Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site moscom.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!rochester!ritcv!moscom!de From: de@moscom.UUCP (Dave Esan) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Conservative and Reform Message-ID: <297@moscom.UUCP> Date: Sat, 29-Dec-84 22:00:43 EST Article-I.D.: moscom.297 Posted: Sat Dec 29 22:00:43 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 30-Dec-84 08:02:02 EST References: <384@crystal.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: MOSCOM Corp, E Rochester, NY, USA Lines: 38 > > The difficult moral question is where to draw the line. I wish I could give a > good answer to that. I place Karaim outside the boundary; all the moreso > Christians. I place Beta Israel inside the boundary, though their customs > differ markedly from mine.(I don't celebrate Sigd. I hope they continue to.) > I place Reform, Conservative, Misnaged, Modern Orthodox, Khassid, > Reconstructionist inside the line. You may disagree with me. But even if you >do, let's treat each group with respect for the structure it has carved out for > itself, and not use group names as pejorative epithets. I did not use these names as pejoratives, and agree we should not. As I pointed out in an earlier article to Eliyahu T. (ET? -:)) who made you the arbiter of what is Jewish or not Jewish? (Although I probably agree with your definitions). I spent a year studying Jewish History at Jewish Theological Seminary and learned there were two forms of Conservative Judaism, Seminary and the field. The great fear of the prospective rabbis at JTS was having to go to the field and wear gowns, or use a microphone, or abbreviate their prayers. JTS has the only Conservative sanctuary in the country with a mehitza, and does not use the standard Conservative prayerbook. The brand of Judaism I saw there was wonderful, corresponding to what my sister in Jerusalem calls "crocheted yamulke Judaism," -- Orthodoxy mixed with the understanding that this is 5745 and the electronic age, and not Poland or Yemen. It was what many refer to as left Orthodoxy, feet firmly rooted in tradition, and the brain set in today. I can see that this Judaism is a valid source for the future, but field Conservative Judaism?? (Just for reference the average age of a member of a Conservative congregation is >60. Says something about its future.) I am familiar enough with reform Judaism to tell you that it not the future, but rather a step out. Our largest reform congregation recently celebrated its anniversary with great pomp. Sadly none of the founder's descendants would come to the celebration -- since not a one was Jewish. Didn't have that problem with my Orthodox shul's centennial this year. Many of the founders's descendants still daven with the same congregation. David Esan