"Reform Jews don't do that"

[cellio]

This morning the torah-study group continued looking at kashrut, and someone raised the issue of kashrut standards for the synagogue kitchen. (Several of us would like there to be some beyond "no pork".) We talked about that for a while and then a relative newcomer said the words that really bug me: "Reform Jews don't keep kosher". (Just to be clear, my gripe is with the first three words of that sentence.)

My response was (approximately): The Reform movement isn't about not doing things. It's about autonomy. We can't just say "I'm Reform so I don't do that"; we're required to study and make an informed choice. Sometimes that informed choice will be "I don't do that", and sometimes it will be "I do that".

Sigh. The Reform movement certainly has its bad apples (as do all movements, or for that matter all organizations). And it's had some really embarrassing history, mainly in the 19th century. But we get enough flack from outside the movement that it really bugs me when people inside don't recognize that it's possible to take this seriosuly.

Maybe, if I'm lucky, I helped to enlighten one person today. It's a start.

Comments

[alice-curiouser.livejournal.com]

The Reform movement isn't about not doing things. It's about autonomy. We can't just say "I'm Reform so I don't do that"; we're required to study and make an informed choice. Sometimes that informed choice will be "I don't do that", and sometimes it will be "I do that".

*wild applause from the cheap seats*

Thank you! That was exactly the attitude of the second rabbi I talked to. I explained to him that I was already trying to keep kosher, and he said something to the effect of, "oh, we're reform, that doesn't matter." ...well it matters to me! :-\

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I asked my very wonderful, very wise Reform rabbi about something I was pissed off at the Reform movement for. He agreed calmly with my objection and said he'd fought it in the CCAR but been outvoted -- and then he also said, "I've always thought it doesn't matter much what denomination you belong to so long as you're dissatisfied with it. If you're dissatisfied with it, you remember to make the changes in your own life to compensate for where you think it's wrong. If you're satisfied with any one movement you're not thinking hard enough for yourself."

One of many things Rabbi Wolf told me that I'll always remember.

Slogans needed...

[goljerp]

I think that what the Reform movement needs is a pithy slogan which summarizes that philosphy. The Reconstructionist "Tradition has a vote, not a veto" is an example of what I'm thinking of. Hmm... How about "Informed Jews doing what they find meaningful" Or, maybe, "Informed Reform Jews doing what they find meaningful" "Informal, Informed, Reform Jews forming meaningful formulas for social action and personal behavior"?

[figmo.livejournal.com]

The last time I checked, the rule was "Reform Jews aren't required or obligated to keep Kosher. That doesn't mean you can't choose to do so.