Reform and Conservative Judaism in North America
by: Nathan Weissler

"It was natural that America's Jews felt more at home and comfortable as part of a moderate...movement that balanced Orthodoxy and Reform...."   author Gilbert S. Rosenthal wrote of the contemporary Conservative Jewish movement in his study The Many Faces of Judaism. To understand the roots of Conservative Judaism, which developed in the mid to late 19th century, one must understand the history of Reform Judaism as well.  The Reform movement  took off with the ascent of immigration to the New World. When "old world" Jews came in contact with the dynamic North American culture,  Reform Judaism became increasingly popular in the United States. By the mid 19th century, the Reform movement was a keystone of American Jewish life.  For instance, many Reform congregations were eliminating rituals such as head-coverings; the dietary laws and even Bar Mitzvah.

However, there was a rapidly growing number of individual members of the Jewish Community who believed in exploring new ideas; living in the modern world etc.  while simultaneously preserving Jewish tradition. As the years went by, Conservative Judaism became increasingly popular in Europe and also in the United States as an alternative to the Reform movement.

In the United States, Rabbi Isaac Leeser of Philadelphia was an early leader of Conservative Judaism. Modernizations introduced by Leeser included delivering sermons in English. After Leeser’s death in 1868, rabbis such as Benjamin Szold, Sabato Morais, Alexander Kohut, and others continued his work. The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)  was established in 1886 with  Rabbi Sabato Morais of Philadelphia as the first President. After Rabbi Morais’s death in 1897, Rabbi Solomon Shechter, originally from Romania, succeeded him.  After Shechter's death in 1915, Rabbi Dr. Cyrus Adler became President of the Jewish Theological Seminary--a position he held until his death in 1940.

The Rabbinical Assembly of America, which is a network of Conservative Rabbis, was established in 1901 but it was not officially named so until 1919.  The United Synagogue of America, the official synagogue network of Conservative Judaism, which was later re-named the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism,  was established in 1913.

Prominent Conservative Jewish thinkers over the course of the 20th century included Rabbis Mordecai M. Kaplan (who would later found the Reconstructionist Jewish movement); Abraham Joshua Heschel; Cyrus Adler; Louis Finklestein; Louis Jacobs to name a few.  Conservative Judaism was frequently regarded as a middle ground between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. In an introduction to the book  Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism, Kassel Abelson, a past-President of the Rabbinical Assembly of America wrote of "...a suspicion  that Conservative Judaism is simply a vague, indefinite middle ground between Orthodoxy and Reform."  

The Conservative movement was also active in the modern political Zionist movement which resulted in the 1948 founding of the State of Israel, and has remained active in activities relating to Zionism and Israel's welfare.  The Conservative movement, or "Masorti" movement as Conservative Judaism in known outside the North American Diaspora, is a vibrant participant in Israeli Jewish life.  A highlight of the Masorti movement in Israel is The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.  

Today, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) is based in New York City along with the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS.) The Conservative movement also  supports Jewish education actively through the Solomon Schechter Day School Association. Jewish Day Schools affiliated with the association exist throughout the United States and two Canadian provinces.  

Finally, in the spirit of Jewish growth and perseverance, we would do well to remember a quote from Senator Robert F. Kennedy, "Some men see things that are and say, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not?'"

For more information, see the website of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.