A forum to discuss the ideas of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch
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Hi everyone! Looking forward to some fun conversations. I don’t do WhatsApp (am already on too many other time-draining platforms), but this seems interesting enough. Quick intro: I’m 51 years old, a lifelong Washington Heights resident, and probably the youngest person alive who can claim to be a product of three different Washington Heights Orthodox educational institutions (Yeshiva R’ Moshe Soloveichik for preschool, YRSRH for grades 1-10, and MTA for last years of high school).
I believe that the challenge of applying TIDE to contemporary times is worthwhile but complicated, due to three primary factors:
TIDE is not well-defined, and the authoritativeness of its sources are subject to debate, particularly post-Hirsch sources
What elements of R’ Hirsch’s original ideas are dependent on his unique historical circumstances are subject to debate; particularly, how are we to re-evaluate them in the face of the Holocaust, the formation of the State of Israel, and the growth of Western popular culture that is often antithetical to a Torah outlook
The current demographic decline of the heterodox movements as well as the changes in their philosophical outlook towards Jewish ritual and learning may require a re-evaluation of austritt (itself, like TIDE, a much-less-well-defined principle than many want to admit)
That’s probably enough for now. Looking forward to learning, discussing, and debating!
At 83, I can claim education from Rav Moshe Eisemann and Rav Uri Mandelbaum (1958-60), Yeshiva of Philadelphia when the הנהלה either had new beards or no beards, and SecularEducation was 5 days per week and filled ALL the Core Requirements. (We rejected university, if we so chose; they didn’t reject us.) My 1st Rabbeim workedout their own very respecful approaches to TiDE. However, that was almost 70 years ago, when matters wer more respectful.
My Children were educated at Yeshiva Moshe Soloveitchik, Yeshiva RSRH, MTA, Ramaz (for our girls, very religious girls with multiple Sheitels), Shaalvim, Lindenbaum, Mivaseret, YC, Stern, MigdalOz, Queens, Einstein, NYU Dental, etc. My YRSRH-Einstein son made Aliya in 2011, lives in Modiin, and has a דתי לאומי neighbor named Breuer whose father was my friend in Philadelphia in the late 60s.
In Modiin, there is the highest IDF enlistment rate in the country. (Don’t confuse with Modiin E’lit, nearly the lowest enlightenment rate in the country. Something to do with חרידיות.) I can say that the TiDE based education that I, my children, and by extension, my grandchildren have received was excellent in forming proper TiDE leaning Jews. (One daughter married a genuineבן החבר and has kept 3 hours for 17 years. )
Just adding another point to my sideways TiDE education, my first graduate professor of mathematical physics was the late Dr. Eliezer (Elmer) Offenbacher in 1966, 60 years ago this September. Professor Offenbacher, educated in the REAL Tides neighborhoods of Germany was a member of the German V”JA [Organization of Jewish Academicians]. Thos led Professor Offenbacher to found the AOJS in 1947, as well as something in the 60scalle TiDE Society. Professor Offenbacher was very friendly with several other Orthodox GermanJewish Scientists including Cyril Domb, Leo Levy, and most notably the late Professor Willi Low (Zev Lev, Machon Lev,Jerusalem College of Technology.) Bottom line, whatever you are doing with TiDE, it was done for real almost 80 years ago, coming to fruition at least 60 years ago.
Introduce yourself by adding your picture and information about yourself and your interests to your profile. What is one thing you’d like to be asked about?
Get to know the community by browsing discussions that are already happening here. When you find a post interesting, informative, or entertaining, use the 
to show your appreciation or support!
Contribute by commenting, sharing your own perspective, asking questions, or offering feedback in the discussion. Before replying or starting new topics, please review the Community Guidelines.