How Haredi Judaism Became Illiberal

In Come Now, Let Us Reason Together I present an extended argument that rabbinic Judaism, the iteration that emerged following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and reigned until the closing of the (Babylonian) Talmud at the start of the 7th century, was liberal in the classical sense. That is, open-minded, tolerant, pluralistic, and innovative. Because rabbinic Judaism is responsible for the Talmud, Midrashim, and other classic sources, and because it reinvented Judaism, substituting prayer and textual study for Temple sacrifice, I contend that it’s spirit and ethos represent authentic Judaism.

Although I didn’t write this book to criticize Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Judaism, its illiberal nature is obvious when judged by the above yardstick. It is repressive, authoritarian, scorns secular education, is hostile to gentiles and other streams of Judaism, and in Israel refuses to serve in the IDF. This invites the question of causation. As explained in my book, one can point to external threats from Christianity, Islam, and the Enlightenment, but the Karaite movement is probably the primary reason. In the linked video, I briefly flesh out this thesis. https://youtube.com/shorts/Ni3LENvr3Qk?feature=share