The Search Committee, by Rabbi Marc Angel is an excellent novel. It is short on pages (155), but long and strong on its intensity relating to the subject matter. Reading it was an extremely interesting experience in many ways, due to the ideals and subject matter presented. The novel is written in an unusual manner, and held my interest throughout its entirety. My long-winded thoughts and review follows…it was difficult for me to review this in a short, crisp manner.

The Search Committee is written as a series of interviews…each chapter is given over to a different interviewee. The interview is being conducted by a search committee, and its members are trying to decide who will become the next rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Lita. There are two candidates who are from opposite poles within the Jewish Orthodox community. The first candidate is Rav Shimshon Grossman, the grandson of the founder of Yeshivas Litas (Rabbi Leibel Grossman). He is definite in his determination that he should be the next rosh yeshiva, seeing as his own father, Rav Yosef Grossman succeeded Rabbi Leibel Grossman. He sees it as his familial right and due course.

“Members of The Search Committee: I must confess my surprise that this meeting has been scheduled. I was under the impression that the appointment of the next rosh yeshiva, the head of our Torah academy, was simply a matter of formality. I had assumed, and still do assume, that I am the natural successor to this office.”

Rav Grossman is a Haredi Jew. He is unyielding in that respect, resistant to change in any form, and thinks that women have their place in the home, without freedom to choose for themselves. He believes in conformity to the maximum, from dress to study. He feels that those who attend college and dress in modern ways are hedonistic, too modernistic for Yeshivas Lita. and Rav Grossman is all-assuming, self-absorbed, overpowering in attitude, and somewhat a zealot, and thinks little of the search committee, and has little respect for the Board of Trustees of Yeshivas Lita, who are the individuals who raise funds for the yeshiva. Many of them are high monetary contributors in their own right. Without their funding the yeshiva would not exist in the way that Rav Grossman knows it, and wants it to. His world and his train of thought stretch back to the old country, although he is an American.

The second candidate is Rav David Mercado, who was born in Portland, and whose family was not overly religious. They were not proficient in Torah studies. He attended two years at a college whose foundation was based on freedom of thought, along with modern ideas and thinking. He studied Literature, philosophy, anthropology, art, etc. But, he didn’t study Torah. At some point he felt spiritually devoid, and through a visiting Rabbi he was convinced him to study Torah, intensely. He eventually attended Yeshivas Lita, where he studied Torah. He devoted himself to his studies, but had a modern view and vision of Torah and Orthodox Judaism. He did not practice Haredi Judaism, the more conservative form. He taught at the Yeshiva, but with a modern persuasion, believing in a modern study of Torah, with freedom to think for one’s self, and interpret with an open mind.

“Our students should not be narrow-minded, self-righteous intellectual gymnasts, but should strive to learn from everyone and everything. The should be Rabbis and teachers who understand human nature, who can inspire their communities to righteousness.”

Rave Mercado eventually marries, but his bride was not chosen for him, but one he chose for himself out of love and respect. She was raised a Greek Orthodox Christian, who converted to Judaism. She does not adhere to Haredi Judaism, does not cover her hair, attended college, wears stylish fashions, and is a modern woman in every sense of the word.

Rav Grossman thinks little of Rav Mercado, even though Grossman’s own father saw the light spark within Mercado, and respected some of his ideals. The problem is that Rabbi Leibel Grossman died before he could assign the role of rosh yeshiva. Rav Grossman thinks it is his right and due, and feels that the search committee is a form of demeaning and disrespecting him, and he doesn’t hesitate to shout it out, in anger and rage.

The search committee interviews Rav Grossman, Rav Mercado, each of their spouses, and several other individuals who are for one or the other. The interviews are very interesting and give an overview of each side of the Jewish Orthodox coin. Half of them are pro Rav Grossman, and are Haredi Jews, the other half are of the more modern persuasion and are pro Rav Mercado. The ideologies presented in the interviews are food for thought.

The Search Committee is an excellent study of the comparisons and contrasts of both forms of Orthodox Judaism. The book demonstrates the differences with acute clarity. On one hand we have the Haredi Jews, and on the other the more modern Orthodox Jews. The book presents a quandary of sorts, within the Orthodox Jewish community and the traditions and cultural aspects unique to Orthodox Judaism. Women’s issues are prevalent within the context of those being interviewed. If students marry, their wives are expected to work to support the family, even if there are children, while their husbands study Torah all day. The book leaves us to question financial and familial responsibility. Monetary issues are primary factors within the book, outside the familial cocoon. In the book, those who fund the yeshiva are disrespected by Rav Grossman. The funds are given to the yeshiva so its attendees can study full time without worry of having to earn a living. The contributors have no say, but put up the pay. It almost seems as if the yeshiva, as a whole, benefits at the cost (literally) of other individuals.
I think that Angel wanted to strongly convey that thought, and his writing demands we listen.

Studying Torah is the reason for the yeshiva, and the men study within a controlled environment, without sunlight, etc. There is no room for free thinking, and the students are almost robotic in their routine. The book shows how the influence of the teachers and their teaching leaves little room for symbolic and rational interpretation. The ideology does not leave space for thinking outside of the box, so to speak. Yet, there are also ethical issues for the reader to consider.

Those issues, and so many more, are primary within the pages of The Search Committee. It leaves one to ponder both sides, the old ways and the more modern ways, ideologies and traditions, Torah and interpretation. Can there be a balance between the Haredi Jews and the modern Jews in the Orthodox world? Can there be a melding? Or, do they need to be separate entities? One does not recognize the other, within the confines of Torah study and its religious foundation.

Angel forces the reader to ponder these issues. He writes with straightforward prose, and boldness in his directness. He is not in the least obscure in his conveyance. The novel is fascinating and interesting on so many levels. There is so much to absorb within the 155 pages. The Search Committee is well-written, from a unique perspective, and Marc Angel is brilliant in his assessment of the differences and discord within the Orthodox Jewish community.

Is there a right or wrong way to interpret Torah? Do people need to be guided towards a strict and all encompassing mode of study? Is there room for rational, open-minded and open ended thinking, and meditative interpretation? You need to read the book and decide for yourself. I highly recommend it.

I personally own and have read this book. This book is the second book (out of four of my choosing from my list), that I have read and reviewed for the Jewish Literary Challenge 2009.

All the quoted sentences come from the book, and were written by Marc Angel, and are his copyright.

This book is the second book (out of four of my choosing from my list), that I have read and reviewed, for the Jewish Literature Challenge 2009.
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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
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Monday January 19, 2009 – 23rd of Tevet, 5769