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| The Conservative Kol Emeth building is now an Orthodox Yeshiva |
An anonymous Conservative rabbi took me to task for two of my recent posts. He apparently lives in the greater Chicago area (indicated by his ‘handle’– Chi Town Jew) and was ordained by the Conservative movement’s flagship institution the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Or an affiliate. I have decided to respond here since he brings up some valid points and my response is too big for a comment box. First his comment in its entirety. Which will be followed by my response.
Yesterday's post had a gratuitous attack against Reform Judaism although the post was all about charedi misbehavior in Beit Shemesh. Today's post attacks non-Orthodox Jews although the article is about "masorti" Jews in Israel and how they could supposedly bridge the divides over the democratic character of Israel. I will the Israel component aside, except to note that the closest American correlate to "masorti" Jews in Israel are Conservative Jews in the U.S.
Though I was ordained in the movement, I am a vocal critic of it. However, I do it from actual facts, rather than nearly exlusively from ideology and bias. I won't comment on "non-Orthodox" Jews in general but Conservative Jews in particular.
According to the 2020 Pew Study of American Jews, "Jews by religion,” 26 percent self-identify as Conservative Jews (only slightly lower than in 2000). Similarly, 29 percent of American synagogue members are Conservative Jews.
The Pew data also indicates that 98 percent of self-identifying Conservative Jews are “proud” to be Jewish. Ninety-three percent feel that “being Jewish” is “important” to their lives. Ninety percent regard Israel as “an important part of being Jewish.” Nearly 90 percent express “an emotional attachment to Israel,” especially the 56 percent who have visited Israel.
Four-in-10 self-identifying Conservative Jews attend religious services at least one time per month, and half of these Jews are current synagogue members. And 73% of self-identifying Conservative Jews are in-married. The very high rates of intermarriage among the "non-Orthodox" since 2005 is primarily by "Jews of no religion" marry out at around 75-80% and Reform Jews are only slightly below. I was told by a demographer that estimate of current intermarriage rate of self-identifying Conservative Jews is 45-50%. Way to high for me, but far the fantastical 90% even among those who identify as "Just Jewish." If you are going to shame and demean other Jews at least do so based on evidence rather than bias.
My response:
First of all - my intent was not to shame or demean anyone. I was just stating basic facts about the movements – even if my numbers were off.
Second of all -the fact is the Reform Judaism is not a valid from of Judaism even according the Conservative movement. Conservative Judaism was formed exactly because of that. Remember the 'Treif banquet? Not sure why mentioning this hard fact annoys you.
Thridly - that the American correlate to "masorti" Jews in Israel are Conservative Jews in the U.S. is misleading. Masorti Jews in Israel actually are observant – at least by the Conservative movement’s standards and do not drive on Shabbos.
Not so the vast majority of American Conservative Jews – whose religious practices are not all that different from Reform Jews. At least according to some of the brighter lights of the Conservative movement (like Jack Wertheimer). So that is not really a fair comparison. Furthermore, the 45% of Israelis that Jonathan referred to are probably not masorti Jews. But indigenous Israelis that have retained some of the traditions of their parents and grandparents.
Four. Even if my numbers are off and the 70-80% of intermarried Jews are among non affiliated Jews, that number is still tragic . As is the 45-50% intermarriage rate of self-identifying Conservative Jews - numbers given to you by a demographer.
It upsets us both that about half of all Conservative Jews marry out. The 75% figure may be accurate if you factor in Reform and unaffiliated Jews and factor out Orthodox Jews. But let us not stand on that figure. As you said, 45-50% is way too high even for you.
Five. That 26% of American Jews self-identify as Conservative exposes a negative trend amongst the movement that once boasted being the largest Jewish denomination in America.
I'm sure you agree that this is a tragic trend. A movement that defined itself as conserving Judaism is now in the process of dying. I'm sure you realize that the once many large Conservative Shuls that dotted the greater Chicago landscape are no longer here. Some simply shut down and others merged with other Conservative Shuls just to stay alive. By way of example 2 formerly big Conservative Shuls come to mind.
Back in the 70s my wife taught Hebrew school at Kol Emeth - a Conservative Shul in Skokie. At that time it was growing. A beautiful new building was built to accommodate that growth. That Shul was just sold to a New Charedi Yeshiva in town.
Ner Tamid - a huge old time Conservative Shul in my Rogers Park neighborhood was sold to a Charedi day school a few years ago. If I understand correctly they too merged with another Conservative Shul just to stay alive. Point being that Orthodoxy is growing exponentially while Conservative Judaism is shrinking and Reform Judaism is defining itself out of Judaism despite its claims to the contrary.
Six. That so many Jews identify proudly as cultural Jews is nothing to brag about. Without a Jewish education and a peer group that lives the committed observant lives they were taught to live, a Jewish identity can be lost in a generation via the strong pull of full assimilation - and a country that now welcomes and even honors its Jewish citizens.
What good does it do when only 40% of your membership attends a Shul once a month and even those that do - are not otherwise observant. I recall, reading recently that there is little difference between Conservative Jews and Reform Jews with respect to religious practices.
Finally, I take no joy in your movement's demise. It was from among your committed members that many dedicated Baalei Teshuva came after experiencing Orthodoxy through organizations like NCSY. In fact some of the more committed Conservative pulpit rabbis used to feed their teenage children to NCSY. The demise of the movement means less opportunities for outreach. And that is sad. Hope you agree.