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Machshava Mavens

[Updated] I recently discovered the Avodah mailing list. I am addicted to this website, which " hosts a  chevrah  that focuses on analysis of  hashkafah, avodas Hashem, ta’amei hamitzvos, lomdus, machshavah , and  halachah  — with an emphasis on the places where  halachah, machshavah  and  hargashah  meet."   I have spent many hours reading the free-wheeling discussions, which have been going on since 1998. Th e people are quite knowledgeable and always bring sources to back up their arguments. Opinions without sources are not welcome there. Some people on the site seem to know an awful lot about Jewish Machshava.  I OTOH have no familiarity at all with the teachings of thinkers like Rambam, Ramban, Saadia Gaon, ibn Pikuda, Kuzari, and others. They didn't teach it in the Yeshivas I attended. One would think that knowledge of classic machshava is a prerequisite to being a good Jew. After all, these writings explore Jewish views on Ultimate Truths.  So, how is on
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East v. West

Much of what we think of as "Orthodox Judaism" is in fact cultural, rather than religious. Think of Yeshivish, Sefardy, Chassidish, Chabadnik, YU. All the above groups think, dress, daven, learn and practice Judaism in very different ways. Each group no doubt thinks their way is the most authentically 'Jewish' way, but in reality they are all just different cultural expressions and nuances. These cultural nuances have been significantly shaped by the surrounding non-Jewish cultures. I don't think one can really say that there is any 'authentic' Jewish culture. Even if you go back to early Israel, that was a mix of Cannaanite and other tribes. Hardly what we could call a 'Jewish' culture by today’s standards. There are many cultural differences between the MO and UO in dress, thought patterns, attitudes towards women, State of Israel, etc.  MOs for the most part have adopted the modern Western 'high' culture, with associated skept
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