Open Orthodoxy

Weiss sought to establish an approach to Orthodox Judaism that emphasizes inclusivity and open-mindedness compared to traditional norms. As a result, he founded new educational institutions aimed at training clergy who could implement this vision: YCT's rabbinical school to train rabbis who would be "open, non-judgmental, knowledgeable, empathetic, and eager to transform Orthodoxy into a movement that meaningfully and respectfully interacts with all Jews, regardless of affiliation, commitment, or background"{{Cite web|url=http://www.yctorah.org/about/|title=About|website=www.yctorah.org|language=en|access-date=2017-08-30}} and, later, Maharat to train equivalent women Jewish clergy and scholars.

In striving for a more "liberal" Orthodox Judaism, Weiss was required to clarify the differences between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox movements within Judaism. He states that all Orthodox Judaism, including Open Orthodoxy, fundamentally differs from Conservative Judaism in three areas:

1. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah was given by God at Mount Sinai in its current form.
2. Orthodoxy believes that "legal authority is cumulative, and that a contemporary posek [decider] can only issue judgments based on a full history of Jewish legal precedent". In contrast, Conservative Jews believe "precedent provides illustrations of possible positions rather than binding law. Conservatism, therefore, remains free to select whichever position within the prior history appeals to it".
3. Orthodoxy is characterized by ritually observant members who "meticulously keep Shabbat (the Sabbath), Kashrut (the Dietary Laws), Taharat ha-Mishpaḥa (the Laws of Family Purity), and pray three times a day". In contrast, Conservative Judaism "is generally not composed of ritually observant Jews. Thus, only in our community if a 'permissive custom' is accepted, can it be meaningful."

In the matter of conversion to Judaism, Weiss encountered difficulties with being accepted by the Israeli Rabbinate.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/opinion/rein-in-israels-rabbinate.html?_r=0

|title=Rein in Israel's Rabbinate

|author=Avi Weiss |date=January 29, 2014}}

Although "Open Orthodox" was widely used in various portions of the movement, that ended in 2017.{{Cite web|last=Ginsberg|first=Johanna|title=Closing A Chapter On 'Open Orthodoxy'|url=http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/closing-a-chapter-on-open-orthodoxy/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=jewishweek.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}} YCT wrote "'Open Orthodox' is not a term that we use to describe ourselves, nor is it part of any language on our site, mission, marketing materials, etc." The affiliated women's rabbinical seminary, Maharat, also no longer does.

Sylvia Barack Fishman, a professor of Judaic studies at Brandeis University, stated that some critics use the term "Open Orthodox" derogatorily rather than descriptively to delegitimize Modern Orthodox Jewish leaders, institutions, and laypersons who support women’s leadership in Judaism.

{{main|Yeshivat Chovevei Torah}}

In 1999 Weiss founded Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT), which is currently located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York. Following its opening as a yeshiva, a rabbinical school was opened in September 2000 with its first class of seven students. While the institution today described itself as Modern Orthodox, YCT, until recently, described itself as an "Open Orthodox," and its mission statement made heavy use of the term its founder Weiss had coined.{{Cite news|url=http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/closing-a-chapter-on-open-orthodoxy/|title=Closing A Chapter On 'Open Orthodoxy'|work=Jewish Week|access-date=2017-08-30|language=en-US}}

Controversies over YCT came to a head when in 2006 YCT applied for membership in the Rabbinical Council of America, the rabbinical body affiliated with the Orthodox Union, the largest North American Modern and Centrist Orthodox body. YCT subsequently withdrew their application when it became apparent that the application would be denied."[http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a1421/News/New_York.html Opening Up Orthodox Judaism]" The Jewish Week, December 12, 2007

The Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) states on its website that it is Modern Orthodox rabbinical school.{{Cite web|date=2016-03-09|title=YCT Rabbinical School {{!}} Chovevei Torah|url=https://www.yctorah.org/yct-rabbinical-school/|access-date=2021-03-26|language=en}}

{{Main|International Rabbinic Fellowship}}

The International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) is a Modern Orthodox rabbinical organization founded by Rabbis Avi Weiss and Marc D. Angel in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://targumshlishi.org/?press-release=conference-explores-the-teaching-and-work-of-rabbi-irving-yitz-greenberg|title=Conference Explores the Teaching and Work of Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg|date=March 27, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/uncategorized/74514/international-rabbinic-fellowship-press-release/|title=International Rabbinic Fellowship – Press Release|date=November 26, 2009|website=Jewish Journal}}{{Cite web|title=International Rabbinic Fellowship|url=https://www.internationalrabbinicfellowship.org/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Int'lRabbinicFellow|language=en}} The group is open to graduates of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. The group's current president is Rabbi Yonah Berman. The group is noted for being the only Orthodox rabbinical association to admit women rabbis as members.

In May 2009, Weiss announced the opening of Yeshivat Maharat, a new school to train women as Maharat, an acronym for the Hebrew {{lang|he|מנהיגה הלכתית רוחנית תורנית}} (halakhic, spiritual, and Torah leader), a title he created for a female version of a rabbi.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/article/2009/05/18/1005240/new-program-to-train-orthodox-women-as-non-rabbis |title=New program to train Orthodox women as non-rabbis |date=May 18, 2009 |last=Harris |first=Ben |access-date=April 15, 2011 |publisher=blogs.jta.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717140922/http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/article/2009/05/18/1005240/new-program-to-train-orthodox-women-as-non-rabbis |archive-date=July 17, 2011 }} The school's mission, according to its website, is "to train Orthodox women as spiritual leaders and halakhic authorities" in a four-year full-time course.{{cite web| url=http://yeshivatmaharat.org/| title=Yeshivat Maharat}} Sara Hurwitz was appointed dean of Yeshivat Maharat.{{cite web|url=http://hillel.harvard.edu/events/2010/03/03/evening-rabbah-sarah-hurwitz|title=An Evening with Rabbah Sarah Hurwitz|publisher=hillel.harvard.edu|access-date=April 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817220326/http://hillel.harvard.edu/events/2010/03/03/evening-rabbah-sarah-hurwitz|archive-date=August 17, 2011}} On June 16, 2013 the first class of female maharats graduated from Yeshivat Maharat.{{cite news |url= http://forward.com/articles/178926/orthodox-schism-over-role-of-women-widens-after-gr/?p=all | title=Orthodox Schism Over Role of Women Widens After Graduation of Maharats| last= Cohen |first=Anne | date=June 20, 2013| access-date=August 7, 2013| work=The Jewish Daily Forward}}

{{Main|Sara Hurwitz}}

In June 2009 Weiss ordained Sara Hurwitz as rabbi, giving her the title of Maharat.{{cite news| url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial_opinion/gary_rosenblatt/between_rav_and_hard_place| title=Between A Rav And A Hard Place| last=Rosenblatt |first=Gary |date=June 26, 2009| access-date=April 15, 2011| work=The Jewish Week}} She was the first formally ordained Open Orthodox woman.{{cite news |url=http://heebmagazine.com/rabba-sara-hurwitz-rocks-the-orthodox|title="Rabba" Sara Hurwitz Rocks the Orthodox |date=March 10, 2010 | author=StevenM | work=Heeb | access-date=March 21, 2013}}

In February 2010 Weiss announced that Hurwitz would henceforth be known by the title of Rabba. The move sparked widespread criticism in the Orthodox world.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/route_17/agudah_avi_weiss_shul_not_orthodox|title=Agudah: Avi Weiss Shul Not Orthodox|last=Mark|first=Jonathan|date=March 9, 2010|work=The Jewish Week|access-date=January 1, 2013}} The Agudath Israel Council of Torah Sages issued a public statement suggesting that Weiss should no longer be considered Orthodox, declaring that "these developments represent a radical and dangerous departure from Jewish tradition and the mesoras haTorah, and must be condemned in the strongest terms. Any congregation with a woman in a rabbinical position of any sort cannot be considered Orthodox."{{cite news | url= http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/rabbi_condemned_for_ordaining_woman_20100226|title=Rabbi condemned for ordaining woman|date=February 26, 2010|work=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles |access-date=July 4, 2013}} Rumors circulated in the Jewish press that RCA considered expelling Weiss. Under pressure from the RCA, Weiss pledged not to ordain anybody else "rabba", although Hurwitz retains the title.{{cite news| url=http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/article/2010/03/05/1010943/avi-weiss-no-more-rabbas| title=Avi Weiss: No more rabbas| date=March 5, 2010| last=Eden| first=Ami| publisher=JTA| access-date=April 6, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420075116/http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/article/2010/03/05/1010943/avi-weiss-no-more-rabbas| archive-date=April 20, 2010}}

Shortly afterwards, the RCA passed a resolution praising the increased Torah education of women in the Orthodox world encouraging "halachically and communally appropriate professional opportunities" for them, but stating: "We cannot accept either the ordination of women or the recognition of women as members of the Orthodox rabbinate, regardless of title."{{cite news | title=Do 1 Rabba, 2 Rabbis and 1 Yeshiva = a New Denomination?| last= Breger |first=Sarah | date= November–December 2010| work= Moment Magazine |access-date= July 31, 2013 | url= http://www.momentmag.com/do-1-rabba-2-rabbis-and-1-yeshiva-a-new-denomination/}} This was followed by an RCA ruling issued in October 2015 that women may not be ordained, hired as rabbinical clergy, nor titled as such.{{cite web|title=2015 Resolution: RCA Policy Concerning Women Rabbis|url=https://rabbis.org/2015-resolution-rca-policy-concerning-women-rabbis/|website=Rabbinical Council of America|access-date=14 April 2019|date=31 October 2015}}

In 2015 Yaffa Epstein was ordained as "Rabba" by Yeshivat Maharat, which Weiss founded.{{cite web|url=http://www.yeshivatmaharat.org/class-of-2015/|title=Class of 2015|work=Yeshivat Maharat|access-date=2016-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205231641/http://www.yeshivatmaharat.org/class-of-2015/|archive-date=2015-12-05|url-status=dead}} Also in 2015, Lila Kagedan was ordained as rabbi by that same organization, which made her their first graduate to take the title rabbi.{{cite web|url=http://www.cjnews.com/living-jewish/jewish-learning/why-orthodox-judaism-needs-female-rabbis|title=Why Orthodox Judaism needs female rabbis|author=Rabbi Lila Kagedan|date=25 November 2015|work=The Canadian Jewish News}} In 2016 Lila Kagedan became the first female clergy member hired by an Open Orthodox synagogue while using the title "rabbi."The Forward [http://forward.com/sisterhood/328427/first-woman-orthodox-rabbi-is-hired-by-synagogue/ First Woman Orthodox Rabbi Hired by Synagogue], January 3, 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2016/01/11/news-opinion/united-states/nj-orthodox-shul-announces-hire-of-woman-using-rabbi-title|title=NJ Orthodox shul announces hire of woman using 'rabbi' title|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/rabbi-lila-kagedan-first-female-rabbi-at-orthodox-shul-in-melbourne/2016/03/21/|title=The Jewish Press » » Rabbi Lila Kagedan, First Female Rabbi at Orthodox Shul in Melbourne|author=Jewish Press News Briefs|work=The Jewish Press}}{{cite web|url=http://www.walnutstreetsynagogue.com/clergy/ |title=Clergy - Walnut |publisher=Walnutstreetsynagogue.com |date=2014-06-20 |access-date=2018-05-10}} This occurred when Mount Freedom Jewish Center in New Jersey, which is Open Orthodox, hired Kagedan to join their "spiritual leadership team." In 2018 Dina Brawer, born in Italy but living in Britain, was ordained by Yeshivat Maharat and thus became Britain's first female Open Orthodox rabbi; she chose the title Rabba.{{cite web|last=Wolfisz |first=Francine |url=http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/dina-brawer-becomes-uks-first-female-orthodox-rabbi/ |title=Dina Brawer becomes UK's first female Orthodox rabbi | Jewish News |publisher=Jewishnews.timesofisrael.com |access-date=2018-05-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.yeshivatmaharat.org/class-of-2018/ |title=Class of 2018 — Yeshivat Maharat |publisher=Yeshivatmaharat.org |access-date=2018-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404161818/http://www.yeshivatmaharat.org/class-of-2018 |archive-date=2018-04-04 |url-status=dead }}

The vast majority of rabbis within Orthodox Judaism have opposed Weiss' approach to halacha, with Orthodox opposition to Weiss' views, community {{cite news|last1=Sales|first1=Ben|title=Liberal Orthodox synagogue will stop announcing LGBT weddings after OU complains|url=https://www.jta.org/2017/12/13/news-opinion/united-states/liberal-orthodox-synagogue-will-not-announce-lgbt-weddings-following-complaint|access-date=12 April 2018|publisher=Jewish Telegraph Agency|date=13 December 2017}} and institutions (both YCT{{cite news|last1=Heilman|first1=Uriel|title=Agudath Israel condemns Chovevei Torah for multidenominational roundtable|url=https://www.jta.org/2013/09/30/life-religion/agudath-israel-condemns-chovevei-torah-for-multidenominational-roundtable|access-date=12 April 2018|publisher=Jewish Telegraph Agency|date=30 September 2013}} and Yeshivat Maharat) growing over time. Open Orthodoxy and its proponents have met with harsh criticism and disapproval from within Orthodoxy. Prominent leaders from both the ultra-Orthodox and central or Modern Orthodox communities have levelled harsh critiques of actions and beliefs of Open Orthodox individuals or institutions, stating that Open Orthodoxy is not Orthodox Judaism, but rather akin to the Reform and Conservative movements.

At the 92nd Agudath Israel of America Gala in 2014, the Novominsker Rebbe, Yaakov Perlow, condemned Open Orthodoxy, describing it as "a new danger... that also seeks to subvert the sacred meaning of Judaism, that is steeped in heresy…"{{cite web|last1=Perlow|first1=Yaakov|title=Novominsker Rebbe Speech At the 92nd Agudath Israel Dinner|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGA3oZq9G3Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/ZGA3oZq9G3Y |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=YouTube|date=27 May 2014}}{{cbignore}}

A year and a half later, in November 2015, Agudath Israel of America denounced moves to ordain women, and went even further, declaring Open Orthodoxy, Yeshivat Maharat, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and other affiliated entities to be similar to other dissident movements throughout Jewish history in having rejected basic tenets of Judaism.{{cite web|url=http://hamodia.com/2015/11/03/moetzes-open-orthodoxy-not-a-form-of-torah-judaism/|title=Moetzes: 'Open Orthodoxy' Not a Form of Torah Judaism|work=Hamodia}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Breach-in-US-Orthodox-Judaism-grows-as-haredi-body-rejects-Open-Orthodoxy-institutions-431929|title=Breach in US Orthodox Judaism grows as haredi body rejects 'Open Orthodoxy' institutions|work=The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com}}{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/news/323887/agudath-rabbis-declare-war-on-open-orthodoxy/|title=Avi Weiss Defends 'Open Orthodoxy' as Agudah Rabbis Declare War|author=Josh Nathan-Kazis|date=3 November 2015|work=The Forward}}

The Conference of European Rabbis followed suit that same month, stating, "The Conference views with great pain the deviations from religious foundations emanating from the movement called 'Open Orthodoxy', and warns that those who act in this spirit, alumni of the aforementioned movement... will not be recognized by us as rabbis, with all that entails." Jonathan Guttentag of Manchester, UK, explained that by systematically testing the boundaries of normative Jewish practice, Open Orthodoxy "has pushed the envelope that bit far, and... led to positions which take its proponents outside the Orthodox umbrella."{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203309#.VkT23yspowc|title=European Rabbis: Open Orthodoxy 'outside the fold' - Jewish World - News - Arutz Sheva|work=Arutz Sheva}}

Similar sentiments were echoed in a press release of a ruling by Igud HaRabbonim on February 22, 2018, likening Open Orthodoxy to Reform and Conservative Judaism, and stating, "The clergy of this movement are espousing philosophies of the generation of the Sin of the Golden Calf."{{cite web|last1=Rabbinical Alliance of America|title=Psak Halacha on Female Clergy|url=https://www.facebook.com/RAAIgud/posts/1551773701573441|website=FaceBook|date=22 February 2018}}

Prominent Central Orthodoxy leaders have also stated that Open Orthodox practices or beliefs are incongruent with Orthodox Judaism. These include Hershel Schacter, Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), Yeshiva University{{cite web|last1=Schachter|first1=Hershel|title=Impossible to call Open Orthodoxy Orthodox|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cWnTtXedKk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/9cWnTtXedKk |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|last1=Schachter|first1=Hershel|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3IyXUxUSy4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/v3IyXUxUSy4 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Rav Schachter on Open Orthodoxy|date=20 March 2017|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} and Avrohom Gordimer, a rabbinic coordinator at OU Kosher{{cite news|last1=Gordimer|first1=Avrohom|title=The Case Against "Open Orthodoxy"|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/13622|publisher=Israel National News|date=30 July 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Gordimer|first1=Avrohom|title=Open Orthodox Theology and Repentance|url=http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/open-orthodox-theology-and-repentance/|publisher=Times of Israel|date=18 September 2015}} among others.

Rabbi Aharon Feldman has been an opponent of Open Orthodoxy. He argues that "The basis of Orthodox Judaism is a belief in the Divine origin of both the Oral and Written Torah. Yeshivat Chovevei Torah’s leaders or their graduates have said clearly or implicitly on many occasions that they do not accept that the Torah was authored by Hashem, that parts of the Torah can be excised, and that the Oral Law was developed by Rabbis to adjust the Written Torah to the realities of the time that they lived in. This basic philosophy is what writes them out of Orthodox Jewry."{{Cite news|url=https://cross-currents.com/2015/11/17/rav-aharon-feldman-on-open-orthodoxy/|title=Rav Aharon Feldman on Open Orthodoxy|date=2015-11-17|work=Cross-Currents|access-date=2018-03-02|language=en-US}}

In 2012, Steven Pruzansky, rabbi of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck, New Jersey and a trustee of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) on the Board of the Beth Din of America,{{cite news | title=U.S. rabbi faces dissent for slamming Obama| last= Maltz |first=Judy | date=November 16, 2012 | work=Haaretz| access-date= July 31, 2013 | url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-features/u-s-rabbi-faces-dissent-for-slamming-obama.premium-1.478303#}} contrasted Weiss' approach with that of early 20th century American Conservative Judaism and has asserted would more aptly be called "Neo-Conservative" rather than "Orthodox" Judaism. Concluding an opinion piece in Matzav.com he elaborated: {{blockquote|clarity and honesty at least demand that we recognize before our eyes the creation of a new movement in Jewish life outside the Orthodox world, one that we have seen before. It can be termed ... Neo-Conservatism. 'Open Orthodoxy' is a deceptive brand name, an advertising slogan, and an attempt to remain tethered to the Torah world to re-shape it from within, but far from the reality. The reality is that we are living through the rise of the Neo-Conservatives.{{cite web|url= http://matzav.com/open-orthodoxy-the-rise-of-the-neo-cons| title=Open Orthodoxy: The Rise of the Neo-Cons| last=Steven| first=Pruzansky| date=July 17, 2013|work=Matzav.com|access-date=July 30, 2013}}}}

Moshe Averick, a columnist for the Jewish magazine Algemeiner Journal agrees with Pruzansky that Weiss has created a new Jewish movement in America, comparing him with Isaac Mayer Wise (founder of Reform Judaism in America) and Solomon Schechter (founder of Conservative Judaism in the United States). He compared Weiss's ordination of three women as Maharat on June 16, 2013, with the so-called Trefa Banquet of 1883, which marked the split between Reform and Traditional Judaism in America. Says Averick: "Weiss' movement, a form of Judaism that enthusiastically embraces the ideologies of feminism and liberal-progressive-modernism while coating it with a strong Orthodox flavor, could accurately be labeled as Ortho-Feminist Progressive Judaism," but "the term coined by Rabbi Steven Pruzansky … Neo-Conservative Judaism … has managed to fit neatly into the slot to the left of Orthodox Judaism and to the right of Conservative Judaism."{{cite news |url= http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/18/american-jewry-at-the-crossroads-isaac-mayer-wise-solomon-schechter-and-now-avi-weiss-and-sara-hurwitz/ |title=American Jewry at the Crossroads: Isaac Mayer Wise, Solomon Schechter, and now...Avi Weiss and Sara Hurwitz | work = The Algemeiner |date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=August 2, 2013}} In October 2013, dozens of rabbis who defined themselves as "members in good standing or [who] identify with the Rabbinical Council of America", signed a letter arguing that Open Orthodoxy has "plunged ahead, again and again, across the border that divides Orthodoxy from neo-Conservatism".{{Cite news|url=https://orthodoxrabbis.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/statement-on-open-orthodoxy/|title=Statement on Open Orthodoxy|date=2013-10-30|work=Orthodox Rabbis|access-date=2018-03-08|language=en-US}}

The Orthodox Union (OU), Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) and National Council of Young Israel have all in turn responded to Open Orthodoxy by severing their ties with the Open Orthodox institutions. The RCA does not accredit the rabbinic qualifications of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah{{cite news|last1=Heilman|first1=Uriel|title=Is Yeshivat Chovevei Torah kosher enough?|url=https://www.jta.org/2012/09/07/news-opinion/the-telegraph/is-yeshivat-chovevei-torah-kosher-enough|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=7 September 2012}} or Yeshivat Maharat{{cite web|title=2015 Resolution: RCA Policy Concerning Women Rabbis|url=http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=105835|website=Rabbinical Council of America|publisher=Rabbinical Council of America|access-date=April 11, 2018|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202213542/http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=105835|url-status=dead}} graduates, the OU and Young Israel do not accept females as rabbinic clergy,{{cite news|last1=Fischer|first1=Dov|title=The OU joins RCA, Young Israel and Aguda on women clergy|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20138|publisher=Israel National News|date=2 August 2017}} and Young Israel Synagogues no longer accept candidates with YCT accreditation.{{cite web|last1=Eleff|first1=Zev|title=Symposium on Open Orthodoxy II|url=https://www.torahmusings.com/2015/08/symposium-on-open-orthodoxy-ii|website=Torah Musings|date=August 18, 2015}}

Furthermore, in response to Open Orthodoxy new organizations have arisen within Orthodox Judaism as a result of the desire to actively and emphatically voice opposition or critiques against Open Orthodox positions or actions when the pre-existing Orthodox organizations have been slow to voice decisive opinions. These include the Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV){{cite web|title=About us|url=https://coalitionforjewishvalues.org/about-us/|website=Coalition for Jewish Values|access-date=11 April 2018|quote=Modern Jewish movements which reject Jewish tradition are ill-qualified to determine or express authentically Jewish positions. The Rabbinic Fellows of the CJV have the necessary knowledge and expertise to correct the record.}} and Traditional Orthodox Rabbis of America (TORA).{{cite web|title=What is TORA?|url=https://torarabbis.org/about/|website=Traditional Orthodox Rabbis of America|date=May 7, 2017|quote=Orthodoxy is portrayed too often in the Jewish and general media in ways that are incompatible or not fully representative of authentic Torah positions. As the general society rethinks and revisits traditional values while it contemplates new moral and ethical issues, it is our duty as rabbis to teach the truths of Torah to all who will listen.}}

According to Marc Shapiro, Avrohom Gordimer "has assumed the mantle of defender of the faith" and "sees his goal as exposing the non-Orthodox nature of Open Orthodoxy". Shapiro stated that to "deny them the simple courtesy of mentioning their names … is in my opinion simply disgraceful".{{Cite web|url=http://seforim.blogspot.com/2016/02/open-orthodoxy-and-its-main-critic-part.html|title=the Seforim blog: Open Orthodoxy and Its Main Critic, part 1|last=Shapiro|first=Marc|date=2016-02-08|website=the Seforim blog|access-date=2018-03-08}} Gordimer responded in an article in Cross Currents.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2016/02/09/response-to-dr-marc-shapiro-good-shot-but-wrong-target/|title=Response to Dr. Marc Shapiro: Good Shot, but Wrong Target - Cross-Currents|date=2016-02-09|work=Cross-Currents|access-date=2018-03-08|language=en-US}} Ysoscher Katz, Chair, Department of Talmud, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, has also threatened legal action against Cross Currents despite claims on Facebook that he was open to these debates, if they "continue to publish Avrohom Gordimer’s libelous and unfounded accusations against me."{{Cite news|url=http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2015/10/12/a-communication-from-open-orthodoxy-with-reply/|title=A Communication from Open Orthodoxy|date=2015-10-12|work=Cross-Currents|access-date=2018-03-08|language=en-US}}

In contrast to the negative stance of the Orthodox rabbinic community, Steven Bayme, National Director of Jewish Communal Affairs at the American Jewish Committee, sees Open Orthodoxy as the most authentic form of Modern Orthodoxy. In reference to the installation of Asher Lopatin as incoming president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, Bayme said: "The event demonstrated the power of an Orthodoxy that is truly modern, in the sense of synthesizing modern scholarship and culture with Judaic tradition and learning, and an 'Open Orthodoxy', open to all Jews and open to hearing other viewpoints."{{cite news |url= http://blogs.forward.com/forward-thinking/185346/asher-lopatin-set-as-modern-orthodox-bridge/ |title= Asher Lopatin Set as Modern Orthodox 'Bridge' |work= The Jewish Daily Forward |publisher= forward.com |date= October 9, 2013 |access-date= June 10, 2014 |archive-date= September 11, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140911114211/http://blogs.forward.com/forward-thinking/185346/asher-lopatin-set-as-modern-orthodox-bridge/ |url-status= dead }}

Two years later Lopatin resigned from the Rabbinical Council of America.{{cite news |newspaper=The Jewish Link (NJ)

|url=https://jewishlink.news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8820:the-rabbinical-council-of-america-and-yeshivat-chovevei-torah-a-response-to-rabbis-avi-weiss-and-asher-lopatin&catid=155:op-eds&Itemid=567

|title=The Rabbinical Council of America and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah: A Response to Rabbis Avi Weiss and Asher Lopatin

|author=David Berger |date=July 9, 2015}}

YCT, itself, the brainchild of Weiss, however, ultimately reacted to the severe Orthodox disapproval by attempting, at least in name, to distance itself from the term "Open Orthodoxy". The school has removed all references to Open Orthodoxy on its website, replacing "open" with "modern". In an interview with the Jewish Week in August 2017, Asher Lopatin, the school's president said: “When they say, ‘Open Orthodox,’ I say, ‘We are Modern Orthodox. We are a full part of Modern Orthodoxy.’” Modern and mainstream orthodox leaders dispute that affiliation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2018/05/28/israel/israels-rabbinate-rejects-authority-certain-u-s-orthodox-rabbis-letter-shows|title=Israel's Rabbinate rejects authority of certain US Orthodox rabbis, letter shows|date=2018-05-28|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}}

The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, where Weiss served as rabbi ("Senior Rabbi") until his retirement in 2015, and where he continues as "Rabbi in Residence", continues to define itself as "an open Orthodox synagogue."{{cite web|url=https://www.thebayit.org/|title=The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale|website=thebayit.org|access-date=15 April 2018|quote=The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale – The Bayit – is an open Orthodox synagogue serving the entire Jewish community by warmly embracing all Jews, regardless of affiliation, commitment, orientation or background.}}

{{main|International Rabbinic Fellowship}}

Together with Marc D. Angel, Weiss established the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF), which is open to graduates of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Founded in 2007, its current president is Rabbi Yonah Berman.

IRF is a fellowship of Open Orthodox Judaism, rabbis and spiritual leaders.{{Cite news |author=David Berger |title=The Rabbinical Council of America and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah: A Response to Rabbis Avi Weiss and Asher Lopatin |url=http://jewishlinknj.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8820:the-rabbinical-council-of-america-and-yeshivat-chovevei-torah-a-response-to-rabbis-avi-weiss-and-asher-lopatin&catid=155:op-eds&Itemid=567 |access-date=2017-05-16}} It admits female members, supports the ordination of women and their role in the clergy.{{Cite web |title=IRF Statement {{!}} IRF Reaffirms Its Perspective on Women's Leadership Roles in Orthodoxy |url=https://www.internationalrabbinicfellowship.org/news/irf-reaffirms-its-perspective-on-women%27s-leadership-roles-in-orthodoxy

|access-date=2021-03-28 |website=Int'lRabbinicFellow |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

Category:Jewish religious movements