Why “Conservative-style”?
In modern Judaism, the word “conservative” has a particular meaning that suits Beth El of Manhattan’s spiritual profile as a frame of reference for our adherence to “the customs of our ancestors” in the manner New Testament Scripture requires (Acts 21:18-24).
“Orthodox” Judaism subscribes entirely to the authority of the “Oral Law” (Talmud and its attendant literature) as spiritually binding to the same degree as the Scriptures, and “Reform” Judaism basically rejects the idea of literal Divine revelation. Nested between these two polar expressions is “Conservative” Judaism, which was spawned as a reaction to the mass rejections of Reform, and the ossified strictures of Orthodoxy. Conservative Judaism accepts the existence of revelation in the Torah and Scriptures, and also admits revision of entrenched policies or practices (called halakháh in Hebrew) based upon spiritually and scholastically sound processes. This position accurately describes Beth El’s view of how to interact with religious ideas or practices.
We call ourselves “Conservative-style” rather than simply “Conservative” because at present, the label “Conservative” implies connection with Jewish Theological Seminary and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism – two conservative institutions not currently formally affiliating with Messianic Judaism.
Along with our commitment to perpetuity of valid historic Jewish doctrine and practice, as a synagogue of Two-Testament Judaism, we bring something for which our founding Rabbi coined the name, ”Takkanat Mashiach“™ (Messiah’s Revision™). The word “takkanah” in Hebrew refers to changes or revisions in doctrine or policy resulting from a valid process of study and discernment. The New Testament accounts of Yeshua of Nazareth’s teachings are full of His takkanot. He would start, “You have heard it taught (in regard to some issue), but now I say to you …” and would give his improvement of understanding on the matter. We consider study and application of Messiah Yeshua’s takkanot to be one of the most important and beautiful things Two Testament Judaism offers to the ongoing Jewish conversation about faith.
