The Reform Judaism movement, as it exists in much of the West today, is no longer Judaism reforming itself for the modern world. It is crony progressivism with Hebrew subtitles.
Being a Reform Jew, my heart feels very heavy. I am always with Israel, outspoken and critical of those 'Progressives', who to me, are anything but real Jews. Yes, it's not convenient to speak out. Yes, you get flack from other 'misguided' or 'woke' Jews. I don't care. After Shabbat Shachor/Black Shabbat/October 7th, I became more of a Jew. My late parents z"l, who were both Holocaust Survivors, would be very proud of me. I am not a Jew for traditional reasons only, but a very proud, Zionist Jewess. I have nothing to be ashamed of, since I haven't committed any crimes, disobeyed any laws and will continue to be a model citizen. The same can't be said about all of us. I am both shocked and horrified by the amount of North American Jews acting like Hamas supporters.
I am certain that a HUGE percentage of Reform Jews know much more than I do. That's supporters of Jewish schools, functions, gatherings, support each others Family passages than I do. At the same time they have theological musings which are fed to them by their leaders who know better (or should) but they don't do the 'new' responsible thing to cease and desist their essentially Anti-Orthodox dogma. That is so it seems to me from the outside.
The owning family of the New York Times were Reform Jews that displayed actual moral courage and strength. However, when their grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) became apikoros (from Epicureans, as Jews who gave up their religion two thousand or so years ago to embrace Graeco-Roman philosophy literally were.... now, apostates) in the early 1960s, they became very much like these "Reform" Jews this substack denounces. Perhaps worse, as they formally disavowed their heritage.
I like to refer to Us as The Jewish People; for those who know, as Am Yisrael; and generally as having or being The Jewish Culture. The last option points out in conversation that we are of a totally unique Culture and we have our own Cultural Practices. The depth and meaning in for example Shachrit is unobservable from the outside. It is an internal process for the individual and within the group process. It requires study and effort. Much or even most of it is still way beyond my meandering learning curve.
Again, to reiterate, I was brought up in the Reform Judaism community, but my parents were Israeli expats, who were both Sephardic and Ashkenazi. I grew up with morals, good ones and have NEVER abandoned my support for Am Yisrael. Please don't give up on all of us Reform Jews. We are not all the same. Am Yisrael Chai! 🇮🇱💙🇨🇦
I am a Christian who has been and remains a supporter of Israel free of "end times" mysticism
Some of the Episcopalians in the United States (including me) retained their Christian faith... even some of us who believed in female clergy. Unfortunately. many people who became Episcopal priests and bishops took up Marxism, liberation theology, and deliberate lying to laypeople that they were still believing Christians. When they led a coup against the lay government of the denomination, they revealed their apostasy. Now, they act like "woke" atheists. A rump offshoot of the denomination acts like fundamentalists. Neither are legitimate descendants of what was.
Fair enough. For sure. Yes. Can you though offer from your experience, is there validity to the concern that Reform generally or perhaps only often have lead people astray to such a degree that for decades perhaps even some within Reform have had serious concerns? Around late 2023 one of the main internationally recognized voices for the Reform, a Rabbi made a youtube video chat/panel "Where Did We Go Wrong"?. His focus was that the Jewish students who were active in the anti-Israel rallies from Oct 2023 were all or nearly all Reform Jews..
I’m sure you are a good person. But if you don’t explore Torah True Judaism, your grandchildren will not be Jewish. They may even be Hamas. This is Jewish history.
Absolutely. I be longed to one for 20 years until I couldn't stomach it. They are changing basic things that are essential to Judaism. Very sad. I now attend an Orthodox Shul and my kids and grandkids love it.
Reform Jews are really ex-Jews who have converted to the Progressive Religion. As far as the Jewish People are concerned, these Progressive Reform "Jews" are turncoats and traitors. We should not be shy about saying so. With Jews in Israel fighting and dying every day to defend their land and People, the so-called progressive Jews have betrayed their People. I cannot express my disgust at seeing self-identified Jews demonstrating for Hamas.
I don't completely disagree. But, I'd guess that a lot of people who could be labeled those ways jumped to be amongst the hundreds of 1000s who have been willingly fighting on the ground and in the list of vital support roles for more than 1 and half years... so far.
Excuse me, but the only thing stopping me from going to live in Israel is my health, my family that are still here and the fact that I can't fly anymore. Now that my parents have passed, I feel isolated enough, as a Jew. My problem in life is that Antisemitism is bad enough, but a Jew hating on another Jew, just because they aren't 100% what you see them as, is just shocking. I still have family in Israel, consider myself very pro Israel, Zionist and would love to be able to be with my family again. I am more religious now, despite being alone. Please don't insult me. I am not a gentile
Unfortunately the heterodox movements have substituted an agenda rooted in social justice and far too many elements of the woke agenda and the Democratic Party platform in place of any connection with traditional Jewish values
Lefty Jews are a plague. Sadly, it’s nothing new. Such creatures have always existed within our ranks. They exist in Israel too. It’s as old as the Bible
On a more positive note: in the last few weeks I’ve attended private audiences with leaders of 3 major American Jewish establishment organizations all of whom acknowledged the vast improvement in support for both Israel and and the American Jewish community under the Trump Administration. One, an ardent Democrat, said it through gritted teeth while the other two were openly jubilant.
Leftist Jews are the enemy of all Jews. They’re leftists first and last but use their Judaism as a shield against criticism of their idiotic ideology, no different than the Muslims use the red herring of Islamophobia to shield their Islamic ideology from criticism. The Leftist Jews should be targeted no different than the Muslims they serve as useful idiots.
No one fits this description better than George Soros, who funds every anti-Israel group under the sun but then calls any criticism of him antisemitic.
100% Soros and his son who will continue his father’s legacy of destruction of western civilization are the vilest of evil scum. If all I knew of Jews were them, I’d be antisemitic too.
This is how you divide Jews— blame Soros for everything. I am no fan of the Reform but labeling them as enemies is again dividing us. I understand the frustration with Jews flip are not like you. But to say the ADL is complicit in anti Semitism is wrong.
1 - I have no problem with the dividing of Jews if the Jews being excised are leftists first Jews, who are Jews in name only and then only when it’s convenient for them to use their status as Jews as a shield to delegitimize criticism of their policies. They should be excised from the Jewish body politic.
2- The ADL especially under Greenblatt’s stewardship has aided and abetted antisemitism through their embrace of anti-American leftist ideology. Three examples: as it pertains to the culture wars they promote pro-LBGTQ propaganda, they reject our nation’s founding principles of free speech and second amendment rights. If I were living in an area where I had no or very limited contacts with Jews and I believed the political positions and alliances the ADL holds and makes (Leftist and Democrats- Don’t forget Greenblatt was an Obama administration sycophant) I wouldn’t like Jews either because they represent an attack on my values. As an American and a Jew I particularly find the ADL’s position offensive because they attack values that I and most conservative or even middle of the road Americans hold sacrosanct. The ADL opposes free speech and are incessantly attacking social media platforms to censor antisemitic posts and accounts. If they don’t like what’s posted, which I personally often don’t, then don’t read it, but that doesn’t change the fact that the poster has the right to feel as they do and post as they wish, irrespective of offensiveness of the post. They also support gun control in violation of our 2A rights which I find particularly offensive because the ADL would have me be disarmed and reliant on government for my safety. They of all people should know how that’s worked out for Jews historically. What makes the United States the best country in the world, even more so than Israel, to be a Jew is our freedom of speech enabled and enforced by our 2A. My freedom to worship and right to not only be armed but the right to use such arms in defense of my rights exists no where else. The fact the ADL advocates to take that right away from me places them on my domestic enemies list. I’ve listed but 3 examples of how as a Jew I find the ADL treasonous to non-Jewish and Jewish Americans and our values. This is why I consider them domestic enemies for their political policy attacks on my and my fellow Americans values. Now mix in being an American that has limited or no exposure to Jews (which is the vast majority outside of the major cities on the coasts) combined with how the ADL promotes itself as the voice of the Jews and yes antisemitic attitudes will develop and that’s antisemitism the ADL is creating and promoting because it’s not an advocacy group for Jews, as it claims, it’s a Jewish advocacy group for leftist anti-American politics. The ADL is leftist first and last, uses their platform to promote leftist ideology in the name of Jews, is in bed with Soros a Jewish enemy of western civilization and uses antisemitism as a shield to negate criticism of the ADL and their leftist ideology. Those are all valid reason not to like those Jews who align themselves with the ADL; I’m a Jew and those Jews that align themselves with the ADL are domestic enemies as far as I’m concerned and should be targeted as such. They are the Jews who should be divided and excised from the Jewish body politic.
Are saying that only Jews on the right are deserving to Jews and those who have any”leftist” values should not have a place at the table? First thing I thought was what about the leftists Jews who were murdered in their homes on 10/7? I didn’t think Am Israel Chai meant which side of a political line are you on.
Fully understand your frustration with progressive Jews who are anti Zionist.
I'm largely the same, except to assist myself to take a mellow approach (not my nature) I know or think at least, that the Reform movement emerged at a particular time and place and extended into this Time when it needs to be Reform to Return (teshuvah). To tikkun itself rather than its benevolent cult of 'tikkun olam'.
I witnessed a reform rabbi whom I knew was woke and diluting become a lion for Israel on Oct 7. Questioning where he went wrong in educating his Jewish students, the ones who became anti Zionist, his questioning was deep and disturbing because he felt his part in turning them away from being Jewish. There is hope for any Jew who has turned away
🙋yep! I was raised in Reform and was always an atheist so non-practicing for all of adulthood. Woke up to the visceral understanding that I was personally at risk and the world still holds plenty of violent irrational antisemitism after 10/7. Also saw the deep hypocrisy of the progressive and “woke” movements with sudden and startling clarity, as I was no longer comfortable or welcome within those movements and communities.
This is all true. I have family that attended a reform reconstructionist congregation for many years and they refer to Israel as an apartheid colonialist state. Disgusting.
Being a Reform Jew, my heart feels very heavy. I am always with Israel, outspoken and critical of those 'Progressives', who to me, are anything but real Jews. Yes, it's not convenient to speak out. Yes, you get flack from other 'misguided' or 'woke' Jews. I don't care. After Shabbat Shachor/Black Shabbat/October 7th, I became more of a Jew. My late parents z"l, who were both Holocaust Survivors, would be very proud of me. I am not a Jew for traditional reasons only, but a very proud, Zionist Jewess. I have nothing to be ashamed of, since I haven't committed any crimes, disobeyed any laws and will continue to be a model citizen. The same can't be said about all of us. I am both shocked and horrified by the amount of North American Jews acting like Hamas supporters.
Bravo!
As a Reform Jew I agree with you 100%
Tikkun Olam is socialism in tallit.
Did you all Vote for Trump?
I am certain that a HUGE percentage of Reform Jews know much more than I do. That's supporters of Jewish schools, functions, gatherings, support each others Family passages than I do. At the same time they have theological musings which are fed to them by their leaders who know better (or should) but they don't do the 'new' responsible thing to cease and desist their essentially Anti-Orthodox dogma. That is so it seems to me from the outside.
They don’t know more. I grew up reform. They are total ignoramuses. And that was 40 years ago. Now they are intermarried ignoramuses.
:):) (gallows humor). "intermarried ignoramuses". T-shirt worthy.
Reform Judaism was created to make Judaism palatable to Christian society.
The owning family of the New York Times were Reform Jews that displayed actual moral courage and strength. However, when their grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) became apikoros (from Epicureans, as Jews who gave up their religion two thousand or so years ago to embrace Graeco-Roman philosophy literally were.... now, apostates) in the early 1960s, they became very much like these "Reform" Jews this substack denounces. Perhaps worse, as they formally disavowed their heritage.
Then why did they relegate articles on Nazi atrocities during World War Two to the back pages of the Times?
The record of the NYT in covering the rise of Communism Nazism and the Holocaust is one of extreme cowardice
I like to refer to Us as The Jewish People; for those who know, as Am Yisrael; and generally as having or being The Jewish Culture. The last option points out in conversation that we are of a totally unique Culture and we have our own Cultural Practices. The depth and meaning in for example Shachrit is unobservable from the outside. It is an internal process for the individual and within the group process. It requires study and effort. Much or even most of it is still way beyond my meandering learning curve.
Again, to reiterate, I was brought up in the Reform Judaism community, but my parents were Israeli expats, who were both Sephardic and Ashkenazi. I grew up with morals, good ones and have NEVER abandoned my support for Am Yisrael. Please don't give up on all of us Reform Jews. We are not all the same. Am Yisrael Chai! 🇮🇱💙🇨🇦
I am a Christian who has been and remains a supporter of Israel free of "end times" mysticism
Some of the Episcopalians in the United States (including me) retained their Christian faith... even some of us who believed in female clergy. Unfortunately. many people who became Episcopal priests and bishops took up Marxism, liberation theology, and deliberate lying to laypeople that they were still believing Christians. When they led a coup against the lay government of the denomination, they revealed their apostasy. Now, they act like "woke" atheists. A rump offshoot of the denomination acts like fundamentalists. Neither are legitimate descendants of what was.
Fair enough. For sure. Yes. Can you though offer from your experience, is there validity to the concern that Reform generally or perhaps only often have lead people astray to such a degree that for decades perhaps even some within Reform have had serious concerns? Around late 2023 one of the main internationally recognized voices for the Reform, a Rabbi made a youtube video chat/panel "Where Did We Go Wrong"?. His focus was that the Jewish students who were active in the anti-Israel rallies from Oct 2023 were all or nearly all Reform Jews..
Ammiel Hirsch made that video and you can read a fascinating interview with him at 1840
That's extremely appalling
I’m sure you are a good person. But if you don’t explore Torah True Judaism, your grandchildren will not be Jewish. They may even be Hamas. This is Jewish history.
Absolutely. I be longed to one for 20 years until I couldn't stomach it. They are changing basic things that are essential to Judaism. Very sad. I now attend an Orthodox Shul and my kids and grandkids love it.
Beautiful!
Reform Jews are really ex-Jews who have converted to the Progressive Religion. As far as the Jewish People are concerned, these Progressive Reform "Jews" are turncoats and traitors. We should not be shy about saying so. With Jews in Israel fighting and dying every day to defend their land and People, the so-called progressive Jews have betrayed their People. I cannot express my disgust at seeing self-identified Jews demonstrating for Hamas.
I don't completely disagree. But, I'd guess that a lot of people who could be labeled those ways jumped to be amongst the hundreds of 1000s who have been willingly fighting on the ground and in the list of vital support roles for more than 1 and half years... so far.
Anyone who willingly stepped up to fight is exempt from my assessment.
I know, it’s a very lonely and sad feeling for me as well.
Excuse me, but the only thing stopping me from going to live in Israel is my health, my family that are still here and the fact that I can't fly anymore. Now that my parents have passed, I feel isolated enough, as a Jew. My problem in life is that Antisemitism is bad enough, but a Jew hating on another Jew, just because they aren't 100% what you see them as, is just shocking. I still have family in Israel, consider myself very pro Israel, Zionist and would love to be able to be with my family again. I am more religious now, despite being alone. Please don't insult me. I am not a gentile
Yes !!! Exactly. I’m not even Jewish and this is obvious to me. Well said as always my friend.
Unfortunately the heterodox movements have substituted an agenda rooted in social justice and far too many elements of the woke agenda and the Democratic Party platform in place of any connection with traditional Jewish values
Thank you for writing this important piece. The Reform movement has been captured and no Jews are calling them out. It’s about time.
Lefty Jews are a plague. Sadly, it’s nothing new. Such creatures have always existed within our ranks. They exist in Israel too. It’s as old as the Bible
On a more positive note: in the last few weeks I’ve attended private audiences with leaders of 3 major American Jewish establishment organizations all of whom acknowledged the vast improvement in support for both Israel and and the American Jewish community under the Trump Administration. One, an ardent Democrat, said it through gritted teeth while the other two were openly jubilant.
fab!!! may those 3 become 300 and imminently.
Spot on. Thank you.
Leftist Jews are the enemy of all Jews. They’re leftists first and last but use their Judaism as a shield against criticism of their idiotic ideology, no different than the Muslims use the red herring of Islamophobia to shield their Islamic ideology from criticism. The Leftist Jews should be targeted no different than the Muslims they serve as useful idiots.
No one fits this description better than George Soros, who funds every anti-Israel group under the sun but then calls any criticism of him antisemitic.
100% Soros and his son who will continue his father’s legacy of destruction of western civilization are the vilest of evil scum. If all I knew of Jews were them, I’d be antisemitic too.
This is how you divide Jews— blame Soros for everything. I am no fan of the Reform but labeling them as enemies is again dividing us. I understand the frustration with Jews flip are not like you. But to say the ADL is complicit in anti Semitism is wrong.
Not blame Soros for everything; just blame him for financing anti-Israel groups in the US:
https://nypost.com/2024/04/26/opinion/soros-and-other-elites-are-funding-the-campus-agitators-stoking-anti-israel-antisemitic-protests/
https://www.businesstoday.in/world/us/story/is-george-soros-behind-anti-israel-pro-palestine-protests-in-columbia-other-us-universities-heres-what-we-know-so-far-427241-2024-04-28
1 - I have no problem with the dividing of Jews if the Jews being excised are leftists first Jews, who are Jews in name only and then only when it’s convenient for them to use their status as Jews as a shield to delegitimize criticism of their policies. They should be excised from the Jewish body politic.
2- The ADL especially under Greenblatt’s stewardship has aided and abetted antisemitism through their embrace of anti-American leftist ideology. Three examples: as it pertains to the culture wars they promote pro-LBGTQ propaganda, they reject our nation’s founding principles of free speech and second amendment rights. If I were living in an area where I had no or very limited contacts with Jews and I believed the political positions and alliances the ADL holds and makes (Leftist and Democrats- Don’t forget Greenblatt was an Obama administration sycophant) I wouldn’t like Jews either because they represent an attack on my values. As an American and a Jew I particularly find the ADL’s position offensive because they attack values that I and most conservative or even middle of the road Americans hold sacrosanct. The ADL opposes free speech and are incessantly attacking social media platforms to censor antisemitic posts and accounts. If they don’t like what’s posted, which I personally often don’t, then don’t read it, but that doesn’t change the fact that the poster has the right to feel as they do and post as they wish, irrespective of offensiveness of the post. They also support gun control in violation of our 2A rights which I find particularly offensive because the ADL would have me be disarmed and reliant on government for my safety. They of all people should know how that’s worked out for Jews historically. What makes the United States the best country in the world, even more so than Israel, to be a Jew is our freedom of speech enabled and enforced by our 2A. My freedom to worship and right to not only be armed but the right to use such arms in defense of my rights exists no where else. The fact the ADL advocates to take that right away from me places them on my domestic enemies list. I’ve listed but 3 examples of how as a Jew I find the ADL treasonous to non-Jewish and Jewish Americans and our values. This is why I consider them domestic enemies for their political policy attacks on my and my fellow Americans values. Now mix in being an American that has limited or no exposure to Jews (which is the vast majority outside of the major cities on the coasts) combined with how the ADL promotes itself as the voice of the Jews and yes antisemitic attitudes will develop and that’s antisemitism the ADL is creating and promoting because it’s not an advocacy group for Jews, as it claims, it’s a Jewish advocacy group for leftist anti-American politics. The ADL is leftist first and last, uses their platform to promote leftist ideology in the name of Jews, is in bed with Soros a Jewish enemy of western civilization and uses antisemitism as a shield to negate criticism of the ADL and their leftist ideology. Those are all valid reason not to like those Jews who align themselves with the ADL; I’m a Jew and those Jews that align themselves with the ADL are domestic enemies as far as I’m concerned and should be targeted as such. They are the Jews who should be divided and excised from the Jewish body politic.
Are saying that only Jews on the right are deserving to Jews and those who have any”leftist” values should not have a place at the table? First thing I thought was what about the leftists Jews who were murdered in their homes on 10/7? I didn’t think Am Israel Chai meant which side of a political line are you on.
Fully understand your frustration with progressive Jews who are anti Zionist.
https://danielgreenfield.substack.com/p/the-adl-wasnt-founded-to-fight-antisemitism
Very enlightening article, thank you.
Sad, but true... at least I can't find any other way to look at Reform Judaism any more.
I'm largely the same, except to assist myself to take a mellow approach (not my nature) I know or think at least, that the Reform movement emerged at a particular time and place and extended into this Time when it needs to be Reform to Return (teshuvah). To tikkun itself rather than its benevolent cult of 'tikkun olam'.
I witnessed a reform rabbi whom I knew was woke and diluting become a lion for Israel on Oct 7. Questioning where he went wrong in educating his Jewish students, the ones who became anti Zionist, his questioning was deep and disturbing because he felt his part in turning them away from being Jewish. There is hope for any Jew who has turned away
Agree, one unremarked phenomenon here is how many indifferent Jews became Zionists after seeing 10/7 and the American anti-Semitic reaction.
🙋yep! I was raised in Reform and was always an atheist so non-practicing for all of adulthood. Woke up to the visceral understanding that I was personally at risk and the world still holds plenty of violent irrational antisemitism after 10/7. Also saw the deep hypocrisy of the progressive and “woke” movements with sudden and startling clarity, as I was no longer comfortable or welcome within those movements and communities.
Does Reform Judaism need a Reformation? Or will it simply disappear as a relic of a disturbing time without leaving any meaningful Jewish history?
We will see! A reformation would have to come from within the Reform movement.
This is all true. I have family that attended a reform reconstructionist congregation for many years and they refer to Israel as an apartheid colonialist state. Disgusting.