Kosher Sex

Jewish men and women must be rejoicing in response to an article published in Akdamot, an acaedmic journal on Jewish thought. According to Prof. Zvi Zohar, premarital sex is permitted by halacha (Jewish law) so long as the relationship is based on mutual respect and the woman immerses herself in a mikve (ritual bath).

While I'm sure that most of my peers would greet this opinion with an "Amen;" I am not sure how to approach this article. In the first place, I could care less about the halachic perspective on premarital success. Its significance is more interesting; I'm simply dumbfounded that a reinterpretation of Jewish Law, or its strict adherence, could fundamentally undermine tradition. It practically makes a mockery of Orthodox Judaism.

And then read what one Rabbi Tohar-Lev had to say:

There are certain laws that are best kept secret. Zohar's article will give some young people the justification they were looking for. Nobody wants to be a sinner.

Not once have I heard anyone suggest that laws be "kept secret." Aren't laws intended to be made public so that people can adhere to them? If this law should be kept secret, why not include laws governing what Jews eat, what they can do on the Sabbath, etc? And if following Jewish law leads to sin, why don't we abandon Jewish law altogether?

At this point I can't decide between the rabbi or the professor: who is the bigger fool?