“I refuse to deal with any halakhic essay, regardless of its scholastic merits or fallacies, prepared by a representative of a group whose philosophy is diametrically opposed to Torah and tradition and which does not accept the authority of Halakhah as a Divine and transcendental guide for the individual and the community.”
If those remarks and the aforementioned on abortion rub some Modern Orthodox Jews the wrong way—if they sound too “judgmental” and insufficiently “progressive” or “tolerant”—maybe introspection is the order of the day. Maybe more than a few Jews who honor Shabbat and keep kosher have internalized false values in other fundamental areas to disastrous effect. The edifying potential of Rav Soloveitchik’s brilliant conscience is so immense, if only we have the humility and courage to reflect upon it.
