Jewish Reform Movement Contexts, Views and Consequences

Reform Judaism is a modernism seeking movement which comes into arena in the late 18^th century after formation of  Enlightenment. Folowing the spread of philosophical and intellectual thoughts of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe and also after occurance of France Revolution, freedom and equality slogan embarrassed many European countries. That event was more pleasing than others; for by relying on this event and learning of what was happening in Europe those days, they would be able to end some of their problems. European Jews who found themselves in weakness and isolation turn to a reform approach toward religious beliefs and decided to end the difficult life in Ghettos and displayed a new appearance containing more freedom. In Germany Jewish thinkers who were leaded by Moses Mendelssohn imitated intellectualism of Enlightenment and criticized some concepts including Messiah, nationalism, Hebrew language, Talmud and so on. They considerd those concepts as original causes of European Jews, difficulties. They deemed accepting jewish principles as rational and announced that this principles are not exclusive of Jews and all human beings of any race and nationality can reach those principles by way of thinking. This movement which was knows as “Haskalah” also spread in other countries like Russia, England and United States. Orthodox and Conservatie Judaism were Jewish groups which opposed Reform Judaism by way of their opinion. Finally this movement confronted some challenges and put some of their reform ideas aside to keep their position and return to som traditional beliefs like ethnic and Zionism ideals. Nowadays, most adherents of Reform Judaism live in United States.