A while ago, Steg, a Beyond BT commentor defined the following principles of Left Wing Modern Orthodoxy in a comment. He wrote
Please stop confusing LWMO with MO-Lite. LWMO is:
1. a generally positive view of general society (i.e. “what’s out there that can make me a better person/jew” as opposed to “what’s out there that i should avoid in order to be a better person/jew”)
2. a preference for lenient opinions over more stricter ones, especially for the sake of preserving community
3. a differentiation between halakha and sociology; i.e., just because something “isn’t done” doesn’t mean it’s forbidden, and if it’s not forbidden, and there are good reasons for it, do it (commonly found in issues of gender and women’s roles)
4. a valuing of integration over isolationism, both in cooperating with other Jewish groups and in views on interacting with Non-Jews
5. an acceptance of academic methodology as part of learning Torah (such as Critical Talmud study, and Literary Analysis of Tanakh)
We thought it might be useful to define some principles of the other wings of Orthodoxy. This is a work in progress and your comments and corrections are appreciated. (Originally published in June 2008)
| Left Wing MO | Right Wing MO | Left Wing UO | Right Wing UO | |
| Believe In G-d | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Believe in Torah From Sinai | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Believe in Reward & Punishment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Believe Mitzvah Observance is Obligatory | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Halachic Adherence | Lenient | Normative Halacha | Normative Halacha | Strict |
| Scholarly Approach to Torah | Full Acceptance | Partial Acceptance | Little Acceptance | Rare Acceptance |
| Women’s Learning | Gemora Taught | Gemora Usually Not Taught | Gemora Not Taught | Gemora Not Taught |
| Normative Occupation | Business, Profession | Business, Profession | Business, Profession, Chinuch | Learning, Chinuch |
| Attitude Towards General Society | Positive | Potentially Positive | Cautious | Dismissive |
| Interaction with Non Jews | Frequent | Cautious | Occasional | Rare |
| Integration with Non Orthodox Groups | Frequent | Cautious | Occasional | Rare |
| Non Traditional Women’s Roles | Very Accommodating | Accommodating | Occasionally Accommodating | Not Accommodating |
| Left Wing MO | Right Wing MO | Left Wing UO | Right Wing UO | |
| Mixed Teenage Socializing | Accepted | Not Encouraged | Not Accepted | Not Accepted |
| Mixed Fund Raising Dinners | Accepted | Accepted | Partially Accepted | Not Accepted |
| Mixed Shmorg at Weddings | Vast Majority | Significant Majority | Separate With Crossover | No |
| Mixed Seating Weddings | Accepted | Sometimes | Never | Never |
| Men’s Dress | Cultural Norms | Suits, Business Casual | Suits, Colored Shirts | Dark Suits, White Shirts |
| Women’s Dress | Cultural Norms, Hair Not Covered | No Pants, Hair Covered | No Pants, Hair Covered | No Pants, Hair Covered, Legs Covered |
| Secular Studies | Encouraged | Encouraged | Accepted | Necessary for Occupation |
| Secular Fiction | Accepted | Accepted With Limits | Sometimes Accepted | Rarely Accepted |
| Secular Non Fiction | Accepted | Accepted | Sometimes Accepted | Rarely Accepted |
| Television & Movies | Vast Majority | Majority | Minority | Insignificant Minority |
| Internet | Vast Majority | Significant Majority | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Video Games | Vast Majority | Significant Majority | Sometimes | Sometimes |
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