A New Philosophy of Judaism

Abstract

Given the deficiencies of Orthodox, Hasidic, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Humanistic Judaism, as well as Zionism, what is now required is a new philosophy of Judaism which could serve as a unifying basis for modern Jewish life. Arguably such a reinterpretation of the Jewish heritage should be based on a revised vision of Judaism in which the traditional view of God’s nature and activity is not seen as definitive and final. Rather the Jewish faith should be perceived simply as one way among many of making sense of Divine Reality. Aware of the inevitable subjectivity of all religious belief, Jews should feel free to draw from the past those elements of the Jewish faith which they regard as spiritually meaningful. Unlike the main branches of Judaism, this new interpretation is based on the concept of personal autonomy, allowing each individual independence of thought and action. Such a liberal approach would more accurately reflect the realities of everyday Jewish life in which each Jew is in fact at liberty to select for himself which features of the tradition he wishes to observe. This new philosophy of Judaism would thus acknowledge the true character of modern Jewish life and extol the principle of personal freedom which has become the hallmark of the modern age.