Reform Judaism, which once was touted by more traditional Jews as only a passing fad, celebrated its 200th anniversary this week. The establishment of its first synagogue in Seesen, Germany took place on July 17, 1810 and has been heralded as the beginning of Judaism’s more progressive movements, including Conservative Judaism.
Political Issues in Israel
But while Reform Jews may have a great deal to celebrate this week, the anniversary, which landed auspiciously on Shabbat, was overshadowed by events that some have taken to be a direct attack on Liberal Judaism. The arrest of Anat Hoffman for holding a Torah while praying at the Kotel in Jerusalem, and the introduction of a pro-Orthodox conversion bill to the Knesset suggest that Reform Judaism may still have a ways to go before religious plurality is respected in Israel.
Only a year earlier, in an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Hoffman had summed up the problem facing Reform Judaism: “The fact that the largest Jewish community in the world still has not recognized Reform rabbis and Reform Judaism's institution of learning is something that must be fixed.” Unlike Orthodox and Haredi congregations, Reform and Conservative Judaism are not recognized by the government in Israel, and receive no funding. The lack of recognition hurts the organizations' standing in the eyes of Israeli Jews.
Liberal Jews and Israel
The answer, said Hoffman, has to come from Diaspora Jews.
“I want to see liberal Jews around the world break their silence and make their voice heard.” Israel may be Judaism’s center, said Hoffman but Reform Judaism’s action center lies in North America.
This week’s stunning events may prompt just that. Organizations spanning both ends of Liberal Judaism have spoken out in record numbers against the two events in Jerusalem, calling on North American Jews to write Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli ambassadors to express their dissatisfaction. While Netanyahu has never been particularly known to bow to the opinions of Diaspora Jews when it comes to Israeli affairs, it is clear that this week’s two events may have approached a watershed moment for Reform and Conservative congregations.
The conversion bill, coupled with the arrest earlier this week, says the Union for Reform Judaism in a carefully worded statement, “threatens the trust of Jews around the world that the love and respect they have for Israel.”
The Movement of Change
The supporters of “Jacobstemple” in Seesen Germany some 200 years ago would likely be surprised to hear the grand history that the establishment of their little synagogue brought about. Reform Judaism has been called a movement of change, and gaining credibility in Israel may be its biggest challenge yet.
Readers may also find the following of interest:Judaism's Controversial Mitzvah the Redemption of Captives, and The Jewish Tradition of Kosher Slaughter
Sources:
- Urj.org
- JPost.com
- Forward.com
- WomenoftheWall.org.il
- Bet-tfila.org
- Jc.com
Jan Lee - Jan Lee has been writing for online and print publications for more than 20 years and have been published in five countries.
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