Q&A: Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Question
Did the Rabbi understand Leibowitz’s statement that faith is an arbitrary decision, and that when he was asked why one should choose a life of Torah and commandments, he answered: why choose a moral and decent life?
The conclusion is that Leibowitz saw faith as something subjective and non-rational, without any foundation (the revelation at Mount Sinai), and therefore it is impossible to refute the religious claim because it is not based on anything. Is that correct?
And was Leibowitz perhaps an atheist in disguise, who simply continued the chain out of loyalty?
Happy holiday.
Answer
There is an article of mine here on the site about Leibowitz exactly on this point.