Q&A: Moderate Religious Zionism
Moderate Religious Zionism
Question
Hello Rabbi, a few weeks ago Rabbi Ido Fechter's manifesto, "Moderate Religious Zionism," was published.
I wanted to ask what the Rabbi thinks of that manifesto?
Thank you very much!
Answer
I haven't read it. From what I've seen in the past, our bottom lines are apparently fairly close, but the underlying basis is dramatically different (really the opposite). I don't aspire to moderation, nor to making Torah appealing to different audiences. None of that particularly interests me. I'm looking for what the truth is, and in my view the truth is usually more moderate than what is commonly accepted. But if I believe in something that is not moderate, I have no interest in smoothing off the edges and boosting Torah's ratings. For example, on the issue of conversion or a "softer" Jewish identity. I also don't accept many of his specific arguments.