The Jewish Enlightenment, Reform Judaism and Jewish National Consciousness:
Appendices to Activities - Positions

by Nili Kadary

Appendix 1

Main Arguments of the Orthodox Rabbis Group

You are a group of Orthodox rabbis, deeply immersed in Torah and Jewish law. You are convinced that the ideas of the Enlightenment and the activities of its members are disastrous for the Jewish people, since they lead to assimilation.

Points to recall:

1. The Mitzvoth
   • For hundreds of years, the Jewish people has managed to preserve the Jewish way of life.
   • Only absolute loyalty to Torah and the mitzvoth can guarantee the continued existence of the Jewish people and the future Redemption.
2. Education
   Traditional Jewish education guarantees the future of the Jewish people. General (secular) education, as urged by the members of the Enlightenment, will lead to rejection of Jewish education and accelerate the process of assimilation.
3. The Jewish Community
   Only within the structure of the Jewish community is it possible to preserve Jewish life in every respect. Jews therefore need to continue living within the framework of the Jewish community, which has preserved the existence of the Jewish people throughout the millennia of exile.
4. National Identity
   There is no separation between national and religious identity. You are adamantly opposed to any change in the Siddur:
   • in the language of prayer from Hebrew to the vernacular,
   • to removing references to Zion from the liturgy,
   • to removing the idea of Redemption.
   The longing for Zion and belief in the Messiah have always been at the focus of Jewish existence in the Diaspora.

Appendix II

Main Arguments for Members of the Jewish Enlightenment Group

You are members of the Jewish Enlightenment, convinced that the new reality demands reforms in all areas of Jewish life. These reforms will bring the Jews closer to the peoples among whom they live.

You believe:

• It is possible to reconcile life in a modern state and preservation Jewish identity; Judaism is a faith, not a nationality.
• Integration with non-Jewish society is the only solution to liberate the Jew from his miserable existence and inferior status.

Try to convince your opponents, the rabbis, of the correctness of your approach.

Points to recall:

1. Education
   It is impossible to rely exclusively on traditional Jewish education. There is an essential need to study general subjects and new professions that will bring an improvement in the situation of the Jews and enhance their integration into society.
2. The Jewish Community
   A Jewish community of the Middle Ages is not suited to the new reality. In the modern state, all citizens are equal, irrespective of their religion. Communal autonomy should cease.
3. National Identity
   You renounce the national aspect of Judaism; you see Judaism as a religion only. The modern state is your fatherland, and you aspire to serve it faithfully.

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