad range of texts and translations available.
I’d like to set aside the specific issue of the 'new gender-sensitive translation of the Bible', which was the trigger for this outbreak. That aspect has already been thoroughly addressed by others. It’s clear that the intent here is more broad than this specific translation. Ultra-Orthodox activists are attempting to discourage Orthodox individuals from using Sefaria, with or without this specific translation. To quote the above article:
“Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer published an essay in Cross-Currents, an online journal of Orthodox Jewish thought, outlining the reasons why Orthodox Jews should not use Sefaria [...] Gordimer noted that among Sefaria’s user-curated lists of religious texts, there are collections of texts about gay Jews, texts from non-Orthodox rabbis and scholars, and that Sefaria encourages women to teach Torah, most recently with Word-by-Word, a fellowship for women Torah educators.”
I wanted to focus on R’ Avrohom Gordimer himself, who has been one of the major Orthodox polemicists for many years already.[1] Before discussing some previous polemics of R’ Gordimer, some background on him: According to the Orthodox Union Kosher website, R' Avrohom Gordimer is a Rabbinic Coordinator at the Orthodox Union's Kashruth Division. He’s a graduate of Yeshiva University, and is a member of the New York Bar. According to the website of Coalition for Jewish Values, he’s a member of the editorial committee of Jewish Action magazine, a staff writer for Cross-Currents.com, and a member of the Rabbinical Council of America.
With all this in mind, it’s clear that R’ Gordimer is at the very center of Ultra-Orthodox apologetics. Indeed, he is well-known to engage in debates surrounding modern issues in Orthodox Judaism, often representing a traditional perspective. He’s been a significant voice in discussions and debates on various issues related to Orthodox Judaism. The following are a few areas where he's had notable involvement.
Modern Orthodox Judaism vs. Open Orthodox Judaism
One of the most significant debates he's been involved in concerns the nature and future of Orthodox Judaism. Gordimer has written extensively about the distinctions between Modern Orthodox and Open Orthodox Judaism. He's expressed concerns about Open Orthodoxy's departures from traditional Jewish law and philosophy, arguing that they threaten to undermine the integrity of Orthodox Judaism.
Women's Roles in Orthodoxy
R' Gordimer has also contributed to the debate on women's roles within Orthodox Judaism. While he recognizes the importance of women in Jewish life and supports advanced Torah study for women, he has criticized initiatives to ordain women as Orthodox rabbis, viewing this as incompatible with traditional Jewish law.
LGBT Issues
Gordimer has also discussed issues related to sexuality and gender. His views often reflect a traditional perspective, adhering to the Orthodox Jewish interpretations of Torah laws and ethics.
Scanned photo from the first gay pride parade held in Jerusalem in 2002. Banner reads "Blessed are you god who made us as per his will," a slight variation on a blessing religious women say in the morning. (File:Jerusalem Pride.jpg. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.)
Interfaith Dialogue
R' Gordimer has also been part of the conversation about interfaith dialogue and its appropriateness within Orthodoxy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the “controversy” surrounding Sefaria's introduction of a gender-sensitive translation of the Bible, R’ Avrohom Gordimer once again finds himself at the center of the polemics. His standpoint is firmly rooted in traditionalism, objecting to the inclusion of texts focusing on homosexuality, contributions from non-Orthodox rabbis and scholars, and the promotion of women as Torah educators. This debate encapsulates the ongoing tension within Orthodox Judaism as it grapples with modern societal changes. It offers a potent reminder of the constant struggle within religious communities to balance tradition with progress. The case of Sefaria is just another chapter in this ongoing saga.
[1] For an interesting collection of controversies and polemics throughout Jewish history, whether political, halachic, hashkafic, or other, both internal and external, see these Wikipedia categories:
Category:Judaism-related controversies
Category:Censorship in Judaism
קטגוריה:מחלוקות ופולמוסים ביהדות – ויקיפדיה
קטגוריה:פולמוסים הלכתיים – ויקיפדיה
In contrast to the implication of the headline of the Forward article (“[…] the people of the book confront book banning”), book banning and censorship by Ultra-Orthodox leaders is not especially uncommon, both recently as well as historically. Some well-known, recent examples:
R’ Natan Kamenetsky’s Making of a Godol (2002)
R’ Natan Slifkin’s The Science of Torah (2001) and The Camel, the Hare and the Hyrax (2011)
Peshuto Shel Mikra (2017). See R’ Slifkin’s discussion at his blog, here: “New Ban: Pshat”, rationalistjudaism.com (Nov 20, 2022)