rabbis to speak will have the oppor-
tunity to host Rabbi Hirsch alone, or
in the company with a local
Orthodox rabbi of their choice.
Alternatively, Karper said, she might
appear with Hirsch and discuss the
controversy from the publisher's
point of view. In Detroit, only Rabbi
Hirsch plans to appear.

Lost Approval

Give-And-Take

believe in the centrality of the covenant
of the Jewish people, how can you take
that concept seriously if you never talk
to people who don't look like you,
think like you, act like you?"
Rabbi Hirsch says this book gives
him an opportunity to present the
basic parameters of liberal religious
thinking in a context where they could
have become friends — Rabbi Hirsch
be challenged. He feels that serious
traveled to Lakewood for the brit (cir-
readers from a non-Orthodox perspec-
cumcision) of Rabbi Reinman's grand-
tive will find fortifications.of their own
son — and it's clear that they respect
views and see that the "philosophies on
and like each other.
which interpretations are based are
When asked why he got
serious and compelling."
involved with the project,
Discussions in the book
Rabbi Reinman says that
he is interested in kiruv, or
include the nature of
truth, authority, theologi-
outreach, to the non-
cal questions, biblical his-
Orthodox commu-
nity, although the
tory, the role of women in
Judaism, assimilation and
Orthodox commu-
intermarriage; education
nity does not have
and the future of the
official contacts
ONE PEOP l s E
Jewish people.
with the Reform
TWO W (.)13.
S
While Rabbi Reinman
movement as a matter of
policy.
points to singular truths
and interpretations, Rabbi
"I was hoping to reach
Hirsch sees many avenues
many thousands of them,
to theruth and many possible inter-
to let them know what orthodoxy is
pretations.
about, to dispel many misconcep- .
In the interview, Rabbi Reinman
tions," Rabbi Reinman says.
seems surprised when Rabbi Hirsch
talks about his own Talmudic studies
Any Common Ground?
at Hebrew Union College, as he seems
Between Orthodox and non-Orthodox to think that his colleague was pulling
Jews, Rabbi Reinman says: "There real- quotes out of context in their
exchanges.
ly is no ideological common ground.
Rabbi Hirsch says that sort of skepti-
"The dividing line between us is that
cism about others' study of the Jewish
we [Orthodox Jews] believe in Torah
min hashamayim," he says. We believe texts is reflective of the community
Rabbi Reinman comes from, where
that the Torah is Divine. We believe
there's a refusal to accept the notion
that there was revelation, that God .,
that those from other backgrounds can
articulated the covenant between the
speak authentically about the texts.
Jewish people and God.
"The Torah is as much yours as
"The other streams believe that
mine," Rabbi Reinman replies, but
[there was] human authorship of the
"that doesn't give you the right to say
Torah," Rabbi Reinman continues.
that 'I own it, that it can say what I
"They don't believe in revelation or
want it to say.'
prophesy. They believe that the
"It gives you the right to sit and
covenant is something that existed in
learn.
the minds of our ancestors ... it was
The experience of reading this book
something that they felt but didn't
is like following a give-and-take match;
come from God."
readers may find themselves siding at
He pauses before saying, "There's no
times with Rabbi Hirsch, at times with
way to reconcile these points of view."
Rabbi Reinman. In the end, they do .
For Rabbi Hirsch, there's more com-
little to bridge the gap between their
mon ground than his colleague sug-
worlds, but much to humanize the
gests.
conflict.
"I think it's important for Jews of
different persuasions to dialogue," he
says. "That's consistent with the very
essence of our Jewish tradition that
believes in disputation and argumenta-
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch speaks 8
tion and dialogue for the purpose of
p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the
ascertaining and coming close to truth
Jewish Community Center in
and commonality."
West Bloomfield.
He continues, 'After all, if you

Exploring divergent views about Judaism.

SANDEE BRAWARSKY
Special to the Jewish News

A

conversation about their
Although Rabbi Reinman participat-
new book became some-
ed in the writing of One People, Two
thing of a live version of the
Worlds with the permission of rab-
book itself. As soon as the
binic scholars in his community,
interview began, the two rabbi co-
statements condemning it were later
authors were conversing as friends, but
issued by the governing rabbinical
disagreeing with each other all the
council of Agudath Israel of America
way.
as well as leaders of Beth Medrash
One People, Two Worlds: A
Govoha in Lakewood, a top haredi
Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox
yeshivah from which Reinman
Rabbi Explore the Issues that
received his ordination.
. Divide Them by Rabbis Ammiel
In its statement, the Aguda's rab-
Hirsch and Yosef Reinman
binic council worries that the book
(Schocken; $26) is an unusual book.
and efforts to promote it will leave
It's comprised of e-mail correspon-
people with the impression that
dence between the two rabbis, one a
Reform is a legitimate, albeit com-
communal leader in the Reform move-
peting, alternative for all Jews.
ment, the other a Talmudic scholar
In Detroit, where there is a com-
from the yeshivah world.
fortable ongoing forum for multi-
Both are sons of rabbis. Rabbi
stream involvement, Orthodox lead-
Hirsch's father is a Reform rabbi also
ership often share planning and
active in national affairs who founded
involvement in programs and even
the movement's Religious Action
services with members of other
Center. Rabbi Reinman's father, a
Jewish denominations.
Holocaust survivor, was a well-known
We participate in forums, like
Talmudist, and his grandfather was the
SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish
18th-generation rabbi of Narol, a
Enrichment) with other rabbis,"
Polish town.
Rabbi Freedman said. "But appearing
A literary agent who had the idea for
in a debate format, confronting other this book brought Rabbis Hirsch and
religions or streams, has always been
Reinman together.
considered unacceptable. Orthodox
About their first dinner, Rabbi
people do not debate religion. In our
Reinman writes, "... me with my
community, we collaborate on
beard, peyot [side curls] and long caftan
dozens of big and broad programs
and you beardless and bare-headed.
and issues, from crisis intervention to What could two people like us have in
pastoral care, but you don't find a
common?"
whole lot of theological dialogue
Agreeing to collaborate, they spent
with other streams."
about 18 months in a vigorous elec-
In spite of the fact that many may
tronic conversation.
not agree with or understand Rabbi
Rabbi Reinman, 54, of Lakewood,
Reinman's choice, Rabbi Freedman
N.J., explains that although he had the
said, "He is not acting with reckless
approval of several rabbis he respects
abandon. He tried to do something
before going ahead with the project, he
novel — with backing from a few
is not representing the Orthodox rab-
respected rabbis," he said.
binate in any way.
"But when the mainstream rabbis
Nor is Rabbi Hirsch, 43, executive
did not want him to debate, he
director of the Association of Reform
found himself reluctantly abiding by
Zionists of America-World Union for
their decision." ❑
Progressive Judaism, speaking for
— Additional contributors to this story Reform Judaism. Rabbi Hirsch of New
are Gary Rosenblatt, editor and publisher York City says the bOok is a discussion
of "New York Jewish Week;" Ami Eden of between two individuals, noting that a
the "Forward"; and Bob Menaker, editor different pair of rabbis might have
of the (Atlanta Jewish Times," sister pub- focused the conversation differently.
lication of the Detroit Jewish News.
Through their book, the two men

❑

•

11/8
2002

23