Death and the debate

I read with interest the hard-hitting reply from Barry Hyman (THES, March 7) to Geoffrey Alderman's commentary on the disputes surrounding the death of Rabbi Hugo Gryn. Mr Hyman's remark that Professor Alderman was allowed by The THES "to abuse his position in education", was uncalled for. The THES is a lay weekly with a legitimate academic interest in confessional disputes within British religious communities. Professor Alderman is a leading historian of Anglo-Jewry who, as I understand it, was invited to submit the article in question.

I write as a non-theist and as one of his former research students. Through argument - not via the man - is the better way to debate.

Kevin Moloney

Watcombe Road, Bournemouth, Dorset