The Autonomy of the Rabbis

Samuel Holdheim's Ueber die Autonomie der Rabbinen ("The Autonomy of the Rabbis") argued that Jewish marriage and divorce laws were outdated. Holdheim believed these laws, tied to Judaism's national past, should be replaced by state law, as Judaism is fundamentally a religion focused on ethics and doctrine.1

Holdheim was a key figure in radical Reform Judaism, influencing its ideology during rabbinical conferences in the mid-19th century. He even established Sunday as a day of worship for his congregation in Berlin. While influential, few of his radical ideas are widely accepted in Reform Judaism today. The role of rabbis historically evolved from communal officials overseeing all aspects of Jewish life to more ecclesiastical roles, particularly in modern times.12