JEWISH RESPONSES TO MODERNITY IN 19TH CENTURY WESTERN EUROPE:Responding to Political Emancipation with Religious Reformation
Background:
Explosion of academic and philosophical study, scientific analysis and critical thinking .
Emancipation means Jews exposed to these new currents.
How can Judaism fit into this new modern world?
- Secular Judaism, with its roots in “The Science of Judaism” (Wissenschaft)
- Reform Judaism- Progress allied to Religion.
- Neo Orthodoxy- “Torah with the way of the world”. “Torah and
(Secular) Knowledge. תורה עם דרך ארץ, תורה ומדע
- Ultra Orthodoxy: Everything that is new is forbidden!
כל חדש אסור מן התורה
Texts 1, Zechariah Frankel, On Changes in Judaism, 1845
The origins of "Conservative Judaism".
The essential problem: " Maintaining the integrity of Judaism simultaneously with progress..."
The opposing elements must be united.
-----Conservative Judaism: Positive historical approach.
Text 2, The Rationale for Reform (1884) . Chorin.
Public prayer lacks dignity and is in need of reform.
What is essential (permanent elements) in Judaism will remain as water remains in a vessel irrespective of its shape but the vessel can be changed. The universal aspects are more essential than the particularistic.
Text 3, Hatam Sofer (1762-1839) Ethical Will
G-d does not change- Judaism should not change either. "That which is new is forbidden in the Torah".
Text 4, Samson Rafael Hirsch (1808-1888) Religion Allied to Progress
[Neo] Orthodox – Critique of Progressive Judaism .
Claims that if religion is made subservient to the notion of
progress it is not real religion.
Othodox not opposed to progress as there is no real conflict-
One can be halachically observant and a member of the modern world. Had there been conflict, Religion remains the supreme value.
Externals can change but no changes in religious law are permissible, as the Torah is divine.
"Torah im derech Eretz".
Text 5: Rabbi Regina Sara Jonas: Can Women serve as Rabbis?
"Profound isolation of the woman in Judaism"
"The wheel of time turns...many religious decrees of an exclusionary nature for woman have a reason. This changes with the other circumstances....."
Conclusion
Once Jews achieve emancipation, they face the question of how to reconcile traditional and ancient beliefs and practices with the modern world. Jews can now identify with secular forms of Judaism, or with different denominations such as Progressive , Conservative, Orthodox, or Haredi, amongst others.
Background:
Explosion of academic and philosophical study, scientific analysis and critical thinking .
Emancipation means Jews exposed to these new currents.
How can Judaism fit into this new modern world?
- Secular Judaism, with its roots in “The Science of Judaism” (Wissenschaft)
- Reform Judaism- Progress allied to Religion.
- Neo Orthodoxy- “Torah with the way of the world”. “Torah and
(Secular) Knowledge. תורה עם דרך ארץ, תורה ומדע
- Ultra Orthodoxy: Everything that is new is forbidden!
כל חדש אסור מן התורה
Texts 1, Zechariah Frankel, On Changes in Judaism, 1845
The origins of "Conservative Judaism".
The essential problem: " Maintaining the integrity of Judaism simultaneously with progress..."
The opposing elements must be united.
-----Conservative Judaism: Positive historical approach.
Text 2, The Rationale for Reform (1884) . Chorin.
Public prayer lacks dignity and is in need of reform.
What is essential (permanent elements) in Judaism will remain as water remains in a vessel irrespective of its shape but the vessel can be changed. The universal aspects are more essential than the particularistic.
Text 3, Hatam Sofer (1762-1839) Ethical Will
G-d does not change- Judaism should not change either. "That which is new is forbidden in the Torah".
Text 4, Samson Rafael Hirsch (1808-1888) Religion Allied to Progress
[Neo] Orthodox – Critique of Progressive Judaism .
Claims that if religion is made subservient to the notion of
progress it is not real religion.
Othodox not opposed to progress as there is no real conflict-
One can be halachically observant and a member of the modern world. Had there been conflict, Religion remains the supreme value.
Externals can change but no changes in religious law are permissible, as the Torah is divine.
"Torah im derech Eretz".
Text 5: Rabbi Regina Sara Jonas: Can Women serve as Rabbis?
"Profound isolation of the woman in Judaism"
"The wheel of time turns...many religious decrees of an exclusionary nature for woman have a reason. This changes with the other circumstances....."
Conclusion
Once Jews achieve emancipation, they face the question of how to reconcile traditional and ancient beliefs and practices with the modern world. Jews can now identify with secular forms of Judaism, or with different denominations such as Progressive , Conservative, Orthodox, or Haredi, amongst others.