Varieties of Judaism

We Jews have always liked to argue about religion and who is kosher and who is not.

Often, these differences are far from civil. In every branch and variation of Judaism (as elsewhere), there are sects and extremes, iconoclasts and revisionists, insiders and outsiders. It pains me that we seem so incapable of overcoming such differences and conflicts amicably.

There is an axiom in religious life (all religions, not just Judaism) that those more religious than you are fanatics. Anyone less religious is a doomed sinner. Within each shade of Judaism, there are conflicts of ideology and practice.

I could never understand why, for many years, established Orthodoxy should have been opposed to going to and teaching at Jewish conferences simply because there might also be people there whose ideas about Judaism they did not share. Neither could I understand the argument that one should not go to Reform communities to teach Torah. On the contrary, if they are so misled by their heretical rabbis, surely it would only be beneficial to go and put another point of view. Unless one is so insecure or vulnerable, there might be a risk of backsliding.

The Lubavitch movement is successful precisely because it does not prejudge and regards every Jew as worthy of attention, regardless of background.  And on the other side, so to speak, anyone vaguely familiar with Reform Judaism in Israel and much of the Diaspora knows that much (not all) of it is seriously trying to come to terms with how to return to a more traditional way of life with more Hebrew and study.

Of course, as a traditionalist, I disagree with those who make light of our religious traditions and laws. But the truth is, we all, to some extent or another, choose what to focus on and what not. What version and degree to accept? I see this as a strength, not a weakness. I can understand communities that want to preserve their specific identities by excluding those who wish to undermine them. But we can still treat others with tolerance and understanding out of simple good manners. We are such a small people that we cannot afford to lose even more than we do through ignorance and defection. And thank goodness for all the variations we welcome in with open doors.

I may not agree with much of Reform ideology and ritual. But I also believe Orthodoxy could have and should be much more flexible. I do admire a great deal in the Charedi world.  I think they are seriously mistaken about their attitude to serving Israel’s military needs. And I deplore Neturei Karta’s support of Iranian mass murderers. As I do, secular Israelis who want to undermine the Jewish State. Opposition comes from both sides.

There is a Talmudic principle that a Jewish child captured by non-Jews, a ‘Tinnok SheNishba,’ could not possibly be found guilty of breaking Jewish law since he (or she) would have had no positive experiences of it to be able to make a positive decision. The saintly rabbi known as the ‘Chafetz Chaim’ (Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1838-1933) used this to argue that most modern Jews have never experienced the passion and intensity of genuine Torah spirituality and therefore cannot be blamed for rejecting something they know nothing of. You can only be a genuine heretic if you really know what it is you are rebelling against!

I would welcome anyone, no matter who, from whatever background, who wanted to identify as a Jew, study and participate. They should be welcomed and encouraged to explore the varieties of Jewish experience and decide where they fit in. And we should do our best to draw closer and help address any integration problems that may arise.

On Pesach, we will read about the four different sons, including the ‘bad one’, with different approaches to Torah. But at least they sat around the same table and were participating in the Seder.

We should use Torah to bring Jews closer, those who have drifted, the misguided ones, not to insult them and push them further away, just because they have a different view from ours.

Rabbi Jeremy Rosen lives in New York. He was born in Manchester. His writings are concerned with religion, culture, history and current affairs – anything he finds interesting or relevant. They are designed to entertain and to stimulate. Disagreement is always welcome.