Belief in the existence of God is the foundation of our Torah. In
Jewish tradition, there are different viewpoints concerning the nature of
God, but the concept of one God, the Creator, the Sustainer of life, who
demands moral behavior, is the pillar of our existence.
The Torah is the Jewish teaching which derives from God's will. The
Torah has guided the Jewish people from its beginnings, as is evident in
the Tanach, the writings of our sages of blessed memory, and the rulings
of learned men of all generations, including our own.
Halacha is a natural development of the Torah; it consists of the
practical acts by which Judaism finds its most exalted expression.
Halacha develops in a dynamic way and encompasses differing opinions. It
must deal with modern-day problems, including ethical ones, and thereby
direct the people properly, in a way that reflects the will of God.
For individuals, fulfilling mitzvot must be by choice and not by
coercion. On the communal level, the Jewish State must respect tradition.
The State must encourage every attempt to create a Jewish way of life, but
not by religious coercion and not by allowing any single stream of Judaism
to exercise a monopoly.
As for the collective existence of the Jewish people, every effort
must be made to reach an agreement among the various sectors and to find
solutions acceptable to all, thereby preventing a rift in the nation. This
goal demands patience, tolerance, readiness for compromise, mutual
respect, and good will.
A full Jewish life includes full responsibility for the life of the
entire community and sovereignty of the people within its land. This
responsibility implies a qualitative as well as a quantitative dimension.
Therefore, the Movement places great importance on the existence of the
State of Israel and encourages Jews to immigrate to and live there.
At the same time, the Movement respects all Jewish Diaspora communities
and calls on them to strengthen their ties to Jewish tradition, to the
Jewish people, and to the State of Israel.
The defense of the State of Israel is a mitzvah incumbent on men and
women alike. This obligates every Jewish citizen to serve in the IDF and
to take an equal share in the responsibility for its security.
Judaism is based on both moral foundations and symbolic acts, which
give concrete expression to its principles and draw the individual closer
to the Divine "realm". True piety is composed of these two elements. It
is obvious that an immoral person cannot be God-fearing.
The goal of Judaism is to create a holy people that will bring the
kingdom of heaven to the entire world.
Religious faith does not require the negation of science. Religion
deals with values, norms, and ethics, while science deals with facts.
Scientific research can only strengthen religion and make it blossom.
Despite the differences of opinion among the various streams in
Judaism, the Masorti Movement welcomes any other Jewish movement or stream
which devotes itself to Judaism.
