Reforming Halacha

There is a new organization called "Beit Hillel". A friend recently sent me an article written by one of their members [a software engineer by profession] describing their ideology. I will first reprint the article and they give you my censored opinion. [My uncensored opinion is that it is a branch of Reform Judaism masquerading as Orthodox:)].


Beit Hillel’s Halachic Approach

Beit Hillel is fervently and totally committed to Halacha, the Orthodox tradition, and the rigorous methodology of studying the sources from the Talmud, via the Geonim, Rishonim, Aharonim and Poskim; carefully weighing the various opinions on the background of the issue at hand, bearing in mind the nature of the period of time.

Beit Hillel leans to a holistic approach. While one can find Halachic rulings which will emphasize certain traditional values, while paying less regard to other central Torah tenets, Beit Hillel will attempt to bring all concerns to the table.

Beit Hillel would never approve of leniency on any Torah value or Halacha in a void.But when value stands against value, it is the very essence of the Oral Torah, and the duty of the rabbinic leaders of each generation to evaluate and weigh the issues, using their moral compass, common sense and precedence to favor one Torah value over another.

This is reminiscent of the famed story attributed to Rav Chaim of Brisk. There are many versions, but they all have Rav Chaim instructing Jews with health concerns to eat and drink on Yom Kippur. When confronted by a colleague about his leniency on the laws of the solemn fast, Rav Chaim famously retorted: “I am not being lenient about the laws of Yom Kippur; on the contrary: I am being strict about the laws of guarding one’s life.”

Beit Hillel is not lenient, Heaven forbid, on the laws of Shabbat; on the contrary it is strict about the laws of guarding one’s fellow Jew’s spiritual life, family harmony, and the unity of Am Yisrael.

Beit Hillel’s Methodology

Beit Hillel is currently comprised of approximately 170 Rabbanim and Rabbaniyot, the vast majority leading communities or holding key Yeshiva/Midrasha roles, including several Rashei Yeshiva, who share the ideology of an enlightened, inclusive Judaism, whose “ways are pleasant”; and are committed to presenting what they consider to be the genuine face of Judaism to the public, sophisticated, nuanced and sensitive to the needs of the era.

All of the members are invited to participate in the Beit Midrash Ha-Hilchati (Halachic study forum). This forum meets about every 2 months (according to need) for roughly 5 or 6 hour sessions, to study and discuss pressing Halachic issues of weighty and significant public concern, towards publicizing responsa. Critical sources are sent to participants before convening, so they are well versed and prepared for the conference. A symposium will typically include a lecture by renowned experts on the topic at hand, who present different angles of the subject. This will often be followed by an in depth lecture by one of the Beit Hillel members on pertinent aspects of the question. The symposium is typified by lively and energetic discussion throughout the proceedings, and will end with debate over the decisions to be made, and when necessary will determine how to investigate matters further.
These meetings are invariably followed by further extensive deliberations by the Beit Midrash forum via email.

After decisions are reached, a draft is made up by one of the members, which is submitted to the Beit Midrash forum for comment and often extensive debate. This process will continue until a consensus is reached.

Once the Beit Midrash forum agrees on a document that reflects their proceedings and decisions, the document will be submitted to the wider Beit Hillel forum by email, giving the entire group the opportunity to offer new insights or point out issues or sources overlooked.

As is readily apparent, this is an unprecedented method of developing a responsum. The result is a paper which has been critically examined and weighed by some of the best minds that Religious Zionist rabbinic leadership has to offer. The entire spectrum of Halachic concerns, from texts to social issues is thrashed out and taken into account. The shared responsibility affords the decision substantial authority and validity.

I would like to give an example from an area that I used to know a lot about: Sports. Yeshiva University has a very good basketball team - The Macs [short for Macabees - not sure how the original Macabess would feel about a competitive basketball team using their name. My hunch is that they wouldn't be happy as it is foreign to their spirit]. I heard that they were the second most accurate three point shooters in all of "Division Three" college ball this year. The Macs have a great history with many superstars [some of whom were my family members:)].

So I ask: How come the Macs don't play with the "Big Boys" in "Division One A". Why are they playing against schools like City College and not against schools like U.C.L.A. or Duke?

The answer is that they are completely out of their league [literally and figuratively]. If they would play against the best teams in the country they would be WHUPPED. Sorry. No offense coach Jonny. YU is good but only on their limited level but no YU guys are going to the NBA. [A couple were drafted over the years but nobody ever made it to the big show]. In Division Three, YU is great but not beyond that. If YU would play the Lakers they would almost get shut out! Lakers 151 - Yeshiva 4. [But I am CERTAIN that the players are better gemara learners than the Lakers and have better middos and THAT'S what counts:)].

This generation is blessed with people who are first rate titans of Torah. To name a few of the better known: Rav Chaim Kneyevsky, Rav Ovadiah Yosef, Rav Shlomo Fischer, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rav Asher Weiss, Rav Moshe Shternbuch and Rav Zalman Nechmiah Goldberg, all Shlita. People who know Shas by heart, Shulchan Aruch by heart, EVERYTHING by heart. People who excel at discovering brilliant novel interpretations of our ancient texts.

I look at the men and women [!!] who compromise the members of this new halachic panel. Are they on the same level as the Torah giants that I mentioned. Clearly not. I am SURE that I, little me, learn better and know more than some of the members of this group and I can assure you, that all humility aside,  I personally know plenty of people who are bigger than I am in Torah.

The way the halachic system has worked since Sinai is that the BIGGEST authorities are consulted when deciding big questions. Our gedolei yisrael are well aware of every source that there people will bring up. The difference I believe is that these people want to superimpose their modern value system on the halacha [with a "holistic" approach] and the gedolim judge based strictly on pure Torah values.

There is a very simple way of testing my assertion. Approach each one of the members of this group and give them a test on Kol Hatorah Koolah. I am quite certain that I can guess what the results would be.

Remember - In order to get semicha one needs to pass test on a very small percentage of the Shulchan Aruch so having semicha does not a gadol make.

I don't think Beit Hillel, the members of the Yeshiva of Hillel, would be happy.... I believe it arrogant for small [albeit I am sure very nice and sincere] people to claim that they know better what the Torah says than people who know so much more than they do and have so many more years of learning under their belt.

I have a lot more to say but will suffice with this [for now...:)]