For much of the last century, the concept of Jewish Peoplehood has served to unify Jews throughout the globe, be they religious or secular, in Israel or the Diaspora. The idea has connected Jews with very different religious practices and ideological perspectives. The current moment, however, brings new questions to the notion of Jewish Peoplehood. In today’s rapidly changing, racially diverse and multicultural Jewish communities, and with many Jews choosing Jewishness, can an idea that fit the needs of the Jews of the 20th century still serve to unify, inspire, or even define Jews in the 21st century? If not, what other expressions of Jewish unity might take its place?
Luminaries from the fields of academia, Jewish communal life, philanthropy, the arts and the media will converge in Philadelphia today to address these questions in a groundbreaking conference.
“Wrestling with Jewish Peoplehood” is being organized by the Mordecai M. Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Temple University’s Feinstein Center for American Jewish History and the Department of Jewish Studies of McGill University. It is being hosted by the National Museum of American Jewish History.
Prominent thinkers and activists such as Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., journalist Peter Beinart, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum as well as Forward editor Jane Eisner, John Ruskay, Frank London, April Baskin, Shaul Magid, Ph.D, and Deborah Dash Moore, Ph.D., will address the issue of peoplehood through the lenses of theology, sociology, history, politics, fundraising and the arts. Among the topics that will be discussed are: to what extent is the term Peoplehood inclusive and exclusive, the role of Israel and Zionism in understanding Jewish peoplehood, global perspectives on peoplehood, and the degree to which dissent and disagreement exist without splintering the group. They will also ask whether it is possible for a new set of values and beliefs to give the Peoplehood concept renewed meaning.
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Shalom Fine People,
The difficulty/problem with the premise of “Wrestling with Jewish Peoplehood” is twofold at least.
First: there is no agreed upon definition for the adjective “Jewish” among non Orthodox Jews. About a week ago Rabbi Dr. Hayim Herring posted the following very troubling statement within his article published in this blog, “Who gets to decide what is authentically Jewish in this new paradigm? For Gen X’ers, Millenials and increasingly, Boomers, that privilege no longer resides with Jewish authorities; it can come from anyone and anywhere.” Indeed, who will decide? As far as I know (and I look forward to being corrected), there hasn’t been any definition put forth by any of the organizations that are sponsoring “Wrestling with Jewish Peoplehood.” Because of this glaring deficiency, we have “Tohu vavohu v’hoshech ‘al p’nei t’hom” instead of a much needed and highly necessary anchor inspired by “Ru’ah Ha’elohim.”
Second: the North American melting pot has decisively and unequivocally rendered ethnic/peoplehood approaches to Jewishness/Judasim futile at best. The further away generationally one is from her/his family’s immigrant experience, the more watered down ethnic ties become. Most Jews in North America are Jews by descent and very little else.
A far better and more necessary symposium would be entitled “Rediscovering a Meaningful, Contemporary, Non-Orthodox Judaism,” from which a definition of the adjective “Jewish” would flow naturally. Non Orthodox Judaism must be about meaningful, relevant, practical and application oriented answers to the question “how now shall we live.” Another way to put this is that it must be about answering the questions, “what would a mentsch say,” and/or “what would a mentsch do?” (h/t Rabbi Rami Shapiro). Without this vision the folks will be unrestrained (h/t the author of Mishlei 29:18 who was obviously one of my finest students). Sadly it doesn’t take much effort to see the Truth of this 2700-3000 year old wisdom.
Biv’racha,
Jordan
As I read through the list of prominent thinkers and activists, I cannot find even one person who represents the traditional understanding of Jewish Peoplehood that was accepted by all Jews for more than 3,000 years.
The list of prominent thinkers and activists addresses the issue of Jewish peoplehood through the lenses of: theology, sociology, history, politics, fundraising and the arts.
But why not address the issue of Jewish peoplehood through the lenses of: Tanach [Jewish Bible with traditional commentaries], Talmud, Midrash, Halachah, Kabalah, Gaonim, Rishonim, Mussar and Poskim?
I wish I cud be there!!! Will there be a report on the outcomes?
Shalom All,
The last paragraph of the post describes topics for discussion by a list of “prominent thinkers and activists” that most Jews in North America couldn’t care less about. Unfortunately, this is a waste of both time and neurons as this is yet another example of the cluelessness of these folks. In their conference (read echo chamber) they will be preaching to a choir of the already convinced, and not in any way addressing the real questions of most of the Jews of North America. Those questions would be: Why be intentionally Jewish? Why do Jewish? And why Judaism?
Biv’racha,
Jordan
Over the past three decades, I have read hundreds of Jewish books.
If anyone sincerely wants to understand the meaning of Jewish People-hood, then I suggest that they read THE HANDBOOK OF JEWISH THOUGHT by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, from-beginning-to-end, five times.