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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
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> 
> 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