ABSTRACT
This chapter argues against the claim that an educational system grounded in total commitment to halakhah must of necessity educate toward the spiritual isolation of its students from “secularists.” It suggests, however, that possibilities exist within the tradition to educate toward a sensitivity to other viewpoints and an openness to dialogue. A willingness to confront ideas that are in conflict with one’s own tradition can be nurtured within an educational system committed to halakhah. The chapter explores the possibility of developing and encouraging spiritual openness within the framework of traditional halakhic education. It considers how a halakhically committed student can find support within his tradition for the appreciation of values that are not based upon his own sources of authority. The chapter shows that the halakhic system requires that sensitivity and commitment to the spiritual needs of the community precede and provide the framework for personal fulfillment.
