Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

Ritual Observance and Halachah
Ritual Observance
Rituals are the physical expressions of our Jewish beliefs. They are the symbols by which
we can learn and express our spirituality as a community. Jewish rituals are shaped by
halachah, Jewish law. “Since each age requires new interpretations and applications of
the received norms, halachah is an ongoing process. It is thus both an ancient tradition,
rooted in the experience and texts of our ancestors, and a contemporary way of life,
giving value, shape and direction to our lives. For many Conservative Jews, halachah is
indispensable first and foremost because it is what the Jewish community understands
God’s will to be. Moreover, it is a concrete expression of our ongoing encounter with
God” (Emet Ve-Emunah, p. 21).
Conservative Judaism seeks always to meld the traditional with the modern. To this end,
Conservative Judaism approaches halachah with deep reverence. Within the Conservative
framework, Jewish law must be preserved, but “it is subject to interpretation by those
who have mastered it, and…the interpretation placed upon it by duly authorized masters
in every generation must be accepted with as much reverence as those which were given
in previous generations” (Dr. Louis Finkelstein, as quoted in Klein, 1979).
Beginning with the Talmudic period, and continuing ever since, rabbis have recognized
that the realities of life in the Jewish community change continually. They took pains to
insure that as changes in the law were required, they were made only by the rabbinic
leaders of the community, not by individuals. We in the Conservative community are
committed to carrying on the rabbinic tradition of preserving and enhancing halachah by
making appropriate changes to it through rabbinic decision. This follows from our
conviction that halachah is imbued with a divine element, making it indispensable for
each generation.
Common sense tells us that there cannot be a rule for everything. The same law can be
observed in a variety of ways. The rabbis of old said that in some cases, local custom
(minhag) had the force of law. For example, halachah determines basic prayers, although
the form of the liturgy and melodies vary widely, with different but strongly held
minhagim (plural of minhag) in use in different parts of the world. The bar mitzvah also
was a folk ritual that became an integral part of official Judaism. Other examples of
minhagim that have come to hold the force of law are the celebration of Simchat Torah
and wearing a kipah (although the idea of head coverings goes way back). The existence
of folk customs shows that halachah was an important part of everyday life that could be
adapted to fit local circumstances and understandings.
It is highly significant to note that each congregation’s authority for religious practice is
its rabbi, functioning as its mara d’atra, or religious decision maker. The congregational
rabbi looks to the Conservative movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards,
which issues rulings shaping the Conservative community’s practice. While this
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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