The Reform Movement takes pride in interpreting the Torah in what it considers a more tolerant and open-minded way. Since the mid-19th century this has meant stripping Judaism and Jewish life of ritual commandments.
The end result has been to effectively turn most Diaspora Jews into Noahides. That is, into ethical monotheists.
This appears to be harmless until we remember that according to Judaism, Noahides are supposed to be Gentiles - not Jews!
Jews are meant to be a priestly nation and to take over a more challenging – and rewarding – relationship with God. This allows Jews to serve as a light unto the nations and gradually draw all of humanity towards Biblical morality and the worship of one God.
The Seven Noahide Commandments intended for all humankind are: Not to worship idols; not to curse God; to establish courts of justice; not to commit murder; not to commit adultery or sexual immorality; not to steal; not to eat flesh torn from a living animal (i.e. not to gratuitously hurt animals).
Jewish denominational differences have global reverberations. If the Reform Movement hadn't co-opted Noahism, religious Jews might be able to successfully draw millions of people disenchanted with Christianity, Islam and agnosticism to the seven Noahide commandments that God enjoined upon all of humanity. This would promote the universal message of Judaism and facilitate the accomplishment of the Jewish people’s historical mission.
Religious Jews in the Diaspora cannot do this. If they did persuade more non-Jews about the merits and truth inherent in the Noahide commandments, these Gentiles might end up in Reform temples, where they would be induced to think that Noahism is Judaism and that Judaism is Noahism.
However there has never been any requirement in Judaism to join the Jewish people in order to embrace ethical monotheism. That is why centuries prior to the emergence of the Reform Movement, synagogues in the Eastern Mediterranean attracted Gentile God-fearers. These God-fearers embraced Jewish ethics and Jewish theology, without surrendering their national, linguistic and cultural identities.
A representative of Reform Jews might object to this argument, claiming that religious Jews should promote Noahism irrespective of how similar Reform credo and Noahism actually are. Indeed, this argument might be legitimate in 50 years when most Reform Jews will be halakhic Gentiles. In the meantime, it is clear that any Jewish efforts to promote Noahism in the Diaspora will just add to the number of Gentiles who convert via Reform clergy .
These conversions would however be regrettable since they aggravate the misunderstanding and misconceptions on what constitutes Jewish peoplehood, thus further dividing the Jewish world.
It would be wonderful if in the 21st century, irrespective of language, nation and race, the whole human family embraced the Noahide commandments. Expecting ethical monotheists to join the fold of Judaism is misguided. Both Jews and Gentiles best fulfill our mission if we accept the commandments assigned to us as God's priestly nation and God's lay children respectively. Unfortunately, diluting Judaism sabotages the spiritual symbiosis between Jews and Gentiles. This harms the advancement of humanity and – ultimately – the attainment of universal peace.
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Can Satmar chevra start applying for jobs at Hebrew U?
By Adina Katz, World Israel News
Apparently in defense of an Arab student, a Hebrew University of Jerusalem lecturer berated a female IDF soldier on Tuesday for wearing her uniform to class.
The lecturer followed the soldier, who was verbally attacked by an Arab student, into the hallway and reportedly told her, “You cannot be naive and ask to be treated as a civilian when you are in uniform. You are a soldier in the Israeli army, and you will be treated accordingly.”
The soldier responded that she had no interest in discussing politics and that she was serving in the IDF to protect the State of Israel, i24 News reported.
After complaints from the student union, the management and lecturer – later identified as Dr. Carola Hilfrich, senior lecturer at the Hebrew University and founder of the Graduate Program in Cultural Studies – apologized.
“It is shameful to see that students receive humiliating reactions because they wear uniforms. In recent years, we have been working hard to promote the rights of students and those who serve in the reserves,” the student union stated, according to Ynet. “Despite the political differences and arguments, we expect lecturers and students to show empathy.”
The Zionist organization Im Tirtzu responded to the incident in a statement the following day, calling on the education minister to fire the lecturer.
Are you kidding???
...priestly nation....relationship with God....light unto the nations??? Or a nation stuck in their own @$$???
Hillel the Elder stated otherwise:
...altruistic nation....relationship with your fellow in need...this is how you have a relationship with God and a light unto the nations...
This is how the 3rd Temple will be built.
If someone is born of a Jewish mother or converted according to halacha, they are Jewish. There are still many reform Jews who were born of Jewish mothers. Through ignoranceor apathy, they may not know the mitzvos. But being Jewish, we must encourage them in mitzva observance and daven that Hashem will help them strengthen in Torah and mitzvos.There is no such thing as movements in Judaism - ignore the labels and love yoir fellow Jew and bring them closer to Torah.
You can also educate those who are not Jewish about the sheva mitzvos and tell them that they do not have to be Jewish.
Annon,
"..ignore the labels and love yoir fellow..." is great comment in right direction. But falling short in crossing the line that will build the 3rd Temple.
Because you fail to mention the main (and only -primary) mitzva: Caring for your Fellow in Need.
As per Hillel the Elder "That is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary to it".
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