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The following is an excerpt from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg's "Darkenu: A Vision for Masorti Judaism": The Masorti Vision is to be:- A movement of traditional Jewish faith and practice led by the dynamic understanding of Torah and Halakhah;
- A movement of traditional Judaism receptive to truth from every quarter, responsive to the dilemmas of the modern world;
- A movement that, without prejudging, seeks the participation of every Jew on the journey to greater knowledge, observance, ethical sensitivity and spiritual depth;
- A movement that includes all men and women in every sphere of Jewish life; a movement that says 'You can!' to every aspiration to learn and practise;
- A movement with facilities to meet all the needs of Jewish life;
- A movement that plays its full part in creating a thriving Judaism in Israel and the Diaspora and good relationships with other faiths.
In his article, What Does it Mean to be Masorti Jew Rabbi Reuven Hammer defines Masorti as follows:Adherence to Jewish Law, but a Jewish Law that is evolving and searching for solutions to current problems. - Openness to modernity, science and Biblical studies.
- Adherence to mitzvot with an emphasis on morals and ethics but also on the importance of ritual.
- The ability to differentiate between that which is vital to Judaism and that which is peripheral.
- Recognition of the role of women in Jewish life and of their religious needs.
- The centrality of Zionism.
- An emphasis on people-hood.
- Embracing the possibility of a variety of beliefs.
- Respect for other religious groups in Judaism even while disagreeing with their philosophies.
- Welcoming all Jews regardless of their level of observance and belief and helping them to grow in their Jewishness.
As you can see, different people have different visions for Masorti Judaism. The unifying theology behind the movement is that we embrace both modernity and Jewish tradition within a halachic framework. For more information on Masorti Judaism see the following links to major Masorti Institutions: The Assembly of Masorti Synagogues
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
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