Anon asked Staff ago 1. Do you see yourselves as a branch of Humanistic Judaism?
2. How do your goals and concerns relate to the reforms put forth by movements within Judaism which are not Hareidi, such as the Masorti/Conservative, Liberal/Reform, or Reconstructionist movements?
3. In terms of what you consider to be authentically Jewish practices: do you see yourselves as abolitionists, or as reformers, or is your concern strictly academic?
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Hello,
1. We are secular Israelis who have accepted upon ourselves the values of the enlightened world. Our historic roots are those of the Jewish nation and so our culture is dictated by this past.
2. It seems that the difference between us is in emphasis. While movements like Reform and Conservative emphasize preserving the Jewish community we emphasize fulfillment of the secular values.
3. Our goals are not strictly academic; we aspire to strengthening and preserving democracy and liberalism in the State of Israel. One of the primary factors hindering this is the Jewish religion. Not only are the religious and the Charedi a problem, even the public which defines itself as secular yet is still prepared to surrender the basic values of human freedom when they contradict Orthodox Halacha. Go see what happens in the legislature — a body largely secular — which does not allow people to marry their heart’s choice for religious reasons.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Dear Adi,
Learning the Torah as it is, with no favoritism, is very relevant to achieving Western goals.
The Israeli public, even those who call themselves secular, are still captive to the religious world view which contradicts the values of democracy. Only when we understand and internalize that religion contradicts the values of democracy will we fully agree to separate the state and religion.
About your second comment: we are indeed proud to continue the Enlightenment Movement which, in the secular and religious public, has not completed its work, and I hope you are surprised.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet