From the desk of Rabbi Viscount Desmond MacInnes-Reese
Congregation Emanu-El – Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
(DRAFT) This letter to the editor is in response to the
Winter 2021 piece issue of Jewish Action “The View from Pew:
Where Do We Go from Here?”
This article is a wonderful starting point for
understanding the 2020 Pew Study of Judaism in America. It clearly identifies
not only the population loss in the American Jewish world but begins to
elucidate how these causes are different within the orthodox and progressive
communities. Yet, it isn’t honest enough. We have to present and face some of
the difficult questions and behaviours that exist throughout the tribe but also
appreciate that some problems are unique to the particular denominations and
thus need different answers. I strongly believe that if we approach this
“crisis” directly, we can turn a problem into a catapult of religious
expression not seen since the days of the rabbis.
Just as in the last studies over the for 40
years, there has been handwringing on the preverbal Jewish “left” and “right”
when it comes to the 2020 Pew study. Each time, you hear “End is Near” for
Jewishness in the US as youth continue
to abandon or simply ignore the faith community. I believe, as did Rabbi Lord
Johnathan Sacks, z’l declared in one of his last presentations, that this is an
opportunity to again reconstruct Judaism post the Shoah.
However, the only way we will transition from
a crisis to an opportunity is if we consider the similar and unique needs in
progressive and orthodox communities (I am purposely avoiding the “secular
Judaism” of most Israelis as well as our homeland’s rabid, power-hungry ultra-orthodox. The additional factors vivid in those groups are
better left for another time). And we
need not wait until anti-Semitism has disappeared, as many of our elders'
caution. In the 21st century, we expect that anti-Semitism won’t go away
anytime soon and its disappearance is not our responsibility but the
responsibility of those who claim to be our allies. A few of us can stand guard
– foundations and action groups who have been doing this for decades – while we
straighten ourselves out. Frankly, it’s hard to fight yetzer hara,
the evil inclination, outside while plagued by the one inside. Ask any abuse
survivor.
We need honest conversations within and across
progressive and orthodox Jewish groups about how we are failing the current and
future Jewish community. And we shouldn’t be afraid. I imagine these are some
of the same discussions since the days of the rabbis.
We are the only civilization that exists in a
perpetual identity crisis. A proactive approach would mean both groups:
·
Recognize one another as natural, historical tensions across
people trying to manage the challenges of the world they live in now. This is
particularly true for those living outside of Israel where Jews are a minority
and sometimes a minority within a minority (Jews of Color or JoC, for example.
·
Recognize one reading of the Torah isn’t better or worse than
another. Our faith is based on argument, debate and no interpretation of a
living document is truer than another. All understandings and
conceptualizations have emotional traps and philosophical dead ends. Like
Mordecai Menahem Kaplan insisted I believe each generation must reconstruct the
text to answer the questions faced today in ways that are relatable to Jews who
live in the present. The orthodox are certain and the progressive hate to admit
they too believe Torah has only one truth and only the orthodox know it.
·
Recognize and visibly fight against the discrimination and abuse
rampant in their midst, whether it’s the excessive costs of day schools or the
sexual abuse within yeshivas. I will speak to the racism found amongst
progressive Jews in a moment. Stories of sexual abuse of children and the
horrendous treatment of women escaping domestic violence need open, honest
investigations by civil authorities so we don’t follow the example of the Catholic
church. Anyone who uses a child for his or her own deviances should be
shunned, not a woman in fear for her life escaping a violent marriage.
·
Recognize that the losses from both camps have different causes
and thus different solutions; once we address those, attacking the above will
be easier because each group would come to the table from a position of
strength instead of a position of fear.
·
Recognize that expressions of Judaism always lead people back to
the synagogue. Does that mean that the shul needs to be all things to all Jews?
No, it just means that it needs to be the spot that the Jews in that area recognize
as safe and sacred. It may be now where we go for formal occasions (conversion
classes, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, etc) that are more often associated with
families and elders. However, more couples are not having children and
their needs may feel more comfortable celebrating life and contemplating Hashem
in other environments.
·
Can’t synagogues have affiliated groups, extension activities
and groups “off-campus” that offer a different access point to Judaism? And if
you don’t have the type of shul you need to feel the joy of Hashem’s presence,
then build it – Chabad figured this out early on and has grown in members as a
result.
To capture the hearts and souls of those Jews
who have wandered away from the tribe, progressives and the orthodox also have
some internal struggles, for example:
·
The orthodox need to accept that not only is there too much to
tempt youth away from observant living, but social media makes those things too
easy to access. Like some communist satellite state circa 1970, you can only
isolate people so far for so long before everyone becomes an enemy of the state
for wanting a pair of jeans.
·
The orthodox have gotten too otherworldly. The Torah is a living
thing given to us to help with the world we live in now. And the answers aren’t
“let’s go back to the 15th century” – we can’t no matter how much we want to.
And the problems/needs of the most Haredi of families are very different than anything
imagined by the Baal Shem Tov.
·
Progressive Jews have to decide if orthodoxy is the true Judaism
that we “just don’t do anymore” or if Reform Jews who fully participate in shul
are good Jews too. Progressive Judaism is Judaism.
·
Progressive Judaism has to remember that not everyone wants to
be a social justice warrior and there are other important, fundamental reasons
people join a faith community. People have questions around hope, family,
sadness, loss and other of life’s queries. In community, we celebrate the
best and comfort during the worst of life, by always being available when one’s
life gets interesting. The line in the Wedding Song goes “For whenever two or
more of you are gathered in His name-There is Love, there is Love.” (I know, a
problematic reference considering its focus on non-feminist, cis-gendered unions
but a cute song nevertheless).
·
Racism has no place anywhere in Judaism but this is particularly
onerous coming from folx who claim their liberalism like a badge of honour. I don’t care how many social justice
activities you have participated in during the last decade, if you ask a Black
person who walks into your synagogue, “Excuse me but do you belong here?”, you are
a racist. Additionally, let’s be honest
– as most people apply a hyper-capitalist, cost-benefit analysis to most
decisions - Jews compete for souls with a Christianity that offers an easier
historical and familial option for many POC. By the numbers, frankly, we should
welcome anyone who is seriously willing to join a club that assures additional social
distain.
In private, there are discussions amongst
people of different backgrounds but who, by some happenstance, formed personal
friendships. Those conversations need to be more public and louder. If we are
the “Chosen people” then we need to pull up our trousers and accept the
struggle like adults. Let’s show
the Christians and Muslims how to do it, eh?
