Strange Bedfellows

It seems that last week that Yated printed an 'expose' of sorts about YCT. (You can read the whole expose here). The conclusion of the expose reads:

From all of the heartbreaking material that we have just read, it is clear that the “Open Orthodoxy” that YCT is teaching and advocating is a deviation from normative Orthodoxy. It clearly has violated numerous halachic opinions, including the most lenient, regarding pluralism and interfaith issues, and some have spouted outright kefira. Although it is a “Yeshiva” that touts itself as having “unequivocal commitment to the truth, validity and eternal applicability of the Halakhic system” it has clearly demonstrated that societal norms, “modern notions of egalitarianism” and a desire to tamper with Orthodoxy and halacha to fit those norms are its defining factor. YCT has clearly shown that it is not interested in unequivocally seeking what halacha says but rather it is determined to find what it deems as halachic precedent to fit its social and societal agenda and if it can’t, then it will bend or disregard halacha while simultaneously doing all within its power to protest that it is a Yeshiva that has fidelity to halacha. For, if YCT admits what they really are; a Yeshiva that does not conform with halacha, they have lost their reason to exist. It is clear that YCT was created to serve as an organization that will finally infiltrate the Orthodox establishment, Orthodox synagogues and implement fashionable social change — in many ways similar to what the early Conservative movement did. (At least the Conservatives had the courage to say that they were not Orthodox) This is evident by the material presented above as well as its questionable halachic practices with regard to women’s issues which we have avoided in this present article. (Perhaps we will deal with those in the future).
YCT seems to have unlimited resources, does not charge tuition and even gives financial stipends to its students. It is obviously being funded by those who seek to be called Orthodox, but who are interested in halacha conforming to their pre-conceived notions of what is right and not the opposite. In a way, YCT is acting in the tradition of the Maskilim of a previous era. Although they are not experiencing the success that the Maskilim had with the masses on an individual level, on a communal level, their efforts to conquer pulpits in communities across the United States and Canada is something that should concern every Jew who values kvod shomayim. It was with great reservation and heartache that we undertook to expose to our readers to the terribly destructive conduct of YCT. It is a responsibility that we undertook with great trepidation. As a Torah newspaper we hesitate to expose and pain our readership by enumerating the terribly distressing things contained within this article. Nevertheless, after watching YCT develop and spread with barely a peep of public outcry from the Modern / Centrist Orthodox establishment we felt compelled by the injunction of our sages, that state, “Bemakom she’ein ish, hishtadel lihiyos ish: In a place where there are no leaders; strive to be a leader (Avos 2-6).” The wider community must be made aware of this growing threat, this growing attack on the very foundations of our faith that is gathering strength. We hope that this small sampling of items will travel well beyond the natural constituency of Yated readers and serve as a point of discussion and most importantly a wake up call for all Jews, Right, Left or Center, who truly care about kvod shomyaim and the integrity of the Halachic system. We are well aware that we may be tarred as, lacking in Ahavat Yisrael, engaging in Motzee shem ra, lashon harah, shrill condemnations, being mean spirited etc. We think the facts speak for themselves. We challenge any person that seriously feels we have erred to deal with the issues and prove that the material mentioned above does not represent a violation of halacha as espoused by authentic halachic authorities. Those YCT faculty members who purport to call themselves students of Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik are challenged to prove that the above conduct would have been sanctioned by Rav Soloveitchik.
No amount of “good”, “no amount of “kiruv”, “combating assimilation” or any other justifications can rationalize this clear ziyuf—forgery of Orthodoxy practiced at YCT.

A letter in this week's edition reads:

Dear Editor,
I greatly appreciated your article on this awful place of Jewish learning calling Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Please forward to Yisroel Lichter my appreciation. The dangers posed by YCT on college campuses is great. They have basically taken over Columbia University. The Associate Rabbi at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue is a graduate of this place.
Mr. Lichter mentions that Edah is defunct. Edah is not defunct; it has just been taken over by YCT. He also alludes to the main reason why YU and other organizations cannot easily protest what is taking place at YCT. Many of the financial backers of YCT are also strong supporters of these organizations.
I hope that one day, in the near future, you will also write an exposé regarding another awful “yeshiva”, Yeshiva Bnai Torah, run by Rabbi Chait in Far Rockaway. The dangers they pose are as great as YCT.
Again, thanks for a great article.

Please Do Not Print My Name

And there you go. Not two institutions I would normally associate, but what can you do?