Masorti Australasia
Masorti means traditional
Some say that Masorti occupies the middle ground between Reform and Orthodox denominations. Like a lot of generalisations, this obscures more than it reveals. Certainly, it is not an explanation of one of the most influential movements in modern Jewry.
Like Orthodoxy (in its many manifestations) Masorti is a halachic movement which considers Jews to be commanded, obligated, to observe mitzvot. This is generally considered to be quite different to the approach taken by Reform (Progressive). In many areas (eg: kashrut, conversion, matrilineal descent etc) Masorti and Orthodox decisions are very similar. Starting in the 19th century as the Positive Historical school, it has become known in the United States as Conservative and in the rest of the world, including Israel, as Masorti.
Many of the towering figures of 19th and 20th century Jewish scholarship and communal leadership were members of the Masorti movement and its academic institutions. The names Zecharias Frankel, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Louis Jacobs, Solomon Schechter, Isaac Klein, Louis Ginzberg and Louis Finkelstein come to mind along with many others.
At risk of great over-simplification, the principles of the Masorti approach have sometimes been summarised as follows:
- A deliberately non- fundamentalist teaching of Jewish principles of faith
- A positive attitude toward modern culture;
- An acceptance of both traditional rabbinic modes of study and modern scholarship and critical text study when considering Jewish religious texts; and
- A commitment to the authority and practice of Jewish Law.
There are decisions by Masorti and Conservative Rabbinical authorities that have caused signficant controversy (eg: allowing female Rabbis, on the status of gay people in Jewish life, the use of electricity for limited purposes on shabbat, among others).
In a significant number of cases more than one proposition is declared valid. In this event, where necessary the local Masorti Rabbi is the deciding authority for a particular community or congregation.Frustrating as it may be for those who want absolute and simple answers to complex questions, this can in fact be the most honest and respectful outcome consistent with the open enquiry encouraged by the Masorti movement.
Masorti comes to grips with central issues facing the Jewish people combining the scientific and historical understanding with respect for tradition and halachic process.Links to some halachic resources of the Masorti movement are provided on this site. To understand the Masorti approach to a particular matter, you should seek the guidance of a Masorti Rabbi.Masorti has brought to the Jewish world a serious, traditional halachic movement in creative tension with modernity. For millions of Jews, it provides the basis for a practice based on halacha and mitzvot, reflecting a love of tradition, while embracing the positive aspects of change.The challenge for every Masorti Jew is to integrate this approach into their daily lives.
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