Thread by @AriLamm

The 4 biggest external pressures on the American rabbinate:

1. History of Congregationalism (suspicion of individual religious leadership)

2. Credentialism (treating semicha like a Masters)

3. Electoral politics (above all, don't offend)

4. Agglomeration (bigger = better)

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This implies, all things equal, the longer we've been in America, the more likely we'll be to seek rabbis without big personalities, with an impressive professional CV, who are as inoffensive as possible. And agglomeration means fewer open positions thus discouraging dissenters 1

So far, obvious. But here's another thing it implies: over time, Americanized Jews will end up complaining about the decline in rabbi quality *irrespective* of whether the talent pool is *actually* smaller/worse. 2

This is crucial bc here's the thing: whenever I've gotten to know rabbis from my age cohort, I've been blown away by how brilliant, talented and ambitious they are. The seeds of a new golden age are there.

If we miss out, it will be bc we structured their incentives so poorly. 3