What is Conservative Judaism?
According to Britannica, Conservative Judaism is a, "..religious movement that seeks to conserve essential elements of traditional Judaism but allows for the modernization of religious practices in a less radical sense than that espoused by Reform Judaism."
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Conservative Judaism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Feb. 2018, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Conservative-Judaism. Accessed 1 March 2024.
Books
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The Birth of Conservative Judaism
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Publication Date: 2012-05-22Solomon Schechter (1847-1915), the charismatic leader of New York's Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), came to America in 1902 intent on revitalizing traditional Judaism. While he advocated a return to traditional practices, Schechter articulated no clear position on divisive issues, instead preferring to focus on similarities that could unite American Jewry under a broad message. -
Conservative Judaism
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Publication Date: 1985-03-01Conservative Judaism: An American Religious Movement -
Conservative Judaism in America
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Publication Date: 1988-09-16Pamela Nadell's biographical dictionary and sourcebook is a landmark contribution to American, Jewish, and religious history. Conservative Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook is the first extensive effort to document the lives and careers of the most important leaders in Conservatism's first century and to provide a brief history of the movement and its central institutions. -
Modern Conservative Judaism
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Publication Date: 2018-06-01A major Conservative movement leader of our time, Elliot N. Dorff provides a personal, behind-the-scenes guide to the evolution of Conservative Jewish thought and practice over the last half century.
Helpful Links
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Jewish Theological SeminaryFor more than 100 years, Conservative Judaism has been one of the major streams of Judaism in North America and, more recently, in Israel and throughout the world. It represents a unique blend of fidelity to Jewish tradition and thoughtful responses to modernity.
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Jewish Virtual LibraryThe name derives from the idea that the movement would be necessary to conserve Jewish traditions in the U.S., a culture in which Reform and Orthodoxy were not believed to be viable. Conservative Judaism attempts to combine a positive attitude toward modern culture, acceptance of critical secular scholarship regarding Judaism’s sacred texts, and commitment to Jewish observance. Conservative Judaism believes that scholarly study of Jewish texts indicates that Judaism has constantly been evolving to meet the needs of the Jewish people in varying circumstances and that a central halachic authority can continue the halachic evolution today.
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The Rabbinical AssemblyThe Conservative movement is comprised of institutions including congregations, schools, camps and seminaries worldwide. The Rabbinical Assembly, the membership organization for Conservative rabbis has approximately 1,700 members who proudly serve the institutions of the movement, as well as the larger Jewish community.