Jack Wertheimer's Narrow Place

by: Jeremy Burton

Mon Mar 22, 2010 at 14:21:43 PM EDT

There is a growing consensus in the Jewish community that the Jewish service learning movement - along with other efforts to engage Jews with the broader social causes of our time - is doing its part to help restore a sense of purpose and meaning to Jewish existence. It is successfully and powerfully answering the call to provide a compelling way to live a Jewish life in our global culture.

Millennia of Jewish values tell us that this work is inherently part of the Jewish mission. These are the very values that rest at the heart of a relevant and meaningful Jewish life.

In a recent article in Commentary, Dr. Jack Wertheimer, Provost of JTS, sees things differently. Service to others is a luxury we cannot afford as long as Jews are in need of service, and Jewish institutions remain out of reach for even the middle class. Wertheimer would have us turn inward, to throw up our shtetl walls once more and care only about "our own" as he narrowly defines this term.

This perspective runs counter to teachings, going all the way back to Isaiah, to be a "light unto the nations." But maybe Jack is right, and despite our long tradition, turning outward as part of our identity is a mistake. If we follow his lead, a few more people might observe certain rituals, pay their synagogue dues, and send kids to day school. 

In a world of endless options, where he narrowly asks "how do we afford to be Jewish?" the more relevant question to answer is "why be Jewish?" 

New Years

by: Mae Singerman

Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:46:28 AM EST

I sort of love that half of the people in my office said they don't really care about New Years Eve, because they celebrate the Jewish New Year...probably making their resolutions and reflections a bit more sincere- since mine are laced with cheap champagne and cheaper beer, ew. Best quote on the subject matter by a co-worker: 

"New Years is just an artificial day of celebrating Western suedo-Christian beliefs that sort of collide with the Winter Solstice but ten days off"

Interfaith Kickoff: "Conversations on Peace"

by: racrj

Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 12:03:17 PM EDT

The Jewish Ritual of Gift-Giving

by: racrj

Fri Jan 02, 2009 at 11:55:05 AM EST

When Form Doesn't Quite Match Content

by: Hannah Farber

Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 09:18:04 AM EDT

Usually, internet memes are usually something like "your favorite books" or "three things people don't know about you ('I love licorice jelly beans!')" For a change of pace, here's one via the Velveteen Rabbi:

1. if the nature of god is omnipotent, benevolent, and anthropomorphic (that god is a person, who sees suffering as wrong, and can change all of it), why does god not act to relieve all suffering, or at least the greatest amount of suffering for the greatest amount of people the greatest amount of time?

2. if you were god, and you were omnipotent and benevolent, how would you respond to suffering?

3. if this is not the nature of god, what is the nature of god, that allows suffering in the world?

4. if these are the wrong questions to ask, what are the right ones?

I have no capability of addressing these questions on a Monday morning, but I'm impressed that somebody put them out there. My level of respect for the internet just went up.

Inclusion at JTS

by: Jeff Marker

Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 11:42:17 AM EDT

I spent last Wednesday at my alma mater, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, in a day long celebration of the first anniversary of the decision to admit gay and lesbian students into the rabbinical and cantorial schools.  It was an amazing day, one I long thought might never happen at this bastion of the Conservative Movement of Judaism.  There was text study, discussion on the changes in culture created by this change, paralleled to the change when women were admitted; text study, personal coming out stories, and discussion on where to go from here, including expanding this to bisexual and transgender students, how to make a difference out in congregations, and other issues.  There was also an awareness that not all parts of the community are comfortable with these changes, let alone further changes.

It was wonderful to see the relief of so many people to come out of the closet, the opening up of new ways of thinking, and mapping of tasks for the future.  Truly a "Shehechiyanu" Day!

On the other hand, JTS is still not really inclusive.  The students who organized the event made note that it still does not have a policy of including bisexual and transgender students in rabbinical and cantorial school.  Other groups, such as the polyamorous, are not even under discussion.  It seems there is still a lot of work to do. 

Civic duty and the liberal dilemma

by: Rabbi Jill Jacobs

Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 18:49:42 PM EDT

I spent most of today doing my civic duty at one of New York's illustrious courthouses, and will be back tomorrow for more.  I've been called for a panel on a fairly typical drug case--young African-American man sells cocaine to or near some undercover police officers.  I may or may not get to the point of being questioned by the lawyers, but the very possibility has produced a bit of a liberal dilemma in me

New York's Rockefeller drug laws are notoriously harsh--selling two ounces of cocaine or most other drugs brings a minimum sentence of 15 years to life (don't know how much the defendent is accused of selling, so this may or may not apply)  Since undercover police officers tend to prefer Harlem to Wall Street, these laws have a disproportionately negative effect on people and communities of color.