Progressive Judaism: Difference between revisions
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per talk:Reform Judaism; all relevant content moved to WUPJ article. Thought I'll make it a diambig, but the Recos are quite distinct and this was the name from 1926 to 1990 |
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{{Cleanup-rewrite| it messes Reform/Liberal Judaism, which developed in the 1830/40's and still applies [[Abraham Geiger]]'s basic principles, and Reconstructionist, which is something else entirely. They're both in the WUPJ, and that's it|date=June 2014}} |
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{{Merge to|World Union for Progressive Judaism|date=June 2014}} |
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{{Progressive Judaism}} |
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{{Jews and Judaism sidebar |Denominations}} |
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'''Progressive Judaism''' is an umbrella term used by the strands of [[Reform Judaism|Liberal, Reform]] and [[Reconstructionist Judaism]] which are affiliated with the [[World Union for Progressive Judaism]] (WUPJ). They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life.<ref>[http://wupj.org/Resources/ResourcesList.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Resources List<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The movement includes more than 1.7 million members spread across 42 countries.<ref>http://wupj.org/ (Accessed November 1, 2007)</ref> The WUPJ was formed 1926 when leading [[Liberal Judaism|Liberal]] and [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] in [[North America]] and [[Europe]] met in England to discuss common interests. At the urging of [[Lily Montagu]], they decided to unite and form the WUPJ. Local movements retained their prior organizational structure and identity but now had a new umbrella organization which they used to support one another and coordinate efforts to support congregations worldwide. After [[World War II]], the WUPJ also worked to rebuild its decimated congregations of Europe.<ref>Meyer, Michael. ''Response to Modernity: A History of the Reform Movement in Judaism'' (New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 1988), 336-345.</ref> [[Zionists]] within the progressive movement are represented by [[Arzenu]], a party within the [[World Zionist Organization]].<ref>[http://www.arzenu.org.il/ Arzenu | Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A Zionist Youth movement, [[Netzer Olami]] has affiliations with both the WUPJ and Arzenu.<ref>http://wupj.org/Youth/NetzerOlami.asp (Accessed November 1, 2007).</ref> The WUPJ represents a wide set of beliefs, goals, and organizational structures shared by Jews that variously call themselves "Liberal", "Reform", "Reconstructionist" or "Progressive". |
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==Israel== |
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{{Main|Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism}} |
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The way Progressive Judaism in Israel is practiced is in some ways more traditional than practice in the Diaspora. Hebrew is used exclusively in worship services. Classical Jewish texts and Rabbinic literature play a more prominent role in Reform education and synagogue life. A Progressive Beit Din (religious court) regulates procedures of conversion and offers guidance in other ritual matters. This traditional leaning embodies one of the original, classic principles of the movement: that Progressive Judaism draws upon powerful influences in the larger social context in which it lives and grows.<ref>http://www.reformjudaism.org/progressive-judaism-israel</ref> |
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==Continental Europe== |
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{{Main|Progressive Judaism (Germany)|Liberal Judaism (Netherlands)}} |
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In the first half of the 19th century, reform-minded Jews in Germany identified with the name "Reform". Early rabbinic reformers, such as [[Abraham Geiger]], had no desire to start a separate movement. They identified with the term "reform" and periodically met in synods, but did not formally organize into an independent denomination or rabbinic association. The intellectual roots of the Reform and Liberal lie in that period. |
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The laity was more impatient with the process of reform. When the German government authorized the establishment of officially recognized separatist congregations, radical lay people in Frankfurt and Berlin formed their own congregations. In 1842 a radical group of lay people in Frankfurt formed the ''Reformfreunde'' (Friends of Reform).<ref>Meyer, Response to Modernity, 122</ref> In the summer of 1845, a group of lay people in Berlin, led by Sigmund Stern formed the ''Association for Reform in Judaism'' and held [[High Holiday]] services using a liturgy designed by the association. In 1850 the association renamed itself the ''Jewish Reform Congregation of Berlin''.<ref>Meyer, Response to Modernity, 128-131</ref> This attempt at congregational separatism, however, failed to flourish. No other official congregations were established<ref>David Philipson, ''The Reform Movement in Judaism'' (USA:KTAV, 1967 (originally released in 1930), 257.</ref> and prominent reformers, such as Abraham Geiger, refused to serve them.<ref>Philipson, ''The Reform Movement in Judaism'', 268</ref> |
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By the final quarter of the 19th century, the reform process slowed down to the point that younger members of the community accused their reform minded elders of being a "ham-eating orthodoxy".<ref>Philipson, ''The Reform Movement in Judaism'', p. 386</ref> The next generation of reformers coalesced around a new name: "liberal".<ref>Philipson, ''The Reform Movement in Judaism'', p. 387</ref> This time attempts at organization gathered momentum and gained rabbinic support. In 1898, German liberal rabbis organized into the ''Union of Liberal Rabbis in Germany''. In 1908 the liberal laity organized into the ''Union for Liberal Judaism in Germany''. Within a year had over 5000 lay and rabbinic members belonging to some 200 communities.<ref>Meyer, Response to Modernity, 210</ref> In the 20th century, the predominant terms in continental Europe are either "Liberal" or "Progressive". |
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==United Kingdom== |
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{{Main|Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)}} |
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The term "Progressive" is used in two senses in the United Kingdom. Some synagogues affiliated to Liberal Judaism (formerly the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues) had "Progressive" rather than "Liberal" in their title. Today, however, the term "Progressive" is increasingly used as an umbrella term covering both Reform and Liberal Judaism. |
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==North America== |
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{{Main|Reform Judaism (North America)|Reconstructionist Judaism}} |
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In North America laity, rabbis and congregations began organizing much earlier than in Europe. In 1825, lay members of [[Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim|Beth Elohim]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina]] founded the ''Reformed Society of Israelites''. Although reform minded Americans identified as "Reform" Jews, the name never made it into their major institutions. In 1873 Reform congregations organized as the [[Union of American Hebrew Congregations]] (UAHC). Shortly after, in 1875, the [[Hebrew Union College]] was established to improve the quality of rabbis in the US. |
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As in Europe, there were significant disagreements among the reformers over the role of tradition. In 1883, a banquet was planned to celebrate the first graduating class of rabbis from [[Hebrew Union College]]. According to a contemporary account, radical elements among the Reform leaders ordered shrimp for the dinner's menu which are forbidden according to the Jewish laws of [[kashrut]], leading to guests walking out in disgust. The so-called ''Trefa Banquet'' has taken on mythic status as a source of the conflict between the radical and conservative reformers, though modern accounts pin the blame on a combination of eagerness and naivete and, as an account by Rabbi [[Isaac Mayer Wise]] stated, “the Cincinnati Banquet Committee allowed a few dishes to be served which are forbidden according to Jewish ritual law".<ref>[http://www.americanjewisharchives.org/journal/PDF/2005pp29-52%20Myth%20of%20Trefa.pdf Sussman, L.J. ''The Myth of the Trefa Banquet: American Culinary Culture and the Radicalization of Food Policy in American Reform Judaism'', American Jewish Archives]</ref><ref>[http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=241 ''The "Trefa Banquet" and the End of a Dream''] in Michael Feldberg (ed.), ''Blessings of Freedom: Chapters in American Jewish History'', The [[American Jewish Historical Society]] / KTAV, 2002. ISBN 0-88125-756-7. Chapter 5.7 (or #52 online). Accessed November 2, 2007</ref> The conflict further intensified in 1885 when a fierce debate broke out between [[Kaufmann Kohler]] and [[Alexander Kohut]] over the very nature of reform. |
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In response to debate, Kohler called a conference of reform-minded rabbis in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]. Wise, the rabbinical head of Hebrew Union College, presided over the conference. The conference produced the [[Pittsburgh Platform]]. This platform was highly controversial and an organizational split between those more and less conservative.<ref>Meyer, ''Response to Modernity'', 268</ref> In 1887 a separate rabbinical school, the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America|Jewish Theological Seminary]] was founded. In 1889, the more liberal rabbis organized under the banner of the [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]]. |
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In the 1930s, a third stream of non-orthodox Judaism began to develop in the USA - [[Reconstructionist Judaism]]. Initially reconstructionist congregations belonged either to the Reform or Conservative movement - Mordacai Kaplan was deeply opposed to the formation of yet another American Jewish denomination. In 1955 the Reconstructionist Fellowship of Congregations was formed. This organization allowed reconstructionist congregations to share common concerns but required members to be dual affiliated with either the US Reform or Conservative movement. In 1961 the dual affiliation requirement was dropped and Reconstructionist Judaism became a full-fledged third denomination on the American scene.<ref>http://www.jrf.org/jrf-growth.html</ref> |
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==A common progressive identity== |
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Prior to [[World War I]], the US Reform, UK liberals, and their counterparts in continental Europe planned a meeting to discuss common goals. The meeting finally occurred after the war in 1926. The attendees debated the relative merits of "liberal" and "reform". Satisfied with neither, they settled on "progressive" rather than "reform" or "liberal". They also formed an organization using this common name, the [[World Union for Progressive Judaism]].<ref>Meyer, Response to Modernity, 336</ref> |
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The more conservative half of the UK reform movement, [[Reform Judaism (United Kingdom)|UK Reform]] did not participate in these initial meetings. However, it later joined the WUPJ in 1930.<ref>Meyer, Response to Modernity, 339</ref> In the USA, both [[Reform Judaism (North America)|Reform]] and [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionist]]<ref>http://www.jrf.org/to/affiliations.html - affiliation with WUPJ listed at bottom of page under "Other JRF Affiliations"</ref> Judaism belong to the WUPJ.<ref>Eugene B. Borowitz. ''Liberal Judaism'', 341 - 349.</ref> |
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==Communities developed after 1926== |
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{{Main|Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism}} |
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Countries whose progressive community developed post 1926, generally identify with the name "Progressive". This includes all of [[Oceania]] (Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, etc.), South America, the Former Soviet Union and Israel. Many of the European communities rebuilt after World War II with the help of the WUPJ also consider "Progressive", rather than "Liberal" or "Reform" their primary identity. |
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==Communal life== |
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===Rabbis, cantors and communal leaders=== |
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See [[:Category:Progressive Jewish higher education]] |
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Rabbis, cantors and communal leaders for the worldwide progressive movement are trained in one of three rabbinic institutions: [[Leo Baeck College]],<ref name="LeoBaeck">http://www.lbc.ac.uk/ (Accessed November 1, 2007)</ref><ref>http://www.theredirectory.org.uk/org.php?n12 (Accessed November 1, 2007)</ref> [[Abraham-Geiger-Kolleg|Abraham Geiger College]]<ref name="AbrahamGeiger">http://www.abraham-geiger-kolleg.de/en/college/introduction.php (accessed November 1, 2007)</ref> and [[Hebrew Union College]].<ref>[http://www.huc.edu/chronicle/1999/four.html HUC-JIR - The Chronicle - 1999<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> While all three train rabbis for the worldwide progressive movement, each has a different regional focus: The Abraham Geiger College focuses on providing leadership for communities in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe.<ref name="AbrahamGeiger"/> [[Leo Baeck College]], located in the [[UK]], focuses on leadership for the [[Reform Judaism|UK Reform]] and [[Liberal Judaism|UK Liberal]].<ref name="LeoBaeck"/> [[Hebrew Union College]], with campuses in the USA and Israel, trains rabbis and communal service leaders for work in [[Reform Judaism|North American Reform]] and [[Reform Judaism|Israeli Progressive]] congregations. It also provides a year in Israel program for students at the Leo Baeck College and Abraham Geiger Institute.<ref name="HUC">http://www.huc.edu/ (Accessed November 1, 2007){{Nonspecific|date=February 2010}}</ref> |
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===International cooperation=== |
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*[[World Union for Progressive Judaism]] |
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*[[Arzenu]] - the international umbrella organization for progressive religious Zionist organizations |
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*[[Netzer Olami]], the international youth wing of the progressive movement, jointly sponsored by Arzenu and the WUPJ.<ref>[http://wupj.org/Youth/NetzerOlami.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Netzer Olami<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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===Regional organizations=== |
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Progressive congregations identify themselves by joining one of the many regional organizations. The regional organizations set common goals and work together on joint projects through the [[World Union for Progressive Judaism]] (WUPJ). |
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Regional organizations that are members of the [[World Union for Progressive Judaism]] include: |
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*Union for Progressive Judaism comprising congregations in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[China]], [[India]], and [[Singapore]].<ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/Australia.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | Australia, Asia and New Zealand<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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*European WUPJ providing regional support to congregations in [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Denmark]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Hungary]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Netherlands]], [[Poland]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]]. Within the European region there are also subregional associations for Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and the UK.<ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/Europe.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | Europe<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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*WUPJ - Former Soviet Union providing support for congregations in the [[Former Soviet Union]].<ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/FSU.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | Former Soviet Union<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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*[[Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism]] <ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/Israel.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | Israel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> comprising 23 congregations spread throughout Israel.<ref>http://www.reform.org.il/Heb/Index.asp - number obtained by counting the congregations listed for each region in the combo box on this page</ref> |
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*South African Union for Progressive Judaism supports congregations in South Africa.<ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/SouthAfrica.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | South Africa<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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*Union of Jewish Congregations of Latin America and the Caribbean supports congregations in [[Latin America]] and the [[Caribbean]].<ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/LatinAmerica.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | Latin America and The Caribbean<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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*[[Union for Reform Judaism]] supports [[Reform Judaism|reform]] congregations in [[North America]].<ref>[http://wupj.org/Congregations/NorthAmerica.asp The World Union for Progressive Judaism | Worldwide Congregations | North America<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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*Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, also a member of the WUPJ, supports [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionist]] congregations in North America. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Liberal Judaism]] |
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*[[Reform movement in Judaism]] |
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*[[World Union for Progressive Judaism]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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[[Category:Reform Judaism]] |
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[[Category:Subcultures of religious movements|Judaism, Progressive]] |
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[[Category:Jewish religious movements]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:02, 24 December 2015
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