Agudah does, (like any good lobbying group) whats in its memebers best interest. Problem is, they rarely hear a disenting voice from the membership (after all, no one wants to be accused of being anti daas torah) so there is little reason for senior managment to to ever fear backlash from the members.
I do take issue with the tone of their convention. (yes.. I’ve been there twice) Never mind the gluttony and endless fashion show. How do they, a torah institution, justify in today’s day and age mixed seating? I know in the founding years they catered to the American Harrys and Sadies (sorry if any of you have / had relatives with those names!), but in 2008? (’09 party was not yet, so maybe they’ll change the venue.. lets be dan l’kav zchus).
No one on the dais would be mesadair kedushin at mixed-seating wedding; why tolerate this? And yes, I know there is no music, but still.. in the presence of the Gedolie Hador? So perhaps, just perhaps, Augudah does not really represent dyed-in-wool bnei torah. Who they really cater to are the Cancun / Aspen goers, who give two hoot about the inconsistancy of torah living and non-stop gashmius.
The year I was there, Rabbi Waxman railed about “how rabboninm should not attend affairs of balei batim who flout the chasseneh takonos!”. This being said as the audience wolfs down poached salmon and runny chip cookies with ice cream.. after a weekend filled to the hilt with 5 star food that would do Micheal Shick proud.
Does anyone else see the irony?