Philosopher and Poseq- 87 ­

practical matters connected with halakhah such as the position of the aguna, the general role of women in Judaism , etc. He, therefore, because of his sociological approach was willing to deal with the actual details of the law as well as its broad theoretical structure.

In the contemporary Reform Jewish world, Eugene Borowitz (1925-) is without doubt the most significant theologian . His influence has been felt through his position as Professor of the Hebrew Union College - Institute of Religion(New York ) and through his lively intellectual journal, Sh’ma, which has served as a forum for wide spectrum of American intellectual Jewish life. He has discussed halakhah and view of it in a number of books and essays. According to Borowitz , the principle problem which the modern Jew faces is the fact that there is no widely accepted philosophy upon which modern Jewish theology can be built. As as we live in an age of philosophical pluralism we can not duplicate the efforts of the Middle Ages which dealt with Neo-Platonic or Aristotilean thought. Nor can we properly follow the thinkers of the nineteenth century who were able to build on Kantian, Neo-Kantian or Hegelian philosophy, all of which were somewhat hospitable to religion. In contrast much of twentieth thought is hostile or neutral toward religion. In a society which is materialistic and utilitarian in its outlook theology finds itself in a difficult position. Yet, Eugene Borowitz is not willing to give up as he searches for"an antidote for paganism." That is not easy as the mood of universalism which provided such antidote in the past is now over.(34) For Borowitz we must begin from an extistentialist perspective and with the individual. Furthermore, he is much concerned with the autonomy and