Judaism FAQs

The Conservative & Masorti Judaism FAQs

This web page is here to help answer frequently asked questions about Conservative and Masorti Judaism. It is maintained by Robert D. Kaiser, based on official publications of The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, The Rabbinical Assembly, The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Masorti Movement, and the Va'ad Halakha [law commitee of Masorti Movement].

While the information herein was compiled from official Conservative sources, this page itself is not an official publication of the Conservative movement. The author of this page is not a rabbi. Questions on specific situations should be refered to your rabbi.

Introduction to Conservative Judaism

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/thephilosophyofconservativejudaism.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/foundersofthemovement.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/cjaroundtheworld.msnw

Halakha (Jewish law and tradition)

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/halakhaandthecommiteeonjewishlawandstandardscjls.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/aguidetojewishreligiouspractice.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/whenethicsandhalakhaconflict.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/whyshouldwefollowjewishlaw.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/canatheistsparticipateinjewishrituals.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/maynonjewsparticipateinreligiousservices.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/expectationsofaconservativejew.msnw

Conservative Jewish positions on various issues

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/torahandhigherbiblicalcriticism.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/celebratinglifecycleevents.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/onwearingakipayarmulka.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/shabbatdriving.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/shabbatelectricityandphotography.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/yomtovshenitheseconddayoffestivalsinthediaspora.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/kashrutkeepingkosher.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/mayakohenmarryadivorceeorconvert.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/howtheagunotissueishandled.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/womeninjewishlaw.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/whenconservatismisstricterthanorthodoxy.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/toorderbookscatalogsandmoreinfo.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/writingoutthenameofgod.msnw

Sexuality, children, birth control, abortion, and bio-ethical issues

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/howmanychildrenshouldwehavecanweusebirthcontrol.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/stillbirthjewishresponses.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/whatisthepositiononsexandtaharatmishpacha.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/isabortionallowedunderjewishlaw.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/bioethicalandmedicalissuesandhomosexuality.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/aidshivaconservativejewishresponse.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/assistedsuicide.msnw

On the ethical mitzvot, social issues and the kashrut of money

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/whataretheethicalmitzvot.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/oneconomicbusinessandpersonalfinancesrelatedmitzvot.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/resolutionsonthedeathpenalty.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/onsocialjusticehealthcareandwelfareissuesoftheday.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/onopeningoursynagoguestodisabledblindanddeafjews.msnw

The State of Israel and Zionism

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/israelzionismandthemasortimovement.msnw

http://www.masorti.org/

http://www.mercazusa.org/

Klal Yisrael

Rejection of patrilineal descent

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/rejectionofpatrilinealdescent.msnw

Converting to Judaism

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/convertingtojudaism.msnw

What do we mean by saying that Jews are a "chosen people"?

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/thechosenpeople.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/relationswithorthodoxandreformjudaism.msnw

Theology and beliefs:

The messiah and eschatology

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/themessiahandeschatology.msnw

The soul and the afterlife

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/thesoulandtheafterlife.msnw

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/torahmisinaiconservativeviews.msnw

The siddur (prayer book) and tefila (prayer)

What is the siddur?

http://communities.msn.com/judaismfaqs/whatisthesiddur.msnw

Links to the official websites of the Conservative movement.

Selected opinion papers from Conservative Jewish authorities

The ongoing Reform/Conservative difference

The Reconstructionist/Conservative debate

Solomon Schechter and higher biblical criticism

Jewish Bioethics: A methodology

On Knowing God: Rational reasons to believe in God

Is swordfish kosher?

Does the Kabbalah say that God is not "Omnipotent"?

Ishmael: Biblical Criticism and Conservative Jewish Homiletics

Copyright 2001, Robert D. Kaiser kaiser@biosys.net I retain copyright on the essays and FAQs on this website, including their organization and editing, and all the original material therein. However, the copyright on all quoted material within said essays and FAQs within belongs to whoever originally wrote them, which I have attempted to denote as accurately as possible.

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