Re: What's wrong with Conservative Judaism


backon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
In article <1157305930.164109.245780@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Joel Shurkin" <jshurkin@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

....
Let's take the driving rule, which many on the C right now think was an
error. Had they refused to change the law, they would have continued to
have been ignored by 80-90% of American C Jews. Judaism is different in
America (and to an extent, Canada) because the society is different, we
are totally and completely absorbed in the culture and the place is
simply huge. We don't or can't make our living decisions based on where
our synagogues are. Typically, non-O Jews decided where they are going
to live and then find a compatible synagogue nearby. Moshe's sig about
how Judaism is not based on the synagogue is, in the case of the U.S.,
simply wrong. It is now. Here. Non-Orthodox Judaism is based on the
synagogue here more than any place else because of geography and the
culture and the extraordinary freedom American Jews enjoy. Synagogues
are how we connect with each other, how we build our communities, how
we keep Jewish.


There are 17 weekday services [Sunday through Friday afternoon] to attend.
Judaism isn't Xtianity where "Sunday" church services is the only option.
What's so holy about Sabbath services ??

Again, anyone living not within walking distance to the synagogue can
attend and participate in 17 services a week and all without any
violation of Jewish law.

That's true. But we have jobs and kids to haul round and in the grand
scheme of things, we don't, as a rule, go to synagogue except on
shabbos or holidays. That is the way it is evolving--or rather, has
evolved.






Ashkenazic Judaism is what it is because of where the Jews lived, in
European ghettos for a thousand years, and American Judaism is becoming
something else for the same reasons. So, the law against driving was a
non-starter from the beginning and I think the feeling was they had a
choice: they could hold to a law ignored by virtually everyone, making
a mockery of the Law and whatever authority it and they had, or they
could find a way to finesse the law, using perhaps a different
methodology than the Orthodox rabbis would used, but coming the same
conclusions O rabbis do when faced with similar situations. (Defending
O finesses by hiding behind the process impresses not at all. Lights on
a timer still make a room bright.) So they ruled accordingly, and the
rule is still disobeyed by 80-90% of the synagogue members, who drive
wherever they wish on shabbos. What do you do?


At least in the 50's and 60's there were many attendees at O services
who drove on shabbat. But they knew it was wrong and parked 3 blocks
away.

And there still are, depending on the synagogue. Ånd they still "know"
it is wrong and still park three blocks away.

j




The point of historic Judaism, and C Judaism, is to apply the values
around it in ways compatible with Jewish principles, hopefully, without
going to far. I think R Judaism has gone too far; C Judaism hasn't.
Yet.

If you want to see the explosion, wait till the end of the year when
they rule on gay rabbis.


In the immortal words of Mel Brooks as Rabbi Tuckman in MEN IN TIGHTS,
"Feigeleh ???"


Josh


j



--
Micha Berger "As long as the candle is still burning,
micha@xxxxxxxxxxx it is still possible to accomplish and to
http://www.aishdas.org mend."
Fax: (270) 514-1507 - Unknown shoemaker to R' Yisrael Salanter


.

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