What is Progressive Judaism?

Progressive Judaism is unique in its fundamental perception that the commandments and traditional practices of the religion are a philosophical and moral guide to living, which is constantly developing in accordance to the evolution of contemporary society.

Morality

We claim that the moral values of our teachers are the basis on which we must understand and judge the Bible and its laws. If there is a commandment or law that is in conflict with our moral values, this law or commandment must be annulled or modified to be consistent with the circumstances of contemporary life. As circumstances change, so must customs conform to the moral standards of society in which they are maintained so that their original intentions of these customs might be achieved.

Pluralism is the practice of integrating many - sometimes conflicting - traditions. In spite of the rivalry between Beit Hillel and Beit Shamai, we believe that “both of them are the word of God”. Also today we must acknowledge the multifaceted nature of laws and customs, growing out of differences in opinion and fundamental beliefs, and consequently we must judge them on the basically pluralistic nature of Judaism.

The development of traditional practices (Halacha)

Today there are many traditional practices - such as the inferior status of women, the ritual of sacrifice, ritual defilement and purification - that are unacceptable to most of us today. It is our responsibility to weigh the classical sources of these traditional practices in light of our individual consciences, the consensus within our community and the overall development of knowledge and history. These are the meaningful criteria that form the basis of Progressive Judaism's approach to its commandments and traditional practices.

What is the attitude of Progressive Judaism to the act of fasting?

We distinguish between Tisha b'Av, which was made into a symbol of all destruction that was brought down on the Jewish people from generation to generation, and other occasions in the Jewish calendar for mourning, which memorialize acts imposed upon us from time to time by some foreign power. Our view in the Movement for Progressive Judaism is that the four days for fasting - the 10th day of Teveth, the 17th of Tamuz, the Fast for Gedaliahu, and Tanit Esther - certainly signify the suffering of the Jewish people, but they do not justify fasting today. Nevertheless, regarding Tisha b'Av, there are differences of opinion among the members of the Movement. There are those who are more strictly observant and see the importance of marking the day with lamentations and fasting as has been done for generations; and there are those who, in spite of their innovations, do not reduce the historical importance of the day in their expression of the idea of consolation in the resurrection of the people of Israel through their return to Zion and the rebirth of the State of Israel.