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Core Beliefs:
Conservative Judaism

Rabbi Simon Greenberg says…Conservative Judaism developed these

concepts
• The scientific knowledge of the whole of Judaism: knowledge in terms of historical
circumstance, growth, development, and adaptation
• Judaism as a Torah-centered civilization
• K’lal Yisrael – The Brotherhood of Israel
• Innovation without regimentation: Room for considerable differences in practice and
ritual

Source: Greenberg, S. (1955). The Conservative Movement in Judaism. New York: United
Synagogue of America.

Dr. Simon Greenberg was a rabbi, educator and religious thinker and vice chancellor emeritus of the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Dr. Greenberg served as rabbi of Har Zion Temple in
Philadelphia from 1925 to 1951. Dr. Greenberg joined the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary
in 1932 and became vice chancellor in 1957. He held the post until 1986. While he was vice
chancellor of the seminary, Dr. Greenberg was founder of the University of Judaism at Los Angeles, a
branch of the seminary, in 1958, serving as its first president until 1963. He was also instrumental in
the establishment of the seminary's academic campus at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1958.

Source: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE2DF1330F93BA15754C0A965958260

Rabbi Elliot Dorff says…Conservative Judaism embraces these ideas

• A belief in God
• The binding character of Jewish law
• The need for regular prayer in the traditional Hebrew liturgy (with a few changes)
• The importance of K’lal Yisrael (the Jewish community as a whole) in both the Diaspora
and Israel
• The mission of Tikkun Olam (fixing the world) as part of our covenantal charge from
God

Source: Dorff, E.N. (1977). Conservative Judaism: Our ancestors to our descendants. New York:
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

2009 Synagogue Leadership Conference: “METNY-Beyond the Horizon”

Training For Synagogue Presidents, Clergy, Officers, and Committee Chairpersons
Wednesday, March 18, 2009; 6:30-9:45PM
rd
Israel Center of Conservative Judaism, 167-11 73 Avenue, Flushing, NY 11366; 718-591-5333
Dr. Elissa Kaplan, Lead Educator, PaRDeS Yaakov
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Core Beliefs:
Conservative Judaism

Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at American Jewish University, was
ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1970 earned his Ph.D. in philosophy at Columbia
University in 1971 with a dissertation in moral theory. Since then he has directed the rabbinical and
Masters programs at American Jewish University for 23 years. For 30 years, he also taught a course
on Jewish law at UCLA School of Law as a Visiting Professor.

Source: http://academics.ajula.edu/Content/contentunit.asp?cid=504&u=1227&t=0

Emet V’Emunah says…Conservative Judaism has these principles

• God in the World: the critical importance of the belief in God, but not specifically the
particulars of that belief
• Revelation: the uncovering of an external source of truth emanating from God,
transmitted by humans, but not a human invention
• Halakhah (Jewish Law): an on-going process , rooted in the experience and texts of our
ancestors and contemporary experience
• Tradition and development in Halakhah: traditional and necessary with the burden of
proof on the one who want to change it
• Authority for making decisions in Halakhah: religious practice in each congregation
resides in its rabbi
• The problem of evil in the world: cannot be justified by theology and is related the
concept of free will
• Eschatology: Our vision of the future: for the world community – a messianic age, for
our people – an ingathering of all Jews to Zion, and for the individual – resurrection and
immortality of the soul
• God’s Covenant: the election of Israel as the chosen people
• Israel: central role as Medinat Yisrael (state of Israel) and Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel)
• K’lal Yisrael: all Jews are part of one people
• Relations with their faiths: “eschew triumphalism with respect to other ways of serving
God”
• Social Justice – a commitment to building a better world
• On Women: equality of the sexes as part of Halakhah

2009 Synagogue Leadership Conference: “METNY-Beyond the Horizon”

Training For Synagogue Presidents, Clergy, Officers, and Committee Chairpersons
Wednesday, March 18, 2009; 6:30-9:45PM
rd
Israel Center of Conservative Judaism, 167-11 73 Avenue, Flushing, NY 11366; 718-591-5333
Dr. Elissa Kaplan, Lead Educator, PaRDeS Yaakov
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Core Beliefs:
Conservative Judaism
Source: Gordis, R. (1988). Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of principles of Conservative Judaism .
New York: The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, The Rabbinical Assembly, & The
United Synagogue of America.

This historic booklet, clearly and concisely written, has been used as a teaching resource in a variety of
congregational settings. It is an ideal vehicle for teaching members of Conservative congregations to become
committed and practicing Conservative Jews. Used together with the Study Guides, it can be a springboard for
informed study and discussion. 64 pages pb 5 1/4" x 8 1/2"

Source:
https://secure.uscj.org/bookservice/BookDetail.asp?item_id=235&author=&category_id=&name=&pri
cemax=&pricemin=&

Rabbi Neil Gillman states …Conservative Judaism has these principles

• God in the world: supreme supernatural being or a transcendent presence
• Revelation: personal encounter between God and humans, human interpretation
based on divine inspiration, or continuing discovery
• Halakhic process: amend existing laws through a process of formal legislation or only
when justified by sources of halakhic literature
• End of Days: Metaphor, myth or reality – a modern struggle
• Place of Religion in Israeli life: Conservative reading of Judaism should be granted
legitimacy in Israel
• Relationship between Israeli and Diaspora Jews: exclusivity of centrality of Israel or
dual-center model
• Living a life of Torah: women, Jewish home, prayer, Jewish study, ideal conservative
Jew
• Statement of Jewish ritual behavior: no stand as yet

Source: Gillman, N. (1993). Conservative Judaism: The new century . West Orange, NJ: Behrman
House, Inc.

A native of Quebec City, Dr. Neil Gillman graduated from McGill University in 1954, was ordained at
JTS in 1960, and received his PhD in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1975. Dr. Gillman is the
author of several books and essays, including Sacred Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern
Jew (winner of the 1991 National Jewish Book Award in Jewish Thought). A popular speaker and
teacher, Dr. Gillman has served as scholar in residence in many Conservative and Reform
congregations. Dr. Gillman is the Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Jewish
Philosophy at JTS.

Source: http://www.jtsa.edu/x1373.xml?ID_NUM=100180

2009 Synagogue Leadership Conference: “METNY-Beyond the Horizon”

Training For Synagogue Presidents, Clergy, Officers, and Committee Chairpersons
Wednesday, March 18, 2009; 6:30-9:45PM
rd
Israel Center of Conservative Judaism, 167-11 73 Avenue, Flushing, NY 11366; 718-591-5333
Dr. Elissa Kaplan, Lead Educator, PaRDeS Yaakov