Spectrum of Jewish Observance Dr Laurence Boxer

Spectrum of Jewish Observance Dr. Laurence Boxer

A simplified view of the spectrum Least traditional • Reform Most traditional Conservative Orthodox, including • Reconstructionist • Chassidim • Secular/Humanist • Modern Orthodox • Unaffiliated • others

Prior to 18 th Century … n n . . . Jewish practice was largely what, today, we would call insular and Orthodox. The world outside traditional religious practice offered little • Christianity was (almost) universally hostile, regarding Jews as Christ-killers & scapegoats. • Christian culture was dominated by poverty, ignorance, illiteracy. • Muslim-dominated societies had similar shortcomings.

Israel ben Eliezer – Baal Shem Tov “Be. SHT” (1698 – 1760) n Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland) – founder of Chassidism (today, regarded ultra-Orthodox, but revolutionary in 1700 s) n Religious life stressed study of Torah, Talmud – but intensive study impractical amidst poverty n Be. SHT taught greater stress on love of nature; mysticism; joy in pleasures of life; piety & kindness n His change of emphasis became popular n Revolutionary teaching – rebbe as religious intermediary

Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman – the Vilna Gaon (1720 -1797) n Gaon – “genius” – was outstanding Torah/Talmud scholar of era n Agreed w. Be. SHT reforms needed, but not the radical reforms of Chassidism. Advocated, instead: n n Reforms in study and teaching methods n n Simplification of prayers Secular knowledge (math, science) Followers: Mitnagdim (Opponents)

Conflict between Chassidim & Mitnagdim n Radical changes by Chassidim, particularly deemphasis on study & rebbe as intermediary, regarded as heresy by Mitnagdim n Cherem (excommunication) & counterexcommunication n Eventual moderation of views toward each other, begrudging acceptance n Both sides recognized Western Enlightenment as greater threat to Judaism

Moses Mendelsohn (1728 -86) n Scholar of Torah, Talmud, secular philosophy; translated Torah into German, with commentary; author, educator, man of letters • Attracted attention of Berlin’s Christian intellectuals, particularly playwright Lessing. Promoted breakdown of social, intellectual barriers between Christians and Jews. • Promoted freedom of conscience (as opposed to community enforcement of religious law) – a pillar of Reform philosophy. • Mendelsohn’s followers pioneered Reform Judaism, which gained greatest popularity in Western Europe and America.

Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (1819 -1900). • Founder, longtime head of Hebrew Union College – 1 st American rabbinical seminary (Reform) • Before 1880 s, most American Jews from Western Europe, where Reform was gaining popularity • Wise dreamt of religious unification of American Jewry; was a moderate reformer who could cooperate with more traditional Jews

The Trefa Banquet – July, 1883 • Celebration of 1 st class of graduates of Hebrew Union College – Reform rabbinical seminary • Multiple violations of kashrut (laws of kosher food) – Wise claimed innocence • Accentuated break between moderate & radical reformers http: //www. americanjewisharchives. org/trefa 1. htm See http: //www. ajhs. org/publications/chapter. cfm? document. ID=241

Pittsburgh Platform - 1885 n Meeting of American Reform rabbinical leadership n Radical views prevailed, including declarations n n n rejecting much Torah legislation, including kashrut; emphasizing ethics & prophetic ideals rejecting return to Israel rejecting belief in a personal Messiah, substituting belief in a Messianic age to be brought about by cultural progress

Reactions to Trefa Banquet & Pittsburgh Platform By 1880 s, more Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe – many receptive to moderate reform, but not the radical Reform reforms. • 1886 - moderate reformers established Jewish Theological Seminary of America – a pillar of Conservative Judaism • 1888 – American Orthodox community was forming a movement, institutions

Solomon Schechter (1847 -1915) • Born in Romania; educated in Vienna; scholar in Cambridge & London; head of Jewish Theological Seminary 1902 -1915 • Sought middle way between Eastern European Orthodoxy & American radical Reform • Stressed unity (“Catholic Israel”), tradition, scholarship • Stature & appeals for unity exercised moderating influence on Reform leadership • Founded United Synagogue of America (now, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism), 1912

Example – “fundamentalist” vs. “modern” • Fundamentalist view: Creation is 5763 years old. Things that appear older were created that way, for G-d’s mysterious purposes. • Michaelangelo, Creation of Adam Scriptural basis for opposing view: Psalms 90, 4: For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Hence, modern science does not conflict with Bible’s 6 -“day” Creation.

Philosophical Differences: Origins of Torah n Orthodox: Given by G-d to Moses at Sinai n Conservative, Reform: divinely inspired, but modified over centuries by scribal error, disagreements, etc.

Philosophical Differences: Role of Torah n Orthodox, Conservative: legislation is binding. C more willing than O to reinterpret with respect to modern scholarship & new situations n Reform: ethical legislation remains relevant. Individuals should study, then decide for themselves what ritual legislation is meaningful n Reconstructionist: Torah legislation is “folkways”

Philosophical Differences: Land of Israel n Most members of all Jewish movements are Zionist n Some ultra-O are anti-Zionist, believing only the Messiah should restore Israel to the Jewish people n Some liberal (Reform, Reconstructionist, secular/humanist) Jews are anti-Zionist, believing Judaism should be a religion and not a nationalist culture

References n American Jewish Historical Society, The “Trefa Banquet” and the End of a Dream: http: //www. ajhs. org/publications/chapter. cfm? document. ID=241 Bentwich, Norman: Solomon Schechter: A Biography, Jewish Publication Society of America, Philadelphia, 1938 Chabad-Lubavitch (Chassidic group): http: //www. chabad. org/ Eban, Abba: My People: The Story of the Jews, Behrman House, NY, 1968 Grayzel, Solomon: A History of the Jews, Jewish Publication Society of America, Philadelphia, 1947 Jewish Reconstructionist Federation: http: //www. jrf. org/ n Reform Judaism: http: //rj. org/ n United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: http: //uscj. org/index 1. html Wiesel, Elie: Souls on Fire, Simon & Schuster, NY, 1982 Young Israel (Modern Orthodox group): http: //www. youngisrael. org/ n n n n