- C. The Haskalah movement and the mixing of Jews in modern society eventually led to mass assimilation by many Jews and even conversion to Christianity by some. This movement eventually led to founding of the Reform and Conservative Judaism. And the Zionist rejection of all Jewish tradition as an outdated Judaism of the Diaspora is also a result of the Haskalah movement.
MORAL DILEMMA
Sixteen year old Dovid was learning in a traditional Yeshiva in Eastern Europe. One of his friends in Yeshiva was learning secular philosophy at home and his parents encouraged him. When Dovid asked his parents for permission to learn these new ideas, his father was adamantly opposed and told Dovid that this learning was heresy and a threat to his Jewish identity. His mother believed it would be permitted to learn – if it was limited to 15 minutes a day and a Rabbi discussed with him what he had learned. No matter what his parents “decided”, in a year the decision would be Dovid’s alone, as he would begin to work and spend much time outside his parents’ home. Should Dovid study philosophy, contrary to his father’s wishes?
For further information, analysis, web sites and study by the teacher and or student on this topic, please refer to the Data Disk of Episode I Educators’ Guide. Feel free to contact Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel for any questions or issues Nachum@jewishdestiny.com or phone 212-444-1656 – (note time difference to Israel when calling.)