Welcome to the Home Work page for JHist '11. Every Monday and Tuesday (or sometimes Wednesday) I'll post some artifact and look for your great questions.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Week 9 (Question 2)
In what ways is the movement of Reform similar to and/or different the Hassidic movement?
Reform movement is similar to Hassidic movement in the way that they both believe in the same G-d. They both believe in the Messia. " We pray that G-d may give us forther strength to search out the way of truth and not to stray from the path of love!"(Salomon Jehuda Leib Rappoport). The Hassidim and Reform are different in the way that Hassidim go by the torah the Reform don't.
There are a couple differences between the Hassidic Movement and the Reform Movement. Firstly, reformers do not believe there will be a Messiah, while the Hassidic people believe in the Messiah. Secondly, teir view of the holy scripture is different. The Reform Movement believes that Torah isn't trustworthy since it uses supernatural stories that probably won't happen again. The Hassidic Movement believes the Torah full on. A similarity between the two movements is that they both try to connect to Judaism in their own ways. The Rebbi Nachman's sing and dance to show their appreciation for Hashem. Reformers sing in a choir like aspect to be more like other religions (but yet still be Jewish). - Aaron Z, Ben K, & Zeke M
Both the Hassidic and Reform movements can be considered different sects of Judaism. They both have their own beliefs when it comes to how to live a Jewish lifestyle. The Hassidim are all about enhancing the Jewish lifestyle through song and praise, much like the reform movement as we saw in the Kol Nidrei video. However, the Reform movement does not believe in the Rebbe even after he has passed away, like the Hassidim movement does. Another strong example of how the two secs are similar is their beliefs in the letter of the law. They both agree that it is not neccasary to go by a strict interpertation of the letter of the law. That said though, there opinions differ from that point on. While the Reform movement belives that the law changes from generation to generation,in order for them to modernize the law to fit society, the Hassidic movement takes this to mean they follow "added" laws such as the oral law or take away laws that do not apply to us nowadays. All in all, the two movements are actually more similar then one would assume. -Julia Adelman, Michal Jacobson, and Eliana Ely
Hasidism and Reform Judaism are similar because they both have inspired non-Orthodox thinkers. Hasidism though focuses mainly on mysticspirituaism (yes, that is now a word) while Reform Judaism’s values are based more on logic and making Judaism more of an appeal to society. Another difference is that Hasidism is less scholarly and more spiritual whereas Reform Judaism is more scholarly. Moritz Steinschneider, a Reform Jew, believes that in the future Rabbis will no longer learn in Yeshivas and will study in universities to become doctors of Semitic literature. Also, in Reform Judaism, mitzvot are more of a choice and in Hasidism they are an obligation.
2. In what ways is the movement of Reform similar to and/or different the Hassidic movement? a. Chasidism: Trying to keep Judaism relevant but keeps it more within the boundaries of Jewish law (halacha). They’re much stricter as well.
The Reform movement and the Hassidic movement were both born in an attempt to revitalize Judaism and help people connect to the religion. However, the whole purpose of the Hassidic movement was to bring spirituality and a religious fervor back to Judaism. The reform movement, however, wanted to help people connect to their religion by synthesizing Judaism with the secular world. The Baal Shem Tov brought mysticism to Judaism; he was heavily involved in Kabalah, and the spirituality he brought survives today with Hasidism and the “Na-Nach-Nachaman” movement. He thought people could connect to Judaism by dancing, studying, and the increase in individual spirituality. Moritz Steinschneider seemed to want the absolute opposite of this, he said that more people would be able to connect if the orthodox movement, a static entity, if it was more secular and changing to the times. He disagreed with the Shem Tovian concept of dancing to your religion, the concept of what he calls it “a Jewish science”, he believes we should learn the science of the world around, in stark contrast to the Yeshiva movement. these views aren’t representative of their respective movements view, but the reform and Chassidic movements still took these commentaries into account, and help shape the religion that it is today. While both movements motivations were very similar, yet their means were significantly different.
Despite the many differences in theology, the movement of Reform and the Hassidic movement share a driving force – movement. Traditional Judaism is just that; it is traditional, averse to change, staunchly committed to its timelessness. The idea of any change in ideology within Judaism was absurd up until the Hassidic movement and Reform Judaism. Many traditional Jews fervently opposed these new movements for this precise reason. The idea of reform is what unifies the Hassidic movement and the movement of Reform, but what separates them is the manner in which they came to reform and the shape their reform took on. The movement of reform was perhaps an inevitable phenomenon in an enlightened and somewhat secularized Europe. The scientific process of investigation and the rationalist attitude influenced a generation of Jews living in an enlightened time period. In cohesion with this new way of thinking, many Jews wanted to integrate into modern society, and not simply to dabble in its texts and philosophy. They sought a Judaism that didn’t isolate its believers from western society. The early reformers had varying beliefs and reform spread on different fronts. In Judaic academia, the Wisenchaft des Judens, or the historical and literary (perhaps skeptical) study of Judaism gained momentum amongst these “enlightened” Jews. In practice, the movement of reform led to an abandonment of Rabbinic Judaism and Halachah amongst reformed Jews. Unfortunately for the early reformers, many of the traditional Jews proved too committed to their version of Judaism, and “Reform Judaism” as a distinctly separate sect emerged. The Hassidic movement wasn’t spurred by outside influences – it began from within, with one individual who sought to spiritually revive Judaism, the Ba’al Shem Tov. He was dealing with a generation of uneducated Jews who couldn’t connect to Judaism through the academic study of the Talmud and Jewish law. He didn’t necessarily see his movement as the only way to practice Judaism – he was merely providing an alternative of a more spiritual Judaism within the basic confines of tradition. He was met with much opposition from the Vilna Gaon, the leader of the Mitnagdim, but Hassidism prevailed and gained many followers. He didn’t advocate integration with the modern world or the abandonment of Rabbinic Judaism, though he did bend Halachah a little. In practice, Hassidim aren’t so different from traditional Jews; they simply have a different outlook. While the movement of Reform and the Hassidic movement shared the idea of reform, they came to their reform from different perspectives and molded their reform accordingly.
Reform movement is similar to Hassidic movement in the way that they both believe in the same G-d. They both believe in the Messia. " We pray that G-d may give us forther strength to search out the way of truth and not to stray from the path of love!"(Salomon Jehuda Leib Rappoport). The Hassidim and Reform are different in the way that Hassidim go by the torah the Reform don't.
ReplyDeleteThe reform and hassidim both took a differnet approach then the Jews befor hand.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple differences between the Hassidic Movement and the Reform Movement. Firstly, reformers do not believe there will be a Messiah, while the Hassidic people believe in the Messiah. Secondly, teir view of the holy scripture is different. The Reform Movement believes that Torah isn't trustworthy since it uses supernatural stories that probably won't happen again. The Hassidic Movement believes the Torah full on. A similarity between the two movements is that they both try to connect to Judaism in their own ways. The Rebbi Nachman's sing and dance to show their appreciation for Hashem. Reformers sing in a choir like aspect to be more like other religions (but yet still be Jewish).
ReplyDelete- Aaron Z, Ben K, & Zeke M
Both the Hassidic and Reform movements can be considered different sects of Judaism. They both have their own beliefs when it comes to how to live a Jewish lifestyle. The Hassidim are all about enhancing the Jewish lifestyle through song and praise, much like the reform movement as we saw in the Kol Nidrei video. However, the Reform movement does not believe in the Rebbe even after he has passed away, like the Hassidim movement does. Another strong example of how the two secs are similar is their beliefs in the letter of the law. They both agree that it is not neccasary to go by a strict interpertation of the letter of the law. That said though, there opinions differ from that point on. While the Reform movement belives that the law changes from generation to generation,in order for them to modernize the law to fit society, the Hassidic movement takes this to mean they follow "added" laws such as the oral law or take away laws that do not apply to us nowadays. All in all, the two movements are actually more similar then one would assume.
ReplyDelete-Julia Adelman, Michal Jacobson, and Eliana Ely
Hasidism and Reform Judaism are similar because they both have inspired non-Orthodox thinkers. Hasidism though focuses mainly on mysticspirituaism (yes, that is now a word) while Reform Judaism’s values are based more on logic and making Judaism more of an appeal to society. Another difference is that Hasidism is less scholarly and more spiritual whereas Reform Judaism is more scholarly. Moritz Steinschneider, a Reform Jew, believes that in the future Rabbis will no longer learn in Yeshivas and will study in universities to become doctors of Semitic literature. Also, in Reform Judaism, mitzvot are more of a choice and in Hasidism they are an obligation.
ReplyDeleteRose, David, & Noah
2. In what ways is the movement of Reform similar to and/or different the Hassidic movement?
ReplyDeletea. Chasidism: Trying to keep Judaism relevant but keeps it more within the boundaries of Jewish law (halacha). They’re much stricter as well.
Joey, Jonny, Ami
The Reform movement and the Hassidic movement were both born in an attempt to revitalize Judaism and help people connect to the religion. However, the whole purpose of the Hassidic movement was to bring spirituality and a religious fervor back to Judaism. The reform movement, however, wanted to help people connect to their religion by synthesizing Judaism with the secular world.
ReplyDeleteThe Baal Shem Tov brought mysticism to Judaism; he was heavily involved in Kabalah, and the spirituality he brought survives today with Hasidism and the “Na-Nach-Nachaman” movement. He thought people could connect to Judaism by dancing, studying, and the increase in individual spirituality.
Moritz Steinschneider seemed to want the absolute opposite of this, he said that more people would be able to connect if the orthodox movement, a static entity, if it was more secular and changing to the times. He disagreed with the Shem Tovian concept of dancing to your religion, the concept of what he calls it “a Jewish science”, he believes we should learn the science of the world around, in stark contrast to the Yeshiva movement.
these views aren’t representative of their respective movements view, but the reform and Chassidic movements still took these commentaries into account, and help shape the religion that it is today. While both movements motivations were very similar, yet their means were significantly different.
Despite the many differences in theology, the movement of Reform and the Hassidic movement share a driving force – movement. Traditional Judaism is just that; it is traditional, averse to change, staunchly committed to its timelessness. The idea of any change in ideology within Judaism was absurd up until the Hassidic movement and Reform Judaism. Many traditional Jews fervently opposed these new movements for this precise reason. The idea of reform is what unifies the Hassidic movement and the movement of Reform, but what separates them is the manner in which they came to reform and the shape their reform took on.
ReplyDeleteThe movement of reform was perhaps an inevitable phenomenon in an enlightened and somewhat secularized Europe. The scientific process of investigation and the rationalist attitude influenced a generation of Jews living in an enlightened time period. In cohesion with this new way of thinking, many Jews wanted to integrate into modern society, and not simply to dabble in its texts and philosophy. They sought a Judaism that didn’t isolate its believers from western society. The early reformers had varying beliefs and reform spread on different fronts. In Judaic academia, the Wisenchaft des Judens, or the historical and literary (perhaps skeptical) study of Judaism gained momentum amongst these “enlightened” Jews. In practice, the movement of reform led to an abandonment of Rabbinic Judaism and Halachah amongst reformed Jews. Unfortunately for the early reformers, many of the traditional Jews proved too committed to their version of Judaism, and “Reform Judaism” as a distinctly separate sect emerged.
The Hassidic movement wasn’t spurred by outside influences – it began from within, with one individual who sought to spiritually revive Judaism, the Ba’al Shem Tov. He was dealing with a generation of uneducated Jews who couldn’t connect to Judaism through the academic study of the Talmud and Jewish law. He didn’t necessarily see his movement as the only way to practice Judaism – he was merely providing an alternative of a more spiritual Judaism within the basic confines of tradition. He was met with much opposition from the Vilna Gaon, the leader of the Mitnagdim, but Hassidism prevailed and gained many followers. He didn’t advocate integration with the modern world or the abandonment of Rabbinic Judaism, though he did bend Halachah a little. In practice, Hassidim aren’t so different from traditional Jews; they simply have a different outlook.
While the movement of Reform and the Hassidic movement shared the idea of reform, they came to their reform from different perspectives and molded their reform accordingly.
Tani, Ariel, and Nathan