Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought

Two observations—among others—can be made regarding Tradition's symposium on modern Orthodoxy; 1 first, it is unclear what distinguishes "modern" from "right-wing" Orthodoxy; second, there was little concern for the changing role of women within the community. The former is not surprising, as both groups have a basic allegiance to halakhic norms and have accommodated themselves in one way or another—and in many similar ways—to contemporary society. The latter, as I and others have indicated, 2 is disturbing and short-sighted. There is no denying that the feminist movement has caused a radical change in the self-perception of a large number of American women—including many who do not consciously identify with the movement in general, let alone the radical issues espoused by some. (Indeed, allowing issues like abortion and lesbianism to be treated as if they were the major "feminist" issues has prevented people from focusing on those questions that arise out of this changed selfperception and which are of more general concern.) The Orthodox community has not been totally removed from this social reality, and a good number of halakhically committed American women have also come to have a "non-traditional" view of themselves. (This is less true in Israel where army service for men reinforces the notion of more distinct roles for men and women.) I would suggest that from a functional point of view it is the "secular" perspective that one has of women's roles that in the end will be a criterion for membership in modern Orthodoxy, much as in general the attitude one takes toward the State of Israel might be.