Are there 'Progressive Approved Boundaries' to what I should read and watch?

You ask about a list of 'Progressive-approved boundaries'.  It is a novel way to approach it and the answer is no, there is no such list, in part because everyone is different, and so we would never be able to agree one!  

We expect you to be aware that there are a variety of approaches within today's Jewish world (and it was always so!).  There are some tell-tale signs to be aware of - and wary of!

God - written G-d, is the first.  Along with 'Hashem' (the name), these are considered by some as ways to 'protect God' and God's name from misuse.  Indeed I recently went to a concert where they sang 'Hallelu-Kah' instead of Halleluyah, since Yah is a name for God (and even though I consider singing to be one of the best and most accessible ways to heightened spirituality and prayer)!  If any of these are used, it is highly likely to be a very orthodox site or publication.  Note that newspapers acceptable to most orthodox Jews such as the Jewish Chronicle in London and the Australian Jewish News are happy to print God and never use G-d!  Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks has produced very many excellent books - always using 'o'!  I believe the increasing use of G-d is a sign of a creeping waning in confidence in the face of ultra-orthodoxy!

If a site says 'Jews do this, Jews observe the Sabbath by refraining from driving or using electricity, Jews do that' as if all do, that is also likely to be an orthodox site, not recognising, reflecting or accepting the diversity across the Jewish people.

Progressive Jews would, I think, agree on a fairly scientific understanding of religion as part of a growing and developing civilisation.  There is one power of the universe, and we assume that God a) is beyond our understanding, b) has no gender or human attributes, c) is good and does good or would do good.  We attribute to God absolute justice, love, compassion, patience, forgiveness - what we would expect of a perfect human being - and then we try to act like that, 'emulating God'.  We REJECT the idea that the whole Torah is God's word, dictated to Moses at Mount Sinai, and therefore inalienably true. We believe it is a human-written document, seeking to answer the question 'What does God require of us?'

So the distinction between Progressive and rigid orthodoxy (and the division in the Jewish world today) goes back to Mount Sinai.  We believe some momentous event probably happened there.  But we are not bound by every detail attributed to that moment and to God.  Furthermore, we believe that we follow the Rabbinic tradition of interpretation and application for our own times, needs and understanding, which they innovated by saying that God gave not only the Written but also the Oral Torah - in other words you can't understand and apply the written Torah without the oral interpretation (which should never be written down).  Unfortunately, it was written down, first as the Mishna, and then, after several hundred years of study and discussion and argument and compromise, and with majority and minority opinions, as the two Talmuds.  By now, in written form, it began to solidify and then stagnate.  Eventually Progressive Judaism developed out of the modern enlightenment understandings of the world, highlighting the ethical values, and empowered Jews to make EDUCATED choices from the ritual traditions, selecting those that helped BRING GOD INTO THEIR LIVES.  When we say that we consider Progressive Judaism to be in the true Rabbinic tradition, therefore, we feel we are on very strong ground!

However, it may be that, once you have done this reading and exploration, you will decide that this is not the path that resonates for you.  Whatever path you decide on for the time being, we recognise that it is your choice and your right, and we will be here if and when you need our support and assistance.

​L'shalom

Rabbi Jonathan​

Welcome back!

Dear Rabbi,

My name is Tom James and I want to convert to Judaism.

I currently attend a Progressive Synagogue in a small town. I grew up in a Jewish household, with my moms boyfriend being from Israel and his three children being Jewish, and my mom also grew up in a Jewish household as her grandmother was Jewish and moved to Australia from France. I have had a very Jewish upbringing and am wanting to convert so I can be recognised by the Jewish community in my own right. I attended the synagogue with my family in Auckland and the local synagogue here with my girlfriend. I have visited Israel because I feel a deep connection with Judaism and because of this I really want to convert. I want to do a progressive conversion because I strongly believe in equality and I think that the progressive stance, women as equals, resonates with me strongly, as does relating the Torah to modern day life. I do believe that there are many timeless truths in the Torah that are very relevant today but also that some things that are not so relevant in this modern time.

I have talked to the on-line course tutor from the local synagogue and he is willing to sponsor me and support my participation in the conversion course. I realise that he is overseas for the next few weeks but I am willing to do the study on my own and ask from help from my family and girlfriend as well as email the tutor if I have any questions. I am very keen to do this conversion and I would very much appeciate it if you gave me the opportunity to study with him and do the conversion.

Hello Tom,

How lovely to get your email.

We are here to help and it sounds as if you have definitely arrived at the right place.

I am glad you have talked to the local tutor - you are lucky there is one there, as sometimes it all has to be done on line - and that he is happy to supervise your course.  For conversion, you require a Sponsoring Rabbi, and, with his recommendation, I expect that there would be no problem in me fulfilling that role (though of course it would be easier for all of us if there was a Rabbi locally for you!).

May I direct you to the blog I have which is at http://progressivejudaism.blogspot.com.au/ and which will help give you a fuller understanding of the process and the way we approach different situations.  

There are a number of things I need to know initially, so please get back to me on them, and then we can see the best way to proceed - and I should precede this by stating quite clearly that 

a) conversion takes a very minimum of a year as you need to experience and learn about the cycle of the Festivals as they occur, and a fair bit of work and commitment, and 

b) you need to understand that orthodox authorities will not accept our conversions (as they don't accept our Rabbis - at least until the Messianic times!).  In terms of Israel this leads to a surprising situation:

a) once converted, you would be able to go and live in Israel as a Jew and become a citizen (because this is not controlled by the orthodox, despite repeated attempts to do so), but 

b) once you are a citizen of Israel, you would not be recognised as Jewish for the purposes of marriage or burial (because these areas are controlled by the internal ministry, controlled by the orthodox!).

Our relationship with Israel - as with orthodoxy - was described in the title of a 2009 as film with Meryl Streep and Steve Martin: 'It's Complicated'.  It would be a bit of a comedy - if it wasn't so sad!

So I have a bit of a list that I need to know so we can move forward:

a) Was it your maternal or paternal grandmother who was Jewish (traditionally the Jewish line has gone through the mother for post-biblical Judaism)?

b) Are you living in the town with the Jewish community and expecting to stay there for the time being?

c) What do you do, and what and where have you studied up to now?

d) Do you have any children?
e) Is your girlfriend Jewish?  If so what is her knowledge level and background?  If not, what does she feel about your plans?

f) Have you done the two introductory free sessions found at http://pjv.org.au/education/introduction-judaism-course-online-course#overlay-context=education/introduction-judaism-course-online-course.  If not, please do them and submit them to the tutor on their return from overseas.

g) Have you been along to services and activities at the congregation?  If so, for how long - please tell me about some, and how you found them. 

h) You describe a 'very Jewish upbringing' - can you give me fuller details of what you mean by this?  For example, when were you in Auckland, how often did you and your family go, was there a Rabbi there (if so which?) and did you talk to him or her, and if so, what did they tell you?

I hope that hasn't put you off - it will certainly give you something to do whilst the tutor is away!  Might I suggest you save the questions until they return, and let them enjoy their travels overseas - we all get so inundated with emails it is difficult to get a holiday these days!

I look forward to hearing from you again.  I truly believe that Progressive Judaism is a wonderful framework for a modern, spiritual life, so once again I extend the warmest 'welcome' - actually, in your case, 'welcome back'!

L'shalom

Rabbi Jonathan

Am I right that I can only convert if I am marrying a Jew?

Dear Rabbi,

Am I right that I can only convert if I am marrying a Jew?

Rabbi Jonathan answers:

ABSOLUTELY NOT!  We are delighted to welcome anyone who genuinely wishes to join the Jewish people

So no, not at all - on the contrary, it is really important to persuade the Bet Din (Rabbinic Court) that  you are converting for yourself - because you feel Jewish and ready to take on the traditions, obligations and expectations of a Jew.

Welcoming people to Judaism is one of the highlights of Rabbinic life - to hear the moving and varied stories of what brings intelligent adults to want to take on this framework for life.  I wish many people who are born as Jews and take it for granted could hear some of these amazing stories!

Caution - read this if you are thinking of converting to Judaism

Caution.  Tread carefully!

It is a very big step to leave the culture and traditions of your family and upbringing – even if you don’t consider they were very strong and present – and family and friends may not understand or feel fully supportive of your decision.

It is a mistake to imagine that you can slip from one religion into another – Judaism – as if it is a change of clothes.  Though someone who has done the study and the intellectual work and attended synagogue and celebrated the cycle of the festivals over a year or more may be able to be accepted by a ‘Bet Din’ (Jewish court), and indeed may know more than someone born Jewish, the journey is really longer.  That is the equivalent of ‘taking off your Learner plates’.  It can take many years to be familiar with life cycle events like circumcisions, wedding and funerals, comfortable with the cycle of the year, with the smells and tastes and vocabulary.

Someone came up to me once and said ‘I converted thirteen years ago, I have raised two children, made Shabbat dinner and lit the candles every week, celebrated Pesach and Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah and Purim year in year out, fasted and reflected every Yom Kippur.  Now I feel I am leaving Jewish childhood – and I’d like to prepare to lead the service and read Torah – and celebrate my coming of age as a Jewish Adult by having a Bat-Mitzvah’.

What a great thing to do – she really got it!  But it took her 13 years.

The danger is that, if you have a life crisis – death of a parent or child, a serious illness, or loss of a partner or spouse or something else traumatic – before you realise you feel completely safe and comfortable and ‘at home’ in the Jewish community, you may want to go ‘back’ to what you grew up with – and find you are no longer at home or welcome there either.  In other words, by undertaking this journey, you risk entering a ‘nether-land’ for some years, and it is important to understand that this may become more significant and difficult than you realise at present.

I recently found a similar explanation, albeit warning Jews of the danger of leaving Judaism for Christianity, as explained by Mordecai in George Eliot’s last book, Daniel Deronda, in Chapter 42:

Can a fresh-made garment of citizenship weave itself straightway into the flesh and change the slow deposit of eighteen centuries? What is the citizenship of him who walks among a people he has no hardy kindred and fellowship with, and has lost the sense of brotherhood with his own race?

Good luck with your religious journey.

Rabbi Jonathan