The newspapers are full of stories over pluralism in Israel and America,
but something very important is developing in Germany. Namely, some Jews in
today's Germany want to start progressive congregations (Reform,
Conservative, Reconstructionist, etc). It is ironic to note that the roots
of the Modern Reform Movement started in Germany around 200 years ago, but
Hitler killed the German roots of this branch that blossomed in America.
When I look at the picture of my grandparents wedding in Augsburg in 1918
(it's on the website under Family Album - LANDMAN at http://infotrue.com or
at http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/5960) I noticed that the Jews of
Augsburg did not dress in Eastern European styled clothes. Only my
greatgrandfather (who came from the Galacia) has a beard. They all appear
to be modern Jews. I don't know the affiliation of the Augsburger
congregation. But the Augsburger Synagogue had an organ (which was removed
during the war and was recently replaced with a menorah) and a chorus (even
thought the women did sit separately up on the balcony away from the men).
But I believe the congregation was not Orthodox.
After the war, almost all of the German Jews either immigrated to other
countries or were killed by the Nazis. Very few of the German Jews returned
to Germany. However, a small amount of Eastern European Jews left the
liberated concentration camps and displaced persons camp to move to Germany
after the war. These Jews became the people in charge of the Jewish
Communities in the various towns as well as the caretakers of the Jewish
Community's property. These Jews were mostly Orthodox.
In the 1990's two non-Orthodox groups of Jews have also moved into
Germany. The first being secular, non-religious Jews from the former Soviet
Union and former U.S. Military Jewish personnel who decided to stay when the
Army camps closed. Many of the U.S. soldiers were Reform or Conservative.
A National Union of Progressive Jews is now being formed out of members of
these two later groups. They have about 2,000 members out of the 70,000
Jews who are living in Germany today. However, the established Jewish
presence in most communities is officially still Orthodox. This gets more
complicated when one realizes that Germany (and Austria) has a "9% Religious
Tax" which goes only to the official religious groups.
All Germans who declare their religion (or who are determined to be Jewish)
must give the German government 9% of their income as a tax. The government
then turns the money over to the officially elected religious group, which
in almost all cases is Orthodox. While the Catholic groups divide their
money in each city with the various Catholic Churches, it is doubtful that
the Orthodox will give up funds to help the "Progressive" (Reform or
Conservative) shuls get started.
Therefore these people must pay 9% of the income to the Orthodox shuls and
then try to raise extra money for space, rabbis, Torahs, etc. Not a very
easy task to do.
As an aside anecdote, one of the Jews from Augsburg went back this year to
see his hometown Synagogue. He went to the shul on Shabbos and asked if he
could go inside to see the sanctuary since the service was held in the small
chapel. He was told that the main shul is closed on Shabbos and that he
would have to come back another time to see it. Go figure!
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Does the old German
Jewish tradition of Reform Judaism mean anything in today's world? Will the
newly immigrated Jews have a say in how they want to express their Judaism?
Will non-Orthodox congregations return to Germany? Will Jews be able to
co-exist with each other in peace? Will the Union of Progressive
Congregations be able to expand and become funded? Stay tuned and I'll try
to keep people informed of what happens.
Rick Landman
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