Hirhurim’s R. Gil Student links to his front-page article in this week’s Jewish Press. He offers a summary of the controversy surrounding R. Natan (Nosson) Slifkin’s books reconciling recent scientific discoveries with the Torah’s account of creation. (His newest book, The Challenge of Creation, is sitting patiently on my bookshelf but with law school starting next week, it may be awhile before I get to it.)

The article is a good showcase of Gil’s rare ability to deal honestly with both halakhic and hashkafic (ideological) controversies while maintaining the high level of respect required in Torah discourse. This is far more difficult than it looks. On one hand, we’re required to give talmidei hakhamim the benefit of the doubt in all disputes and to refrain from ascribing ulterior motives to them. Yet abuses of power need to be called out if we take ourselves seriously at all. A line must be drawn somewhere but few know where it belongs. Gil, in both his blog posts and articles, toes the invisible-yet-necessary line well. His take on Slifkin is but one good example.