Israel’s New Reality
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
January 29. 2006
29 Tevet, 5766
Now this is strange. Every Israeli Jewish politician from left to right agrees. France is echoing the words of the Israeli government. Europe and the United States echo each other. As shocking as the victory of Hamas is, it has unified the West and unified for at least the present moment the political opinion in Israel. I have been asking people wherever I go their reaction to the Hamas victory. Almost everyone tells me that now that the outlines of the Palestinian-Israeli divide are clear. The hatred of Hamas for Israel is transparent unlike the duplicity of Fatah. “Those Hamas guys are straight shooters.” “We don’t have to figure out their intentions.” Most Israelis I meet are grateful an election that clarified the boundaries and shattered illusions.
On the other hand, behind the bravado there is worry. A generation of conflict is being seeded and hopes for peace are dashed. There is now a new factor that governs the Palestininian-Israeli conflict and that is radical Islam. In 1980 when I was a rabbinical student I went to
Egypt after Sadat’s visit to Israel. I visited the El Azhar University and met some Muslim students. I asked them their view of Israel. They unapologetically informed me that Israel
must be destroyed because all former territory of Islam must be reconquered. The Jews who remain will be treated well, they reassured me. We can tolerate Jews, but we cannot tolerate a Jewish state on Muslim land. At the time in the buoyant days after Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem, I was relieved that these views were drowned in a sea of hope.
But this view is now the official view of the party that won the Palestinian election in a landslide. Ideology trumps pragmatism for those who adopt this peculiar notion of Islamic politics. We should have no illusions. Israelis have none and American Jews should follow suit. Hard times lie ahead and it is hard to predict what will happen next.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Sharing Judaism
Sharing Judaism
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
January 29, 2006
29 Tevet, 5766
The most innovative feature of Panim Hadashot’s program is the bringing of Shabbat celebrations into people’s homes all around our community. As rabbi of Panim Hadashot, I bring to people’s homes and neighborhoods a beautiful and rich experience of Shabbat around the table. These celebrations are an opportunity for hosts to engage in Jewish hospitality-hachnasat orchim.
The people invited to these feasts cover the map and almost always include some non-Jews of various faiths and cultural traditions. I am completely comfortable with the unpredictable mix, although I have heard some concerns expressed about Panim Hadashot’s approach to outreach.
Some have expressed the opinion to me that our outreach should be more focused on Jews only.
The purpose of any Jewish outreach organization should be on reconnecting Jews to Jewish community and faith and the promotion of endogamy. These same critics have expressed concern that our program is essentially a form of proselytizing of non-Jews to become Jews. The active going out and sharing of Jewish traditions and teachings is crossing the boundary of Jewish outreach.
The practice of Jewish outreach-Keruv-has been made famous by groups such as Chabad. Their focus is on reconnecting Jews to Judaism, and ideally to their form of Hasidic Orthodox Judaism. Other similar organizations within the Orthodox world have focused their efforts on Jews. These keruv efforts are encountering the same thing that I am encountering. The rate of intermarriage and cultural assimilation of American Jews has reached a point where most Jews have non-Jewish family, friends, and social networks. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwestand the West Coast. Any outreach that implicitly or explicitly attempts for the sake of keruv to remove Jews from this multi cultural reality will fail or further alienate Jews who have accepted pluralism and multiculturalism as a positive dimension of American culture. Many Jews embrace American multiculturalism without rejecting their Jewish identity.
The second concern about proselytizing touches a sore point with many Jews. Jews associate proselytizing with Christianity. As committed multiculturalists, Jews find evangelical proselytizing to be offensive and off-putting. Historically we have been more concerned about the freedom to practice our faith rather than seeking to convert others to it. Judaism admits converts but does not seek them-not because it is exclusive but because it does not believe that you have to be Jewish to achieve salvation or a place in the world to come (Sacks p. 115)
Yet I think that our well grounded Jewish distaste for proselytizing prevents us, who now live in the most open and democratic society in history, to positively share the wisdom and beauty of our religious-cultural tradition with others. Jews do not need to worry about proselytizing because of deeply held view of tolerance. Rather we must embrace the commitment to share our tradition with others in a loving and open way. This willingness to share is captured by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the great English rabbi (who is Orthodox), writing in a book I highly recommend, To Heal a Fractured World (126):
“There is all the difference in the world between the attempt to impose your faith on others and the willingness to share it with others. Our faiths are different. Judaism is not Christianity; Christianity is not Islam; the Abrahamic monotheisms are different from Eastern mysticisms on the one hand, scientific humanism on the other. Yet when we bring our respective heritages of wisdom to the public domain, we have no need to wish to convert others. Instead, we are tacitly saying: if this speaks to you, then please take it as our gift. Indeed, it is yours already, for wisdom (unlike revelation) belongs to us all. The willingness non-coercively to share our several traditions of moral insight is, in a religiously plural culture, an essential part of the democratic conversation, indeed of societal beatitude.”
At Panim Hadashot we are cultivating the living a passionate Judaism which can be shared as a gift. We gain from the wisdom of other cultures and other cultures gain from our unique and particular way of life. This sharing of Judaism as a gift is felt powerfully at Shabbat around
Seattle. In marking the Shabbat dinner there is no attempt to water down the rituals or to diminish the Hebrew, for those who join us. The Shabbat we present is a gift. Jewish tradition sees Shabbat as a gift from God-Hemdat Yamim. We should practice Shabbat as a form of gift giving to our loved ones, our friends, Jewish and non-Jewish.
Panim Hadashot then is about more than Keruv-bringing people close to Judaism, but the living of Judaism as a gift. When we regard our religious legacy as a gift, we become capable of sharing it generously and joyfully, with humor and respect for others and their different paths. To share Judaism as a gift with others is both a privilege of living in a tolerant and open society and it is a mitzvah during a time when fear of the other and separateness is not required to live a meaningful and committed Jewish life.
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
January 29, 2006
29 Tevet, 5766
The most innovative feature of Panim Hadashot’s program is the bringing of Shabbat celebrations into people’s homes all around our community. As rabbi of Panim Hadashot, I bring to people’s homes and neighborhoods a beautiful and rich experience of Shabbat around the table. These celebrations are an opportunity for hosts to engage in Jewish hospitality-hachnasat orchim.
The people invited to these feasts cover the map and almost always include some non-Jews of various faiths and cultural traditions. I am completely comfortable with the unpredictable mix, although I have heard some concerns expressed about Panim Hadashot’s approach to outreach.
Some have expressed the opinion to me that our outreach should be more focused on Jews only.
The purpose of any Jewish outreach organization should be on reconnecting Jews to Jewish community and faith and the promotion of endogamy. These same critics have expressed concern that our program is essentially a form of proselytizing of non-Jews to become Jews. The active going out and sharing of Jewish traditions and teachings is crossing the boundary of Jewish outreach.
The practice of Jewish outreach-Keruv-has been made famous by groups such as Chabad. Their focus is on reconnecting Jews to Judaism, and ideally to their form of Hasidic Orthodox Judaism. Other similar organizations within the Orthodox world have focused their efforts on Jews. These keruv efforts are encountering the same thing that I am encountering. The rate of intermarriage and cultural assimilation of American Jews has reached a point where most Jews have non-Jewish family, friends, and social networks. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwestand the West Coast. Any outreach that implicitly or explicitly attempts for the sake of keruv to remove Jews from this multi cultural reality will fail or further alienate Jews who have accepted pluralism and multiculturalism as a positive dimension of American culture. Many Jews embrace American multiculturalism without rejecting their Jewish identity.
The second concern about proselytizing touches a sore point with many Jews. Jews associate proselytizing with Christianity. As committed multiculturalists, Jews find evangelical proselytizing to be offensive and off-putting. Historically we have been more concerned about the freedom to practice our faith rather than seeking to convert others to it. Judaism admits converts but does not seek them-not because it is exclusive but because it does not believe that you have to be Jewish to achieve salvation or a place in the world to come (Sacks p. 115)
Yet I think that our well grounded Jewish distaste for proselytizing prevents us, who now live in the most open and democratic society in history, to positively share the wisdom and beauty of our religious-cultural tradition with others. Jews do not need to worry about proselytizing because of deeply held view of tolerance. Rather we must embrace the commitment to share our tradition with others in a loving and open way. This willingness to share is captured by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the great English rabbi (who is Orthodox), writing in a book I highly recommend, To Heal a Fractured World (126):
“There is all the difference in the world between the attempt to impose your faith on others and the willingness to share it with others. Our faiths are different. Judaism is not Christianity; Christianity is not Islam; the Abrahamic monotheisms are different from Eastern mysticisms on the one hand, scientific humanism on the other. Yet when we bring our respective heritages of wisdom to the public domain, we have no need to wish to convert others. Instead, we are tacitly saying: if this speaks to you, then please take it as our gift. Indeed, it is yours already, for wisdom (unlike revelation) belongs to us all. The willingness non-coercively to share our several traditions of moral insight is, in a religiously plural culture, an essential part of the democratic conversation, indeed of societal beatitude.”
At Panim Hadashot we are cultivating the living a passionate Judaism which can be shared as a gift. We gain from the wisdom of other cultures and other cultures gain from our unique and particular way of life. This sharing of Judaism as a gift is felt powerfully at Shabbat around
Seattle. In marking the Shabbat dinner there is no attempt to water down the rituals or to diminish the Hebrew, for those who join us. The Shabbat we present is a gift. Jewish tradition sees Shabbat as a gift from God-Hemdat Yamim. We should practice Shabbat as a form of gift giving to our loved ones, our friends, Jewish and non-Jewish.
Panim Hadashot then is about more than Keruv-bringing people close to Judaism, but the living of Judaism as a gift. When we regard our religious legacy as a gift, we become capable of sharing it generously and joyfully, with humor and respect for others and their different paths. To share Judaism as a gift with others is both a privilege of living in a tolerant and open society and it is a mitzvah during a time when fear of the other and separateness is not required to live a meaningful and committed Jewish life.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Panim Hadashot Weekly Enewsletter
New Faces of Judaism: Weekly E-Newsletter
Wednesday, February 1- 7, 2006
3-10 Shevat 5766.
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg in Jerusalem
I write to you from Jerusalem where I am attending the Winter session of the Center for Rabbinic Enrichment program of the Shalom Hartman Institute. I am in the middle of a 3 year fellowship for 30 rabbis from all the movements studying issues in Jewish ethics, Israel, and Jewish thought. By bringing leading rabbis from every movement together we are able to move beyond artificial boundaries and build new approaches to serving the American Jewish community and linking this community to Israel in new and thoughtful ways.
Recent events in Israel have made this visit particularly timely. The recent victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections is a matter of grave concern here. No one I spoke to here has a firm idea of what this means, although there is some bizarre relief that the intentions of the Palestinians are no longer opaque. Check out rabbiblog for more reflections on this new reality and thoughts about Israel in general. http://www.rabbiblog.org/
I am also using this time in Israel to write more of my new thinking. Please check out my piece on "Sharing Judaism" This piece is a reflection on the way Judaism should be lived in the multicultural reality of 21st century America. I am interested in your comments.
Panim Hadashot resumes activities on Shabbat 2/4 with 70 Faces of Torah for families.
Panim Hadashot Activities This Week:
70 Faces of Torah for Families: Sat. 2/4 1:15-2:30pm at the Panim Hadashot Beit Midrash, 3827 NE 90th St. Beshalach
Future Activities
Shabbat Beit Midrash. 2/11 1:15pm. A new theme for upcoming Shabbat Beit Midrash sessions: The Ethical Excellence of Jewish Tradition: Talmudic Debates on How to Live a Life of Goodness.
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Wednesday, February 1- 7, 2006
3-10 Shevat 5766.
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg in Jerusalem
I write to you from Jerusalem where I am attending the Winter session of the Center for Rabbinic Enrichment program of the Shalom Hartman Institute. I am in the middle of a 3 year fellowship for 30 rabbis from all the movements studying issues in Jewish ethics, Israel, and Jewish thought. By bringing leading rabbis from every movement together we are able to move beyond artificial boundaries and build new approaches to serving the American Jewish community and linking this community to Israel in new and thoughtful ways.
Recent events in Israel have made this visit particularly timely. The recent victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections is a matter of grave concern here. No one I spoke to here has a firm idea of what this means, although there is some bizarre relief that the intentions of the Palestinians are no longer opaque. Check out rabbiblog for more reflections on this new reality and thoughts about Israel in general. http://www.rabbiblog.org/
I am also using this time in Israel to write more of my new thinking. Please check out my piece on "Sharing Judaism" This piece is a reflection on the way Judaism should be lived in the multicultural reality of 21st century America. I am interested in your comments.
Panim Hadashot resumes activities on Shabbat 2/4 with 70 Faces of Torah for families.
Panim Hadashot Activities This Week:
70 Faces of Torah for Families: Sat. 2/4 1:15-2:30pm at the Panim Hadashot Beit Midrash, 3827 NE 90th St. Beshalach
Future Activities
Shabbat Beit Midrash. 2/11 1:15pm. A new theme for upcoming Shabbat Beit Midrash sessions: The Ethical Excellence of Jewish Tradition: Talmudic Debates on How to Live a Life of Goodness.
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Shabbat Message from Rabbi Gartenberg: 1-20-06
January 20, 2006; 20 Tevet 5766
Shabbat Shalom to all from Rabbi Dov Gartenberg and Panim Hadashot:
I heard this striking quote this week: It has a nice tie in with the Torah portion, Shemot-the first 5 chapters of Exodus. Discuss it at your Shabbat tables:
"Religion is at its best when it becomes a countercultural force; when it has no power, only influence, no authority except that which it earns, no claim to people’s attention other than by the way it creates values that cannot be found elsewhere. It is then that it loses its perennial tendency to corruption and becomes again what it once was—a startling new voice, redeeming us and teaching us to remember what so much else persuades us to forget—that the possibilities of happiness are all around us, if we would only open our eyes and give thanks."
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, 2000
This Shabbat in Seattle:
I invite you to the Bierman Scholar lectures of Rabbi Chaim Seidlerfeller this weekend. He is a superb teacher with tremendous erudition and facility with all sorts of Jewish texts. All the lectures are open and free to the public. I particularly recommend the Shabbat afternoon presentation at 3:30pm to those who have been exposed to Beit Midrash approach to learning of Panim Hadashot. For details go to: Bierman Scholar in Residence Weekend Accounts of a Unique Gathering.
Second, I am attaching an associated press article which saw national distribution on the Synagoguge 3000 gathering I was invited to attend earlier this week. I am featured in the article, but a lot more was going on than was reported. I am not as alienated as it appears in the article, but I do know that what I am doing now was greatly influenced by my rabbinical past. To read the piece go to Emergent Christians meet Emergent Jews. More is written about the significance of this gathering in this weeks blog's submissions. Go to this blog for a more detailed reflection about the S3K gathering.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Shabbat Shalom to all from Rabbi Dov Gartenberg and Panim Hadashot:
I heard this striking quote this week: It has a nice tie in with the Torah portion, Shemot-the first 5 chapters of Exodus. Discuss it at your Shabbat tables:
"Religion is at its best when it becomes a countercultural force; when it has no power, only influence, no authority except that which it earns, no claim to people’s attention other than by the way it creates values that cannot be found elsewhere. It is then that it loses its perennial tendency to corruption and becomes again what it once was—a startling new voice, redeeming us and teaching us to remember what so much else persuades us to forget—that the possibilities of happiness are all around us, if we would only open our eyes and give thanks."
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, 2000
This Shabbat in Seattle:
I invite you to the Bierman Scholar lectures of Rabbi Chaim Seidlerfeller this weekend. He is a superb teacher with tremendous erudition and facility with all sorts of Jewish texts. All the lectures are open and free to the public. I particularly recommend the Shabbat afternoon presentation at 3:30pm to those who have been exposed to Beit Midrash approach to learning of Panim Hadashot. For details go to: Bierman Scholar in Residence Weekend Accounts of a Unique Gathering.
Second, I am attaching an associated press article which saw national distribution on the Synagoguge 3000 gathering I was invited to attend earlier this week. I am featured in the article, but a lot more was going on than was reported. I am not as alienated as it appears in the article, but I do know that what I am doing now was greatly influenced by my rabbinical past. To read the piece go to Emergent Christians meet Emergent Jews. More is written about the significance of this gathering in this weeks blog's submissions. Go to this blog for a more detailed reflection about the S3K gathering.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
A Unique Gathering of Innovative Jews and Christian Spiritual Leaders
1/18/05
Something Emerging:
I just came back from a unique gathering of rabbis, educators, artists, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the country. There were the rainbow of Jews from Orthodox to renewal but also representatives from a community I had never met: The Emergent Christian community. The organizers of the meeting wanted to to expose Jewish religious leaders to innovators in both the Jewish and Christian community. Leaders of Emergent Christian communities were invited to share their story. This network of new, urban communities and congregations has been developing and growing for the past 5-8 years. This is not a movement but a lose network of communities and collectives which is working out a new theology and Christian way of life. As was explained to us, emergent Christians emphasize community before church, the elevation of hospitality as a critical practice, the practice of an everyday spirituality (very reminiscent of Hasidic models), the use of arts and music in religious life, and a key focus on the relationship to the 'other'.
The emergent Christians have been receiving a lot of attention in both the media and in the broader Christian community. There is similarly a stiring in American Judaism that seems to parallel emergent community. So why not bring Jews who are creating new models together with emergent leadership and learn from one another.
I am still attempting to distill the ideas and experience from this gathering, but I learned a few things.
1. Hospitality is making a huge come back as a central religious ideal. The shared meal, the open door, the non-judmental acceptance, the care for the other is a central overarching aspect of a spiritual life. The modern large church and synagogue have not been successful in embracing this value and promoting it consistently or effectively.
2. A spiritual or ethical life is not centered in a sanctuary, but must extend to all areas of life. This is actually a very old Jewish teaching. In the emergent community this insight informs their collectives. Therefore the communal life is not entirely focused on prayer, but on other activities: art, music, shared meals, cultural activity.
3. The traditional church and synagogue are not destinations for many people even though they may identify with their religions of origin. The emergent Christians spoke of being post-evangelical Christians. They spoke of finding a third space. Alienation was rechanneled into an attempt to create new religious models. A presenter shared the motivation for much of the emergent's efforts: "I love Jesus, I hate the church."
This was the first gathering in my career with Christians and Jews (and I have had many encounters) when Christians could talk easily and openly about Jesus and Jews could talk about God and Torah comfortably and unapologetically. This was more than an ecumenical gathering, but a sharing in how we live and work out our respective faith traditions in a complex culture. The differences remained quite pronounced, but I came away with an awareness of common approaches to practice and religious community that are very promising.
If you would like to learn more about Christian and Jewish emergent communities, go to: http://www.synagogue3000.org/synablog/.
Shalom, Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Something Emerging:
I just came back from a unique gathering of rabbis, educators, artists, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the country. There were the rainbow of Jews from Orthodox to renewal but also representatives from a community I had never met: The Emergent Christian community. The organizers of the meeting wanted to to expose Jewish religious leaders to innovators in both the Jewish and Christian community. Leaders of Emergent Christian communities were invited to share their story. This network of new, urban communities and congregations has been developing and growing for the past 5-8 years. This is not a movement but a lose network of communities and collectives which is working out a new theology and Christian way of life. As was explained to us, emergent Christians emphasize community before church, the elevation of hospitality as a critical practice, the practice of an everyday spirituality (very reminiscent of Hasidic models), the use of arts and music in religious life, and a key focus on the relationship to the 'other'.
The emergent Christians have been receiving a lot of attention in both the media and in the broader Christian community. There is similarly a stiring in American Judaism that seems to parallel emergent community. So why not bring Jews who are creating new models together with emergent leadership and learn from one another.
I am still attempting to distill the ideas and experience from this gathering, but I learned a few things.
1. Hospitality is making a huge come back as a central religious ideal. The shared meal, the open door, the non-judmental acceptance, the care for the other is a central overarching aspect of a spiritual life. The modern large church and synagogue have not been successful in embracing this value and promoting it consistently or effectively.
2. A spiritual or ethical life is not centered in a sanctuary, but must extend to all areas of life. This is actually a very old Jewish teaching. In the emergent community this insight informs their collectives. Therefore the communal life is not entirely focused on prayer, but on other activities: art, music, shared meals, cultural activity.
3. The traditional church and synagogue are not destinations for many people even though they may identify with their religions of origin. The emergent Christians spoke of being post-evangelical Christians. They spoke of finding a third space. Alienation was rechanneled into an attempt to create new religious models. A presenter shared the motivation for much of the emergent's efforts: "I love Jesus, I hate the church."
This was the first gathering in my career with Christians and Jews (and I have had many encounters) when Christians could talk easily and openly about Jesus and Jews could talk about God and Torah comfortably and unapologetically. This was more than an ecumenical gathering, but a sharing in how we live and work out our respective faith traditions in a complex culture. The differences remained quite pronounced, but I came away with an awareness of common approaches to practice and religious community that are very promising.
If you would like to learn more about Christian and Jewish emergent communities, go to: http://www.synagogue3000.org/synablog/.
Shalom, Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Panim Hadashot Enewsletter 1/18-24: Bierman Scholar in Residence Weekend on Jewish Spirituality
New Faces of Judaism: Weekly E-Newsletter
Wednesday, January 18-24, 2006 ; 18-24 Tevet 5766
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
Jewish Spirituality: From Benares to Jerusalem: Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, Bierman Scholar in Residence 1/19-1/22/2006 See below for locations and times. All presentations are free and open to the public.
The major event of the month is the Bierman Scholar in Residence which features the brilliant and illuminating teaching of Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, the Director of the Hillel Foundation at UCLA. Chaim is a master of classic Jewish texts and Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature. He will be focusing his teaching on contemporary Jewish spirituality and the Sabbath. The Bierman Scholar in residence program is a joint event of Panim Hadashot, Congregation Beth Shalom, and the Hillel Foundation.
For those of you who like interactive learning I strongly recommend to you the Shabbat afternoon session. Rabbi Chaim is a master of the Beit Midrash style of interactive learning which is Panim Hadashot's approach to Jewish learning.
I look forward to seeing you at these stimulating and thought provoking talks.
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Spirituality, God, and Making Judaism RelevantThursday, January 19th
7:30pm
Held at Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Life at the University of Washington, 4745 17th Ave NE, Seattle
(206) 527-1997
Madonna and Kabbalah: Anti-Intellectualism and Contemporary Jewish Life
Friday, January 20thKabbalat Shabbat Services and Community Dinner
Held at Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Lecture at 7:15pm.
Services and Dinner will proceed the lecture, but rsvps are required for dinner. Call Congregation Beth Shalom at (206) 524-0075 to register. Information is at www.panimhadashot.com.
Hemdat Yamim (Most Delightful of Days): Shabbat as the Intersection of Spirituality and Sexuality
Saturday Afternoon, January 21st
Shabbat Beit Midrash Interactive Study: 3:30-5:30pm
Held at Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Rabbi Seidler Feller will lead Havruta style learning before and during a traditional Shabbat Seudah, a light 3rd meal.
From Benares to Jerusalem: The Jewish Quest for Spirituality
Sunday, January 22: 7-9pm
Keynote lecture.
Held at Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
New Faces of Judaism: Weekly E-Newsletter
Wednesday, January 18-24, 2006 ; 18-24 Tevet 5766
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
Jewish Spirituality: From Benares to Jerusalem: Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, Bierman Scholar in Residence 1/19-1/22/2006 See below for locations and times. All presentations are free and open to the public.
The major event of the month is the Bierman Scholar in Residence which features the brilliant and illuminating teaching of Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, the Director of the Hillel Foundation at UCLA. Chaim is a master of classic Jewish texts and Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature. He will be focusing his teaching on contemporary Jewish spirituality and the Sabbath. The Bierman Scholar in residence program is a joint event of Panim Hadashot, Congregation Beth Shalom, and the Hillel Foundation.
For those of you who like interactive learning I strongly recommend to you the Shabbat afternoon session. Rabbi Chaim is a master of the Beit Midrash style of interactive learning which is Panim Hadashot's approach to Jewish learning.
I look forward to seeing you at these stimulating and thought provoking talks.
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Spirituality, God, and Making Judaism RelevantThursday, January 19th
7:30pm
Held at Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Life at the University of Washington, 4745 17th Ave NE, Seattle
(206) 527-1997
Madonna and Kabbalah: Anti-Intellectualism and Contemporary Jewish Life
Friday, January 20thKabbalat Shabbat Services and Community Dinner
Held at Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Lecture at 7:15pm.
Services and Dinner will proceed the lecture, but rsvps are required for dinner. Call Congregation Beth Shalom at (206) 524-0075 to register. Information is at www.panimhadashot.com.
Hemdat Yamim (Most Delightful of Days): Shabbat as the Intersection of Spirituality and Sexuality
Saturday Afternoon, January 21st
Shabbat Beit Midrash Interactive Study: 3:30-5:30pm
Held at Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Rabbi Seidler Feller will lead Havruta style learning before and during a traditional Shabbat Seudah, a light 3rd meal.
From Benares to Jerusalem: The Jewish Quest for Spirituality
Sunday, January 22: 7-9pm
Keynote lecture.
Held at Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Shabbat Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
New Faces of Judaism
January 13, 2006; 13, Tevet 5766
Shabbat Torah Portions: Concluding Portion: Vayehi Genesis 47:28 - 50:26; New Portion: Shemot Exodus 1:1 - 6:1
Around the Table: Sources for Conversation at Your Shabbat Table from Rabbi Dov Gartenberg's 'Rabbiblog'
The Impact of Chabad: Link to the Rabbiblog Link to Second Piece
Summary: I share with you my admiration of Chabad for its remarkable outreach work along with some reflections about the challenges it poses to our Jewish community and Jewish continuity. The piece was inspired by a piece written by Gary Rosenblatt, editor of the New York Jewish Week.
Recommended Reading: I strongly recommend Yochanan Muff's The Personhood of God for anyone seeking to make sense of the impact of the biblical tradition on Judaism in particular and Western civilization in general. It is a work of depth and profundity written with clarity and page after page of insight. I will refer to it in future writings.
January 13, 2006; 13, Tevet 5766
Shabbat Torah Portions: Concluding Portion: Vayehi Genesis 47:28 - 50:26; New Portion: Shemot Exodus 1:1 - 6:1
Around the Table: Sources for Conversation at Your Shabbat Table from Rabbi Dov Gartenberg's 'Rabbiblog'
The Impact of Chabad: Link to the Rabbiblog Link to Second Piece
Summary: I share with you my admiration of Chabad for its remarkable outreach work along with some reflections about the challenges it poses to our Jewish community and Jewish continuity. The piece was inspired by a piece written by Gary Rosenblatt, editor of the New York Jewish Week.
Recommended Reading: I strongly recommend Yochanan Muff's The Personhood of God for anyone seeking to make sense of the impact of the biblical tradition on Judaism in particular and Western civilization in general. It is a work of depth and profundity written with clarity and page after page of insight. I will refer to it in future writings.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Panim Hadashot Enewsletter: Events 1/11-1/17/2006
New Faces of Judaism: Weekly E-Newsletter
Wednesday, January 11-17, 2006
11-17 Tevet 5766.
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
This Shabbat around Seattle (1/13/06, Friday, 6:30pm in downtown Seattle; see below for the calender link to the event) will be hosted by Rob Dolin and Hilary Madsen who are social activists. In the spirit of Martin Luther King's Birthday, our Shabbat conversation will focus on the roots of a life committed to social justice. I will share some of the great Biblical texts which form the foundation for a passion for social justice. People will share their stories about what moved them to fight for a cause and to improve the world. Seating is limited so rsvp as soon as possible if you would like to join Panim Hadashot for this special evening. When you rsvp we send you the details for the feast. LINK
Jewish Spirituality: From Benares to Jerusalem: Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, Bierman Scholar in Residence 1/19-1/22/2006
The major event of the month is the Bierman Scholar in Residence which features the brilliant and illuminating teaching of Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, the Director of the Hillel Foundation at UCLA. He will be giving lectures from Thursday, January 19th through the 22nd. Chaim is a brilliant student of classic Jewish texts and Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature. He will be focusing his teaching on contemporary Jewish spirituality and the Sabbath. Please consult our calendar for a listing of the events and topics. In some cases rsvps will be necessary such as the Friday night dinner. The Bierman Scholar in residence program is a joint event of Panim Hadashot, Congregation Beth Shalom, and the Hillel Foundation.
Panim Hadashot Activities This Week:
Shabbat Around Seattle, Downtown Seattle with Rob Dolin and Hilary Masden. Theme: The Personal Foundations for Choosing a Life of Social Activitsm. For persons in their 20-30s. LINK. Please rsvp with dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Shabbat Beit Midrash-Shabbat House of Study: Getting God's Attention, chapter 3 in the Book of Exodus. January 14th 1:15-2:45pm . LINK
25th Hour: Was Ariel Sharon a Great Leader? Shabbat conversation and Havdallah. Jamuary 14th, 4:30-5:45pm. LINK
Some Upcoming Panim Hadashot Activities
Study: Jan. 19-22nd Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, Bierman Scholar-in-Residence on Jewish Spirituality in Contemporary Judaism. LINK
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Wednesday, January 11-17, 2006
11-17 Tevet 5766.
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
This Shabbat around Seattle (1/13/06, Friday, 6:30pm in downtown Seattle; see below for the calender link to the event) will be hosted by Rob Dolin and Hilary Madsen who are social activists. In the spirit of Martin Luther King's Birthday, our Shabbat conversation will focus on the roots of a life committed to social justice. I will share some of the great Biblical texts which form the foundation for a passion for social justice. People will share their stories about what moved them to fight for a cause and to improve the world. Seating is limited so rsvp as soon as possible if you would like to join Panim Hadashot for this special evening. When you rsvp we send you the details for the feast. LINK
Jewish Spirituality: From Benares to Jerusalem: Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, Bierman Scholar in Residence 1/19-1/22/2006
The major event of the month is the Bierman Scholar in Residence which features the brilliant and illuminating teaching of Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, the Director of the Hillel Foundation at UCLA. He will be giving lectures from Thursday, January 19th through the 22nd. Chaim is a brilliant student of classic Jewish texts and Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature. He will be focusing his teaching on contemporary Jewish spirituality and the Sabbath. Please consult our calendar for a listing of the events and topics. In some cases rsvps will be necessary such as the Friday night dinner. The Bierman Scholar in residence program is a joint event of Panim Hadashot, Congregation Beth Shalom, and the Hillel Foundation.
Panim Hadashot Activities This Week:
Shabbat Around Seattle, Downtown Seattle with Rob Dolin and Hilary Masden. Theme: The Personal Foundations for Choosing a Life of Social Activitsm. For persons in their 20-30s. LINK. Please rsvp with dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Shabbat Beit Midrash-Shabbat House of Study: Getting God's Attention, chapter 3 in the Book of Exodus. January 14th 1:15-2:45pm . LINK
25th Hour: Was Ariel Sharon a Great Leader? Shabbat conversation and Havdallah. Jamuary 14th, 4:30-5:45pm. LINK
Some Upcoming Panim Hadashot Activities
Study: Jan. 19-22nd Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, Bierman Scholar-in-Residence on Jewish Spirituality in Contemporary Judaism. LINK
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Thursday, January 5, 2006
Panim Hadashot: Weekly ENewsletter Jan 4, 2006
New Faces of Judaism: Weekly E-Newsletter
Wednesday, January 4-10, 2006
4-10 Tevet 5766.
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
January will be an active month. The major event of the month is the Bierman Scholar in Residence which features the brilliant and illuminating teaching of Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, the Director of the Hillel Foundation at UCLA. Rabbi Seidler Feller will be sharing his erudition and penetrating observations about contemporary Jewish life at several points over the dates of Thursday, January 19th through the 22nd. Chaim is a brilliant student of classic Jewish texts and Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature. He will be focusing his teaching on contemporary Jewish spirituality and the Sabbath. Please consult our calendar for a listing of the events and topics. In some cases rsvps will be necessary such as the Friday night dinner. The Bierman Scholar in residence program is a joint event of Panim Hadashot, Congregation Beth Shalom, and the Hillel Foundation.
Panim Hadashot Activities This Week:
Shabbat Afternoon Together: Monthly learning and celebration programs for families.
70 Faces of Torah for Families; 1:15-2:30pm featuring intergenerational Torah conversation and the introduction of young Torah readers. Panim Beit Midrash. LINK
Shabbas Stew: A beautiful Shabbat ending experience for families with young children. 4:30-5:30pm at the Panim Beit Midrash. LINK
Some Upcoming Panim Hadashot Activities
Shabbat Around Seattle, Downtown Seattle with Rob Dolin and Hilary Masden. Theme: The Personal Foundations for Choosing a Life of Social Activitsm. For persons in their 20-30s. LINK. Please rsvp with dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Shabbat Afternoon Learning: 1:15-2:45pm January 14th. LINK
Study: Jan. 19-22nd Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, Bierman Scholar-in-Residence on Jewish Spirituality in Contemporary Judaism. LINK
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Wednesday, January 4-10, 2006
4-10 Tevet 5766.
______________________________________________________________________
Brief Message from Rabbi Gartenberg
January will be an active month. The major event of the month is the Bierman Scholar in Residence which features the brilliant and illuminating teaching of Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller, the Director of the Hillel Foundation at UCLA. Rabbi Seidler Feller will be sharing his erudition and penetrating observations about contemporary Jewish life at several points over the dates of Thursday, January 19th through the 22nd. Chaim is a brilliant student of classic Jewish texts and Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature. He will be focusing his teaching on contemporary Jewish spirituality and the Sabbath. Please consult our calendar for a listing of the events and topics. In some cases rsvps will be necessary such as the Friday night dinner. The Bierman Scholar in residence program is a joint event of Panim Hadashot, Congregation Beth Shalom, and the Hillel Foundation.
Panim Hadashot Activities This Week:
Shabbat Afternoon Together: Monthly learning and celebration programs for families.
70 Faces of Torah for Families; 1:15-2:30pm featuring intergenerational Torah conversation and the introduction of young Torah readers. Panim Beit Midrash. LINK
Shabbas Stew: A beautiful Shabbat ending experience for families with young children. 4:30-5:30pm at the Panim Beit Midrash. LINK
Some Upcoming Panim Hadashot Activities
Shabbat Around Seattle, Downtown Seattle with Rob Dolin and Hilary Masden. Theme: The Personal Foundations for Choosing a Life of Social Activitsm. For persons in their 20-30s. LINK. Please rsvp with dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Shabbat Afternoon Learning: 1:15-2:45pm January 14th. LINK
Study: Jan. 19-22nd Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, Bierman Scholar-in-Residence on Jewish Spirituality in Contemporary Judaism. LINK
Support the Groundbreaking Work of Panim Hadashot. Become a Haver-Friend LINK
_______________________________________________________________________
Panim Hadashot, New Faces of Judaism, is a new endeavor of Jewish learning, celebration, and outreach. Our website is at www.panimhadashot.com. Panim Hadashot is the winner of the Levitan Innovation Award and is endorsed by the Union of Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Panim Hadashot is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Founder and Rabbi, Dov Gartenberg: rabbidov@panimhadashot.com or 206 525-0648
To contact us: Call 206 280-3715 or email dorothy@panimhadashot.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send request to dorothy@panimhadashot.com.
Ariel Sharon
01/05/06
I pray for Ariel Sharon's recovery. At this point it appears clear that even if he lives he will not be able to lead the country. I am grief stricken for a man that I once despised. Eich Naflu Giborim, How the heroes have fallen!
It is already time to proclaim the greatness of this man. This man's transformation is a rarity in human affairs. Circumstance and character converged in the most remarkable way. We are forced to pause to appreciate this old/new story. May Sharon's fortitude, stubborness, and courage of these past years inspire a new generation of leaders in Israel to make the difficult decisions to protect the security of Israel's citizens and to bring a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
I pray for Ariel Sharon's recovery. At this point it appears clear that even if he lives he will not be able to lead the country. I am grief stricken for a man that I once despised. Eich Naflu Giborim, How the heroes have fallen!
It is already time to proclaim the greatness of this man. This man's transformation is a rarity in human affairs. Circumstance and character converged in the most remarkable way. We are forced to pause to appreciate this old/new story. May Sharon's fortitude, stubborness, and courage of these past years inspire a new generation of leaders in Israel to make the difficult decisions to protect the security of Israel's citizens and to bring a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Further Thoughts About Chabad
01/05/06 Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Please read the previous posting on this blog about Chabad
What is astonishing about Chabad and many other Orthodox outreach organizations is how they have abandoned a long held resistance to outreach within the traditional community. One has only to read the responsa of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein which warn of the corrupting aspects of acceptance of non-orthodox Jews to see how far Chabad has traveled toward working with non-Orthodox Jews. Every single Chabad rabbi and rebbetzin I have met exudes a love of Jews and the Jewish people. You know where each of them stands regarding observance, but they never make you feel bad or guilty for not observing on their level. They emphasize the positive and avoid the negative like the plague.
I was always impressed with how Chabad emissaries open their homes and share their Jewish lives. It is the Hachnasat Orchim-the hospitality to others that is the most impressive and long lasting impression. Over time as I came to know more about Chabad I grew very troubled by their religious ideology. But I could never dispute the humanity, the empathy, and the joy of these folks. In this case their humanity and their spiritual passion overwhelms the very problematic ideology.
Chabad is a superb example of what happens when a Jewish community places hospitality, empathy, and joy at the core of religious life. People are hungry for this and love Chabad for it, even though they cannot embrace it fully. Is there a form of Jewish life that can embrace these values and combine it with other approaches to Jewish life?
Please read the previous posting on this blog about Chabad
What is astonishing about Chabad and many other Orthodox outreach organizations is how they have abandoned a long held resistance to outreach within the traditional community. One has only to read the responsa of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein which warn of the corrupting aspects of acceptance of non-orthodox Jews to see how far Chabad has traveled toward working with non-Orthodox Jews. Every single Chabad rabbi and rebbetzin I have met exudes a love of Jews and the Jewish people. You know where each of them stands regarding observance, but they never make you feel bad or guilty for not observing on their level. They emphasize the positive and avoid the negative like the plague.
I was always impressed with how Chabad emissaries open their homes and share their Jewish lives. It is the Hachnasat Orchim-the hospitality to others that is the most impressive and long lasting impression. Over time as I came to know more about Chabad I grew very troubled by their religious ideology. But I could never dispute the humanity, the empathy, and the joy of these folks. In this case their humanity and their spiritual passion overwhelms the very problematic ideology.
Chabad is a superb example of what happens when a Jewish community places hospitality, empathy, and joy at the core of religious life. People are hungry for this and love Chabad for it, even though they cannot embrace it fully. Is there a form of Jewish life that can embrace these values and combine it with other approaches to Jewish life?
The Impact of Chabad
This editorial appeared in the New York, Jewish Week, one of the most respected Jewish publications in the country. I thought Rosenblatt's take on Chabad is very insightful. I am the first to acknowledge the influence on Chabad on the approach of Panim Hadashot. As a college student at Berkeley, Chabad played an important role in the deepening of my Jewish identity. Chabad exposed me to an observant life and to a joyful approach to the observance of Mitzvot. I have seen their profound influence on Jews in the Seattle community through their good works and their 'ahavat am yisrael'-love of the Jewish people.
Rosenblatt is correct to criticize the Jewish community for not adopting some of the approaches of Chabad. Panim Hadashot attempts to do outreach modeled on Chabad approaches with a pluralistic approach to Judaism. I will write additional commentary in my next piece about practices borrowed from Chabad and new practices that go beyond what Chabad has done.
Please send me your comments.
Learning From Chabad
Gary Rosenblatt - Editor and Publisher
I took part recently in a program aimed at developing Jewish communal leadership on the local level. The topic for the evening was “rethinking community,” and the 20 participants were men and women in their 30s and 40s who were active in various aspects of Jewish life and represented a cross-section of denominational and educational backgrounds. They had a number of thoughtful observations to make during the give-and-take, as the conversation ranged from the history of Jewish communities in centuries past to current, alternative efforts to connect Jews to their heritage and people in meaningful ways. But the most animated discussion by far began when a woman mentioned the success of a local Chabad Lubavitch rabbi in reaching out to people in her affluent, suburban community. She said she was amazed that so many of her friends who were not observant had become regular shul-goers, in part because the rabbi was warm, inviting and charismatic, and because he took a personal interest in each person he had met. “My friend told me her husband is now wrapping tefillin,” she said, “and when I asked why, she said because the rabbi told him he wanted him to perform that mitzvah.”
From there the talk grew increasingly lively, as virtually everyone in the room had an anecdote to share about a Chabad experience on a college campus, in their community or in some remote part of the world. There was a sense of begrudging respect for these chasidim, and recognition that whether or not one agrees with their ideology and lifestyle, they are incredibly successful in their kiruv, or outreach, work here and around the world. That same sentiment was expressed to me by the president of the board of UJA-Federation of New York, Morris Offit, during an interview last month. A prominent businessman and longtime communal leader, Offit told me he was reading Sue Fishkoff’s fine book about Chabad, “The Rebbe’s Army,” and noted that what the organized Jewish community needs is its own shluchim, or emissaries, as Chabad has — in more than 70 countries, with about 4,000 rabbis and their wives in all.
For all the professionalism and commitment of officials of The Jewish Agency and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the American Jewish World Service and dozens of other worthy organizations around the globe, none have the level of zeal and sense of obligation of the Chabad representatives. They are instructed upon their arrival in a newly assigned community in Ukraine or Poland or Laos to buy two plots in the local cemetery (for husband and wife) and prepare to spend their lives in that city or town — and raise whatever funds are necessary on their own. These emissaries believe they are on a sacred mission, fulfilling the work of the late Lubavitcher rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and that sets them apart from others who serve Jewish communities around the world.
At a time when a healthy discussion is taking place about how best to reach and inspire young Jews in an age of great personal freedom and increasing assimilation, Chabad has some powerful lessons to offer. While so many unaffiliated Jews complain about the pay-to-pray synagogues they perceive of as unwelcoming, boring and irrelevant to their lives, Chabad has removed the barriers of entry, done away with synagogue membership and personalized the message of performing mitzvot. Emissaries are not afraid to ask men to put on tefillin and women to light Shabbat candles as a way of connecting them to their age-old traditions and rituals. Every mitzvah performed makes the world a better place, brings us all closer to the messianic age, the emissaries say. In other words, each of us counts, as does each commandment we take on and perform. There is meaning to our lives, a purpose to our existence. I am not dealing here with the controversial aspects of Chabad, such as its views on messianism or its sometimes abrasive style in staking out its turf, but rather on the method and approach that have made it the most successful Jewish group in the world in terms of growth, outreach and fundraising.
Talk to people with negative feelings about joining synagogues or Jewish organizations and you will find the same complaints again and again — the ones Chabad is responding to with warmth and on a personal level, one soul at a time. We can either react defensively, explaining why synagogues must charge for High Holy Days seats to pay the bills and why the rabbi has little time to meet one-on-one with congregants unless they are in crisis and why we are suspicious of Chabad representatives who may or may not believe their rebbe is the messiah. Or we can learn from Chabad’s remarkable success and seek to partner with or emulate them — particularly their passion and personal involvement — in creative ways.
The choice is ours, but to ignore or downplay the achievements of the world’s leader in Jewish outreach and not learn from its work would be a tragedy of self-deception we cannot afford.
E-mail: Gary@jewishweek.org
Gary Rosenblatt can be reached by e-mail at Gary@jewishweek.org.
Rosenblatt is correct to criticize the Jewish community for not adopting some of the approaches of Chabad. Panim Hadashot attempts to do outreach modeled on Chabad approaches with a pluralistic approach to Judaism. I will write additional commentary in my next piece about practices borrowed from Chabad and new practices that go beyond what Chabad has done.
Please send me your comments.
Learning From Chabad
Gary Rosenblatt - Editor and Publisher
I took part recently in a program aimed at developing Jewish communal leadership on the local level. The topic for the evening was “rethinking community,” and the 20 participants were men and women in their 30s and 40s who were active in various aspects of Jewish life and represented a cross-section of denominational and educational backgrounds. They had a number of thoughtful observations to make during the give-and-take, as the conversation ranged from the history of Jewish communities in centuries past to current, alternative efforts to connect Jews to their heritage and people in meaningful ways. But the most animated discussion by far began when a woman mentioned the success of a local Chabad Lubavitch rabbi in reaching out to people in her affluent, suburban community. She said she was amazed that so many of her friends who were not observant had become regular shul-goers, in part because the rabbi was warm, inviting and charismatic, and because he took a personal interest in each person he had met. “My friend told me her husband is now wrapping tefillin,” she said, “and when I asked why, she said because the rabbi told him he wanted him to perform that mitzvah.”
From there the talk grew increasingly lively, as virtually everyone in the room had an anecdote to share about a Chabad experience on a college campus, in their community or in some remote part of the world. There was a sense of begrudging respect for these chasidim, and recognition that whether or not one agrees with their ideology and lifestyle, they are incredibly successful in their kiruv, or outreach, work here and around the world. That same sentiment was expressed to me by the president of the board of UJA-Federation of New York, Morris Offit, during an interview last month. A prominent businessman and longtime communal leader, Offit told me he was reading Sue Fishkoff’s fine book about Chabad, “The Rebbe’s Army,” and noted that what the organized Jewish community needs is its own shluchim, or emissaries, as Chabad has — in more than 70 countries, with about 4,000 rabbis and their wives in all.
For all the professionalism and commitment of officials of The Jewish Agency and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the American Jewish World Service and dozens of other worthy organizations around the globe, none have the level of zeal and sense of obligation of the Chabad representatives. They are instructed upon their arrival in a newly assigned community in Ukraine or Poland or Laos to buy two plots in the local cemetery (for husband and wife) and prepare to spend their lives in that city or town — and raise whatever funds are necessary on their own. These emissaries believe they are on a sacred mission, fulfilling the work of the late Lubavitcher rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and that sets them apart from others who serve Jewish communities around the world.
At a time when a healthy discussion is taking place about how best to reach and inspire young Jews in an age of great personal freedom and increasing assimilation, Chabad has some powerful lessons to offer. While so many unaffiliated Jews complain about the pay-to-pray synagogues they perceive of as unwelcoming, boring and irrelevant to their lives, Chabad has removed the barriers of entry, done away with synagogue membership and personalized the message of performing mitzvot. Emissaries are not afraid to ask men to put on tefillin and women to light Shabbat candles as a way of connecting them to their age-old traditions and rituals. Every mitzvah performed makes the world a better place, brings us all closer to the messianic age, the emissaries say. In other words, each of us counts, as does each commandment we take on and perform. There is meaning to our lives, a purpose to our existence. I am not dealing here with the controversial aspects of Chabad, such as its views on messianism or its sometimes abrasive style in staking out its turf, but rather on the method and approach that have made it the most successful Jewish group in the world in terms of growth, outreach and fundraising.
Talk to people with negative feelings about joining synagogues or Jewish organizations and you will find the same complaints again and again — the ones Chabad is responding to with warmth and on a personal level, one soul at a time. We can either react defensively, explaining why synagogues must charge for High Holy Days seats to pay the bills and why the rabbi has little time to meet one-on-one with congregants unless they are in crisis and why we are suspicious of Chabad representatives who may or may not believe their rebbe is the messiah. Or we can learn from Chabad’s remarkable success and seek to partner with or emulate them — particularly their passion and personal involvement — in creative ways.
The choice is ours, but to ignore or downplay the achievements of the world’s leader in Jewish outreach and not learn from its work would be a tragedy of self-deception we cannot afford.
E-mail: Gary@jewishweek.org
Gary Rosenblatt can be reached by e-mail at Gary@jewishweek.org.
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