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Although these processes began almost 250 years ago, they can still be seen as a watershed, a clear dividing line between the progressive and backward streams of Judaism.  Progressive Judaism saw them as a challenge, a wake-up call and an opportunity to fix what was wrong with Judaism;  a new reality.  Backward Judaism saw them as a threat, an erosion of their power-base and captive market that must be resisted and fought; at best accommodated.  These divergent approaches still largely hold true today, and continue to shape and constrain us.

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