Every now and then, we read of a “new” proposal by an Orthodox rabbi or organization aimed at solving some well-known problem of halakhah. The proposal will draw favorable reviews for its innovation and creativity, even as its author or authors insist that their idea is “strictly kosher,” that it fits well within the structure and the strictures  of Orthodox halakhah. Yet when we read the proposal closely we can’t help but think: haven’t we heard this before? Wasn’t this same idea put forth some years ago by a non-Orthodox rabbi or organization? And didn’t the Orthodox rabbinate reject it at the time precisely because of its origin among the “heretics?”

This is one of those times. Continue reading The Persistence of Progressive Halakhic Ideas →