CONVERSION IN REFORM HALAKHAH 4. Central Conference of American Rabbis Yearbook, New York , Volume 1 pp 81ff. 5. Central Conference of American Rabbis Yearbook, New York , Vol I, p 98. . Central Conference of American Rabbis Yearbook, New York , Vol I, p 113. . Central Conference of American Rabbis Yearbook, New York , Vol I, p 120.
. This was a movement of the Frankfurt Reformfreunde led by Theodor Creizenach who published a call for the abolition of circumcision in 1843 as well as the movement of the Shabbat to Sunday; these decisions led to widespread protest by Reform and to change the Orthodox rabbis.
. Monatsschrift fiir die Wissenschaft des Judenthums, 1878, pp 236-240.
. The paper written by Isaac Mayer Wise indicated that according to his reading of the text it was not required by the Torah and in fact that there was no blessing for it recorded before Alfasi in the eleventh century. His interpretation of the Mishnah also made no such requirement but left it as an option. He theorized that the b'rit milah was a substitute for the qorban which was no longer possible. As he looked at this matter historically, he felt that there was no record of milah before John Hyrcanus and the forced Edomite conversion to Judaism in the second century B.C.E. Wise proposed admission before a rabbi and two associates. The crucial element would be acceptance of the Israelite covenant."He resolved that the Central Conference of American Rabbis, assembled this day in this city of New York , considers it lawful and proper for any officiating rabbi, assisted by no less than two associates, to accept into the sacred covenant of Israel and declare fully affiliated to the congregation any honorable and intelligent person, who desires such affiliation, without any initiatory rite, ceremony or observance whatever; provided such person be sufficiently acquainted with the faith, doctrine and canon of Israel ; that nothing derogatory to such person's moral and mental character is suspected; that it is his or her free will and choice to embrace the cause of Judaism ; and that he or she declare verbally and in a document signed and sealed before such officiating rabbi and his associates his or her intention and firm resolve.
1. To worship the One, Sole and Eternal God, and none besides him.
2. To be conscientiously governed in his or her doings and omissions in life by God's laws ordained for the child and image of the Maker and Father of all, the sanctified son or daughter of the divine covenant.
3. To adhere in life and death, actively and faithfully, to the sacred cause and mission of Israel , as marked out in Holy Writ. Be it furthermore