Conservative Judaism

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Pronunciations

Conservative Judaism (cuhn-SER-vuh-tiv JOO-dee-ism) listen

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Definitions

  • n. Originally known as "historical positive Judaism," a denomination that combines observance with an idea of "halachic process." See further comments below.

Example Sentences

  • "I belong to a Conservative synagogue because I like a service with more Hebrew, but not too much Hebrew, and I want Mussaf, although I don't really want to rebuild the Temple, and I want my daughters to be able to take the Bat Cohen Aliyah."

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Languages of Origin

  • English

Etymology

  • "conserving" historical Judaism, as opposed to "reforming" it

      • Who Uses This

      • Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
      • Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

      Regions

      • North America
      • Australia / New Zealand
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

      Alternative Spellings

      Conservative movement

Notes

  • It was the dominant Jewish movement in America until it was recently overtaken by Reform. It has a reputation of being academic and appealing to the children of Eastern European immigrants. It became egalitarian several decades ago, and has more recently accepted homosexual clergy. Known as Masorti outside the United States.

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