Philosopher and Poseq- 93 ­

theology have provided one avenue of approaching halakhah. The other has always been given through the practical responsa or codes. Let us now review that avenue.

The position of the poseq(decisor) has changed drastically within the Reform and Conservative movements during this century. In the Reform Movement for example despite the establishment of the Responsa Committee in 1907 no reponsa report appeared in the Yearbooks till 1911. The various chairmen who headed this committee in the early part of the century were faced by only a small number of questions which they felt required a formal answers. There may have been minor questions addressed to them as well but their number was probably rather small. The situation has changed during the tenure of Solomon B. Freechof and even more so during my tenure. The number of questions has vastly increased so that over one hundred questions are addressed to me each year; about half of them require a formal written responsum. In addition a score or more continue to come to Solomon B. Freehof .

Although in theory each chairmen of the Reform Responsa Committees have worked with their committee in practice that has not proven to be practical. Individual styles of the chairmen, the pressure of the work as well as the practical nature distributing a large volume of material for committee discussion has limited the affect of the committee. I have used it with those responsa of wider import and then incorporated suggestions into the responsa themselves whenever it seemed appropriate. However all the responsa of the Central Conference of American Rabbis have been