In response to this, I would venture the following two arguments. First, we spend far too long sequestering ourselves into ever smaller boxes and labels. Instead of a Jew is a Jew, we look to split, divide and further sub-divide a people which altogether constitutes a mere 0.19 per cent of the world’s population. On a number of occasions I recall the late Rabbi Sacks, of blessed memory, refer to his personal distaste at attaching any appellation to “Orthodox” – whether of the “ultra” or “modern” variety. He felt that “Orthodox” should suffice as a broad enough definition of Jewish identity, without the need to categorise it further. Adopting this attitude means that the success of any part of a people is a success of the whole — and one we should celebrate.
It is a funny article, when he quotes Rabbi Sacks, but forgets to mention that very few Hareidim agree with his statement, and they continue to rubbish all of Anglo -Jewry who are not hareidi, including the current chief rabbi Mirvis.
ReplyDeleteSo what he should really be asking is "when will the hareidim decide it is time to
fully embrace the lesser or non- Orthodox?"