Conservadox Judaism
Encyclopedia
Conservadox is the term sometimes used to describe Jews whose beliefs and practices place them on the religious continuum somewhere between Conservative Judaism
and Modern Orthodox Judaism
. The term "Traditional" (not to be confused with the more generic term "tradition
al") is sometimes applied to roughly the same sector of the community.
Until the 1970s, traditional Conservative and liberal Orthodox synagogues had a substantial area of overlap, with many congregations calling themselves either Orthodox or Conservative having a similar combination of a traditional liturgy in a synagogue with mixed gender seating, together with traditional but lenient or lax personal observance among the membership. "Orthodox" and "Conservative" congregations could be almost identical in liturgy and practices, with a substantial interdenominational blurring. Changes in both the Conservative and Orthodox movements came to distinguish both movements more clearly, leaving an increasing gap in between.
Beginning in 1973, the Conservative movement began more actively involving women in services, and following the Conservative decision to ordain women as Rabbis in 1983 ritual egalitarianism
became a distinguishing characteristic of Conservative synagogues. Although a small minority of Conservative congregations continue to maintain traditional roles, the minority became very small (10% or less) by the end of the 20th century. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Conservative movement moved leftward on a variety of liturgical and social issues, shortening services, changing the traditional liturgy, developing new rules for women, and supporting liberal positions on such issues as abortion, homosexuality, public religion displays, and more. More traditional Conservative synagogues became an ever-shrinking minority.
On the Orthodox side, in the 1980s, the Orthodox Union
, the principal Modern Orthodox
organization of synagogues, began requiring Orthodox synagogues which had previously had mixed seating to build a mechitza
with separate seating for men and women or de-affiliate, thus creating an irreconcilable physical distinction between the most liberal Orthodox-affiliated synagogues and the most traditional Conservative-affiliated ones. The Jewish Ledger
reported that as of 2005, "Beth Midrash Hagadol-Beth Joseph
[of Denver, CO] remains the only synagogue in the country affiliated with the Orthodox Union (OU) to have so-called 'mixed seating.'" In addition, social trends in Judaism and in the larger society have reflected an increased rightward trend in Orthodox Judaism, including Modern Orthodox Judaism, on matters of both ritual and social outlook. The Haredi segment, which believes in separation from secular culture and in a distinction between men and women has had increasing influence.
As a result, Conservadox Jews, who a generation ago could feel very comfortable in either an Orthodox or a Conservative setting, have become increasingly isolated from both Conservative and Orthodox Judaism as the gap between the two has widened. This trend has resulted in attempts to experiment in new organizations and liturgical styles at both the right of Conservatism and the left of Orthodoxy to appeal to this constituency.
Conservadox is largely a North American phenomenon, although similar trends can be identified in Israel and Europe. Generally Judaism in Israel is more traditional and Orthodox; thus a North American entering a Masorti
synagogue in Israel may perceive it to be more similar to a North American Conservadox synagogue than a North American Conservative synagogue. In North America, congregations of a Conservadox persuasion have formed affiliations such as the Union for Traditional Judaism
in the United States and the Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues.
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
and Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
. The term "Traditional" (not to be confused with the more generic term "tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
al") is sometimes applied to roughly the same sector of the community.
Until the 1970s, traditional Conservative and liberal Orthodox synagogues had a substantial area of overlap, with many congregations calling themselves either Orthodox or Conservative having a similar combination of a traditional liturgy in a synagogue with mixed gender seating, together with traditional but lenient or lax personal observance among the membership. "Orthodox" and "Conservative" congregations could be almost identical in liturgy and practices, with a substantial interdenominational blurring. Changes in both the Conservative and Orthodox movements came to distinguish both movements more clearly, leaving an increasing gap in between.
Beginning in 1973, the Conservative movement began more actively involving women in services, and following the Conservative decision to ordain women as Rabbis in 1983 ritual egalitarianism
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
became a distinguishing characteristic of Conservative synagogues. Although a small minority of Conservative congregations continue to maintain traditional roles, the minority became very small (10% or less) by the end of the 20th century. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Conservative movement moved leftward on a variety of liturgical and social issues, shortening services, changing the traditional liturgy, developing new rules for women, and supporting liberal positions on such issues as abortion, homosexuality, public religion displays, and more. More traditional Conservative synagogues became an ever-shrinking minority.
On the Orthodox side, in the 1980s, the Orthodox Union
Orthodox Union
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , more popularly known as the Orthodox Union , is one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. It is best known for its kosher food preparation supervision service...
, the principal Modern Orthodox
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
organization of synagogues, began requiring Orthodox synagogues which had previously had mixed seating to build a mechitza
Mechitza
A mechitza in Jewish Halakha is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women....
with separate seating for men and women or de-affiliate, thus creating an irreconcilable physical distinction between the most liberal Orthodox-affiliated synagogues and the most traditional Conservative-affiliated ones. The Jewish Ledger
Jewish Ledger
The Jewish Ledger is Connecticut's only weekly Jewish newspaper.It was founded in April 1929 by Samuel Neusner and Rabbi Abraham Feldman. Berthold Gaster, whose father had survived the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, became the newspaper's managing editor in 1958...
reported that as of 2005, "Beth Midrash Hagadol-Beth Joseph
Beth Midrash Hagadol-Beth Joseph
Beth HaMedrosh Hagodol-Beth Joseph, known locally as BMH-BJ or simply BMH, is a Modern Orthodox, Zionist synagogue in Denver, Colorado....
[of Denver, CO] remains the only synagogue in the country affiliated with the Orthodox Union (OU) to have so-called 'mixed seating.'" In addition, social trends in Judaism and in the larger society have reflected an increased rightward trend in Orthodox Judaism, including Modern Orthodox Judaism, on matters of both ritual and social outlook. The Haredi segment, which believes in separation from secular culture and in a distinction between men and women has had increasing influence.
As a result, Conservadox Jews, who a generation ago could feel very comfortable in either an Orthodox or a Conservative setting, have become increasingly isolated from both Conservative and Orthodox Judaism as the gap between the two has widened. This trend has resulted in attempts to experiment in new organizations and liturgical styles at both the right of Conservatism and the left of Orthodoxy to appeal to this constituency.
Conservadox is largely a North American phenomenon, although similar trends can be identified in Israel and Europe. Generally Judaism in Israel is more traditional and Orthodox; thus a North American entering a Masorti
Masorti
The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
synagogue in Israel may perceive it to be more similar to a North American Conservadox synagogue than a North American Conservative synagogue. In North America, congregations of a Conservadox persuasion have formed affiliations such as the Union for Traditional Judaism
Union for Traditional Judaism
The Union for Traditional Judaism is an ostensibly non-denominational Jewish educational, outreach and communal service organization. The UTJ, as it is known, sees itself as trans-denominational, and works to encourage traditional observance among all Jews. The UTJ maintains various educational...
in the United States and the Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues.
See also
- Union for Traditional JudaismUnion for Traditional JudaismThe Union for Traditional Judaism is an ostensibly non-denominational Jewish educational, outreach and communal service organization. The UTJ, as it is known, sees itself as trans-denominational, and works to encourage traditional observance among all Jews. The UTJ maintains various educational...
- Open Orthodoxy
- Modern Orthodox JudaismModern Orthodox JudaismModern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
- Conservative JudaismConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...