FOCUS: Greatest Jewish Myths
Was Reform Judaism the Price of Political Acceptance? The vast majority of German Jews chose Judaism over a prestigious career, rejecting the pressure to convert. by Michael A. Mey er
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n explaining the reason for the modern forms, they were making a “Reform must flow out of the hearts of emergence of Reform Judaism in statement of opposition: “We reject the its adherents,” he insisted, “if religious 19th-century Germany, some scholars pressure to convert; we will stick with salvation is not to be huckstered away have argued, falsely, that abandoning our beliefs.” for worldly justice.” traditional Judaism was the Reform rabbis were even price Jews reluctantly paid more vehement in their refusfor their political and social al to pay a religious price for acceptance. political emancipation. SamuWhile it is true that nearly el Holdheim, rabbi of the all German Jews sought politReform Congregation of Berical equality (except for a few lin, for example, firmly ultra-Orthodox who feared believed in the state’s right to that civic participation would take over functions that had induce religious neglect), relipreviously been governed by gious reform was not the way Jewish law, such as divorce— for Jews to gain full rights in not because of religious subGerman society. On the conmission, but because he trary, German opponents of believed in the separation of Jewish emancipation believed church and state. But in matthat Jews who differed least ters of conscience, when the Rabbi Abraham Geiger (l.) and Gabriel Riesser, in their appearance and relistate demanded relinquishing two leading Jewish reformers in 19th century Germany gious practice were the greatany aspect of Judaism, est insidious threat to a state including Orthodox beliefs based on Christian principles. If a GerStatements made by leading Gerand practices, as a condition for equalman Jew wanted to attain a position in man Reformers demonstrate the depth ity, he became as resistant to civil government service or in the higher of this feeling. Gabriel Riesser, whose interference as any Orthodox Jew. Jewranks of the military, the only promisperiodical, Der Jude (The Jew), was ish emancipation could be gained, he ing path was baptism. The vast majority dedicated to Jewish emancipation in argued, only when German states were of German Jews chose Judaism over a Germany, and who also served as a established upon a “solid foundation of prestigious career. Whether they member of the governing body of the justice,” and not by religious concesexpressed their faith in traditional or (Reform) Hamburg temple, consistently sions. In his view, Judaism had to posopposed the notion that only those Jews sess its own integrity if it were to fulfill Michael A. Meyer is Adolph S. Ochs Profesor who had abandoned “religious prejuits mission of spreading the message Emeritus of Jewish History on the Cincinnati dices” should be entitled to political of Judaism—monotheism and univercampus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish equality. Another communally active sal morality—among the nations. Institute of Religion. Among his published liberal Jew, Carl Weil, wrote similarly “Those commandments on account of writings is Response to Modernity: in Der Jude in 1831 that religious which Jews were ready to become marA History of the Reform Movement reform must be made from within Juda- tyrs have preserved Judaism in their in Judaism (1988). ism, and not for any ulterior motives. midst,” he wrote. “When [despite antireform judaism
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