Pittsburgh Platform

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The Pittsburgh Platform was an 1885 statement of principles that defined the classical American Reform Judaism movement with its emphasis on ethical monotheism and modernist reinterpretation of Jewish law and tradition.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Jewish religious document
Reform Judaism platform
religious statement of principles
adoptedBy Central Conference of American Rabbis
associatedWith American Jewish history
classical Reform Judaism
cityOfAdoption Pittsburgh
countryOfOrigin United States
dateAdopted 1885
denomination American Reform Judaism
emphasis ethical monotheism
modernist reinterpretation of Jewish law
modernist reinterpretation of Jewish tradition
focus ethics over ritual observance
followedBy 1937 Columbus Platform
Columbus Platform
genre religious platform
historicalSignificance articulated a modernist theology for Reform Judaism
defined the classical phase of American Reform Judaism
marked a shift away from traditional ritual observance
influenced American Reform synagogue practice
classical Reform Judaism
subsequent Reform platforms
language English
movement Reform Judaism
placeOfConference Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
positionOnHalakha non-binding for Reform Jews
religiousTradition Judaism
socialEthic called for moral living and ethical conduct
emphasized social justice
subject Jewish ethics
Jewish law
Jewish theology
timePeriod 19th century
viewOfAfterlife downplayed traditional doctrines of bodily resurrection
emphasized immortality of influence and the soul
viewOfChosenPeople ethical mission rather than national election
viewOfHomeland saw America as the primary home of American Jews
viewOfJewishLaw evolving and adaptable
viewOfJewishPeoplehood religious community rather than a nation
viewOfMessiah rejected personal messiah
viewOfMessianicAge affirmed a universal messianic age of justice and peace
viewOfMoralLaw permanently binding
viewOfOtherReligions recognized truth in other religions
rejected proselytizing hostility toward other faiths
viewOfRitualLaw only binding where it elevates and sanctifies life
viewOfTorah product of divine inspiration and human authorship
viewOfZionism rejected Jewish political nationalism
year 1885

Referenced by (6)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
A Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism (1999) ("Pittsburgh Platform (1885)")
Columbus Platform
San Francisco Platform (1976) ("Pittsburgh Platform (1885)")
predecessor
Reform Judaism
hasDoctrine
Kaufmann Kohler
notableWork
San Francisco Platform (1976) ("Pittsburgh Platform (1999)")
successor

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