Rabbi Urges Unity of All Branches of Judaism to Combat Assimilation

Deploring the fact that the heads of three major Jewish seminaries “never meet to consider problems common to them as heads of major institutions of higher learning,” Dr. Bernard Mandelbaum, president of the Jewish Theological Seminary, made a plea today for greater unity, cooperation and understanding between the three branches of American Judaism. Speaking at the opening night session of the 72nd annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly, the organization of Conservative rabbis of the United States and Canada, Dr. Mandelbaum expressed the hope that Conservative Judaism would develop “a maturity that would bring all Jews together to battle the real enemies of our faith secularism and assimilation.”

Improved dialogue between the three groups, he said, “must never mean that anyone should relinquish an iota of its program or beliefs. Yet, what a blessing it would be to all of us, if the combined religious forces were to discuss their differences respectfully and unite on those issues which they have in common.” Dr. Mandelbaum urged that the defense of halacha not be used to create a “divisiveness” in Jewish life, as has often been done.

He said that criticism of the Orthodox for lack of cooperation is a common accusation. “But,” he continued, “whether it is in reaction to this, or rooted in historic origins, the Conservative and Reform indulge in frequent reading out of court, each of the other, as well as the Orthodox,” The noted Conservative theologian said that there is too much “venom in Jewish life” and that its elimination is “indispensable for the survival of the Jewish people–here and in Israel.” Dr. Mandelbaum made the point that the achievement of greater unity and understanding in American Jewish community life “could have a benign influence on existing and growing tensions in Israel.”