The term was coined in 1997 by Rabbi Avi Weiss,[1] who views halakha as permitting more flexibility than normative Orthodox Judaism had traditionally allowed for.
Weiss opened Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT), a men’s rabbinical school, in 1999 and later founded Maharat for training women clergy.
[7] In 1999 Weiss founded Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT), which is currently located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York.
[20] 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.
"[27][28][29][30] This occurred when Mount Freedom Jewish Center in New Jersey, which is Open Orthodox, hired Kagedan to join their "spiritual leadership team.
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…"[35] 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.
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.
"[39] 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.
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,[46] 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: 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.
'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.
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.
[55] 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".
[57] 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.
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.
[60] 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".
"[62] Together with Marc D. Angel, Weiss established the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF), which is open to graduates of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.