What is Masorti Judaism?
The most frequently asked question of any Masorti rabbi is: What is Masorti Judaism? This is not an easy question to answer. On the one hand, Masorti Judaism is no more than a shade within Judaism itself. Given the many shades and differences to be found within Orthodoxy, within Masorti Judaism and even within Reform Judaism, it is hard to draw clear lines or borders between the movements. The basic beliefs of a Masorti Jew are no different than those found in traditional Judaism. We believe in a God who created the world. We believe in a covenant between God and the people of Israel. We believe that we are commanded, as a part of that covenant, to live a special lifestyle, spelled out in the Torah and articulated in halacha – Jewish law. We accept that this law is defined by the classical books of the rabbis: the Mishnah, the Talmud, and thereafter refined through the codes and responsa. The main principle that defines Masorti Judaism is our relationship to modern science and scholars
