Introduction

Progressive halakhah” is based on a scientific and historic

approach to the Jewish tradition which leads modern scholars to affirm the developmental character of Scripture and rabbinic literature. Revelation is a divine-human encounter rather than the transmission of infallible law by God to human beings. Progressive halakhah, therefore, is founded on a non-fundamentalist reinterpretation of revelation. Critical investigation of the classic sources demonstrates diversity, flexibility, and creativity in Jewish law. Earlier studies reveal principles and criteria for determining the mitzvot for our time. Such criteria of Liberal halakhah will, among other things, 1) give priority to ethical dimensions in applying mitzvot to life, 2) view kedushah(holiness) as a rationale for evaluating commandments, and 3) provide some role to the individual conscience in determining halakhic choice.

Progressive halakhah has developed greatly during the last five decades. This has occurred in the United States , Europe and Israel . The impetus in this direction came as the American Reform movement moved from its more radical earlier positions.

The need for a new approach to halakhah had not been felt by the large pre-war Central European Liberal community. As that community had not participated in a sharp break with the Tradition, it did not need to discover new ways of returning to it. This meant that no clearly identifiable Reform or Liberal Jewish approach to halakhah was developed by that creative community. There was a strong interest in historical studies like those of Geiger and Frankel which set a theoretical foundation for halakhic changes, however, in the succeeding generations no practical Liberal halakhah developed.

: The terms Progressive halakhah, Reform halakhah, and Liberal halakhah are used interchangeably throughout this book.