Reform Zionism
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Reform Zionism, also known as Progressive Zionism, is the ideology of the
History
We reaffirm that the object of Judaism is not political nor national, but spiritual, and addresses itself to the continuous growth of peace, justice and love in the human race.
-Central Conference of American Rabbis Resolution, 1897[1]
Historically, Zionism was a secular ideology that was opposed by Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews. While Orthodox and Conservative groups opposed Zionism for being nationalist rather than religious, Reform Judaism opposed a return to Zion for theological reasons. Reform theology conceived of Judaism as the universal religion of the prophets. In 1845, Samuel Hirsch, David Einhorn and Samuel Holdheim passed a resolution at the Frankfurt Conference that removed references to Palestine and a "Jewish State" from prayers on the grounds that nationalism and statehood were not compatible with Reform theology. Similar resolutions in 1869, 1885 and 1897 rejected the idea of "restoration of the Jewish State". As early as 1890 the Central Conference of American Rabbis had publicly opposed Zionist ideology.[1]
In the early 20th century, many Jewish leaders accepted the ideal of
The Pittsburgh Platform of 1885 rejected Jewish nationalism: "We consider ourselves no longer a nation but a religious community, and therefore expect neither a return to Palestine,...nor the restoration of any laws concerning a Jewish state". This position did not change until the Columbus Platform of 1937 which affirmed the "obligation of all Jewry" to build a "Jewish homeland" in Palestine and to make it "not only a haven of refuge for the oppressed but also a center of Jewish culture and spiritual life". In the San Francisco Centenary Perspective of 1976 the
However, with the establishment of the
The Miami Platform makes the distinction between
During two millennia of dispersion and persecution, Am Yisrael [people of Israel] never abandoned hope for the rebirth of a national home in Eretz Yisrael. The Shoah [Holocaust] intensified our resolve to affirm life and pursue the Zionist dream of a return to Eretz Yisrael. Even as we mourned for the loss of one-third of our people, we witnessed the miraculous rebirth of Medinat Yisrael, the Jewish people's supreme creation in our age.
Centuries of Jewish persecution, culminating in the Shoah, demonstrated the risks of powerlessness. We, therefore, affirm Am Yisrael's reassertion of national sovereignty, but we urge that it be used to create the kind of society in which full civil, human, and religious rights exist for all its citizens. Ultimately, Medinat Yisrael will be judged not on its military might but on its character.
While we view Eretz Yisrael as sacred, the sanctity of Jewish life takes precedence over the sanctity of Jewish land.
Through the ideal of
Due to this, the Reform Zionist movement is heavily involved in
Hebrew Union College
In 1897,
The Union of American Hebrew Congregations
The
Union member Isaac Wolfe Bernheim was opposed to political Zionism supported the establishment of the Reform Church of American Israelites made up of "100 percent Americans" so that the "voice of the real American Israel may be heard". Bernheim and publications like The American Hebrew suggested replacing the term "Jewish" to avoid association with Zionist ideology, which they feared could create doubts about their loyalty to America. These proposals were unpopular and unsuccessful.[1]
Youth
The Reform Zionist movement has an international youth wing, represented by its youth movement, Netzer Olami, which includes branches in many countries across the world. NFTY, the Union for Reform Judaism's youth movement, is also declaredly Zionist.
Affiliated communities in Israel
There are two Reform Zionist
See also
- Arzenu
- Association of Reform Zionists of America
- Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
- World Union for Progressive Judaism
- Netzer Olami
- Reconstructionist Judaism and Zionism
References
- ^ a b c d e Cohen, Naomi Wiener. "The Reaction of Reform Judaism in America to Political Zionism (1897-1922)". Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society. 40 (4): 361–394.
- ISBN 978-0-8276-1182-5.
- ^ "Reform Judaism and Zionism: A Centenary Platform". Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-02-12.