Oh boy! Just in time for Channukah, JTA has published an article that is sure to stoke some fires. Which is good, cause it’s freezing in New York today. There’s a lot in here that I’ll want to comment on, more than I can do right now. Stay tuned. This will definitely be something I need to reflect on over Shabbas. For now, an excerpt:
“There is a place for reason in religion, and sometimes in Reform Judaism today we don’t give that enough attention…”
That’s by Michael Meyer, of HUC-JIR fame. I agree with him on some levels. A quick example – the URJ’s recent ethical eating initiative is a perfect intersection of reason and religion that’s been lacking attention for far too long. I also think, as I’ve argued a few times before, that there’s a place for irrationality in religion, and more often than not in Reform Judaism today, we don’t give that enough attention.
I would say that if you really want to delve into the intersection between reason and religion, a good start would be Soren Kierkegaard’s “Fear and Trembling.” Some nice, light reading.
More on this tomorrow. Chag Urim Sameach!
Rabbi Jesse Paikin 