REFORM P4.2

Question 1

Stance

Answer 1

Strongly for emancipation, embraced change and wanted to gain acceptance into wider society.

Question 2

Supporting response

Answer 2

• Change the rituals of synagogue worship to model the Christian environment. For example, using organ and vocal accompaniment, having the siddur (prayer book) in the vernacular language and mixed seating.
• Encouragement to engage in secular education and modern mode of dress.
• Reinterpretation of religious beliefs. The belief of divine revelation where God revealed the Torah and Halacha (Jewish law) at Mount Sinai was changed to the belief that the Torah is the work of man over a period of time and therefore can change.
• The belief that the Messiah is a personal Messiah was rejected and changed to a Messianic Age which was now.
• The belief in the Land of Israel was now not central to Jewish life because of the new nationalistic spirit. The Reform movement eliminated references to the return to Zion and Messiah in prayers

Question 3

Who?

Answer 3

Rabbi Abraham Geiger (1810-1874) was the leader of this movement and stated, “Judaism must rid itself of all elements that enhanced Jewish isolation”.

Question 4

Reason

Answer 4

• Create an appealing Judaism
• Acculturate into the wider society

Question 5

Intended outcome

Answer 5

• stem the tide of assimilation and conversion by bringing Judaism into the modern world.
• Assimilate in order to gain acceptance in the wider society
• helped to ensure the continuity of Judaism, Rabbi Abraham Milligram states, “It can be safely assumed that some young Jews on their way to a church stopped at the Reform temple and reintegrated themselves into the Jewish community.”

Question 6

Supporting responses on the challenge

Answer 6

• helped Jewish continuity stay secure as the movement allowed many Jews to “reintegrate themselves into the Jewish community” (Rabbi Abraham Milgram) .
• Rabbi Jonathan Sacks believed the actions of Reform destroyed Jewish unity and therefore did not resolve the challenge as it was a “fateful movement” because it isolated the Jews. Sacks believed that Reform went too far in the direction of modernity and that disunity opened the door to more change, accculatation and therefore assimilation.

Question 7

Supporting responses on the religion

Answer 7

-Rabbi A Milgram indicated that response of Reform movement had a positive impact on Judaism.
- Helped reduce the numbers of assimilation
“It can be safely assumed that some young Jews on their way to a church stopped at the Reform temple and reintegrated themselves into the Jewish community.”
- This created an appeal to Judaism by acculturating it into wider society and ensuring its continuity by bringing it into the modern world.
- one could choose their level of observance across the spectrum of Judaism