Reform and Orthodox bigotry, and a brief history of new movements

People need to get into their heads the realization that both sides contain at least a bit of bigotry towards the other. The primary difference between the two, though, is the method of expression, which lies in each movement's formation.

Reform was a movement started, concurrently with the so-called Jewish Enlightenment, as attempt to modernize Judaism and make it more palatable. This drive was fulled both by modern sensibilities accrued by those making the reforms, as well as a desire to live up to the modern sensibilities of the dominant religion- Christianity. Reform congregations went as far as possible to model themselves after Protestant churches- they included choir, music, changed the service to Sunday, removed Hebrew as the language of prayer, and removed any mention of Zion.

However, as Ruth Wisse points out in Jews and Power, the attempt was also to ameliorate to their new found status as equals in Europe. Everything was to be given to Jews as individuals, but not as a nation. As such, they tried to eliminate the nationalistic attitudes within Judaism.

Before Reform Judaism, there wasn't an Orthodoxy as such. Simply put, most Jews were just religious. Those who were not, may have had serious theological misgivings about Judaism, or its prevalent form, but the main body of Jews were simply religious. Orthodoxy, as it is characterized today, was a reactionary movement to the modernizing, and 'traitorous' denationalization of Jewry. The Chasam Sofer manipulated the Torah prohibition of new grain to coin the phrase of 'Chadah Assur Min HaTorah,' 'new things are prohibited from the Torah.' As an example of the reactionary tendencies of the movement, see the sacrosanct Hasidic garb, which is nothing more than 18th century Polish dress, which has been vaulted to a mark of specific Jewish identity.

Thus, Orthodoxy came to emphasized that anything that was ancient was more theologically valid, in contrast to the modernizing Reform. Minhag, custom, became more and more sacrosanct- often to the detriment of Halacha, Jewish Law. In addition to the modernizing influence of the Haskalah and of Reform, there was the opposition of Zionism. However, Zionism came later in the game, and I think the reaction to it, and indeed its very particular constitution, resulted from the Orthodox reaction to Reform.

Why do I say this? The only thing problematic in Zionism qua Zionism, vis a vi an Orthodox perspective, is its shirking of Torah obligations. Further, Zionism was itself a reaction to the Reform movement- it thought the assimilation attempted by the Reform had failed. As such, to an Orthodox perspective, Zionism was a movement that came from assimilated Jewry, and was therefore problematic. In order to contrast to Zionism, while still holding the Jews as a nation, Orthodoxy emphasize the constitutional nation of the Torah. While it does seem to be true that, theologically speaking, the Torah serves this purpose, it also seems true that the Torah is meant to be kept as a state, in some way or another. So, the Orthodox reaction to Zionism was motivated by its reaction to Reform.

Why is this relevant? Because the bigotry on each side is the call to arms left over from the initial fight. The Reform call the Orthodox antiquated and narrow-minded. They extent this charge to accuse all Orthodox outreach programs of cultish behavior and brainwashing- how else could one want to be 'antiquated'? The Orthodox, on the other had, continue to denounce Reform as irrelevant to Judaism, and traitors to the cause. Zionism is either perceived as a perverting influence, or else (by the religious Zionism) perverted to a type of messianism.

What is most ironic is the fact that the war is over. Both sides lost in some respects, and the Orthodox probably suffered greater casualties- they were fighting against things, instead of for things. The Reform failed to completely modernize Judaism, and denationalize it, and the Orthodox failed to prevent modernization. Both are gravitating towards the mean. Orthodoxy is presenting itself more and more as relevant to the modern age, and Reform is adhering more and more to the traditions of traditional Judaism.

I only wish that both sides would realize that the war is essentially at a stalemate, and work together towards encouraging those who completely slipped through the cracks and have no Jewish identity at all.