PESIKAH AND AMERICAN REFORM RESPONSA

When we look at the development of Reform Jewish responsa literature and its models of pesikah we are really investigating almost a century of Reform responsa in America as virtually nothing has been written in other lands.

Let us look at each of the American writers of responsa as they follow each other through the course of this century. We will begin with some early American Reform efforts which antedated the establishment of a Responsa Committee.

| Two short pieces published in the collection American

Reform Responsa represent early statements akin to responsa and served the same purpose. They are Schlessinger’s"Cremation from a Jewish Standpoint"(1891), and Isaac Mayer Wise ’s"Circumcision for Adult Proselytes"(1893). The statement on cremation marshalled considerable evidence from the textual sources with primary emphasis on Biblical material. Only the last section brought citations from the Talmud , Maimonides , Tur, Shulhan Arukh, Sefer Hahinukh Semag and Halakhot Gedolot. The statement is long and discursive in nature. A resolution on this subject was passed by the Conference the following year so this was in the nature of a background paper rather than a responsum.

Isaac Mayer Wise in his discussion of"Circumcision for Adult Proselytes" summarized earlier papers. He made an effort to present the arguments for and against circumcision historically with citations from the standard rabbinic literature. However, a large part of the essay argued with earlier pieces on the subject. This paper also concluded with a resolution which dealt with the general matters concerning the reception of converts and did not limit itself to circumcision. Both papers came to liberal conclusions.