(Photo Credit: James Estrin)
I was running around NYTimes.com Friday afternoon and came across the 5th most popular article of the day entitled “A Cultural Mismatch.” This story very much embodies many of the points Samuel Weiman tackles in his article about the future of American Jewish Orthodoxy. “A Cultural Mismatch” takes a religious man and places him into a secular environment – thus exemplifying the notion of Torah u’mada (or a life directed by the Torah & secular knowledge). What is most interesting is how this man seemingly meshes two completely separate lives into one. The writer references two aspects of his cultural past that led him to become successful in this out-of-control setting – his service in R.O.T.C. and his identification with the Chabad-Lubavitch sect of Hasidic Judaism. Another interesting notion to consider: Why is this Hassidic Jew dedicating his life to helping the non-Jewish community, rather than teaching at an Orthodox yeshiva?
“Back in Crown Heights, Mr. Waronker says he occasionally finds himself on the other side of a quizzical look...‘We’re all connected,’ he responds. Gesturing in his school at a class full of students, he said, ‘I feel the hand of the Lord here all the time.”
Is his Hasidic Jew doing something unique and original or are several other members of this Orthodox community engaging in this pluralistic act of tikkun olam (bettering the world)? If so, why do I (and I presume most non-Orthodox Jewish Americans) associate Orthodoxy with inclusivity?
Summary:
In short, a young Hasidic man went into a South Bronx junior high school in attempt to rid the school of the gang-ridden environment, all the while revitalize the institution (and thus the lives of his students). Shimon Waronker was the seventh person to be named principal of this school in only two years. The writer Elissa Gootman provides evidence to conclude that Junior High School 22 is finding great success with Mr. Waronker, his beard, black hat and velvet yarmulke.
Mr. Waronker has outlasted each of his predecessors in the last two years, and has turned this school who once received a failing grade to now possess an “A” on its report card. The accomplishments, however, do not come without controversy and questions. Many teachers and parents (mostly African American and Hispanic individuals) expressed fears that he is too much of an outsider and did not like how he brought prayer into the school. (Even though he did this when a seventh grader was severely beaten and gathered his teachers to hold hands and pray in an apparent effort to further establish a closer community among staff.) Even so, he is undoubtedly making progress. For example, he initiated a program to “take back the hallways’ from the students who seemed to have no fear of authority” and created a student congress.
Link to the story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/nyregion/08principal.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ei=5087&em&en=7eeb11422452819e&ex=1202619600
3 comments:
Wonderful find, Beca. To offer another angle on the story: Waronker, according to the story, joined Chabad later in life. Typically, while BTs and FFBs are described as religious equals, their social places within the community differ significantly. Scholarship on Chabad (by such researchers as Ellen Koskoff) suggests that recently affiliated members of Chabad tend to have the most cultural crossover with the outside world, and tend to take longer entering Chabad's "inner circle." Do you think something like that may be in operation here?
This is a very interesting article! I think everyone can learn from having teachers from different backgrounds, and I think that Waronker will have a great impact on these kids. My friend is a teacher in this program, and I was talking to her about this article. Being Jewish herself, she was very happy that Waronker is stepping into this role outside of his orthodox community. Hopefully he will help create some understanding and tolerance within his school and greater community.
This is a really interesting article. It just shows that both teachers and learners and can appear in any environment. I think it is great that a public school is interested in having an orthodox Jew have such authority and that an orthodox Jew in interested in being involved. I think this shows how much assimilation is present in today's society.
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