Transcript Moses Mendelsohn - Niagara University

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 18th Century …
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... 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 “BeSHT” (1698 – 1760)
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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
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BeSHT taught greater stress on love of nature;
mysticism; joy in pleasures of life; piety & kindness
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His change of emphasis became popular
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Revolutionary teaching – rebbe as religious
intermediary
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman –
the Vilna Gaon (1720-1797)
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Gaon – “genius” – was outstanding Torah/Talmud
scholar of era
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Agreed w. BeSHT reforms needed, but not the
radical reforms of Chassidism. Advocated, instead:
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Simplification of prayers
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Reforms in study and teaching methods
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Secular knowledge (math, science)
Followers: Mitnagdim (Opponents)
Conflict between Chassidim &
Mitnagdim
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Radical changes by Chassidim, particularly deemphasis on study & rebbe as intermediary,
regarded as heresy by Mitnagdim
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Cherem (excommunication) & counterexcommunication
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Eventual moderation of views toward each other,
begrudging acceptance
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Both sides recognized Western Enlightenment as
greater threat to Judaism
Moses Mendelsohn
(1728-86)
 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 –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
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/chapter.cfm?documentID=241
Pittsburgh Platform - 1885
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Meeting of American Reform rabbinical leadership
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Radical views prevailed, including declarations
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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 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
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
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Orthodox: Given by G-d to Moses at Sinai
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Conservative, Reform: divinely inspired, but
modified over centuries by scribal error,
disagreements, etc.
Philosophical Differences:
Role of Torah
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Orthodox, Conservative: legislation is binding. C
more willing than O to reinterpret with respect to
modern scholarship & new situations
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Reform: ethical legislation remains relevant.
Individuals should study, then decide for
themselves what ritual legislation is meaningful
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Reconstructionist: Torah legislation is “folkways”
Philosophical Differences:
Land of Israel
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Most members of all Jewish movements are
Zionist
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Some ultra-O are anti-Zionist, believing
only the Messiah should restore Israel to
the Jewish people
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Some liberal (Reform,
Reconstructionist, secular/humanist)
Jews are anti-Zionist, believing
Judaism should be a religion and not a
nationalist culture
References
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American Jewish Historical Society, The “Trefa Banquet” and the End of a Dream:
http://www.ajhs.org/publications/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=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/
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Reform Judaism: http://rj.org/
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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/
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