Kosher Jesus Attack

Shmuley Boteach is an old friend, but even old friends can go awry sometimes. When they do, it behooves someone who cares enough for them to try and set them straight. Not to do so is to betray that friendship.

I must retain the right to defend myself against the appalling and libelous charge of heresy. America is not Iran and rabbis in the American Jewish community are not the Revolutionary Guard.

Should Rabbi Boteach be offended that certain members of the Orthodox-Jewish community are renouncing a book titled "Kosher Jesus" and not giving him a platform to promote it? Of course not.

"Kosher Jesus" is brilliant because it factually and painstakingly dissects the historical logic that Christianity upholds as its narrative of Jesus.

Why does all this matter? Because a battle is being waged for the soul of Judaism between a lunatic fringe and those who believe Judaism must always be informed, educated, open and loving.

That's the problem with the knee-jerk religious extremism. It dismisses nuance and seeks to create bogeymen.