Jewish attitudes toward other religions

Reform

Reform Judaism accepts the fact that other religions can be valid. This is through clause 1 of the Pittsburgh Platform which says 'we recognise in every religion an attempt to grasp the Infinte'.

Previously, the idea in Judaism was that only Judaism was the way to know God. It was the superior religion.

However, in 199 at the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the new statement said 'seek dialogue and joint action with people of other faiths in the hope that together we can bring peace, freedom and justice to the world' .

Cohn Sherbok said that due to this, Reform Jews acknowledge that their writings are just one record among others. This does not imply that these writings contain a uniquely true and superior divine disclosure.

Reform Judaism has also changed the idea that the Jews are the chosen people of God.

Liturgy has been changed, for example the Alenu. Instead of saying thank God for 'not making me a Gentile (someone non- Jewish) it had been replaced with thanking God 'who made me a Jew'.

The Pittsburgh Platform in 1999 said that Jews should seek dialogue and joint action with people of other faiths.

There is importance of working with those from other faiths to achieve social justice.

The International Council of Christians and Jews seek to promote understanding and respect, address issues of human rights etc.

Orthodox

However, Orthodox Jews do not believe that you should really accept other faiths. They believe that God entered into a covenant with only the Jews because Exodus 19:5 says 'you will be my treasured possession'.

However, the Torah begins with a concenvant with both Adam and Noah and both of these failed. Both were universal in nature and it was only rthrough Abraham that the idea was for a specific nation. This idea though was only to show the whole world that God was the only God who should be worshipping. Therefore, there is evidence for pluralism.

Rabii Soloveitchik said 'we are a totally independent faith community. We do not revolve as a satellite in any orbit. Nor are we related to any other faith community as 'bretheren' even though seperated in response to Pope Paul XXIII.

Feinstein's deliberations have suggested that interfaith dialogues is halakhic prohibitted.

However not all Orthodox Jews think this way. A public statement called 'To Do the Will Of Our Father in Heaven' was published in the CJCUC website and signed by 30 rabbis, recognising the need for a common misison between Christians and Jews.