Reform Judaism

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Though any changes within worship is perceived as changing the essence of worship, and consequently nullifying worship itself, the reformation of worship does not change the essence of worship because these changes are more superficial and allow more adherents to follow tradition more closely. This is very prominent within Judaism, where Reform Judaism has changed different aspects of traditional worship, such as allowing men and women worshipping together, and translating the prayer books into modern languages. These changes are directly at odds with halakhic tradition, which has women and men separated during prayer, and has the prayerbooks being written in Hebrew. Deviations such as having the prayerbooks being written in languages other …show more content…

More specifically, as women had started to pray with their family, they had ironically helped enforce and exemplify halakhic traditions. As noted by Corrigan, “This, of course, created a whole range of opportunities for fathers, mothers and their children to interact in the intimacy of family worship,” (Corrigan et al, 169). Though women were not to pray with men, women who prayed with their husbands had largely prayed with halakhic rules and traditions in mind. In other words, every halakhic rule and tradition regarding worship are still largely followed, with the notable exception of separation. Moreover, as women worshiped with their family, they also help their children understand the proper way to worship, and by doing this, women also help reinforce the general halakhic traditions in their children. In addition to this, since worship was structured to a degree, the men and women were also able to help correct each other if they deviated from this structure. Considering reading of text is also involved within some Jewish prayers, allowing men and women to worship together also allows both to correct any errors the other has in reciting the text. From this, deviations from the halakhic traditions is often reduced. So as women are breaking halakhic traditions, they are also ironically upholding and following the essence of the halakhic

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