Received on May 12, 2008 as an email. 

Hi Brian,

 

I very much like the fundraising approach.  I have to admit, $3,000 seemed to me a bit daunting as a fundraising project but as you worded it, I would be pleased to dedicate at least one volume.  In fact, it might be interesting to let people choose, first-come first-serve, which volume they want to dedicate.  Of course, we may decide that tracking that would be too complicated, but a thought to consider nonetheless.

 

I would modify the opening paragraph a bit.  I don't quite subscribe to the notion that Oral Torah was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  I normally acknowledge that 'Our tradition teaches that the Oral Torah was handed down..."  I find it intellectually honest to acknowledge that it a traditional teaching.  For those who understand the nuance, they can tell that it is a traditional teaching as opposed to present party line.

 

It would be beneficial to expand a bit to reflect how much our modern, liberal practice owes to Talmudic foundation.  Most of our modern practice is a direct result of Talmudic development and day-to-day practice in the liberal community still depends on Talmudic dictate and background to direct our decision making.

 

So, while I may not agree that Moses took the breadth of Talmud in dictation, I readily acknowledge that the traditional sources have completely shaped our Jewish practice today.

 

...you ask a rabbi a question, and they just seem to go on and on...

Sorry 'bout that.

 

Thanks for your dedication to this endeavor,

Rabbi Rick