How do the "reformed" Jewish denominations justify having female rabbis?

[PastGrandKnight]

Conservative Judaism has allowed the ordination of gay rabbis and the celebration of same-sex marriages rather than sexual relationships outside of marriage. Individual Conservative rabbis may differ with this stance, however.

That settles it. If I were to EVER return to practicing Judaism (which probably would not happen, regardless), it would ONLY be as an Orthodox Jew, I could never be involved in anything that supports allowing men to “marry” other men, or women to “marry” other women. For any of the 3 movements to say that it is okay “BECAUSE…” is abhorrent to just about everything that is good and righteous. How can they possibly support allowing something that God has declared to be “an abomination”? Do they not have the moral courage to stand up and say “God’s laws come first, ahead of the needs of man”?

 

[meltzerboy]

That settles it. If I were to EVER return to practicing Judaism (which probably would not happen, regardless), it would ONLY be as an Orthodox Jew, I could never be involved in anything that supports allowing men to “marry” other men, or women to “marry” other women. For any of the 3 movements to say that it is okay “BECAUSE…” is abhorrent to just about everything that is good and righteous. How can they possibly support allowing something that God has declared to be “an abomination”? Do they not have the moral courage to stand up and say “God’s laws come first, ahead of the needs of man”?

Torah is complex enough in many cases that different interpretations are likely. As you probably know, there is no central authority in Judaism and the nature of Judaism is vigorous discussion, debate, and controversy. If one practices the religion, however, there are certain fundamental tenets of faith shared by all Jews. If one regards being Jewish as more of belonging to a people or nation, then even belief in the tenets of faith is not necessary. If you are born of a Jewish mother or of a convert to Judaism, you are Jewish forever even if you convert to another religion or consider yourself an atheist.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

Torah is complex enough in many cases that different interpretations are likely. As you probably know, there is no central authority in Judaism and the nature of Judaism is vigorous discussion, debate, and controversy. If one practices the religion, however, there are certain fundamental tenets of faith shared by all Jews. If one regards being Jewish as more of belonging to a people or nation, then even belief in the tenets of faith is not necessary. If you are born of a Jewish mother or of a convert to Judaism, you are Jewish forever even if you convert to another religion or consider yourself an atheist.

I must respectfully disagree with one assertion here.
“You are what your mother is” was an old teaching when I was young (a very long time ago!). Thus, you were considered a Jew if your mother was Jew-ISH (emphasis added). But one who is a Jew by birthright remains one forever, even if he or she starts practicing another religion. Thus, while I am Roman Catholic by choice, I will forever still be a Jew because my mother practiced Judaism until the day she died. All of my Brothers in the Knights of Columbus know of my background, and they have never held it against me…not even once. How can I say that? Just look at my screen name, and the answer should be obvious.

 

[mskejj]

Jewish Law, known as Halakhah, governs every aspect of life and behavior, from what to eat, how to dress, how to observe the holy days, how to pray, how to conduct oneself in business, how to mourn the deceased, and how to relate to G-d, other people, and animals. Halakhah is based on the Written Law of the Torah, the Oral Law of the Talmud as compiled by rabbis, and custom. According to many Torah or Orthodox Jews, women rabbis are forbidden according to the rules of Halakhah. However, this is not exactly the case. There is nothing in Torah that explicitly or implicitly forbids women rabbis, while in the Talmud, there are certain rules proposed by rabbis, but their arguments are not very compelling. So the main reason for not having women rabbis is based on Halakhic custom. According to Reform Jews, this kind of custom is not binding and, since Judaism is thought of by Reform Judaism as an evolving religion, custom may and should bend according to the times.

With regard to celebrating gay pride during the Passover Seder, the holiday represents the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. However, Passover is not thought of as only a recollection of what once took place in ancient times. The Haggadah in fact is explicit in stating that each Jew bears the responsibility of talking about the liberation from Egypt as though it actually happened in their OWN lives in the PRESENT. The telling of the Passover tale is based on what G-d did for ME now, not only what G-d did for my ancestors. Further, during the Passover ceremony, there is often an identification with the struggles of other peoples from other countries and their fight against slavery down to the present day. It is not too much of a stretch, therefore, to imagine that any group of people who is presently oppressed or discriminated against and battling such discrimination is bound to be grateful to G-d for liberating them from their oppressors and helping them walk on a road toward a brighter future of freedom.

Ahhh…love hearing those who practice the Jewish faith explain how Passover is made present for them and that the Jewish understanding is not like our American understanding of the word “memorial or remembrance.” That is something that Christians have a hard time understanding with the words Jesus said in the New Testament “Do this in remembrance of me.” They do not understand that it is not like just remembering an event…it is making it present. For Catholics, Jesus is the Lamb of God who instituted the New Passover and the New Exodus…not from an earthly slavery like Moses but from a slavery to sin. And that “New Passover” is made present to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the same sacrifice offered on Calvary by the Lamb that Abraham said that God would provide in Genesis. The Lamb who would take away the sins of the world. And the earthly promised land that was given to the Israelites finds its fulfillment in the heavenly promised land.

The Mass is the new Todah sacrifice that was offered in thanksgiving for God saving them from a mortal enemy…It is now said in thanksgiving (Eucharist) for deliverance by God from a spiritual enemy. It is the fulfillment of Malachi 1:11…the Pure Sacrifice that will be offered around the world from the rising of the sun to its setting.

So many people forget that Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the apostles, etc…were Jewish and their feasts and liturgies did not just dissolve into singing songs and preaching. Love learning about the Jewish roots of our Catholic faith…if we want to know why we do certain things…we can find many of the roots in the Jewish faith.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Moses613]

The Torah refers explicitly only to male homosexuality, not female homosexuality. The latter is forbidden by Orthodox Jews only by inference to Pagan customs, which Jews should not emulate. Even the so-called “abomination” of male homosexuality is open to interpretation based on the meaning of the Hebrew term and the context in which it is mentioned.

Liberal revisionists like Jay Michaelson can twist and turn the Hebrew word ‘toevah’ all they want and claim that it does not mean “abomination,” but the fact remains that the Torah categorically forbids the act of sodomy. Reform Judaism does not consider itself bound to the teachings of the Torah, therefore, they feel free to reject whatever laws they feel are inconvenient.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

Liberal revisionists like Jay Michaelson can twist and turn the Hebrew word ‘toevah’ all they want and claim that it does not mean “abomination,” but the fact remains that the Torah categorically forbids the act of sodomy. Reform Judaism does not consider itself bound to the teachings of the Torah, therefore, they feel free to reject whatever laws they feel are inconvenient.

“…not bound to the teachings of the Torah”??? And they DARE to call themselves “Jewish”?
Please allow me to be blunt about this: I am Roman Catholic, but I was Bar Mitzvah in an Orthodox Shul in 1962. I still consider the Torah to be THE Word of God. It is written in only one language: Hebrew, and new Torah scrolls are made with such care and precision that a Torah made today is identical to one made 2-4000 years ago. The words are the same, and the reasons for that are all valid.
Reform Judaism’s rejection of any part of the Torah is also a rejection of the Word of God. Sorry, but nobody has that right, least of all someone who is supposed to be one of God’s Chosen People.

 

[504Katrin]

“…not bound to the teachings of the Torah”??? And they DARE to call themselves “Jewish”?
Please allow me to be blunt about this: I am Roman Catholic, but I was Bar Mitzvah in an Orthodox Shul in 1962. I still consider the Torah to be THE Word of God. It is written in only one language: Hebrew, and new Torah scrolls are made with such care and precision that a Torah made today is identical to one made 2-4000 years ago. The words are the same, and the reasons for that are all valid.
Reform Judaism’s rejection of any part of the Torah is also a rejection of the Word of God. Sorry, but nobody has that right, least of all someone who is supposed to be one of God’s Chosen People.

it is also a Jew’s real responsibility to “chase peace” as we say in our prayers. Only as one, united as a nation, we can expect Moshiach to come. Rabbi Akiva’s people died of a desease for that reason, they didn’t love their fellow Jew with humility. While trying to bring a fellow Jew closer to the Torah is a mitzvah, judging one another is not.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

it is also a Jew’s real responsibility to “chase peace” as we say in our prayers. Only as one, united as a nation, we can expect Moshiach to come. Rabbi Akiva’s people died of a desease for that reason, they didn’t love their fellow Jew with humility. While trying to bring a fellow Jew closer to the Torah is a mitzvah, judging one another is not.

“…judging one another is not.”
How interesting.
When I made my first “appearance” on a Jewish web site, I was severely scorned and chastised for my “apostasy”, as if I had committed a crime against humanity. All I had done was accept that the Messiah that our ancient prophets foretold had already arrived some 2000 years ago. Of course, they had all sorts of “reasons” as to why this was impossible. While some of them may have been valid, some were not even relevant.
As one example, they cited the prophecy of a “virgin Birth”. Well, the issue of “alma” versus “betulah” is pretty clear: Isaiah called for a “young woman” to be with child (but not necessarily a virgin!). Of course, in those days, young women generally kept their virginity until they got married, lest they bring shame and disgrace to the entire family. Yet, my faith and belief in Jesus of Nazareth is not based at all on His mother, but rather, on His teachings and the way He led His life.
Another negative that was thrown at me was that the 4 main Gospels were not all alike. Well, why should they be? There were 4 different authors, and at least one (John) did his writings long after Jesus died. Luke did his research in a fairly scientific manner, as would befit a doctor of that time. They wrote from different viewpoints, so it is normal that their gospels would not be identical. Again, it was not an important issue for me.
Another issue they raised was about the Temple being restored, as if it was going to magically come down from the sky, or suddenly appear as if it had been beamed down from the Enterprise! I believe it will be restored only after human beings physically rebuild it (and I understand there are rumors of that already being started).
Funny thing, but most of the scorn came from one who was a convert from Christianity to Judaism, and who was a lawyer for the federal government in Washington, DC. Bruce never gave me a break, as I recall, and it’s too bad because I would probably have enjoyed meeting and talking with him in person instead of the stale cold of a computer monitor. We might have found common grounds upon which to agree. But as an Orthodox Jew, he never even believed I was Jewish in the first place. How wrong he was. I’ve still got the photo album from the reception after my Bar Mitzvah…51 years ago. I also still have the Yarmulka I wore that day, and the prayer book given to me by the Congregation. (Some of the people in the album are still friends of mine to this very day.)
Have a good Labor Day weekend.

P.S. Sorry for going on so long, but I had to say some of these things

 

[504Katrin]

“…judging one another is not.”
How interesting.
When I made my first “appearance” on a Jewish web site, I was severely scorned and chastised for my “apostasy”, as if I had committed a crime against humanity. All I had done was accept that the Messiah that our ancient prophets foretold had already arrived some 2000 years ago. Of course, they had all sorts of “reasons” as to why this was impossible. While some of them may have been valid, some were not even relevant.
As one example, they cited the prophecy of a “virgin Birth”. Well, the issue of “alma” versus “betulah” is pretty clear: Isaiah called for a “young woman” to be with child (but not necessarily a virgin!). Of course, in those days, young women generally kept their virginity until they got married, lest they bring shame and disgrace to the entire family. Yet, my faith and belief in Jesus of Nazareth is not based at all on His mother, but rather, on His teachings and the way He led His life.
Another negative that was thrown at me was that the 4 main Gospels were not all alike. Well, why should they be? There were 4 different authors, and at least one (John) did his writings long after Jesus died. Luke did his research in a fairly scientific manner, as would befit a doctor of that time. They wrote from different viewpoints, so it is normal that their gospels would not be identical. Again, it was not an important issue for me.
Another issue they raised was about the Temple being restored, as if it was going to magically come down from the sky, or suddenly appear as if it had been beamed down from the Enterprise! I believe it will be restored only after human beings physically rebuild it (and I understand there are rumors of that already being started).
Funny thing, but most of the scorn came from one who was a convert from Christianity to Judaism, and who was a lawyer for the federal government in Washington, DC. Bruce never gave me a break, as I recall, and it’s too bad because I would probably have enjoyed meeting and talking with him in person instead of the stale cold of a computer monitor. We might have found common grounds upon which to agree. But as an Orthodox Jew, he never even believed I was Jewish in the first place. How wrong he was. I’ve still got the photo album from the reception after my Bar Mitzvah…51 years ago. I also still have the Yarmulka I wore that day, and the prayer book given to me by the Congregation. (Some of the people in the album are still friends of mine to this very day.)
Have a good Labor Day weekend.

P.S. Sorry for going on so long, but I had to say some of these things

Labor day weekend? Totally missed it. I’m completely caught up in Rosh HaShanah stress lol. I shouldn’t post a pic of what my place looks like right now.

You must have felt treated harshly. Sorry to hear what you’ve been through. If there’s anything we can do for our fellows, it’s treating peeps like we would like to be treated.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

Labor day weekend? Totally missed it. I’m completely caught up in Rosh HaShanah stress lol. I shouldn’t post a pic of what my place looks like right now.

You must have felt treated harshly. Sorry to hear what you’ve been through. If there’s anything we can do for our fellows, it’s treating peeps like we would like to be treated.

Thank you for sharing.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the Golden Rule as taught by Jesus of Nazareth. We don’t need government to tell us how to do that, either. We simply need to be able to see and identify a need…wherever it exists…and then do whatever we can do to help meet that need. That’s one of the reasons I am proud to be a Knight of Columbus, and am now serving my third term as Grand Knight for my Council. We have 4 Principles in our Order, and the first one is “Charity”. That’s one reason why our Order donated some $170 Million to a host of charitable and worthwhile causes last year, and provided 70 million hours of volunteer time.
When it comes to being charitable, nobody tops the Knights of Columbus!

Oh, and Happy New Year to you.

 

[meltzerboy]

Liberal revisionists like Jay Michaelson can twist and turn the Hebrew word ‘toevah’ all they want and claim that it does not mean “abomination,” but the fact remains that the Torah categorically forbids the act of sodomy. Reform Judaism does not consider itself bound to the teachings of the Torah, therefore, they feel free to reject whatever laws they feel are inconvenient.

“Toevah” refers to taboo cultic behavior, particularly idolatry (“avodah zara”) and foreign ritual (child sacrifice and witchcraft, for example). It also refers to ritual imperfection, or uncleanliness. It is used in an ethical sense mainly in Proverbs but only once in Torah (Deuteronomy). However, even in Proverbs, toevah expresses a relative connotation: “Turning from evil is toevah to fools,” for example, and also “An unjust man is toevah to the righteous, and a straightforward man is toevah to the wicked.” " Further, there is “toevah for Egypt,” which means “foreign” in the sense that Egyptians are not permitted to eat with shepherds, i.e. Israelites. The Sin of Sodom found in Ezekiel refers to a foreign cultic behavior which is divorced of a loving and intimate relationship and mentioned primarily in the context of idolatry and whoredom. If sinful at all, the behavior of male (and possibly female) homosexuality may be on par with not keeping “kashrut” (dietary kosher laws), but it should not be translated as “abomination” in the modern meaning of the term.

Reform Jews feel free to interpret the Torah as do Conservative Jews and Orthodox Jews.
As you know, even Orthodox Jews do not always agree in their interpretation of Torah and Talmud, and sometimes on quite major issues such as abortion in the case of rape and adultery.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

“Toevah” refers to taboo cultic behavior, particularly idolatry (“avodah zara”) and foreign ritual (child sacrifice and witchcraft, for example). It also refers to ritual imperfection, or uncleanliness. It is used in an ethical sense mainly in Proverbs but only once in Torah (Deuteronomy). However, even in Proverbs, toevah expresses a relative connotation: “Turning from evil is toevah to fools,” for example, and also “An unjust man is toevah to the righteous, and a straightforward man is toevah to the wicked.” " Further, there is “toevah for Egypt,” which means “foreign” in the sense that Egyptians are not permitted to eat with shepherds, i.e. Israelites. The Sin of Sodom found in Ezekiel refers to a foreign cultic behavior which is divorced of a loving and intimate relationship and mentioned primarily in the context of idolatry and whoredom. If sinful at all, the behavior of male (and possibly female) homosexuality may be on par with not keeping “kashrut” (dietary kosher laws), but it should not be translated as “abomination” in the modern meaning of the term.

Reform Jews feel free to interpret the Torah as do Conservative Jews and Orthodox Jews.
As you know, even Orthodox Jews do not always agree in their interpretation of Torah and Talmud, and sometimes on quite major issues such as abortion in the case of rape and adultery.

There is this story of an old Synagogue in Russia. A man who was one of the Founders of that Synagogue was near death when three people came to his hospital room. The Rabbi told the ailing man: We have a problem, and you may be the only person on Earth who can answer this question!"
The ill man asked “And what is the question?”
One of the two men with the Rabbi explained: “We need to know: What is the custom when we do the Shema? Do we stand, or do we sit?”
The elderly man looked and said “To stand during the Shema is not the custom”.
“AHA”!, exclaimed the other man. So the custom is to sit during the Shema?"
“No”, replied the elderly man. “To sit during the Shema is not the custom.”
“So what is the answer?” asked the Rabbi. “All we ever do is argue about it all day long!”
“THAT IS THE CUSTOM!”, replied the ailing man, now smiling for the first time. “We did that at our first service, and we continued to argue about it ever since!”

P.S. No disrespect is intended. This was only interjected here as a bit of humor. I first heard this one from a Rabbi, about 40 years ago, and never forgot it!

 

[meltzerboy]

There is this story of an old Synagogue in Russia. A man who was one of the Founders of that Synagogue was near death when three people came to his hospital room. The Rabbi told the ailing man: We have a problem, and you may be the only person on Earth who can answer this question!"
The ill man asked “And what is the question?”
One of the two men with the Rabbi explained: “We need to know: What is the custom when we do the Shema? Do we stand, or do we sit?”
The elderly man looked and said “To stand during the Shema is not the custom”.
“AHA”!, exclaimed the other man. So the custom is to sit during the Shema?"
“No”, replied the elderly man. “To sit during the Shema is not the custom.”
“So what is the answer?” asked the Rabbi. “All we ever do is argue about it all day long!”
“THAT IS THE CUSTOM!”, replied the ailing man, now smiling for the first time. “We did that at our first service, and we continued to argue about it ever since!”

P.S. No disrespect is intended. This was only interjected here as a bit of humor. I first heard this one from a Rabbi, about 40 years ago, and never forgot it!

Too funny! Thanks for the humorous story. Jewish humor, to be precise.

 

[AveChriste11]

I’ve always thought that if I were Jewish, then I could only be Reformed or maybe Conservative. I say that because in American politics I am a liberal and more often than not side with the Democrats. I am pro LGBT too, so I could never be Orthodox. On a similar note this also keeps me from embracing the Catholic faith. But I have heard that reformed conversions are not recognized in Israel. So does that mean to Israel that the Reformed aren’t real Jews? I am confused.

 

[meltzerboy]

I’ve always thought that if I were Jewish, then I could only be Reformed or maybe Conservative. I say that because in American politics I am a liberal and more often than not side with the Democrats. I am pro LGBT too, so I could never be Orthodox. On a similar note this also keeps me from embracing the Catholic faith. But I have heard that reformed conversions are not recognized in Israel. So does that mean to Israel that the Reformed aren’t real Jews? I am confused.

Here’s the story as I understand it. LEGALLY, since 2002, you would be recognized as a full Jewish Israeli citizen upon immigration to Israel according to the Law of Return under the Israeli Ministry, whether you converted in Israel or abroad by means of a Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox Rabbi. However, RELIGIOUSLY speaking, the decision is made by the Orthodox Israeli Rabbinate, which does NOT approve Reform or Conservative conversions to Judaism as legitimate. So with regard to religious matters, such as marriage to another Jew, you would be denied Jewish rights in an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. Recently, there has also been questioning by the Orthodox Israeli Rabbinate of even Orthodox Jewish conversions that took place several years ago abroad rather than in Israel.

 

[504Katrin]

There is this story of an old Synagogue in Russia. A man who was one of the Founders of that Synagogue was near death when three people came to his hospital room. The Rabbi told the ailing man: We have a problem, and you may be the only person on Earth who can answer this question!"
The ill man asked “And what is the question?”
One of the two men with the Rabbi explained: “We need to know: What is the custom when we do the Shema? Do we stand, or do we sit?”
The elderly man looked and said “To stand during the Shema is not the custom”.
“AHA”!, exclaimed the other man. So the custom is to sit during the Shema?"
“No”, replied the elderly man. “To sit during the Shema is not the custom.”
“So what is the answer?” asked the Rabbi. “All we ever do is argue about it all day long!”
“THAT IS THE CUSTOM!”, replied the ailing man, now smiling for the first time. “We did that at our first service, and we continued to argue about it ever since!”

P.S. No disrespect is intended. This was only interjected here as a bit of humor. I first heard this one from a Rabbi, about 40 years ago, and never forgot it!

Too funny! Thanks for the humorous story. Jewish humor, to be precise.

Do you know about Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, Nassi and the son of Rabbi Gamliel I? His name is mentioned in the Midrash where the offering of sacrifices is discussed. He was one of the ten scholars who died as martyrs. This happened back in the day under Roman opression shortly before the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash:

Rabbi Shimon supported the fight against the Romans, got caught and was brought into prison to be executed together with Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, a Kohen Gadol. When both were brought to the place of execution, each one of the two asked to be exectued first so that they didn’t have to witness the death of the other. Eventually they got into an argument. Rabbi Shimon argued that since he was the Nassi he had the right to die first. Rabbi Yishmael argued that since he was the Kohen Gadol he had the right to die first. In the end lots had to be drawn.

It can’t get any more Jewish than that.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

Do you know about Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, Nassi and the son of Rabbi Gamliel I? His name is mentioned in the Midrash where the offering of sacrifices is discussed. He was one of the ten scholars who died as martyrs. This happened back in the day under Roman opression shortly before the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash:

Rabbi Shimon supported the fight against the Romans, got caught and was brought into prison to be executed together with Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, a Kohen Gadol. When both were brought to the place of execution, each one of the two asked to be exectued first so that they didn’t have to witness the death of the other. Eventually they got into an argument. Rabbi Shimon argued that since he was the Nassi he had the right to die first. Rabbi Yishmael argued that since he was the Kohen Gadol he had the right to die first. In the end lots had to be drawn.

It can’t get any more Jewish than that.

Do you know how you can get 5 totally different versions of an auto accident at an intersection? Just have one Jew standing on each of the 4 corners, and one in the middle of the intersection.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

By the way, the title of this thread is a bit deceptive.
As I understand it, there are 3 Movements within Judaism: Orthodox (the most strict), Conservative (still quite strict), and the Reform (very liberal) movements.
Please note: “R-e-f-o-r-m”, and not “r-e-f-o-r-m-e-d”.

 

[PastGrandKnight]

Here’s the story as I understand it. LEGALLY, since 2002, you would be recognized as a full Jewish Israeli citizen upon immigration to Israel according to the Law of Return under the Israeli Ministry, whether you converted in Israel or abroad by means of a Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox Rabbi. However, RELIGIOUSLY speaking, the decision is made by the Orthodox Israeli Rabbinate, which does NOT approve Reform or Conservative conversions to Judaism as legitimate. So with regard to religious matters, such as marriage to another Jew, you would be denied Jewish rights in an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. Recently, there has also been questioning by the Orthodox Israeli Rabbinate of even Orthodox Jewish conversions that took place several years ago abroad rather than in Israel.

Leaving out the various denominations, here is the first question to answer: Do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, the Son of God? If so, they you are a Christian. According to my studies, Jesus only Commissioned ONE Church, and that is the one we know today as the Roman Catholic Church. For some 1500 years, when people used the word “Christian”, it was automatically a reference to the Roman Catholic Church. The word “Catholic”, by the way, also means “Universal”, meaning that it is found in every land. Over half of all Christians on Earth are Roman Catholic.
If we are clear on that first point, the next question is this: Since Jesus was born a Jew and died a Jew, He would have observed God’s laws strictly, and not loosely. He would have obeyed His Father above all else. So, why would any human being think it is okay to break the laws as Established by God? Is a human being wiser than God? I don’t think so!!!
For roughly 2000 years, there has been a successive line of leadership within the Church, starting with St. Peter…who was appointed by Jesus Himself!
Is there really anywhere else to go? I’m open for discussion, of course.

 

[504Katrin]

By the way, the title of this thread is a bit deceptive.
As I understand it, there are 3 Movements within Judaism: Orthodox (the most strict), Conservative (still quite strict), and the Reform (very liberal) movements.
Please note: “R-e-f-o-r-m”, and not “r-e-f-o-r-m-e-d”.

Something like that I think. Personally, I don’t like the question “Are you orthodox or reform or conservative or…” as I don’t like to distinquish between Jews. My reluctance to do this is maybe comparable to counting Jews, you know what I mean? We don’t count Jews, either. We’re all Jews. Everyone has to figure out for themselves how to live their relationship with Gd. I wouldn’t have the guts or desire to mix in between them and get into their business. Now, if someone gets lost and leaves the synagogue altogether that’s a different animal. If I came across someone who’s in this situation I would tryna get him back with the Torah.