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Toward a Revitalization of Halakhah in C

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A crisis in Conservative Judaism's Law Committee sparked urgent questions about how to revitalize halakhah—Jewish law—while preserving both tradition and relevance. Following mass resignations from the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, a Special Committee undertook comprehensive deliberations with Assembly colleagues to forge a new path forward. The resulting framework establishes three core objectives: strengthening fundamental Jewish institutions to deepen religious observance, channeling contemporary ethical insights through traditional legal structures, and ensuring Judaism meaningfully addresses modern life. The approach divides halakhic decision-making into three distinct spheres—family and personal status, individual observance, and liturgical practice—each with tailored procedural requirements and voting thresholds for innovative rulings. Analysis reveals that Conservative Judaism must maintain creative tension between legal authority and adaptive flexibility, upholding halakhah's binding nature while enabling dynamic evolution. To implement this vision, the study proposes reformed enforcement mechanisms and restructured committee membership based on generational diversity. These changes aim to restore halakhah as a system of "governance, not merely guidance," while advancing practical reforms that maintain Jewish unity and address contemporary needs through traditional frameworks.

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    Published 1971

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    Robert Gordis