Between Text and Culture: A Definition Of Mesorah

Denominations, Halakhah, Modern Judaism, Philosophy, Women's Forum

by Rabbi Noah Gradofsky

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.

UTJ’s Rabbi Noah Gradofsky participate in a blogcast about Mesorah (tradition) organized by JOFA. The full blogcast can be read here.

Click here for Steve Gotlib’s JOFA Blog article”Between Text and Culture: A Definition Of Mesorah” by Steve Gotlib which discusses the blogcast.

Rabbi Gradofsky wrote that he firmly believed that written legal texts should take precedence over the accepted practices of a community. Rabbi Gradofsky stated in no uncertain terms that “I think it important to always check those attitudes and practices against our texts since, as a general rule, I think texts are a more reliable guide to understanding Torah and halakha and ultimately, God’s will.”

Further discussion of the blogcast can be found on the UTJ Facebook discussion group here and here.

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See All of Rabbi Noah Gradofsky's Articles

About Rabbi Noah Gradofsky

Ordained by the UTJ’s Institute of Traditional Judaism in 2004, Rabbi Noah Gradofsky has remained a steadfast member, serving for years as a member of the UTJ Executive Board, the board of Morashah - UTJ's rabbinic fellowship - and as chairman of the UTJ conference committee.

Rabbi Gradofsky served as a full-time rabbi at Temple Israel in Long Beach, NY, for 6 years and has since served a number of synagogues on a contract basis. He is also a full-time practicing attorney.

Rabbi Gradofsky is also a moderator of the UTJ Facebook group, and he is a prolific writer on Jewish law and sociological topics affecting the religious Jewish community. Among his essays and writings are:

"Images of God" and "Cultivating our Divine Image” - A series of two sermons and a study sheet based on selections from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Quest for God, discussing Judaism's approach to divine images including the tselem Elohim (divine image) that inheres in humanity.
"Live Like You Were Dying” - A Yizkor sermon based on the song by Tim McGraw.
D'Var Torah on Parashat Mishpatim on the place of justice and righteousness in halakhah.
“Being a Halachic Jew: Why the Old Labels Just Don't Fit” - A discussion (from Shavuot 2007) of the Jewish denominations and how UTJ's approach distinguishes itself.
Printable Junior Congregation Siddur
“Rabbinic Perspectives on Intellectual Property” - A discussion of Jewish values online regarding halakhic approaches to copyright infringement.
“Jewish Law on Abortion and its Implications for Stem Cell Research”
"Rabbi Schachter's Troubling Tone” - An article in The Jewish Link of New Jersey by Rabbis Ronald Price and Noah Gradofsky on behalf of the Union for Traditional Judaism in reaction to Rabbi Herschel Schachter's responsum about allowing young women to wear tefillin in yeshiva high schools. Rabbi Schachter's teshuvah can be found here in Hebrew and an unofficial translation is here.

To learn more about Rabbi Gradofsky and access any essays not yet included in Viewpoints, go to: www.e-ark.net

Rabbi Gradofsky is married to Dr. Melissa Klapper and lives in the Philadelphia area.

Between Text and Culture: A Definition Of Mesorah

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About Rabbi Noah Gradofsky