THE SEARCH FOR LIBERAL HALAKHAH

the best available interpretation of its literary sources. It follows that when these rulings are shown to be devoid of reasonable textual justification or founded upon arbitrary and debatable value choices, that authority disappears, and their decisions are no more "correct" than any other textually defensible interpretation of halakhah.

The ultimate goal of liberal halakhic writing is to encourage among the observant community an openness to alternative interpretations of law. Liberals cannot accomplish this objective by ignoring the halakhic consensus, a functioning and decisive element in the process of halakhic judgement. Still, we have seen that it is possible to refute the consensus by testing it against the criteria of validity recognized by all halakhists. Should they succeed in establishing such a refutation in a significant number of cases, liberals may well convince Jews who live by halakhah and take it seriously that there can be more than one"correct" answer to a halakhic question. Put differently, liberals seek to break the monopoly of the gedolim over halakhic decision. This ambitious goal will take much hard work. To challenge the consensus position over the broad range of legal issues will require the publication of books, articles, studies, reviews and responsa which by their quantity as well as quality will guarantee that liberal alternatives receive their fair share of attention in the marketplace of halakhic ideas. My hope is that our new Institute will contribute significantly to this end. In this way it will surely perform a vital and indispensable role in the continuing search for a liberal halakhah.

1. Emanuel Rackman ,"A Challenge to Orthodoxy", Judaism 18, 1969, pp. 143-158; Irving Greenberg ,"Jewish Values and the Changing American Ethic", Tradition 10, 1968, pp. 42-74.

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