[Audio below.] The following is an enlightening and informative shiur delivered by Rav Hershel Schechter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon in New York City, delivered this past week on the topic of “What is Orthodox?”

Rav Schechter discusses what Orthodox means and what the job and responsibilities of a rov are.

Rav Schachter also makes mention of specific groups, including the Agudah, Mizrachi, and others.

The Neturei Karta, for example, said Rav Schachter, used to have Torah leaders in past decades, but now certainly has “no rabbinic approval.” Rav Schechter also strongly criticizes the Moshiach antics found in the Lubavitch community, calling these behaviors “not Orthodox.”

Rav Schachter defined Orthodox to mean one who ascribes to Torah Sheba’al Peh and consults and listens to qualified talmidei chachomim.

Regarding those involved in conduct like ordaining female rabbis and having women lead Kabbolas Shabbos, he compared it to the beginnings of the Reform movement, which began engaging in behavior which one could technically try to justify by looking in Shulchan Aruch but which was against the gedolim of that generation, and we see what the result was.

Rav Schachter also spoke about what Torah Umada and Centrist Orthodoxy mean and what they do not mean.

Click below to listen:

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{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter/Audio courtesy of TorahWeb.org}