What Does It Mean to Be a Centrist?

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, ZTL

I stand second to no one in promoting the Hashkafa (Jewish ideology) in which I believe. One might think it strange to make a comment like that, since it ought to be obvious that people stand by their own ideology. But when it comes to Centrism - the Hashkafah with which I so strongly identify, I think it requires making precisely that statement. Because the very word Centrism contains the word center. That can easily be interpreted to mean “middle of the road,” a sort of midpoint between two extremes that has no real ideology of its own.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

It may be true that the ideology of a Centrist contains elements found on both ends of the religious spectrum. But it is not some arbitrary midpoint between them. Rather, it is a position of thoughtfully reconciling competing values, recognizing that moderation is often a virtue. It rejects the extremes that are the hallmark of uncompromising ideological positions that never seriously consider countervailing opinions in either halachah or hashkafah.

A Centrist will examine the pros and cons of any given value system and make a judgment based on what he believes is the most accurate expression of God’s will - based on his education. And will most certainly not reject every value outside of Judaism. But will judge each value on its merit in accordance with Jewish values.

A variety of factors are often overlooked by hard-core ideologies that cannot see beyond their own worldview, dismissing any rational argument made by those who disagree. Such ideologies can easily be taken to illogical extremes. Which, in my view, was never the intent of the Torah. About which our Sages said, “All of its ways are ways of pleasantness.”

Two examples come immediately to mind…

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