Reply To: A Critique of Contenders

Chacham-

The Ibn Ezra argument was the biggest joke. Both sides made as if this is some kind of new idea, when in fact the question of whether Ibn Ezra meant it the way Hirsch took it is one of the oldest debates in the book. I actually even saw it cited in Voltaire (!). Personally though, I agree that it is a mistaken interpretation, but for other reasons.

But this just demonstrates my point. The main issue with Reform is the legitimacy of the authority of the Torah; they should have stuck to the Bible Criticism questions and argued them out, and if neither was qualified then they shouldn’t have debated at all, but to debate all of the other issues was really a waste of time. I’m sorry but to me it was all just a bunch of rhetoric.

aries2756-

Unfortunately, yes.