Reform Judaism's Belief Problem

Theological Disputation, 1483

This week, the Forward published a thoughtful editorial by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, a Reform rabbi and scholar.  In it Kaplan argues that Reform Judaism has a major theological problem.  Our liberal theology, which embraces a wide diversity of beliefs and allows (I would rather say "requires") individuals to make their own decisions about religious living, prevents Reform leaders and institutions from establishing standards.  Without standards for belief, participation, and observance, Kaplan argues, identification and commitment will inevitably be low.

As a Reform rabbi--especially as a rabbi at a large synagogue--I feel very keenly the dilemma Rabbi Kaplan describes.  On one hand, my commitment to pluralism is strong; I honestly believe that there are many different way of leading an authentic and meaningful Jewish life.  I am also an advocate of theological humility.  The Jewish community has always embraced many ways of believing and speaking about God, and especially in the modern world, I am skeptical of most attempts to impose specific doctrines about God, prayer, etc. that must be accepted on faith.

But there are also many days when I wish our standards were higher.  What if being a member of a Reform synagogue came with the expectation of attending services every Shabbat?  What if Reform rabbis started teaching that to be a "good" Reform Jew, regular in-depth study is required?  If we agreed that belief in God (even in the most abstract sense) was a prerequisite--not just an option--for Reform Jews, would it make our community stronger?  Would it make our lives better?

(Personally, I would advocate at most two of the three standards above.  Leave a comment to debate which ones.)

Often, this conflict between openness and expectations is framed as a social or demographic challenge:  How will these approaches affect synagogue membership?  Kaplan identifies a deeper conflict that we talk about far less often:  What do we really believe about Judaism?  Do we believe that attending the High Holidays and an occasional life cycle event is enough for some Jews?  Do we even have any way to decide?

Kaplan does not choose sides in this debate, and that is a wise choice.  The subject is too complex to be treated adequately in an op-ed (or a blog post, for that matter).  But this is a major issue for the future of Reform Judaism.  It's a discussion we've been avoiding for decades, and I sincerely doubt we can avoid it much longer.