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Autonomy , Halakhah , and Mitzvah 41

Walter Jacob and Moshe Zemer and those who have written essays for the volumes produced by the Freehof Institute.

The progressive halakhic enterprise is a method of analysis designed to shape the behavior and ideas of those who engage in it. It is less about specific decisions than decision­making. It tries to persuade through an analysis of texts that seek to link contemporary decision making to historical tradition and thereby argue that it represents an authentic Jewish approach to contemporary dilemmas.

This confirms what Walter Jacob wrote and I cited at the beginning of the article.

“We intend to recreate a halakhah, but not one that is either static or hidebound, and unchanging or tied principally to ritual. the strength of our movement has been a sense of balance, not always easily attained, but even as we strive for a better understanding of halakhah and incorporate, halakhah into our Reform Jewish lives, we must remember its purpose is to strengthen and reinforce the major ideals of Judaism . Social justice, personal piety, the eternal Messianic dream of universalism must always be as central as the halakhic approach. Balance is never easy to achieve but it is always necessary.