Progressive Jewish Essay

Submitted By rebeccamagnus
Words: 765
Pages: 4
Open Document
Essay on Progressive Judaism Vs Orthodox - My Journey

Rebecca Magnus

07 33562253

God gives meaning and purpose to our lives. Judaism celebrates the belief in ‘one’ God, dating back to Abraham. The unwavering belief in God’s covenant provides a solid foundation that each and every Jew can depend on. Another strong foundation of Jewish life is the Torah, it continually reaffirms our ongoing relationship with God, and his revelation to his people. These and other steadfast examples of God as a divine presence in the Jewish religion are a large part of what draws me to it. For me, the other very important aspects of Judaism that have been instrumental in my decision to follow this path, are the focus that Judaism places on family, children, education, and the values of ethical and moral behavior. Moreover, Judaism as not just a religion, but a way of life tied to tradition and your extended family.

There are key differences between Progressive Judaism and Orthodox Judaism. For me, the one difference that has the most impact is how inclusionary the Progressive movement is, in many aspects. Progressive Judaism recognizes the individuality of each and every Jew. Through the smallest experiences of everyday life we are able to find comfort in God’s presence. It is comforting to know that through Progressive Judaism it is accepted that a person is able to experience God’s presence through their own experiences in their own time. Progressive Judaism understands each Jews need for the freedom, to embark on their own spiritual journey of understanding God’s expectations on them personally.

Progressive Judaism is diverse in its beliefs and practices, but at its core God, Torah and Israel still remain the central principles of the progressive Jewish faith. Diversity lies in the fact that the Torah is not viewed specifically as a written law to be followed. Unlike Orthodox, Progressives do not believe that God himself dictated to Moses the exact words of the Torah. Rather that it is inspired by God to be used as a guideline by which we can base our actions and behavior towards ourselves and others, in fact all people. The ‘progressive revelation’ is that over time we will understand Gods’ will more and more. There is the understanding that all human beings are created in the image of God. We all have something valuable to input and we all have a place along side God to help improve upon the world around us. Halachah is a choice rather than an obligation. It is a source from which an individual may draw from it, the practices which they find personally meaningful. In relation to the Sabbath, the focus again is been placed more on seeking out the spirit of Jewish law rather than imposing restrictions. The Progressive view for the observance of the Sabbath is one in which an individual or family are able to discover a level of observance that is meaningful to them. Focusing more to inspire, uplift , and remembering the celebration of Shabbat.

In being
Show More

Related Documents: Progressive Jewish Essay

What's Eating America By Michael Pollan Summary

Synthetic Nitrogen is Eating the Earth Michael Pollan discusses in his essay “What’s Eating America” the two sides of science in correlation to the American diet. He explores his claims through discussing the career of a chemist named Fritz Haber. The first few paragraphs of his article inform the reader about the copious amounts of corn used in food in America. Corn syrup is used in most of the food we eat here in America. Pollan states that, “there are some 45,000 items in the average American…

Words 732 - Pages 3

Hilda Satt Polacheck Research Paper

Essay One, Option B: Immigration and Progressives Hilda Satt Polacheck, born in Poland, immigrated to the United States in 1891 with her family in order to avoid the Russian army. Holding onto their Jewish religious beliefs, the family settled into a neighborhood near the Hull House, a settlement house where migrants could seek help and receive services when they entered the country. In Polacheck’s memoir about her life reflecting on the time period, it portrays progressives as social reformers who…

Words 1196 - Pages 5

Cultural Relativism Essay

This essay will be view the many aspects of beliefs, customs and ethics called cultural relativism. In other words, “right” and “wrong” are culture-specific; what is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another, and, since no universal standard of morality exists, no one has the right to judge another society’s customs. Cultural relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which views truth as variable and not absolute. What constitutes right and wrong is determined…

Words 969 - Pages 4

Granting Jews French Citizenship Essay

December 15th 2011 Social Studies Essay To the combien membres of the National Assembly: Messieurs, Merci for the opportunity to persuade the assembly to grant Jews full citizenship. To complete the révolution, found France on its true principles and honor the sacrifices of the French patriots that allow us to be here today, it is essential to grant Jews full citizenship. It is to the benefit of the harmony between Christians and Jews, the leadership of France, and the different types of Jews…

Words 1074 - Pages 5

Contributions Of Christianity In Australia Towards Reconciliation Essay

religions to come to a better appreciation of the uniqueness of each other. When it comes to reconciliation there is interfaith support from different religious traditions. For example, Jewish groups hold a week of prayer for reconciliation every year. In 1998 the Australian and New Zealand Union for progressive Judaism voiced their support for the Wik Decision and opposed the Ten Point Plan. Ecumenism refers to the movement towards religious unity amongst Christian denominations, Organisations involved…

Words 1316 - Pages 6

Study Guide for US History Essay

AP American History Free Response Essays Each day will have a specific essay question. For the 1st Quarter ONLY, you are to simply write a detailed outline of what you would include in your essay. From the 2nd Quarter on, you are to write both a detailed outline and the essay with it. The date listed will be the day the assignment is due. September 16, 2009 Compare the cultures that could be found in the New World prior to the Europeans. Why were some groups more advanced than others throughout…

Words 3601 - Pages 15

Ntozake Shange's Vision Of A Colored Girl

grandfather's house I was made to understand the world through a Catholic view, with a set of rules I had to live by to achieve the ultimate end goal which didn't even come until after death. When I spent time with my dad's family I learned about my jewish roots through stories about my ancestors. I found myself lost to culture shock when I moved from southern California to Alaska as a teen. I witnessed many disparities, many in the native community as a result of colonization.…

Words 1429 - Pages 6

Kateri Tekak Indigenous Women Analysis

Introduction: From the foundational roles of Indigenous women in pre-colonial economies to the pioneering efforts of European settlers and immigrant women throughout Canada's history, their labour and resilience have indelibly shaped the nation's economic trajectory. From Indigenous women who were the cornerstone of pre-colonial economies to European settler women who navigated the challenges of frontier life and immigrant women who fueled industrialization, their labour and resilience have left…

Words 2131 - Pages 9

the Collapse of the Arab Spring Essay

The Collapse of the Arab Spring Dream: A Call for a Transnational Response to the absence of Secular Institutions It is very difficult to define authority, and the history of human civilization is riddled with this question: How do we dictate “political” authority? Some believe that it is the state that controls the legitimate political hegemony. Others believe it is in hands of the people, but for a long portion of human history civilizations have used religion to construct an authority…

Words 6026 - Pages 25

Essay on Music: Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (German: [joˈhanəs ˈbʁaːms]; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer and pianist. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene. In his lifetime, Brahms's popularity and influence were considerable; following a comment by the nineteenth-century conductor Hans von Bülow, he is sometimes grouped with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven as one of the "Three Bs". Brahms…

Words 6900 - Pages 28