Diversity is our strength except, evidently, when it is forbidden.
It is been a hallmark of the Jewish American experience to invite inquiry and debate. In fact one could safely make the assertion that Jews have traditionally been in the forefront of many progressive intellectual and social movements, always on the cutting edge of that which is upsetting to the establishment especially the Christian establishment. In this role, Jews to their credit have invariably called for open discussion. They formed and staffed with people like Ruth Ginsburg the American Civil Liberties Union to advance their arguments under the banner of free speech and free inquiry.
I have long thought that it is perfectly proper for a religious leader to declare variants of religious belief to be heretical. I bitterly opposed Danny Deutsch in his contrives criticism of Ann Coulter in which he affected to be offended by her religious principles calling for the "perfection" of Jews. I pointed out that rejection of Coulter's proposition is in itself a rejection of Christianity and could be viewed as equally offensive.
Here we see a Jewish religious leader calling for the exclusion of a new view of Jesus because it is heretical. I fully endorse his right to do so within the lights of his theology. However, the next time a Christian is rebuked we ought to consider that the principle can be applied selectively.
Boteach and Ann Coulter have the moral and legal right to their assertions without being called anti-Semitic and Danny Deutsch and the Rabbi have and equally moral and legal right to call them heretical but no moral right under the circumstances to call them,"offensive".
