Is it Permissible for a Jew to Have a Masonic Funeral?
This question has come up from time to time and I hope to be able to write more extensively on the subject. In advance of that, I wanted to share some preliminary insights.
The first question: is a Jew permitted to be a Mason in the first place?
Certainly, Freemasonry has, historically, been remarkably progressive and open to Jewish membership when other civic groups were not. The Premier Masonic lodge of Britain admitted Jews in the early 18th century, more than a century before British Jews were allowed to vote or serve in Parliament. The Scottish Rite, Freemasonry’s largest group, was largely founded by Jews. There are many “Jewish” lodges, but Jews are found in lodges which are multi-ethic and have interfaith membership.
All that begs the question. That Jews join Freemasonry does not mean that Judaism permits it.
We could write volumes to justify Jewish participation in the group. From my prospective as a rabbi and a Freemason, I would argue enthusiastically in favor. The basic principles of “the craft” are in lock step with the rabbinic understanding of the Seven Noachide Laws—basic moral and monotheistic principles which are incumbent on all of humanity (http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/noahide.html) .While Jews don’t try to convert others to our religion, we believe in a universal God who is not concerned only with our small ethno-religious group. It seems to me that the Freemasonry is an excellent vehicle with which to share the essence of the universal ethical monotheism, which lies at the core of our faith. This is something we need to share.
The Knights Templar, a sub group of the York Rite, is historically, a Christian group. Nevertheless, it has admitted Jews.
Of course there are people in any orthodoxy who are suspicious of any source of morality outside their own religion. One finds them in Christianity, Islam and Judaism. That being said, there have been many, many rabbis of all denominations who have been Freemasons. The late British Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie was a Freemason and he, more than anybody, insured that the British Chief rabbinate remained orthodox during “Jacobs affair” in the 1960’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Jacobs).
Back to the question: may a Jew have a Masonic funeral? The answer is—it depends of the service used. I have officiated or attended funerals of Jews who had Masonic rites in Maryland, the District of Columbia and New Jersey and saw nothing that should have been of concern.
There is an opinion which was issued years ago by the Rabbinical Assembly which says that Jews should not have Masonic funerals. It was one few sentence long. There was no full responsum, a rabbinic essay which explains the logic—so we cannot be sure of the thinking behind it. I have been told by a member of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards that it had been the practice to commission responsa on major issues but, on occasion, simple a simple “yes” or “no” would be published when time didn’t permit a full study. Perhaps the rabbi who wrote it had seen a Masonic service with Christian elements. In such a case, we concur with those who object. The service needs to be vetted by the rabbi who is to officiate. I have started collecting Masonic funeral services and some are appropriate and some, clearly, are not. Some, with permission of the Masonic master responsible, might be easily modified. It is also important to point out the opinions of the CJLS are advisory only—rabbis are free to have their own opinion. My strong feeling is that the CJLS position is simplistic and was based on incomplete experience and no research.
As long as Jewish sensibilities are not offended and nothing is done which contradicts Jewish religious practice, Masonic services are appropriate. In point of fact, we have a responsibility to honor the deceased in the manner requested and to show comfort to those who morn by respecting these wishes.
Of course there are other factors. Funeral home and cemeteries have to work within a limited time frame. This needs to be respected and it is the rabbi’s responsibility to work with the family and the masons to insure that these practical considerations are respected.
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I just learned that in New York a clergy person may be fined "not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars" or "be incarcerated for not more than one year" for presuming to officiate at a wedding without the required civil registration. I know other states have similar laws. I don't know if they are ever enforced. Hypothetical conversation up the river at Sing-Sing: "What are you in for, bub?" "Murder, armed robbery, arson and aggravated assault, money laundering and drug dealing... and you?" "Me? Two counts of jay walking and one of marrying two people without a license - I'm innocent, I tell ya'." "Yeah, Mack. Me, too." Perhaps they can do a movie: Marryin' Sam of Alcatraz. …………… I knew the marriage laws of England and Wales well (Scotland has its own marriage laws). I just looked and it seems that these changed since my stint in Wales. Time was when it would have been illegal for me to have officiated at a marriage outside the hours of 8 am and 6 pm. That no longer applies except to the Church of England -- in which case it is not only a violation of canon law, but is a civil infraction (there is still an established church in England, but not in Wales). The law still requires that all marriages be recorded in black ink. I doubt that anybody, however, has been sent to the Tower of London for using blue ink. |
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