The close vote on the decision illustrates the clear divisions and diversity of approaches within American Liberal Jewry.
Two Jews, three opinions. The famous popular adage could sum up in itself the deliberations that have taken place in recent days within the conservative movement – conservative – American, one of the branches of liberal Judaism. Rabbis from this movement have indeed met recently to decide on the status of electric cars during Shabbat. A thorny issue that divides spiritual leaders. In 1950, Orthodox and Conservative groups agreed that driving was prohibited on Shabbat, citing halakha or Jewish law, which prohibits a host of activities on the weekly Jewish day of rest, including starting a fire and driving a long distance from his home.
AP / Bebeto Matthews 2013 ©In this file photo from September 20, 2013, children and adults cross a street in front of a school bus in Borough Park, a neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn in New York that is home to many Jewish families ultra-Orthodox.
In 2012, the movement adopted an opinion saying that the use of electricity in permitted activities on Shabbat is acceptable under Jewish law. And yet the final vote to allow the use of electric cars on Shabbat was deeply divisive, with just 10 members of the movement’s Committee of 25 rabbis on Jewish Law and Standards voting in favor and six voting against. Five rabbis abstained from voting. A second, competing opinion was voted on in the aftermath, stating the position of rabbis opposing the move and outright rejecting the use of electric cars on Shabbat.
JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFPCORTE MADERA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 28: In an aerial view, pedestrians walk past an electric vehicle charging station on July 28, 2023 in Corte Madera, California
One of the currents of liberal Judaism
Conservative Judaism is one of the currents of liberal Judaism. In general, Conservative Judaism is egalitarian and inclusive in its approach to religious rights and obligations, opposes intermarriage, and believes in the traditional observance of the Shabbat. Nevertheless, the vision of halakha – Jewish law – and its evolution is diametrically opposed to the vision of so-called orthodox Judaism. However, it should be qualified, because among conservative Jews there is a wide range of different observances and beliefs, as in the Orthodox world. In the United States, the largest Jewish community in the world (more than 7 million people) with Israel, liberal currents are very largely in the majority.
About a quarter of American Jews identify as conservative Jews. Conservative Judaism in the United States began ordaining women in 1983 and, after much deliberation, in 2006 decided to ordain gay, lesbian, and bisexual rabbis. In 2012, the movement also endorsed same-sex marriages.
2023-07-29 10:35:53
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