Title: Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era
By: Rabbi Gil Student
Kodesh Press
Many years ago, a young ba’al teshuva entered the beit midrash where I was studying. Like all batei midrash, it was alive with the noise of Torah study – the passionate debates between chevrutot. The young man slowly took in this unfamiliar scene, a place he had been told was a “study hall.” Finally, unable to contain himself, he shouted, “Quiet!”
For a brief moment, the beit midrash fell silent. But then, as if on cue, the symphony of voices resumed – the debates, the fervor, the relentless pursuit of truth. This is the essence of Torah study: generations engaged in impassioned dialogue, striving to uncover the deeper meaning of sacred texts.
Sadly, this dynamic has disappeared in much of the world, where noise and tumult often stem from people shouting at or past one another. Instead of thoughtful debate, in the age of the Internet, we encounter soundbites, invective, and mockery.
Yet, if one listens closely, there are voices that rise above the din – voices that use the Internet to bring forth thoughtful ideas, calmly articulate controversial positions, and encourage reasoned discourse.
A prime example of such a voice is Rabbi Gil Student, a corporate executive with a deep passion for Torah, who, twenty years ago, created a blog called Hirhurim (later renamed Torah Musings) that became a significant platform for exploring and debating Torah and ideas.
Recently, Rabbi Student published his third book, Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era, in which he expands on ideas initially shared on his blog while also introducing new insights. It is a fascinating read, with sources that are both scholarly and seamlessly interwoven to strengthen his arguments. However, I would humbly suggest that the Hebrew title of his book, Nekudat Machloket – “The Point of Contention” – better captures its essence.
In five sections, Rabbi Student skillfully addresses sixteen major controversies that are, or were, raging in the Orthodox community.
The first section examines what has been referred to as the “big tent” of Orthodoxy and explores where its boundaries can no longer stretch to accommodate certain ideas and practices. The second section discusses the interplay of technology and religion, including chapters on halacha and artificial intelligence, as well as the futility of the battle against the Internet. The third section delves into historical controversies with present-day implications, such as the balance between innovation and tradition through the lens of the famed German Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer, and the Mechitzah Controversy. It also includes a detailed discussion opposing the ordination of women, a cause for which Rabbi Student was deeply involved. Notably, he presents his argument not from a halachic perspective but from a sociological-historical one.
In the final two sections of this book, Rabbi Student addresses controversies surrounding the sanctity of Jewish texts, such as opposition to modern Biblical criticism, whether our Sages’ scientific knowledge was limited, and even whether our Patriarchs truly observed all the commandments of the Torah. He concludes with a section about Israel.
In this final section, the author presents what would have been his third yahrzeit article in memory of one of his inspirations, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z”l. However, due to the war in Israel, Rabbi Student chose to delay its publication until now. The topic at hand is the nature of forgiveness and whether we should or can forgive terrorists. Typical of his other chapters, Rabbi Student draws upon sources spanning all Jewish history, from Tanach to modern responsa, and his insights are profound and incisive. For example, he not only offers three different reasons for forgiveness but also draws an important distinction between forgiving, which is bilateral, and forgoing, which is unilateral. This analysis pays tribute to Rabbi Sacks through its intellectual rigor and creative insights.
Each chapter of Articles of Faith stakes out an important position in areas of contention and debate. While Rabbi Student does create space for opposing voices, he ensures that the positions explored are all in the spirit of the beit midrash – striving to uncover the deeper meaning of core beliefs. This is a book not to be missed.
