Pontiac Jews Establish “progressive” Reform Congregation, Woman to Lead Regular Service

Criticizing the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union College, a group of local Jews today announced the establishment of a new congregation called the “American Reform Jewish Congregation”, based on the belief that “conditions of the modern world demand renewed emphasis on the progressive spirit of Reformed Judaism”.

One of the weekly services in the new congregation will be conducted by Mrs. Flora Vatz, vice-president, the announcement said. She is believed to be the first woman to lead a regular Jewish service in any congregation in the United States. Differing in another way from the custom of Jewish congregations, the new group will have no separate women’s organization, which in Jewish Temples are generally known as “sisterhoods”. Norman Buckner is the president of the new congregation.

The tenets of the new group are expressed in eight basic principles on the basis of which members will be admitted to the congregation. One of the principles declares: “We are Jews by virtue of our acceptance of Judaism. We are not a nation. We are a religious group only. We stand for the continuation of Judaism safely as a religion; and not as a political entity, either in whole or in part. We stand unequivocally for the separation of Church and State. Our religion is Judaism. Our nation is the United States of America. Our nationality is American. Our flag is the Stars and Stripes. We look upon Palestine, not as a Jewish nation, but as one of the places where those who are oppressed may find a haven of refuge. We consider it our sacred privilege to promote the spiritual, cultural and social welfare of our co-religionists there and elsewhere.”

The new group accepts as binding the moral laws of Mosaic legislation and prophetic teaching. “While respecting the convictions of our Orthodox and Conservative brethren concerning the rabbinical and Mosaic laws which regulate diet, priestly purity, dress and similar laws, we however, as an American Reform Congregation, do not regard these as being religiously obligatory, we shall retain and use in connection with our religious services only such ritual and ceremonies as may symbolize, in effective and beautiful form, the principles of our faith, and we shall also retain and use such rituals and ceremonies as are adaptable to the progressive and liberal spirit of our times,” the statement of principles says.

“We are firmly convinced that the destiny of American Reform Judaism depends upon steadfast adherence to the fundamental principles of our faith. We regretfully record our feeling that the Central Conference of American Rabbis has abandoned them in large part; that the Union of American Hebrew congregations has neutralized them; and that the Hebrew Union College has failed to teach them adequately,” the statement continues. “We fear that there has been worshipping of the idol of “unity.” It is desirable to have as much unity as may be consistent with principle. Whenever unity is placed above principle the result is eventual loss of both unity and principle. We respectfully urge that while there is still time, The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Hebrew Union College give to their programs vigorous and thorough analysis, reconstruction and action.”