Such is the paradoxical conclusion of Adam Ferziger, author of a new book on American Orthodox Judaism in the past half-century. In an exchange with Alan Brill, he writes:

Among the generation of American Orthodox rabbis that emerged in the early to mid- 20th century, there was a strong feeling that Orthodoxy had to try to appeal to as many Jews as possible. At a time when few congregations existed that could boast of a critical mass of fully observant individuals, it was obvious that Orthodoxy would become obsolete if it only catered to the pious. . . .

Modern Orthodoxy’s Americanized, college-educated graduates were dispatched to communities throughout the country with the goal of creating Orthodox congregations that would offer religious services to the entire Jewish population. With this attitude in mind, some even walked a denominational tightrope by accepting pulpits in synagogues with mixed [male and female] seating. . . .

By contrast, the ḥaredi world was created by survivors and remnants of the leadership of the Lithuanian yeshivas and ḥasidic dynasties who arrived around World War II and directed their efforts toward recreating the institutions and lifestyles that had been destroyed. Fearful of the seductive power of the treyfe medinah (unkosher land)—which to their minds had tainted the already-established Modern Orthodox [community]—they set up enclaves in which they could regain their former strength and vitality. . . Their main objective . . . was to create a community devoted to Torah learning and or/ḥasidic teachings [and] a cadre of rabbis and teachers who could service the needs of recently imperiled communities of the faithful.

More recently, a role reversal has taken place. While non-ḥasidic ḥaredi yeshivas continue to emphasize theoretical talmudic study over practical rabbinics, . . . they . . . have increasingly developed and supported auxiliary programs dedicated to training rabbis (and their wives) so that they can reach out far beyond Orthodox boundaries. Yeshiva University, [the flagship institution of Modern Orthodoxy], meanwhile, focuses most of its energies on in-reach—servicing the highly specific intellectual and ideological needs of its natural constituents. . . .

On Tuesday, a Hizballah drone attack injured three people in northern Israel. The next day, another attack, targeting an IDF base, injured eighteen people, six of them seriously, in Arab al-Amshe, also in the north. This second attack involved the simultaneous use of drones carrying explosives and guided antitank missiles. In both cases, the defensive systems that performed so successfully last weekend failed to stop the drones and missiles. Ron Ben-Yishai has a straightforward explanation as to why: the Lebanon-backed terrorist group is getting better at evading Israel defenses. He explains the three basis systems used to pilot these unmanned aircraft, and their practical effects:

These systems allow drones to act similarly to fighter jets, using “dead zones”—areas not visible to radar or other optical detection—to approach targets. They fly low initially, then ascend just before crashing and detonating on the target. The terrain of southern Lebanon is particularly conducive to such attacks.

But this requires skills that the terror group has honed over months of fighting against Israel. The latest attacks involved a large drone capable of carrying over 50 kg (110 lbs.) of explosives. The terrorists have likely analyzed Israel’s alert and interception systems, recognizing that shooting down their drones requires early detection to allow sufficient time for launching interceptors.

The IDF tries to detect any incoming drones on its radar, as it had done prior to the war. Despite Hizballah’s learning curve, the IDF’s technological edge offers an advantage. However, the military must recognize that any measure it takes is quickly observed and analyzed, and even the most effective defenses can be incomplete. The terrain near the Lebanon-Israel border continues to pose a challenge, necessitating technological solutions and significant financial investment.