Reform Rabbi’s Use of Jewish Law makes me say: Oy vay!

July 2, 2009 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

OurJewishCommunity.org is pretty cutting-edge. While we are not even a year old, we have had more than a dozen articles written about our online synagogue.  (If you know anyone who might want to write another article about us – or if you can get me on Oprah or the Today Show – please shoot me an email!).

The most recent article about our online synagogue appeared in the Jewish Advocate of Boston.  Unfortunately, I can’t link to it because their site is restricted to paid subscribers.  I do want to share with you one part of the article though – the part that I found absolutely astounding.

The article notes that “some rabbis disapprove of the idea of an entirely Web-based synagogue.”  That does not surprise me a bit.  Certainly, different people have different thoughts about how to best serve the Jewish community – and I appreciate a variety of ideas and opinions.

What strikes me, though, is that the article quotes a Reform rabbi “who said the concept of an online shul does not follow halachic rules of a minyan.”  Let me translate that to English: this Reform (!) rabbi said an online synagogue does not follow Jewish legal rules (written long ago) that require having 10 adult Jewish males praying in a room together three times a day.

Hello?!?!?!? Since when do Reform rabbis quote halachah (Jewish law) in such instances as if it is the last word?!?!?!?! I can see how halachah may inform our thinking, but I don’t understand how it becomes the decisive factor for a Reform rabbi.

As a rabbi ordained by the Reform movement, I find this comment from one of my colleagues absolutely upsetting and think that it undermines Reform Judaism.  Reform Judaism is about informed choice – it is not about blindly following ancient laws.  Reform Judaism is about the spirit of the law – it is not about the letter of the law.  Reform Judaism evolves to meet the changing needs of the Jewish community – it is not intended to be stuck in the past.

If this Reform rabbi wants halachah to determine everything (or at least how we attend services), then I shouldn’t be a rabbi (because I’m a woman), girls should not celebrate a Bat Mitzvah by reading from a Torah scroll, a woman’s voice should never be heard by men during services, and women need to sit separately from men at Temple lest they be a distraction.  If a Reform rabbi plans to follow halachah then he should not drive to services or turn on the lights, or tear his own toilet paper for that matter.

I am open to a variety of opinions.  I totally understand Orthodox and Conservative rabbis who cite ancient Jewish law as the basis of their decision, for that is the basis of their Jewish experience.  That makes a ton of sense, and I have complete respect for that.  What I do not understand is how a liberal rabbi who is part of a non-halachic movement can selectively call on halachah to criticize what others are doing.

In a sense, this rabbi’s comments very much affirm what we are doing at OurJewishCommunity.org.  We are creating a truly liberal and contemporary Jewish experience for those who have not found one locally.  With some Reform rabbis using halachah as the absolute basis for decision making, I am more convinced that we need an online alternative that gives voice to a truly progressive and modern Jewish voice.

Let it be known that I did not disagree with everything this Reform rabbi said.  He noted that “the most dangerous part of the virtual world is believing that it’s an equivalent to the physical world.”  I agree.  They are not equivalent – they are very different – and each can fill needs that the other cannot.  I love working at a brick-and-mortar congregation and I love working at an online congregation, because each plays different roles and touches different people.

I would like to publicly state as a response to my colleague that the future of Judaism cannot be restricted by the rules of the past.  Judaism grows richer and stronger when it is relevant and contemporary.  When Judaism fits with modernity, it is meaningful.

An online congregation is an expression of this age.  To reject it based upon rules written by people who didn’t even know what a light bulb is limits our people’s future.

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Comments

5 Responses to “Reform Rabbi’s Use of Jewish Law makes me say: Oy vay!”

  1. tmana Says:
    July 2nd, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    I’ve heard discussion of several variants of “minyan” (quorum) — the most common being the “egalitarian minyan” (10 warm bodies 13 years old or over in the room, take your pick as to whether or not they have to profess Judaism as their religion and whether or not they have to be bar/bat-mitzvah) and the “Palestinian minyan” (9 men, or in an egalitarian congregation, 9 warm bodies…) As these variants were discussed in a Conservative context, I must believe that a Reform rabbi would have a similar consideration.

    From here in New Jersey, what I see of Our Jewish Community is a virtual place where issues of interest to Jews (because they affect our very sense of “Jewishness” and our survival as self-identified Jews) can be discussed in a forum that imports both sacred and secular references and a wide range of mindsets. I do not see it the way I see a “congregation”, which to me revolves around a brick-and-mortar building with a bimah somewhere in the main sanctuary (Eastern side for Ashkenazim, center for Sephardim) and an Ark within which are kept several hand-transcribed, parchment-leather copies of the written Torah.

    While the inclusive view must embrace those who would follow the services along at home over the Internet, I would reason that the only quorum *known* to the officiants would be that quorum which was *physically* present, in the physical sanctuary, where the physical Torah was kept, and read from, and so on — and this is the group that must meet the congregation’s requirements of “minyan” (see above for variants). This may be that rabbi’s reasoning as well.

    Failing the physical quorum, the reduced set of prayers (those not needing a minyan) could still be said, the parshah read from a chumesh and discussed in the same d’var Torah that would otherwise be discussed, and so on. (We did it often enough in university…)

    Now… to belabor the point a bit, I have seen congregations whose beliefs in Jewish observance were tucked into a “more liberal/less literal” movement of Judaism than the core belief set because the otherwise-”correct” movement would not accept one or more tenets of that congregation’s interpretation of the requirements/mitzvot of observance — for example, historically, Egalitarianism. My understanding is that a congregation still not have an Egalitarian service and call itself Orthodox — even if it uses Orthodox siddurim, does not use any English in the services, keeps a Glatt Kosher kitchen, and so on. Until the Conservative movement started ordaining female rabbis — some years after I graduated university — such a congregation would have had to have called itself “Reform”.

    I realize this is a rather long commentary, but I hope it gives you another perspective from which to examine that rabbi’s comments.

  2. Barbara Says:
    July 2nd, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    Yes. These are all the things I was thinking as I read this article. Additionally, I was also thinking that when the laws were written, it’s not like the internet was around and they were like, ok, we can only meet in person, not on the internet. There WAS no internet, so how do we know whether or not it’s ok according to these laws to “meet” on the internet? In that rabbi’s comments, he noted that it was important to meet in person. Well, don’t we call “places” on the internet “sites” and say we’re “going” online and “meeting” in chatrooms? Use of the internet is described via the language of the physical universe; why, then, is meeting in person any more valid than meeting online? And, for many people who can’t physically get to a synagogue (e.g. invalids, rural dwellers), is it really fair to deny them access a “place” to go to be a part of a real religious community, albeit online? As our friend Robert Zimmerman said, the times they are a-changin’. If our religion doesn’t change with them, it will go the way of Zeus.

  3. Cynthia Tyler Says:
    July 2nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    I have been asked to present a D’var at an event
    that will take place in August (P. R’eih). I would like to quote my own work here:

    …All of these laws become the subject of discussion in modern times. How do they relate to us, who are not agrarian, who do not live in tribal groups, who follow a faith that is now ancient, not newly forming? We read, we argue, we discuss, we wrestle with the commandments of
    then, and try to discern their meaning now. This,
    I believe, is the the real foundation of our faith – not following blindly, but questioning everything and making very personal decisions in how to lead our lives, because intention matters.

    …in addition to the rules, God also handed down
    intelligence, logic, and reason. I think God expects us to use them, even in the questioning
    of Mitzvot [or halachic law, for that matter].

    All of these commandments are like stones we use in building an individual character. Each of us must decide which stones will best support and define us, which stones have purpose and meaning, and which get in the way of our connection to
    God and fellow man. In the end, our thoughtful intention, our kavannah, becomes visible to others through our actions, through the stones we choose. Every stone is beautiful, and our personal choice of what is most precious to us presents a striking pattern of an individual personality. ………………………

    As a calligrapher, a quote I learned early on has
    stayed with me, applicable to so many situations.
    ‘Within the limits of our craft we cannot have too much freedom.’ The human spirit, in its quest
    for spiritual communion, has quite enough limits
    imposed by modern life and daily responsibility.
    Give us freedom – religious freedom, spiritual
    freedom. We are timid enough because we are only
    human; we need every encouragement to engage our
    own souls, and seek our God.

  4. LGreyhawke Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    To paraphrase Einstein, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds”.

    The virtual synagogue is, in my opinion, a wonderful option for those who do not have access to a brick and mortar synagogue. Certainly, a virtual congregation is a new idea but face it, while our meeting place is a virtual site, WE are real. Our need for congregation with like-minded people is real. I believe this serves an invaluable role in assisting many of us in participating in a Secular Humanistic Jewish community. If I were concerned about fulfilling halachic law, I would be not be a Humanistic Jew.
    Bravo to Beth Adam for putting this opportunity out there for those of us hungering to participate in a Humanistic Jewish group. I hope this site continues to thrive and brings to us REAL people in this virtual community, the beauty, wisdom and hope that is Humanistic Judaism.
    Shalom

  5. Kathy Holshue Says:
    July 8th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    Thanks for the opportunity to “go” to synagouge.I am disabled and live in a very rural area. I feel a little less alone, and Iam enjoying your online site. Kathy

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