I write the following with much caution as I am not interested in disparaging anyone, but feel clarification is necessary here. If I accidentally tread on Lashon Hora or Motzei Shem Rah I ask Michilah.
I had been an avid listener to Dennis Prager for years. I very much enjoyed his intellectual approach and honesty. Of all the talk show hosts that I ever listened to, he was the ONLY one that I remember actually listening to others’ opinions and contemplating them. I have at least once or twice heard him state on air that he has changed his opinion on a particular subject (such as “kids playing with toy guns” and concerning the “Clinton scandal”).
At one point I inquired about him from people that know him personally. I was told that his house (at least at the time) is/was Shomer Shabbat (and I assume Kosher as well).
For all this I credit him.
However, (and I assume he was waiting for this “however”) the fact is that he himself does not claim to be Orthodox, nor of the Orthodox mindset. This, unfortunately, means that even though we can consider him partially on the right track, we certainly can not consider him fully there. Thus, any material written by him needs to be scrutinized carefully before giving a green light to support him. I’m sure his book on the Ten Commandments may positively affect non-religious Jews (and Gentiles) to approach the Ten Commandment with deeper appreciation being that he is an intellectual and doesn’t take things for granted. However, our responsibility as frum Jews is to give over only the “proper” Masorah and that can be possible ONLY through those most G-d fearing.
Although Dennis Prager is a good man, I have found in my opinion (stress – “in my opinion”) that he serves G-d intellectually. However, Hashem does not want us to serve him JUST intellectually (I.E. serving with our mind alone). Rather, we are to serve him through a combination of Mind and Heart. Mind – meaning to try to comprehend Hashem’s ways, purpose of our creation, and function of each mitzvah. HOWEVER, serving because it “makes sense” is not the epitome of “Serving”. Optimum service is “EVEN” when we don’t understand. [Note – I specifically stated that “we don’t understand” as opposed to “where it doesn’t make sense” because the fact is that the problem lies with our limitations, not Hashem’s. I also specifically used the expression “EVEN” as opposed to “Blindly” being that Hashem WANTS us to understand. Just that it shouldn’t be limited to ONLY when understanding.]
If a child is obedient to his parents, but disobeys when he doesn’t agree, then he is not fully obedient. True obedience is when you do something because you were told to and for no other reason.
The concept of “Serving with Heart and Mind” is what is meant by “Naaseh V’Nishma” – “We will do (purely because this is your will) and we will listen (I.E. try to understand the wisdom behind your will).
Unfortunately, in my opinion, Dennis Prager find it easy to serve Hashem with his intellect, but difficult when it comes to Service of the Heart. Perhaps that is because in the non-Torah Intellectual world that is considered a weakness, not a strength. If he can overcome this stumbling block I believe he can become a truly G-d fearing Jew and perhaps even a righteous leader of his people.
But for now I could not recommend a Frum Jew to purchase or read his writing on Yiddishkeit. There are much more worthy material out there to study.
May Hashem Bless him and his family and guide them to a more righteous and more meaningful life.
– Softwords