Beyond Categories: the Future of Denominations
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CONTACT SUMMER 2005/AV 5765 VOLUME 7 NUMBER 4 THE JOURNAL OF JEWISH LIFE NETWORK/STEINHARDT FOUNDATION BeyondBeyond Categories:Categories: TheThe FutureFuture ofof DenominationsDenominations contact SUMMER 2005/AV 5765 VOLUME 7 NUMBER 4 Eli Valley Beyond Categories: Editor The Future of Denominations Erica Coleman Copy Editor harisee, Sadducee, Essene; Karaite, Rabbinite; Kabbalist, Philosopher; Janet Mann Hasid, Mitnaged; Zionist, Bundist. Throughout history, the Jewish Administration people has been demarcated by precise, mutually exclusive categories. Yakov Wisniewski Design Director P With the advent of denominations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Jewish identification stratified still further. “Just Jewish” was JEWISH LIFE NETWORK never enough. There was always an adjective waiting in the wings. STEINHARDT FOUNDATION Michael H. Steinhardt But recently, things have changed. Whether it’s due to the declining draw Chairman of organized spiritual movements or a more proactive search for that which Rabbi Irving Greenberg President unites rather than divides, Jews today are less likely to align themselves with Rabbi David Gedzelman a specific denomination. One in four Jews today disregards denominations Executive Director altogether. Critics argue that this is due to rampant assimilation or a Jonathan J. Greenberg z”l departure from “authentic” tradition. But this fails to acknowledge the Founding Director wide array of non-denominational movements, both prayer-based and CONTACT is produced and distributed by Jewish Life Network/ otherwise, that have formed in recent years. It is possible that there are Steinhardt Foundation, 6 East 39th far fewer social and pragmatic reasons today for people to align their Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016. Jewish destinies with single denominations. Phone: (212) 279-2288 Fax: (212) 279-1155 Email: [email protected] Of course, it might be as simple as generational drift. Recent studies show Website: www.jewishlife.org that Americans, particularly young adults, defy pat categorization in all areas For media inquiries about Jewish of contemporary life, whether it is politically, spiritually or culturally. It is Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation, please contact Richard Dukas at unlikely, then, that contemporary Jews will seek out strict categorization in [email protected]. their Jewish lives. With this in mind, to try to neatly fit the Jewish experience Copyright © 2005 by into yesterday’s categories doesn’t take into account future trends. Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation. The purpose of this issue of CONTACT is not to announce the passing of denominations, which clearly continue to inform and inspire vast segments of Jewish life. Rather, we seek to examine developments in the Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation extra-denominational world so that we might recognize opportunities for is dedicated to strengthening and further enrichment. From reflections on trans-denominational day schools transforming American Jewish Life to ensure a flourishing, sustainable commu- to explorations of organized prayer communities, from a discussion of nity in a fully integrated free society. We seek to revitalize Jewish identity through Conservative and Modern Orthodox Judaism to reflections on what educational, religious and cultural initia- “Just Jewish” really means, this issue of CONTACT explores the challenges tives that are designed to reach out to all Jews, with an emphasis on those who are and potentials of Jewish life beyond the categories. on the margins of Jewish life. Photographs in this issue appear courtesy of contributors and Photos.com. Cover photograph appears courtesy of the New Community Jewish High School. Eli Valley 2 CONTACT Two Jews not only Rabbis have three opinions, Beyond as they say, but are Denomination likely these days to by RABBI ARTHUR GREEN everal years ago, while visiting in national context. This means that Jews who have different races, Jerusalem, I got into a conversation pray in a variety of synagogues — or in none with my friend and mentor Rabbi at all — come together under neutral aus- S David Hartman. “The smartest thing pices to engage together in the most sacred educations, childhood we did in founding this institution,” he said, of Jewish acts: that of learning, discussing, referring to the very impressive Shalom Hart- absorbing and reshaping our tradition. The man Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, same tendency is reflected in the growth of Jewish memories, “was to build it on learning. As long as we are community day schools across the country. learning, we can all be together. As soon as we But rabbis? How can such different types sexual orientations start davening, we go off into separate rooms.” of future rabbis train together? Don’t rabbis Little did I know then that I would soon be have to stand for something, after all? And carrying the principle that “learning draws us doesn’t that mean that my viewpoint is right and lots more. A all together” into the very bastion of Jewish and yours is wrong? What kind of rabbis will denominationalism, the training of rabbis. these be, those who have studied together Nothing so characterizes the change in with colleagues who will find their place in rabbi has to minister Jewish life over the past two decades as does other denominations — or in none at all? the new wave of desire for learning. Intelli- Here’s what we believe at Hebrew College, to all of them. gent Jewish adults, highly educated and which has created the first full-time, trans- sophisticated in many ways but bereft of any denominational rabbinical school in Jewish Jewish knowledge beyond the most elemen- history. Rabbis will be better trained for hav- tary, have sought out teachers, endowed ing sat in classes alongside others who dis- chairs of Jewish studies, and created new for- agree with them on almost every issue mats for serious programs of adult learning. imaginable. If one thing characterizes our The best of these — Wexner, Florence Jewish community today, it is diversity. Two Melton, and Me’ah are the most obvious Jews not only have three opinions, as they say, examples — all take place in a transdenomi- but are likely these days to have different races, educations, childhood Jewish memo- ries, sexual orientations and lots more. A Rabbi Arthur Green is Rector of the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. rabbi has to minister to all of them. Where SUMMER 2005 3 How better to sharpen your own understanding, to hone your own point of view, than by looking at the sources in a mixed group, where opinions and readings diverge across a wide spectrum? better to learn about how to respect some- of that spirit in Jewish life today. We at toward our fellow humans. We all believe one different than by sitting across the table Hebrew College offer and model for our in reaching out to the poor, the sick and from one another in the bet midrash (study students a love of Jewish texts and their the needy. We care about the elderly and room)? How better to sharpen your own interpretation. This love embraces the the disabled, and want to help. Rabbinical understanding, to hone your own point of widest variety of Jewish sources, from students of all types are attracted to pro- view, than by looking at the sources in a the Bible and Talmud through mystical, grams of social and economic betterment, mixed group, where opinions and readings literary and artistic sources, down to both those focused within the Jewish com- diverge across a wide spectrum? Jewish thought as it is being recreated munity and some that reach beyond its Yes, a program of rabbinic studies does in our own day. We read the sources borders. Efforts of this sort have met with critically, understand their historical great success across seminary and denomi- settings, but then seek to re-embrace national lines. them as living Torah. Learning, spiritual work and human Beyond our shared love of learning, kindness. (Might one call them Torah, there are two more areas where denomina- Avodah and Gemillut Hasadim?) These tional differences have little place. One is are areas where our rabbinical students, in the growth and development of the spir- for all their diverse viewpoints, can work itual life, an important part of rabbinic together and build a single Jewish commu- training. Each rabbi needs to find his or nity. Yes, there will be points of diver- her own way to an inner life of prayer, to gence. Some keep a stricter kashrut, others communion with God, to hewing out a are more lenient. Some drive on Shabbat, deep inner well of empathy and caring, on others do not. Sometimes we will even which he or she will draw daily through- have to daven in separate rooms (though out a rabbinic career. While these are we try not to do that too often!). But deeply private matters, not discussed eas- having worked hard to build a community have to stand for something, and we ily, rabbis know that having access to such around those three pillars we all share, we clearly do. Ahavat Torah, the love of wis- a reservoir of faith is essential to finding have found that the differences between dom and the pursuit of Jewish learning, is and sharing the emotional strength us have lost their sharp edge. Respect the hallmark of our program. We find that required for the rabbinate. Techniques for and affection for one another have come it brings us together, even as we argue developing these resources, a growing to outweigh the differences between our over the meaning of a passage. Our Talmu- focus in rabbinic education, transcend all chosen prayerbooks. dic sages used to speak about “doing bat- denominational lines. We think it’s a pretty good model for tle” with one another over the meaning of The same is true of activism.