My View of Rationalist Judaism (and the Blog Thereof)

“What I dreaded has befallen me”; a reader has asked my opinion of RationalistJudaism.com…

The topic is too nuanced for writing and\or publishing, let alone for a crowd, but I will make general and inadequate comments:

• First and foremost, even one who denies the “13 Ikkarim” (or appears to) is a Kosher Jew, אכמ”ל, see page 10 over here. Rambam’s 13 Principles are not halachic.
• By definition, the truth cannot be heresy in Judaism, and Emuna does not entail telling anyone falsehoods, either.
• Indeed, there is a time-honored rationalist school of thought in Judaism, one I do not, myself, belong to.
• We have quoted RationalistJudaism.com plenty here in the past, and hope to continue doing so.
• Yours Truly lacks aptitude for the exact sciences.
• One may not judge Jews without hearing them out first, as was, in fact, done in this and many other cases.

To be clear, I’m dodging plenty of things here on purpose!