American Reform Judaism: An Introduction

Chapter 6: The Struggle for Recognition in the State of Israel

113 Chapter 6 If Progressive Judaism can develop and thrive only in a non-Jewish environment, if we cannot succeed in impacting on the lives and values of Jews living in the Jewish state, then the charges of our critics may be substantiated. Therefore, the ultimate test of Jewish authenticity for Progressive Judaism lies in our efforts in Israel. If we succeed in Israel, we pass the test. If we fail in Israel, then doubt is cast on the authenticity of our Diaspora movement. —richard hirsch, 1999 It is easy to forget that while Reform Judaism is most influential in the United States, it exists in many other parts of the world, including Israel. The international umbrella organization for Reform, Liberal, and Progressive Jews is the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), founded in London in 1926 to maintain and strengthen existing Progressive movements and to initiate efforts to build new ones whenever possible. The WUPJ currently has affiliates in about forty countries on six continents, including North America; the Union of American Hebrew Congregations is by far the largest of about forty constituent groups. Although the WUPJ does what it can to build the Reform movement in Europe, South America, and elsewhere, a greater or lesser degree of success in those areas is not going to make a historic difference. The crucial battleground for the movement is the State of Israel, where the Reform movement is fighting the entrenched, institutionalized Orthodox establishment, as well as widely held negative perceptions about the Reform movement. The Struggle for Recognition in the State of Israel 114 american reform judaism Because of the central position the State of Israel holds in the Jewish world, building a strong Reform movement there is the highest priority for the World Union. Israel is the world center of Judaism and Jewish tradition . While some see it as virtually identical with the Jewish people, others see it as representing the Jews all over the world. Radical Zionists tend to view the Jewish Diaspora as transitory, of little consequence other than as a source of new citizens for the state. Regardless of the importance that one places on the Diaspora, it is clear to all that what happens in the State of Israel has great significance. Despite the prediction of David Ben Gurion, the first Israeli prime minister, that the Orthodox in Israel would fade away if left alone, that has not come to pass. Religion has become more important in Israeli politics rather than less. In the Israeli context, Jewish religion has meant Orthodoxy, the only type of Judaism the Israeli population has been exposed to from the Ottoman period, through the British mandate, and since the establishment of the state in 1948. Orthodoxy is linked directly to the state through a number of important institutions, including the chief rabbinate , the rabbinical courts, the state religious educational system— the Mamlachti Dati—and the local religious councils. In addition, an Israeli civil religion has emerged that accepts Orthodoxy as an integral part of the identity of the state, so that even most “secular” Israelis accept Orthodox Jews and Orthodox Judaism as representing the Jewish religion. While this scenario has begun to change a little, the ability of the Reform movement to establish itself as a legitimate player in the Israeli Jewish religious world will have tremendous implications for the future of Reform Judaism. If Reform is unable to fight its way into the Israeli societal structure, it will always be perceived by Jews in Israel and throughout the Jewish world outside North America as a passing fad popular only in the United States. The Development of the World Union The first attempt to establish an international movement came in 1914, when the German Liberal movement invited representatives from England, France, and the United States to participate in their annual conference. The outbreak of World War I disrupted their plans, Recognition in Israel 115 and subsequent political and economic events severely weakened the various European movements. Not until 1926 was the British Liberal movement able to host a founding conference; delegates called the new organization World Union for Progressive Judaism. Claude Montefiore as president and Lily Montagu as honorary secretary worked tirelessly to build up the Progressive movement throughout the world. Many Reform Jews were concerned that should the WUPJ be seen as pushing Progressive Judaism, social relations with the local Orthodox could be...