Tradition Matters

Law Professor and Author, Roberta Rosenthal Kwall

Kitniyos. How many Jews know what that word means?  I believe that most Orthodox Jew know what it means. But how many Conservative Jews and other heterodox Jews know what it means or even care to know?

This decision goes against the movement’s mantra of “conserving” the tradition and discards a long-standing custom for no good reason.

Further, for traditionally observant Jews who remain affiliated with Conservative Judaism, this decision increases existing concerns about the movement’s perceived creep to the left. 

The Jewish tradition reflects a blend of both what the rabbis declare as the law and the grass-roots practices of the people. Therefore, the role of minhag, or custom, has a special significance in the development of halakhah, Jewish law…

 “(T)radition” connotes positive associations and the desire for transmission.
 When seen in this light, the law committee’s decision to permit kitniyot for Ashkenazic Jews has far more significance than allowing previously forbidden foods during Pesach.  It represents an erosion of long-standing tradition, which is a very dangerous step for a movement to take when it claims to care about conserving tradition and even maintaining halakhah.