Question: How compatible is Buddhism with Judaism?
Dear Rabbi,
I am quite puzzled by those who think that Judaism and Buddhism are fully compatible. I do not mean people who occasionally attend lectures or meditation sessions conducted by a Zen Buddhist, or read and enjoy books about Buddha, but those who "convert", even become Zen priests, dress like Buddhists and practice Buddhism, while still going to synagogues and sometimes being accepted as Jews there. I heard that there are synagogues which invite such priests to teach meditation, and even promote their teachings. Would you please let me know what you think about?
Jack
Answer: Dear Jack,
Thank you for your question. You ask about the acceptance in synagogues of Jews who have formally converted to Buddhism. As you may have seen in the recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Jews converting to Buddhism is not a trivial occurrence. Since Rodger Kamenetz's book, The Jew in the Lotus, was published more than a dozen years ago, there has been a great deal of fascination with "Jubus," Jews who convert to Buddhism.
The Responsa Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis offered an opinion on a question very similar to yours in 1992. The Responsa Committee's decisions are not binding or authoritative upon Reform rabbis or congregations, but they do offer a thoughtful and knowledgeable response to significant questions.
The situation considered by the Responsa Committee involved a couple applying for membership in a Reform congregation. The couple acknowledged at the time of their application that they were practicing both Buddhism and Judaism in their home. They stated that they considered their Buddhism to be "non-theological," that is, it did not require or propose any particular belief about God. The rabbi who submitted the question asked the Responsa Committee if such a family should be allowed to become members of a Reform congregation.
In their answer, the Responsa Committee observed that Buddhism is a diverse grouping of philosophies and practices. There are streams of Buddhism which clearly practice a polytheistic religion that is entirely incompatible with Judaism. However, other streams of Buddhism are better understood as non-theistic contemplative practices that offer practitioners ethical systems and paths for self-improvement. These latter forms of Buddhism may not even be "religions" in the Western sense of the word, as they lack any teachings about God or gods (or the lack of gods) in the universe.
Such Buddhism is not necessarily incompatible with Judaism. Judaism itself includes a myriad of practices for the refinement of character and the enhancement of wisdom. Different movements in Judaism over the centuries have embraced meditation, study, writing, and even dance and song as paths toward spiritual discovery. If some "Jewish Buddhists" wish to expand the Jewish lexicon of practices toward spiritual goals that are consistent with Judaism's values, why should they be excluded from the synagogue?
Can the couple who practice Buddhism be members of a Jewish congregation? The Responsa Committee advises that the situation must be assessed with consideration to subtle questions -- is the Buddhism being practiced a religion? Does it conflict with Jewish belief? What is the depth of commitment and identification with Buddhism and does it displace Judaism?
Those are hard questions to answer, but the effort is worthwhile. My personal opinion is that when "Jewish Buddhists" ask to be part of the Jewish community, the answer often should be "no." It's hard to live in two houses at the same time. However, I also am open to the possibility that there are some "yes"s out there, especially when the attachment to the Jewish people is sincere and the attachment to Jewish practice is abiding. If I believe that Judaism has something to teach the other peoples of the world, it also is possible that Judaism can learn from other spiritual practices that are compatible with our own.
I hope this is of help to you.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser
Thank you for your question. You ask about the acceptance in synagogues of Jews who have formally converted to Buddhism. As you may have seen in the recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Jews converting to Buddhism is not a trivial occurrence. Since Rodger Kamenetz's book, The Jew in the Lotus, was published more than a dozen years ago, there has been a great deal of fascination with "Jubus," Jews who convert to Buddhism.
The Responsa Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis offered an opinion on a question very similar to yours in 1992. The Responsa Committee's decisions are not binding or authoritative upon Reform rabbis or congregations, but they do offer a thoughtful and knowledgeable response to significant questions.
The situation considered by the Responsa Committee involved a couple applying for membership in a Reform congregation. The couple acknowledged at the time of their application that they were practicing both Buddhism and Judaism in their home. They stated that they considered their Buddhism to be "non-theological," that is, it did not require or propose any particular belief about God. The rabbi who submitted the question asked the Responsa Committee if such a family should be allowed to become members of a Reform congregation.
In their answer, the Responsa Committee observed that Buddhism is a diverse grouping of philosophies and practices. There are streams of Buddhism which clearly practice a polytheistic religion that is entirely incompatible with Judaism. However, other streams of Buddhism are better understood as non-theistic contemplative practices that offer practitioners ethical systems and paths for self-improvement. These latter forms of Buddhism may not even be "religions" in the Western sense of the word, as they lack any teachings about God or gods (or the lack of gods) in the universe.
Such Buddhism is not necessarily incompatible with Judaism. Judaism itself includes a myriad of practices for the refinement of character and the enhancement of wisdom. Different movements in Judaism over the centuries have embraced meditation, study, writing, and even dance and song as paths toward spiritual discovery. If some "Jewish Buddhists" wish to expand the Jewish lexicon of practices toward spiritual goals that are consistent with Judaism's values, why should they be excluded from the synagogue?
Can the couple who practice Buddhism be members of a Jewish congregation? The Responsa Committee advises that the situation must be assessed with consideration to subtle questions -- is the Buddhism being practiced a religion? Does it conflict with Jewish belief? What is the depth of commitment and identification with Buddhism and does it displace Judaism?
Those are hard questions to answer, but the effort is worthwhile. My personal opinion is that when "Jewish Buddhists" ask to be part of the Jewish community, the answer often should be "no." It's hard to live in two houses at the same time. However, I also am open to the possibility that there are some "yes"s out there, especially when the attachment to the Jewish people is sincere and the attachment to Jewish practice is abiding. If I believe that Judaism has something to teach the other peoples of the world, it also is possible that Judaism can learn from other spiritual practices that are compatible with our own.
I hope this is of help to you.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser
