Common Misconceptions (Surprised? or have your own question?) 6. Reform Judaism places a great emphasis on ethical mitzvot. A great emphasis, true. But not a greater emphasis. Reform Judaism: A Centenary Perspective, which was written in l976, stated "Reform Judaism emphasizes action rather than creed as the primary expression of a religious life, the means by which we strive to achieve universal justice and peace. Reform Judaism shares this emphasis on duty and obligation. Our founders stressed that the Jew's ethical responsibilities, personal and social, are enjoined by God. The past century has taught us that the claims made upon us may begin with our ethical obligations but they extend to many other aspects of Jewish living including: creating a Jewish home centered on family devotion, lifelong study, private prayer and public worship, daily religious observance, keeping the Sabbath and the holy days, celebrating the major events of life, involvement with the synagogues and community, other activities which promote the survival of the Jewish people and enhance its existence. Within each area of Jewish observance, Reform Jews are called upon to confront the claims of Jewish tradition, however differently perceived, and to exercise their individual autonomy, choosing and creating on the basis of commitment and knowledge." In the last twenty-plus years since that was statement was written, Reform Judaism has continued to evolve and search for greater meaning in Jewish ritual. Because of this, the opening part of the statement above no longer fully reflects where the Reform movement stands on this issue. Today, ethical mitzvot are still considered of utmost importance, but not necessarily of greater importance than ritual mitzvot. Ethics and ritual go hand-in-hand in living a full Jewish life, though how that gets expressed is open for study and interpretation by the individual Reform Jew. Next question: or 7. Reform Judaism teaches that the observance of ritual mitzvot is unnecessary. From "Understanding the Challenge of Reform Judaism: A Workshop for Teachers." UAHC, Editors: Gail Teicher Fellus and Rabbi Nina Mizrahi. Used by permission of the UAHC Press.
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