Jewishness And Americanization: Isaac Mayer Wise And American Judaism

The Judaism Reform Movement flourished in United States but rooted in Europe. After the Vienna Conference of 1815, European Jews flooded into America with their ideas of Enlightenment and Haskalah.Isaac Mayer Wise, a Rabbi of Bohemian, was one of the immigrants. He arrived America in the year of 1846.At that time, the American Jewish communities were more open and more complicated compared to conservative European Communities. The Reform Judaism which Isaac Mayer Wise practiced was a complex of European Haskalah, American liberal idea and Jewish political status in the United States. Wise was the first to claim the Americanization of Judaism. He believed that Judaism should develop to fit in new environment. Wise propagandized his idea of Americanized Judaism in Jewish communities. He set up the major organizations for reform Jews, formed the pattern of American Judaism, and casted great influence upon Reform Judaism and American Judaism as well.This dissertation will analyse Wise's thoughts, deeds, and his influence upon American Reform Judaism and the American Jewish society. The dissertation is composed of five chapters.Chapter One will briefly introduce Wise's life story and depicts American Jewish social status in the middle of 19th century. When in Germany, Wise was a rabbi in a traditional Bohemia village synagogue. Soon after his arrival in the United States, Wise became a reform Jew, for he was quite unsatisfied with the condition of American Jews, and blamed it on Orthodox. He soon played a leading role in the American Reform Judaism and became the spiritual leader of German Jewish immigrants. He was actually the most well-known American Jewish leader throughout 19th century.Compared to unitary Ghetto life in Europe, American Jewish communities got some specialties. The major difference was the variety of Jewish cultures and liturgy due to different countries they were from and the influence of the United States'liberal ideas and religious policy. Unlike gathering in European Cities, A lot of small Jewish societies scattered sparsely in the middle and western parts of America. Thus traditional synagogues lost their authority over their members. The management of synagogues was poor. Massive of Jews did not register in any synagogue. Rabbis were no more absolute authority in synagogues; Lay leaders had great inffluence on members in stead. Besides, there would be several synagogues in one living area for Jews to choose, or they did not join anyone. Jews could even choose to live as secular as other Americans, abandoning their traditional belief. So, in order to attract more members, synagogues in the United States tried their best to satisfy Jews. And the Jews were spending much more energy on elevation of their social states and economy profits under the influence of materialism and secularization. They became indifference with religious lives. On such kind of condition, Wise called for the Jews to consider themselves as Americans, to develop the Judaism in new continent. For he held strong belief that, the future of Modern Judaism relied heavily on free American.Chapter Two will introduce Wise's moderate reform procedures and reform ideas. The Reform that wise advocated was submitted to the strong belief. Compared to other Jewish people, Wise stood for the moderate reformers who approved mild, gradually change. They still adhered to traditional Judaism belief; hoping to realize modern Judaism first in American, then throughout the whole world. They believed that in such way, Judaism would hold back the Jews who had turned away. However, the Orthodox Jews opposed Judaism reform. What they did is to re-interpret traditional Jewish laws as the respond to the challenge in modern society. But it hardly worked. The radical reformers denied the ever effectiveness of traditional Jewish law in modern society and thought that Jews should abandon their Jewish nationality, for Judaism would become a universal religion in future. Wise went a moderate way between Orthodox and Radical reformers. He thought Jewish laws should never be abandoned, they should first be categorized as core value or less important ones, then reform was needed.As to the Jewish identity, the Reformers (most of them are German Jewish immigrates) considered that belief in Judaism was the sign for genuine Jews. The Jews outside of Judaism cannot be called " Jews ". Reformers defined themselves as "religious group", not a nationality. Since 1880s, waves of eastern European Jews, most of them from Russia, fled into America. Among them were millions of Zionists. Most Zionists were secular Jews, but they looked on themselves as a nationality. The first generation of eastern European immigrates kept their culture and habits in America, refusing to be Americanized. Yet German Jews already adapted themselves to American culture and consider this country to be their Zion. The reformers thought there was no need for Jews to return to Palestine.The quarrel between Zionists and Reformers rooted in the conception of Jewish identity. Like most Judaism reformers, Wise opposed the Zionist idea fiercely. His attitude towards Zionism even influences the official claim of Reform organization. But Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) as the authority organizations of reform Jews turn the attitude to Zionist and in 1940s CCAR made a resolution to support Zionism.Chapter Three discusses Wise's idea Americanizing Jewish immigrates. He ouraged them to combine the Judaism reform idea with American spirit. He himself combined them in the following three steps:First, he analyzed the Judaism doctrines with rational idea. He thought the core doctrine of belief should stay unchangeable forever, but the outer sphere should be adjusted according to the need of time.Second, he strongly proposed the complete separation of religion and government, to defend the right to believe freely.Third, he emphasized that secular education for Jewish people as complimentary for Judaism knowledge. It was an important way to Americanize Jewish immigrates.This chapter also describes how Wise became full commitment from an European immigrant to American citizen. Wise applauded the reform idea in American Jewish synagogue and opposed fiercely the trend of German style in American synagogue, for he considered it was important to Americanize Jewish people in synagogue liturgy so as to adapt them with American spirit. He believed that in modern society, Judaism would develop in American; and with the realization of universal democracy, Judaism would become a universal religion. Wise encouraged Jewish immigrants to look on themselves as American citizens with patriotic hearts. "First, we are Americans, then Israelites", this was the most famous claim of Wise. As to the situation of having German rabbis in American synagogue, Wise tried to educate native rabbis who would understand the needs of American Jews, and would not copy the Europe pattern into American Judaism.Chapter Four will discuss Wise's idea of uniting American Jewish societies and his plan for the aim. Wise considered cooperation would benefit the future of Jewish society. The idea was originated from his suffering experience in Europe and also from his reform idea of Israelites destiny in Diaspora, In Wise's view, American spirit was inseparable with Israelites destiny, through the wide spread of American style democracy, the Israelites destiny would realize eventually. To achieve the goal, it was an important step to unite the American Jews first.As the leader of American Reform Jews, Wise was the most important character in setting up the Reformer's organization. Inspired by Wise, his synagogue set up the first united congregation, which is Union of American Hebrew Congregation. Upon the union, Wise set up the first Jewish college in America, Hebrew Union College. Wise planned to unite all the congregations in American, but that was an unpractical goal. However, the congregations of reform synagogues were united, the first college to educate American Rabbis was set up, and the reform rabbis'conference was held. These three organizations composed the Reform Judaism organization system, and set the pattern of American Jewish lives.Chapter five will evaluate Wise's thoughts and deeds. It is composed of three parts. First part will cover that Wise was the representative figure of German immigrates in middle 19th century. His idea, experience was typical in his time. We cannot conclude that Wise changed the history of American Jews. It was history that chose Wise. Wise's claim was right according to the need of time, to the need of Jewish American Society. He set the pattern of American Jewish lives. For this, wise was called "The founder of American Judaism". After Wise, the reform Jews faced more serious condition than before. Thanks to the Reform organizations set up by wise, reformers adjusted themselves to new conditions successfully. Till now, Reform Judaism is an important strength within Judaism.The controversy thoughts in Wise's idea stand for the spiritual suffering when ancient Judaism belief confronted with modern society. At that time, American is the first country to put political freedom policy into practice; the individualism and liberal thoughts were common sense of citizens'. In Jewish community, every synagogue insisted individual right. Wise called for a united community, he needed to keep the balance of religious authority with individual right. Wise copied the form of United States, united the synagogue into an organization. In such way, the synagogues kept their own rights, and at the same time submmitted to an organization. As a reform Jew, Wise imagined that future Judaism was a rational, universal religion. These ideas conflicted with those of Zionists'. Wise openly oppose to the Zionism in any chance. But he supported Zionists'immigration plan in Palestine. Wise shows great sympathy to Jews in Palestine. Wise did not agree on the Jewish identity idea of Russian Jewish immigrates (most of them were Zionists), but he called the American Jews to help the Russian Jews as they could, for it was Jewish brotherhood. On the other hand, Wise did not consider Jews as a nationality. These reflected the controversy idea held by Wise, he had to balance the Reform Judaism principles with the Jewish identity idea, and it was a tough work. For the Reform Jews denied all the tradition Jewish law except the belief in God. Wise's theology system was not so radical, he insisted that most Jewish laws still act as the key part of future Judaism. So, he must balance the reform idea with the traditional idea on Jewish law.The adjustment of Wise's own controversial ideas was benefitial to resolve the problems of American Jews. As for questions such as how to deal with tradition and modernity, Wise's method could be used as precedent. After the time of Wise, the Reform Judaism adjusted its doctrine and situation in response of the modernity. The union idea of wise will never be out of date, for it is vital for Jewish community to achieve cooperation. In this means, Wise influences the American Reform Jews and community deeply.