tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570972496352259896.post1780298749958191795..comments2023-10-29T10:59:45.075-04:00Comments on Tuvia Brodie: Israel should say 'no' to Reform JudaismTuviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09258309790095578616noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570972496352259896.post-8768052892898608872017-07-05T16:12:42.633-04:002017-07-05T16:12:42.633-04:00You miss an important point. We all are Jews no m...You miss an important point. We all are Jews no matter what persuasion – Frum, Modern Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Secular Humanist, as well as the large number who have little or no religious connection at all. There in so longer a Priestly Cult – the Kotel (and the memory of the Temple) belongs to all. Jewish peoplehood is not the same as Judaism. <br /><br />The problem is density of Jewish population. In Israel, most young Jews, regardless of religious observance or lack thereof, meet mostly others Jews. However, attention to Jewish religion is lacking in Israelis. It’s possible that a more open approach to Judaism could attract some non-observant. <br /><br />In the Galut – except for “Black Hat” orthodox who keep in their own communities, Jews who grow up in any socialize with a variety of other young people. The non-traditional Jewish organizations don’t encourage intermarriage – they react to the inevitable by allowing for the possibility that the couple will become a part of the Jewish people. Some find their way to traditional Judaism. Without these organizations many Jews would have no affiliation. These days, everywhere in the West, a Jew can just blend in.<br /><br />By accepting Reform and other streams in Israel we have the possibility that the some of the large number of religion-disdaining Jews would find an opening to tradition. Being a Refomi in Israel won’t lead to intermarriage and might lead to more observance.<br /><br />Rejecting large numbers of us around the world risks having Israel lose that really special relationship and political support. You saw how that worked when you lived in the US. Don’t push so many away.<br />George Cohen - New Jersey USnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3570972496352259896.post-80861813003523844702017-07-05T13:08:12.137-04:002017-07-05T13:08:12.137-04:00Dear Tuvia, you wrote above: "The Reform vers...Dear Tuvia, you wrote above: "The Reform version of Judaism is, arguably, as different from Orthodox Judaism as Unitarianism is from the Anglican church. Demanding a Reform prayer spot at an Orthodox venue is similar to a Catholic religious sect demanding to pray their own service in Europe's most important Protestant church."<br /><br />Here, you equate the Anglican Church with Orthodox Judaism, and the Catholic church with Reform Judaism. The Anglican Chruch is a Protestant church founded by a king of England (Henry VIII) who wanted to divorce his wife and was prevented from doing so by the Catholic Church, because the Catholic Church has moral standards it didn't want to compromise to accommodate a king.<br />Your text would be more historically accurate if you equated the Catholic Church to Orthodox Judaism, and the heretics Protestants to Reform Judaism. But I can see where your mistake comes from: you are an American, hence an ignorant, and as such you might want to stick to what you know and shut up about the rest. Best regards, Sylvia. <br /> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com