In a highly thoughtful article entitled “Torah Umadda and the Jewish Observer Critique: Towards a clarification of the Issues”, Rabbi Mayer Schiller has a fascinating observation regarding the perverse aspects of contemporary media and culture. His sentiments are often articulated most vocally on R’Harry Maryles blog, with the point being that basically not every activity that is pursued by the “Modern Orthodox” can be considered within the rubric of the Torah Umadda philosophy. Blatant attempts to include the hedonistic aspects of culture into a Torah way of life are inexcusable and furthermore, tarnish the true objectives of the Torah U Madda endeavor. I’ll let Rabbi Shiller’s comments speak from themselves;
“On a personal note, it has been my experience, having taught Talmud in Modern Orthodox high schools for twenty years, that those few who do abandon the faith do so not because of their exposure to secular disciplines, but because they found a hedonist lifestyle more pleasant. As noted earlier, this is the great crisis which confronts Modern Orthodoxy and all segments of Orthodoxy today – hedonism, not ideology. It is the cheap attachment to popular culture which threatens, not that of knowledge and beauty in the larger sense. My students did not abandon Judaism because they studied history or literature with too much passion, rather, they left because they were tempted by images presented to them on television, movies and popular music. If a cautionary note should be sounded, it is that Modern Orthodox leaders are far too silent about this real threat to the souls of their constituents. It would require honesty and courage on their part to demand of their followers abstention from the vile (but today totally accepted) manifestations of popular culture. No, it is not necessary to throw out our volumes of classical poetry or great music, it is merely necessary to smash the television and shatter juniors CD collection.”