The Miami Platform is the 1997 platform for
American
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous sear ...
. The platform was adopted by the
Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada. The CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world. I ...
on June 24, 1997. The Miami Platform clarified the relationship between American Reform Judaism and the Zionist movement.
The Platform
The 1997 Miami Platform was held in recognition of the centenary of the first
World Zionist Congress
The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO) and its legislative authority. In 1960 the names were changed to World Zionist Congress ( he, הקונגרס הציוני העו ...
of August 29th, 1897. The Miami Platform was the first Reform platform dedicated to the issue of
Zionism
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after '' Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Je ...
. The text of the platform asserts the American Reform movement's support for
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
and the Zionist movement, saying that "Medinat Yisrael serves uniquely as the spiritual and cultural focal point of world Jewry" and that the destinies of "Israeli and Diaspora Jewry" are dependent and responsible for one another. The importance of a Hebrew language education is emphasized as "indespensable", due to the strong links between the American Jewish and Israeli Jewish communities. The platform says that Israel must exist as a "pluralistic, democratic"
Jewish state
In world politics, Jewish state is a characterization of Israel as the nation-state and sovereign homeland of the Jewish people.
Modern Israel came into existence on 14 May 1948 as a polity to serve as the homeland for the Jewish people. ...
wherein "no religious interpretation of Judaism takes legal precedence over another." The platform was largely the work of Rabbi
Ammiel Hirsch and
Aron Hirt-Manheimer.
See also
*
Columbus Platform
*
New Pittsburgh Platform
*
Pittsburgh Platform The Pittsburgh Platform is a pivotal 1885 document in the history of the American Reform Movement in Judaism that called for Jews to adopt a modern approach to the practice of their faith. While it was never formally adopted by the Union of Americ ...
*
Reform Judaism: A Centenary Perspective
References
External links
Reform Judaism and Zionism Women of Reform Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), formerly known as the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, is the women's affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism. As the primary women's organization in the Reform Jewish movement, WRJ represents over 65,000 ...
{{Portal bar, Judaism
1997 in Judaism
Hebrew language
Israeli-American history
Jews and Judaism in Miami-Dade County, Florida
Platforms of Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism in the United States
Reform Zionism
Zionism in the United States