Yiddishkeit or Pluralistic Judaism? Mrs. Blogs decides

I owe the teshuva I am about to do to Daniel Finkelstein (deputy editor of The Times). His comments in this week's JC were so pathetically ignorant I felt sorry for him. Does he think Dayan Ehrentrau's rulings on Jewish life and what constitutes a Jew are based on the learned Dayan's personal opinions and viewpoints?? Surely an intellectual like Mr. Finkelstein can reason that dayanim make rulings based on Jewish law, tryng to preserve our ancient heritage as much in-tact as possible so that it doesn't just disintegrate into mere culture? To a Liberal Jew, however, Judaiam is exactly that: a cultural identity. A heritage in theory, not for actully putting into practice today (but for acknowledging its greatness nevertheless). I would have thought that before one can describe oneself as Liberal, Orhodox or anything else, one must first be educated in Jewish matters to know 'what is what'; what one is taking on or rejecting. How can an ignoramous say catagorically "I am a Liberal Jew"?? With respect, Mr. Finkelstein, how do you know you are a Liberal Jew?? Did you choose this road after learning that Reform, Orthodox or Ultra-Orthodox are not your thing??? Or did you just find yourself born into Liberal Jewish life and you were content to drift along with that, so that actually you have never really addressed the question "what makes me a Jew at all, Liberal or any other?" ????? And as for your non-Jewish colleagues who you describe as being "dismissive about" or "hostile" towards ultra-orthodoxy, the mind boggles! What do they know about it? Surely this is where the word "arrogance" is most in place, not with reference to Dayan Ehrentrau and his stalwart efforts to keep Judaism Jewish! The dayanim and rabbonim who signed the declaration know what they are standing up for. They are not courting the popular vote, and they are not interested in whether an ignoramous who thinks he is educated enough in Jewish matters to describe himself as Liberal, thinks "the argument for very strict orthodoxy is very weak". They are the trustees of a highly precious fund, to be preserved for posterity. It is their duty to preserve it and to safeguard it for the future generations. It would not have been "wrong" on your part to let your comments pass Mr. F., it would actually have been very wise. But you have helped me to see the errors of some of my past ways, and for this I am indebted to you. Now I, on the other hand, as an educated Jew, CAN describe myself as Liberal, Orthodox, Ultra-Orthodox, or Ultra-Liberal - but I am happy just to be Mrs. Joe Blogs. Let the less learned partake of Limmud. Chief Rabbi, your job awaits you.