Growth of Judaism in the 19th Century Flashcards
3 Waves of immigration
1st: colonial period - 1820; mostly sephardic jews
2nd: 1820 - 1880; primarily from Germany/around Germany; settled in many areas
3rd: 1881/2 - 1914; from E. Europe and Russia; settled in urban areas
4 challenges Jewish immigrants faced
Anti-semistism
Push for assimilation
Where do traditions/Jewish law factor into new environment?
What is “home?”
How did immigration contribute to religious diversity?
fewer restrictions in America, more denominations developed out of this environment
- recall Anna Antin’s father, who felt free to speak out against impositions of Orthodox faith
4 Reform Judaism characteristics
Celebrated American context - no isolation!
Emphasized development, adaptation, reason, personal autonomy
Less emphasis on traditional laws - focused on the moral/ethical laws of Judaism
Rejected coming messiah
America is home - no return to “homeland”
Important figure of Reform Judasm
Isaac Mayer Wise
Pittsburgh Platform Theme
only moral laws should be maintained: traditional laws are outdated and don’t fit the American context
What was the trefa Banquet?
Highland House Dinner, which two diners rushed out of because ritually forbidden shrimp was served
Isaac Mayer Wise of Hebrew Union College defended oversight of host, then attacked orthodox practice of Kashrut, then asserted new Judaism
What did the Trefa Banquet catalyze? Conservative Reaction to Reform
New Judaism asserted; Jewish Theological Seminary Conservatives) split
Stance of Jewish Theological Seminary
Push back against Reform Jews, asserting that the true Judaic spirit necessitates strict adherence to Jewish tradition
Reconstructionism: how was it inspired, who was important, what were its 3 dictates
American autonomy challenged the Jewish identity
Mordecai Kaplan
- reassert Jewish identity by adhering to tradition.
- Judaism is not supernatural
- Synagogue is a culture center; a place for tradition in keeping with the culture/Jewish identity/heritage
Two other movements that started to develop around this time
Zionism and Jewish national movement: remember the homeland