Peter Knobel
[he plural form so that the people are included 8. Midrash Rabbah, Num. 19:33 9. Fisch, Rational Rabbis, pp. 79-88 ). B. M. 59b Rashi to Hag. 3b Rashi to Ket. 57a
3. The full argument is presented in Rational Rabbis
15. They raise a question which we constantly confront today in our work: have we begun with a conclusion that we seek to dress up with texts, or are we genuinely examining texts under new lenses that cause us to view them differently. In the same manner, when traditional poskim are faced with unprecedented situations, we will turn to texts whose values illuminate the current situation, but itis also clear that we will hold up certain texts as authoritative which others will
not. It is the quality of the argument and not merely the use of the texts that will make the position we articulate acceptable.
16. Jacob Neusner , The Glory of God Is Intelligence(Provo , Utah : Brigham Young University , 1978). This analogy may not be too distant from the concept of the physicists who understand their enquiry into nature as an attempt to read the mind of God .
17. We have both de facto and de jure autonomy. This pluralism and freedom can be very healthy and creative. Its greatest limitation is that it does not encourage an intellectually serious process before change is introduced.
19. CCAR Responsa 5756.8(www ccarnet.org)
Ibid. p. 151