Are young rabbis turning on Israel?

[rug]

For all the theological, ritualistic and institutional differences separating the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements, for all their divergent approaches to revelation, halacha and communal decision- making, what distinguishes the groups in the minds of many ordinary American Jews comes down to branding.

Orthodoxy is on the Right, Reform on the Left. In the middle stands Conservative Judaism. If the new crop of Conservative rabbis has anything to say about it, Conservatism may not occupy the center for very long. That, at least, is the message of a recent report by the movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary, based on a survey of political views among “Generation Y” rabbinical students – born in the mid-1970s to mid-1990s – and the seminary’s somewhat older rabbinical alumni, ordained since 1980.

At first blush, the report purports to show what one would hope to find among the rabbinate: a solid Jewish identity and strong attachment to Israel. On closer examination, however, this identity appears increasingly filtered through a universalistic and liberal political perspective.

Among American Jews as a whole, according to the Pew Forum, 38 percent identify themselves as liberal; 39% call themselves moderate. In contrast, 58% of the Conservative rabbis surveyed – and 69% of the rabbinical students – called themselves liberal. It’s hard to defend the center when you’re not in it.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?ID=243782&R=R1

[Meshuga]

1. The conservative movement is made up of reform Jews and modern orthodox Jews

It is the big tent movement. The tendency within the Conservative movement (from my experience) is that most members tend to being liberal politically.

[Betsy Ross]

2. Gee, and then there are the Socialist Orthodox.

But we don't get much press.

[rug]

3. Is that an outgrowth of the kibbutzim?

[Betsy Ross]

4. Mainly very educated leftists who became religious.

I'm the "black sheep" in a family of socialist atheists. Although my kibbutznik relatives rather like that someone in the family is maintaining a Jewish identity.

[rug]

5. Thanks for the info.

You're right, this history should be much more well known.