Conservatism

Conservative Judaism is reactive.

Originally, our movement began as a reaction against Reform Jews, who were awash with all possibilities that the freedom allowed in the late 1800s. Germanic Jews arriving in New York brought with them the Reform movement. Reform grew at an alarming rate, for those of a more traditional bent.

Wanting to conserve the core of Jewish values, a few committed Jews banded together to form Conservative Judaism. Their goal was simple; preserve traditional Judaism while allowing for integration into the fabric of American society. One of the early cogitators of conservatism, Solomon Schechter, called our brand of Judaism, Catholic Israel. Schechter used this term to indicate that we are at once a community with our own practices, which must be preserved while allowing for modern and thoughts and additions to be considered. It was, in short, a reaction against Reform Judaism and a worn and complacent Orthodoxy.

The truth is, Conservative Judaism has created many changes in our century and the one before.  Did you just have occurred over four generations. Yet, and our generation, there is a greater Porsche than ever for more rapid change. I am amazed for example that while a new prayer book is “hot off the press” new versions are already being circulated.

The major changes in this new edition are the move toward alternative rights and practices. The prayer book that we use now contains only the Shabbat and festival liturgy. There are no weekday prayers found.

In the past few decades or movement has seen many changes.  Questions for you to consider: do you feel we are too slow to embrace change? Or to quick?