“The Conservative movement has been fairly effective in educating congregants as to the evolving nature of halacha. We have not yet met our goal of inspiring them to understand that halacha is, indeed, binding”

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A Conservative Jew should be expected to strive to live a life defined by halacha. Conservative Judaism is unique in its approach to halacha and mitzvot. In Reform Judaism, halacha is not binding. For most Orthodox Jews, halacha is not evolving. For Conservative Judaism, halacha is both evolving and binding. The Conservative movement has been fairly effective in educating congregants as to the evolving nature of halacha. We have not yet met our goal of inspiring them to understand that halacha is, indeed, binding.

Rabbi Jerome Epstein, “Key to Conservative Survival: Returning to Our Core”, The Jewish Week (18 April 2014), 20.

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