“It is Time to Act for the Lord” 39
described as postmodernity, is just taking shape. One characteristic of this new age is the desire of Jews for authenticity and meaning, which they are increasingly finding in a return to an encounter with sacred texts. It is the responsibility of those who believe that God ’s will is manifest in a faithful and systematic approach to the study of sacred texts to demonstrate it in their writing and in their own lives.
Notes
I. This paper is also designed to serve as a tribute to Rabbi Moshe Zemer , who along with Rabbi Walter Jacob established the Freehof Institute for Progressive Halakhah. Rabbi Zemer ’s contributions have been immense. His vast knowledge and writing have deeply influenced the Progressive movement in Israel , demonstrating that Orthodoxy is not the final word on halakhah, and his halakhic writing challenges all of us in the worldwide Progressive movement to consider seriously the role that halakhah should have in our decision-making process. I pray that God grants him many more productive years as a primary teacher for all of us who want to renew and revitalize Progressive Judaism in a rigorous way.
2. My answer to this question depends heavily on the thought of Menachem Fisch , especially his books Rational Rabbis(Bloomington : University of Indiana Press , 1997) and Da-at Hokhmah(Jerusalem : Van Leer Institute, 1994) as well as a series of lectures that he presented to the Beth Emet the Free Synagogue Israel Kallot.
3. For this discussion I rely heavily on Joel Roth ’s book Halakhic Process: A Systemic Approach(New York : Jewish Theological Seminary of America , 1986).
4. As T will later argue, it is the rigor of textual analysis that is so characteristic of halakhic discourse that is most relevant. In another place I have discussed the possibility of a pluralistic halakhah where the discourse results in a range of answers about what is permitted and prohibited. For example, the proper time for lighting candles to begin Shabbat might be determined by the astronomical considerations such as, the setting of the sun, or sociological considerations, such as when the family gathers for Shabbat dinner; both would be proper in such as system. This is in contrast to the traditional halakhic system which provides only a single proper way of lighting candles. In an as yet unpublished essay on Jewish bioethics I have argued for an aggadic or narrative approach to Reform decision, making this a variant of my concept of a pluralistic halakhah..
5. B.M. 59b.