Letters/Discussion Forums
A rabbi is a rabbi is a rabbi…
Your recent issue carried an article and a subsequent letter posing the question whether a Reform rabbi should be addressed as rabbi.
Alvin Kushner
The original letter makes pleasant and encouraging reading. However, if the writer had chosen to call both the Orthodox and Progressive rabbis “ministers”, it would have been most unusual to most of us, depending on context, but it would have been most unlikely that there would have been an issue.
In this case the Orthodox Chief Rabbi (referred to) is respectfully addressed as “Chief Rabbi Casper” and the Reform rabbi is addressed in the same sentence and context as the “Chief Minister of the Reform movement”.
I do recall Rabbi Hoffman z’’l telling me how some correspondence from Orthodox sources refused to address him as anything other than “Mr”. Many of our rabbis will tell you of a similar situation.
I’m sure that you will therefore conclude that this is a sensitive matter. We don’t have “Chief Minister” and our rabbis are rabbis and are addressed as such. As Jews all our learned ordained rabbinic leaders are referred to as rabbi regardless whether they are Orthodox or Progressive.
The World Union for Progressive Judaism is the umbrella body that covers the Liberal, the Reconstructionist and the Reform movements. The Progressive movement worldwide has about 1 300 synagogues in over 50 countries, each with a long history and indigenous language, so it could be arrogant to say that we have never used the word “Minister”. So, before shooting from the hip, I did some research.
The term “minister” in the Jewish context, could refer to a religious leader who is perhaps knowledgeable and skilled in leading religious services; it is not used to refer to an ordained rabbi, but one who leads a congregation as spiritual leader.
“Ministers”, if the word is used, might have referred to quite capable people, but they will not have received smicha from a rabbinical seminary.
The title “reverend” has often been an essential requirement in some countries and was common in the smaller towns in South Africa where there were no rabbis and where a formally recognised religious leader needs to be licenced to perform formal communal functions such as weddings and funerals.
Rabbi Joel Oseran, vice-chairman of the World Union, states that gone are the days when Reform rabbis, as well as Reform Jews in general, are excluded from Klal Yisrael and their rightful place within the Jewish community.
Religious pluralism means that we can respect one another even as we may disagree with one another. Today, all over the world, including in Israel, our Reform rabbis are addressed as rabbis not ministers. I am reminded that both President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refer to our Reform rabbis as rabbis.
In the context in the article, it is not difficult to find clear prejudice which stirs up some hurtful issues, mainly from the past.
We expect our ordained rabbis to be addressed as rabbi and avoiding giving these learned ladies and gentlemen the recognition that they deserve, is hurtful to all members of the Progressive movement and to many of our friends in the Orthodox movement.
National Chairman
South African Union for Progressive Judaism
Baruch
February 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm
‘Respectfully,
The progressive movements desire to be given equal standing, or even recognition of legitimacy by orthodoxy is understandable – but it ignores the facts and history of the formation of progressive Judaism.
For approximately 2000 years Judaism has referred to what today is called Orthodoxy. For the 1000 years before that, whilst many practices were different from post Temple Destruction times, the principles were the same as what is today called Orthodoxy. True, there were groups that formed and faded that had ideas similar to today’s progressive movement, but they were never given recognition and all but died out.
Then in the 1800s the reform, and subsequently, conservative movements formed. They changed the rules, they discarded certain aspects over others and they deliberately broke from, what they called, Orthodox Judaism. So whilst one can argue ad nauseum over who is right in the grand scheme, there can be no arguing over who created a \”new Judaism\”. Therefor, whilst you have a right to practice any religion you choose, and you have a right to call yourselves and your religious leadership by any title you choose, you do not have a right to demand of those whom you left to call you as you choose.
The term Rabbi, for Orthodox Jews has particular meaning and criteria. Whilst progressive leadrrs may be, and often are, very educated, they do not fulfill the criteria for being called Rabbi by the orthodox community.
So whilst you feel it is disrespectful, the respectful thing to do is accept that you left the fold and to accept that those who chose not to are not obligated to follow your rules’
Jp
February 2, 2016 at 7:35 am
‘Dear Mr Kushner
Reform masquerades as Judaism.
While there may be Jews involved in Reform, it is a movement that is unfortunately divorced from the cherished ancient spiritual heritage of the Jewish people.
The Jewish people are afflicted enough with the twisted propaganda against the State of Israel, kindly cease from adding to the tirade of lies and deception.
Faithfully,
Jp’