Matthew Lagrone

There were many points during this lecture where I was very lost, however I did find Mr. Lagrone’s lecture to be very informative on the subject of modern Judaism in America. The views of Kohut and Kohler were discussed, each having opposite visions for the future of Judaism in America. Kohut was the traditionalist of the two, believing things should carry on as they had for years unchanged. Kohler hoped that Jewish law would adapt to current American culture, saying that Jewish law was from a near pre-historic like bygone era. I think both of these offer valid points but neither really highlights the key to Judaism’s success in America, in my opinion at least. As Matthew Lagrone emphasized, Judaism is not a hierarchy as other religions are. There is no final authority on anything, something that really separates it from other faiths. I think this is a vital attribute to the success of Judaism and all religions in American. Faith needs to be open for interpretation; there can’t be any right or wrong way in which religious law is practiced. However, this must be done with an eye on the roots of religion, it can never stray to far from the center of the beliefs it was founded on.