Spectrum of Jewish Observance

1
Spectrum of Jewish Observance

• Dr. Laurence Boxer

2
A simplified view of the spectrum
Least traditional
Most traditional

• Reform
• Reconstructionist
• Secular/Humanist
• Unaffiliated

Conservative

• Orthodox, including
• Chassidim
• Modern Orthodox
• others

3
Prior to 18th Century

• ... 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.

4
Israel ben Eliezer Baal Shem Tov BeSHT (1698
1760)

• Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland) founder of
  Chassidism (today, regarded ultra-Orthodox, but
  revolutionary in 1700s)

• Religious life stressed study of Torah, Talmud
  but intensive study impractical amidst poverty

• BeSHT taught greater stress on love of nature
  mysticism joy in pleasures of life piety
  kindness

• His change of emphasis became popular

• Revolutionary teaching rebbe as religious
  intermediary

5
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman the Vilna Gaon
(1720-1797)

• Gaon genius was outstanding Torah/Talmud
  scholar of era

• Agreed w. BeSHT reforms needed, but not the
  radical reforms of Chassidism. Advocated,
  instead

• Simplification of prayers

• Reforms in study and teaching methods

• Secular knowledge (math, science)

• Followers Mitnagdim (Opponents)

6
Conflict between Chassidim Mitnagdim

• Radical changes by Chassidim, particularly
  de-emphasis on study rebbe as intermediary,
  regarded as heresy by Mitnagdim

• Cherem (excommunication) counter-excommunication

• Eventual moderation of views toward each other,
  begrudging acceptance

• Both sides recognized Western Enlightenment as
  greater threat to Judaism

7
Moses Mendelsohn(1728-86)

• Scholar of Torah, Talmud, secular philosophy
  translated Torah into German, with commentary
  author, educator, man of letters

• Attracted attention of Berlins 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.

• Mendelsohns followers pioneered Reform Judaism,
  which gained greatest popularity in Western
  Europe and America.

8
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise (1819-1900).

• Founder, longtime head of Hebrew Union College
  1st American rabbinical seminary (Reform)

• Before 1880s, 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

9
The Trefa Banquet July, 1883

• Celebration of 1st 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/trefa1.htm
See http//www.ajhs.org/publications/chapters/chap
ter.cfm?documentID241
10
Pittsburgh Platform - 1885

• Meeting of American Reform rabbinical leadership

• Radical views prevailed, including declarations

• 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

11
Reactions to Trefa Banquet Pittsburgh Platform
By 1880s, 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

12
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

13
Example fundamentalist vs. modern

• Fundamentalist view Creation is 5763 years old.
  Things that appear older were created that way,
  for G-ds 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
  Bibles 6-day Creation.

14
Philosophical Differences Origins of Torah

• Orthodox Given by G-d to Moses at Sinai

• Conservative, Reform divinely inspired, but
  modified over centuries by scribal error,
  disagreements, etc.

15
Philosophical Differences Role of Torah

• Orthodox, Conservative legislation is binding.
  C more willing than O to reinterpret with respect
  to modern scholarship new situations

• Reform ethical legislation remains relevant.
  Individuals should study, then decide for
  themselves what ritual legislation is meaningful

• Reconstructionist Torah legislation is
  folkways

16
Philosophical Differences Land of Israel

• Most members of all Jewish movements are Zionist

• Some ultra-O are anti-Zionist, believing only the
  Messiah should restore Israel to the Jewish people

• Some liberal (Reform, Reconstructionist,
  secular/humanist) Jews are anti-Zionist,
  believing Judaism should be a religion and not a
  nationalist culture

17
References

• American Jewish Historical Society, The Trefa
  Banquet and the End of a Dream
  http//www.ajhs.org/publications/chapters/chapter.
  cfm?documentID241
• 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/
• Reform Judaism http//rj.org/
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
  http//uscj.org/index1.html
• Wiesel, Elie Souls on Fire, Simon Schuster,
  NY, 1982
• Young Israel (Modern Orthodox group)
  http//www.youngisrael.org/