I guess I am a bit of a contrarian, so bear with me. RSR Hirsch self-defined his life's work in terms of "Torah Im Derech Eretz" [aka TIDE]. This is founded on the immortal principles to be found in Avot 2:1 "yafeh Talmud Torah I'm Derech Eretz..."
Without taking away from R. Hirsch's own self-concept - I actually relate to Hirschian Judaism slightly differently. I would call it:
• Torah With Class
Or
• Orthodoxy with Class
To me Hirschian Judaism is about a "classy" approach to Torah and life. The best icons for me were Rabbis like the late Leo Jung and Isaac Swift who just exuded class. Rabbi Burak in Toronto also comes to mind, as do several others.
Now where would I find the foundation, the Y'sod for THIS revisionistic definition of Hirschian Judaism? Well B"H it's right there in the previous Mishnah! In Avot 2:1
Rebbe says,
"eizohee ..
Kol shehee Tiferet."
Let's translate Tiferet as Class instead of glory:
Rabbi said:
"Which is the proper path that a person should choose...? Whatever is classy for him and earns "classiness" from his fellows...
To me practicing Hirschian Judaism is practicing "classy" Judaism. Tiferet Judaism.
So add to the above list
• Torah Im Tiferet.
KT
RRW
2 comments:
Whether or not they'll admit it, Jews are influenced by the society around them.
Rav Hirsch, zt"l, lived in a society where culture and style were important. Is there a more formal, rigid culture than the German one? So his Judaism was classy and formal.
In Eastern Europe, we were surrounded by illiterate, violent peasants who didn't know a fork on the table from a fork in the road. The institutionalized barbarity in the Chareidi community undoubtedly derives from that influence.
GI has made a valid point
without getting into who has better manners, Id think the more salient aspect of that point is the attitude towards the government
Western Ashkenazim had a positive view of their nations and their regimes. Eastern European Jews were subjected to many hardships and persecutions. Their hositlity to their rules EG the Czar was understandable if not prasieworthy!
the problem is transplanting THAT EE attitude to North America. No only is this atttitude unnecessary it's counterproductive and imho antithetical to Torah. The Western Ashkenaz model, or alternatively the Amsterdam Spanish Portueguese model is far more appropriate here and now. It wsa the S-P refugees from the Netherlands that pioneered New Amsterdam and Newport RI etc.
The Ghetto mentality of EE is hurting all Jews and it hurt Torah observance too. The 2nd generation was lost because they thought that they had no Hirschian alternative. That's why Dr. Leon Jung and others who went down that path here are amongst my role models.
KT
RRW
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