What is Unitarian Judaism?

                            
                          What is Unitarian Judaism? One man's opinion

First let me address any landsman that may be reading this brief essay.Allow mw to say upfront what Unitarian Judaism
is not.It is not Messianic Judaism or any direvitive thereof.Commonly refered to as Jews for Jesus,which is actually a
singular organization within this "Messianic Jewish movement".Unitarian Judaism is not fundamentalist Christianity
with Jewish trappings.We do not believe that Jesus was G-d,or the only son of G-d.We do not believe he died for
anyone's sins,or that his blood was a sacrifice or atonement to G-d replacing the Jewish sacraficial system.We do not
believe he rose from the dead,then ascended into heaven.We do not believe Jesus performed any miracles or taught
something that could not be found in the Torah or the whole of the Tanakh.
With all that being said,and this is of course just my opinion,I can appreciate the teachings of Yeshua(his proper name)
of Nazareth.I consider him a prophet of G-d within the great prophetic tradition of Judaism.His words are the teachings
of a first century rebbe to his hasidim,all of whom lived and died as Jews.(1 pg206)There was nothing different or
un-Jewish in his teachings.He was a liberal;he was against all injustice,in the tradition of the prophets.He taught
the observance of Mosaic Law.Nothing he preached,taught,or said was in contridiction to what other Jewish prophets,
rabbis,sects said or taught.(12pg 139-140)
So what does the Jewish community say about Yeshua of Nazareth.From the time since Yeshua's teaching career many Jews
have commented on him,including Maimomodies(The Rambam,author of the Thirteeen Principals of Faith)but for brevity sake
I will name just a few modern Jewish authors and scholars.
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi states can we say that Yeshua of Nazareth,through whom countless people had a bridge
to the living G-d,was not a guise(as Elijah tends to disguise himself)of such good news as we refer to in our Grace
after Meals,when we ask G-d to send Elijah the prophet with the good news(besorot tovot)of redemption and consolation.
(1pg213 paraphrased)
Rebbe Zalman goes on to say that it is only when we try to make Yeshua,G-d or a god,and say everything in Torah and
Yiddishkeit is already superceded,that we as Jews,must draw the line.(1pg213)Unitarians would agree,I think.
Let's move on to authours Rabbis Ted Falon and David Blatner."While Jews cannot accept the Messiahship of Yeshua,many
Jewish teachers over the ages have acknowledged his great importance.Maimonides said that Christianity was a way in which
G-d brought important parts of Judaism's message to the rest of the world."(10pg330)
Author Michael Learner-"Indeed,as we move away from the historical period in which Christian's oppress and demean Jews,
it will be possible for Jews to look at Yeshua's teachings with fresh eyes,and reclaim the "Jewish Jesus"as an honored
teacher without having to reject everything he said merely because of the ways it was subsequently used to hurt us.When
we can come to that point Yeshua will regain his rightful place as a respected and sometimes insightful teacher of the Jewish
people.(13pgs 141-142)
Martin Buber argued that no other faith has invested so much in his concept of G-d as the Jews,but he refers to Yeshua(Jesus)
as "my brother",a great Jewish teacher.While Yeshua is a great teacher and a great historical figure,as a Jew he cannot accept
him as the Messiah.(3pg445)Again most Unitarians would agree.From the same book as this,author George Robinson referencing
Exodus"An eye for an eye" states Yeshua explicitly denies its validity implying that the author acknowledges Yeshua's teaching
authority.
Finally,as far as modern Jewish opinion goes we come to Rabbi Joseph Tellushkin."Like many of Judaism's great rabbis he saw love
of neighbor as religion's central demand.(2pg121)"Is there a concensus on how Jews are to regard Jesus?Perhaps not, but in recent
decades many Jewish scholars have tended to view him as one of several 1st-2nd century Jews who claimed to be the Messiah,and who
attempted to rid Judea of its Roman oppressors.However almost no Jewish scholars believe that Jesus intended to start a new religion.
(2pg126)"Jesus was a Jew,his apostles(Hasidim)were Jews,his message was to the Jews, and the Jews,the only people who knew him,rejected
the claims Christianity made on his behalf."(2pg187)
So as we cam see Judaism has had plenty of commentary on Yeshua of Nazareth for a very long time.Now lets look at Unitarianism.
By definition "Rationalist Unitarianism"- G-d is one being who consistes of one person-the Father.Jesus is not the Son of G-d
but merely a "good and wise man"who taught others how to lead a better life...It's proponents took a highly intellectual approach to
religion,rejecting most of the miraculous events in the Bible including the Virgin Birth.They embraced evolutionary concepts,
asserted the "goodness of man" and abandoned many principals of Christianity.Rationalist Unitarianism is distinguished from Deism
(with which it nevertheless shares many features)by the fact that RU's believe in a personal deity who interacts with His creation.(11)
Looking at the principals of the American Unitarian Conference we can find nothing in opposition to progressive liberal Judaism.(14)
In fact the organization"s motto of Faith,Freedom,and Reason resound loudly in Reform Judaism."Faith and reason are two beacons
"each shedding it's own light",but both ultimately meeting and fusing into one bright beam."(5pg9)Israel remained loyal to that spirit
and to knowledge,never attempting to confine freedom.(5pg9)
In reading the Constitution of the World Union for Progressive Judaism(5pg32),"Prayer and a growing G-d"-Henry Slonimsky in Gates of
Understanding-Lawrence A. Hoffman pgs77-79(3pgs38-40)Ethical Monotheism-Levi A.Olan(5pg40-41)The Philadelphia Principals,The Pittsburgh
Platform,Guiding Principals of Reform Judaism,Reform Judaism,a Centenary perspective,and a statement of Principals of Reform Judaism,
now ratified.(5pg196-212)we again can find nothing in conflict with Rationalist Unitarianism.We even find a Reform rabbi being hired
as a Unitarian Universalist clergyman according to Interfaithfamily.com in the article "The Rabbi serves the Unitarians" by Jill
Suzanne Jacobs,where Rabbi Howard Berman is quoted as saying that Unitarianism is "basically Reform Judaism without the Hebrew."
Unitarians have particular affection for the religion of the Jews...affirms the strict unity of G-d.(7pg66)

Just a few more quotes to think about."G-d is thus one and is the core belief of Judaism/Classical Unitarianism."(9)"Judaism has
always been rigorously Unitarian."(9)Please note the aforementioned website I just quoted I have a great deal of disagreement with
but freedom,reason,and faith preclude me from passing judgement.Each to their own.
"Jesus was a man.Jewish religious teacher,prophet,regarded by the Unitarians as an example to follow,a master of religious and ethical
life in teaching and acting."(15)
Now I will speak of the question I am asked the most often-Why don't I just become a Unitarian Universalist or join a Reform/Liberal/Progressive
/Reconstructionist congregation?
I'll start with Unitarian Universalism.I am a Jew plain and simple.I believe in G-d.I celebrate the Sabbath from Friday sundown till
Saturday sundown.I celebrate all the Jewish holidays and only those holidays.For me(even though there is a great deal I agree with in UUism
and it boasts 10% Jewish membership) UUism is too much of a hodgepodge of different religions or no religion.The domination of atheism and
polytheism make it untenable to my personal belief system.
As for Reform Judaism,it has moved away(as has Reconstructionism)from its classical roots.They are now becoming more demanding of what
you should believe to be a "good"Reform of Reconstructionist Jew.This not only attacks my freedom but my reason as well.Also the denial of
Yeshua of Nazareth as a prophet and teacher in the proper Jewish prophetic tradition is like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
So to sum up for me,Unitarian Judaism is the practice of liberal,progressive Judaism hallmarked by faith,freedom, and reason
with the inclusion of Yeshua of Nazareth as a great Jewish teacher and prophet,and honing the best of the teachings from the gospels
only,of the Christian Scriptures.I also include Jewish Universalism as defined here.(16)
All of these things I have listed and stated has led me to self-identify as a Unitarian Jew.Combining these two great faith traditions
has given me the best of both worlds and led me into a closer realationship with the G-d of my understanding.I hope I have explained
my position well and also hope that unaffiliated and disenchanted Jews might read this,give it some thought,and maybe even find a
new spiritual home.Shalom!
Rav Ya'akov Litman



1)Jewish with Feeling- Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
2)Jewish Literacy- Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
3)Essential Judaism-George Robinson
4)Judaism;Myth,Legend,History,and Custom-the religious to the secular-Abraham J.Arnold
5)The Reform Jewish Reader-Meyer and Plaut
6)Explaining Reform Judaism-Eugene B.Borowitz,Naomi Patz
7)The Elements of Unitarianism-George Chryssides
8)The Age of Reason-Thomas Paine
9)http://www.sullivan-county.com/id2/judaism.htm
10)Judaism for Dummies-Rabbis Ted Falon and David Blatner
11)http://www.indopedia.org/Unitarian.html
12)Jews,G-d,and History-Max Dimont
13)Jewish Renewal-Michael Lerner
14)http://www.americanunitarian.org/
15)http://www.unitarius.hu/english/principl.htm
16)http://www.simshalom.com