Below is an edited version of something I posted in the Whatsapp not long ago.
I don’t mean to sound too pessimistic, but I feel the need to call it as I see it, as the optimal course of action can only come from properly acknowledging reality. Any efforts to change The System are completely futile, notwithstanding the handful of reluctant concessions that have gradually been made. Rabbi Bechhofer admitted in his recent podcast that the Roshei Yeshivos now pretty much universally promote a Peleg-esque perspective and are not receptive to TIDE. I understand the argument can be made that many American institutions are unintentionally following TIDE by default. That does not change the fact that the vast majority of those in key positions to effect significant change in frum media and educational institutions don’t share TIDE values at all, and have a myriad of ideological and socioeconomic (והמבין יבין) reasons to continue maintaining the status quo. I think we all know deep down this is the case.
I am a BT for about a decade raised nominally Reform. My mom was raised Conservadox and is now involved with Renewal. I have personal experience living and working in various Heterodox, MO, Yeshivish, Chasidic and Sephardic communities within the US. My observation in life is simple; Any ideology cannot sustain itself long-term without a physical community led by and primarily consisting of people that espouse that ideology. Children cannot always be expected to share their parents values in toto when significantly different from “the system” and usually just default to that of their community. I wonder if there is a term for this in sociology. Unless there is a *physical* community, TIDE will completely enter the dustbin of history in a few decades along with old JTS, mussar, oberlandism, old school litvishism, classical Sefarad, etc. This hypothetical community would presumably ideally take the form of a Kehila model: Central shul, schools, etc. At a minimum, like-minded individuals would move into a given area and make a Shabbos minyan.
So, everyone here, who I presume largely live in the Northeastern US, has a choice to make. We can actually do something to make TIDE a sustainable, impactful reality for our descendants or continue the status quo. We have employment, family, peers, and a myriad of other legitimate incentives to stay in our respective communities. Doing nothing about is in effect, also a choice: a choice to further cement the death of TIDE. Rabbi Bechhofer is literally the only person I’ve ever met who seems to have this requisite commitment. Not sure if I do. So far Rabbi Bechhofer spearheaded the seminars, Whatsapp group, and Discord. What does everyone else want to do?
I did not intend to imply segregation from Orthodoxy at large. I just fail to see how not establishing institutions that promote TIDE can lead to its continuity. I wouldn’t expect Skver to survive multiple generations if all Skverer families post-WWII regularly sent their kids to YU, for example.
Your example is important because Skver is segregationist in nature. I would argue that we should be trying to promote TIDE ideas not as an alternative to existing institutions, but as contributors to them.
Why is it desirable to separate TiDE from a traditional concept of kehilla?
Why should we find the concept of US individualistic atomized nonprofit institutionalism more compelling than one of our traditional models of community?
TiDE seems to me to demand an inherently anti-segregationist view in the sense that one is meant to be engaged with the world and culture outside the kehilla in the service of Torah while at the same time living in a sviva that is optimized for our learning, growth, and self-confidence.
Agreed. The question then becomes in what shape or form shall this contribution be?
Shall it be a TIDE-based curriculum that existing schools can decide to implement at their leisure?
Shall it be promoting and distributing R’ Hirsch’s writings to be taught in the existing school system?
Shall it be a new primary/high school Yeshiva/Bais Yaakov, and/or post-high school Yeshiva/Seminary, that leans heavily on TIDE?
Shall it be a Kollel that focuses on TIDE?
Each would have their challenges. The first two would be the easiest and most inexpensive to start, but difficult to implement due to the barriers to entry of the existing educational system. The second two would be the hardest and most costly to start, but manageable to implement due to the autonomy of the curriculum, learning, staff, etc.
The key would be to make sure none of the above are exclusively TIDE, as that will automatically alienate people.
What is your goal? If the goal is perpetuating TIDE, I am curious why you and Reb Menachem (or anyone else here) feel that contributing to existing institutions, whatever that means, would further this goal or is feasible. Let’s assume there is a hypothetical curriculum supplement. Maybe in the current framework of most schools, this could be accepted as a unit or two in a girls school or a history class in a day school. Beyond that, why would any pre-existing educational institution incorporate a more advanced TIDE supplement of any sort? Name the yeshiva willing to change the 10 hour Gemara curriculum in any meaningful way. Maybe there’s something I’m missing here, but my experiences across various sectors of Orthodoxy for around a decade has lead me to believe 95% of rabbinic figures/lay leaders in key positions to effect change in educational institutions are apathetic to TIDE at best and vehemently opposed at worst. I believe Rabbi Mayer Schiller in a recent podcast said something similar, but he has spent over six decades plus primarily as a Rebbe in several sectors of Orthodoxy. I would appreciate it if those here with experience working in schools would weigh in on this point.