Differences From Orthodox Theology
Both Conservative Judaism and Orthodox Judaism view Rabbinic decrees and interpretations as open to some re-evaluation. However, whereas according to the Thirteen Principles of Faith of Orthodox Judaism the Halakha contains a core reflecting a direct Divine revelation that represents God's final and unalterable word to the Jewish people on these matters, Conservative Judaism does not necessarily consider portions of the halakha, and even Biblical law, as a direct record of Divine revelation. The CJLS has written that the Torah represents merely "the beginning of a relationship" rather than a final word and can be superseded by new understanding and new circumstances "as we mature".
This more liberal approach to revelation has resulted in a view that Conservative Judaism's rabbinate can overrule Biblical as well as rabbinic law believed to be inconsistent with modern requirements. The CJLS has issued a number of Rabbinic decrees, or takhanot (plural of takhanah), that lift biblically-derived prohibitions - prohibitions which Orthodox Judaism universally regards as sacrosanct.
Examples of such Conservative decrees are:
- a 1961 decree permitting driving to synagogue on Shabbat, overriding the Biblical injunction on the use of fire on Shabbat (based on the rejection of the view that driving equates with making fire.) Responsum on the Sabbath by Rabbis Morris Adler, Jacob Argus and Theodore Friedman.
- a 1998 decree permitting Kohanim to marry divorced women without losing the privileges of Kohen status
- a 2000 decree abolishing investigations into Mamzer status
Despite these decrees, Conservative Judaism's theories of halakha incorporate a broad spectrum of views, including Orthodox views on some issues.
Read more about this topic: Conservative Halakha
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