Rabbi Landsberg's Blog

On the Corner of Young and Universal

Later this afternoon I will be gathering with Emanu-El's grade 11 and 12 students, which is one of the highlights of my job: being able to have some impact, even if tangential, on the upcoming generation.  In an open society, the question that all of our kids face is how to walk the path of being a Jew while engaging in our wider world.  Increasingly, our youth are answering this question as idealistic universalists; they identify with an impulse of immense value, but one  which finds Judaism as--at best--no more than a colorful garb, a useful tool to use in a common struggle of improving the world. 

However, there is countervailing message that I seek to impart to our children:  the simple notion that Jews have intrinsic value. The story of humankind is enriched by the presence of Jews--as it is by the presence of the French, Tibetans, Buddhists, and the Inuit. Each people, culture, and way is a testimony to humanity's manifold search for meaning, and the loss of any one of these peoples I would mourn.  When I enter the Chapters bookstore I am struck by the sign that says the "The world needs more Canadians".   I want to communicate to our kids that the world needs more Jews and more Jews with a love of Judaism and Jews.

Let me share with you a couple of articles that lays out the size of our challenge.  One from Haaretz: Studies: Jews in Israel and the U.S. are no longer seen as a single nation.  The findings are disturbing, as the crux of our creed and historic identity is that Jews are one people, rather than than scattered individuals sharing a religious confession only.   The other is a piece by Ariel Berry,  a graduate student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of New York and a graduate of Hashomer Hatzair, a socialist-Zionist youth movement.   He is a rising star in the Jewish firmament. For more on his bio click here : Ariel Berry.   His piece speaks to how culture is not enough for a Jewish future: Jewish identity - lite.   I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this. 

Jews Speaking to Jews Postscript

As a postscript to the Jeffrey Goldberg--Shmuel Rosner dialogue, you can listen to Jeffrey Goldberg interviewed on the KCRW radio show, The Politics of Culture: Jeffrey Goldberg on 'Prisoners' .  In this interview, he speaks very candidly of his journey from Long Island to Israel.

My own postscript:  I have just returned from a whirlwind trip to Israel, having visited with three sister Reform congregations in the North.  I will write more about this and other matters in subsequent posts.

El Al

El Al, originally uploaded by HagitR.

My bags are packed; my heart is full. Despite the seriousness of my mission, I never cease to be anything but excited and joyful at the prospect of being in Israel. I wish each and every one of you were able to come with me. I will take your collective spirit in my knapsack. Shavua tov!

Jim Lederman at Emanu-El

This Kabbalat Shabbat, Jim Lederman - the longest serving Jerusalem based foreign correspondent - came to speak to us. He captivated everyone present with the depth of his erudition and the breadth of his perspective on Israel, the Middle East, and the larger world order.  He reminded us that the tail of history is long and that we can only understand and face our present while glancing backwards.  An audience of Jews should need no reminder of this, but it serves as a necessary corrective to the seduction of present-ism. He promised he would post his lecture on his blog in a few weeks but in the meanwhile you can explore Jim's thinking here: Jim Lederman's Blog.

By the by, this Shabbat the energy in our sanctuary was palpable.  Carla Silver served as our chazzan sheni, standing in for our cantor.  Many many thanks to her for making our evening full of warmth and spirit. I felt in some small way we lived up to our name Emanu-El, Ha Shem was dwelling with us.

Offending Everyone

The noted 17th century diarist and British MP Samuel Pepys was horrified by the Jews.  At least, he was aghast at Jewish religious services, finding them cause to cry out to his--apparently more sedate--God: 

"But, Lord! to see the disorder, laughing, sporting, and no attention, but confusion in all their service, more like brutes than people knowing the true God, would make a man forswear ever seeing them more and indeed I never did see so much, or could have imagined there had been any religion in the whole world so absurdly performed as this. Away thence with my mind strongly disturbed with them..."

Humorously, Pepys was not aware that he had witnessed a traditional Simchat Torah celebration, with all its wild abandon.  Nonetheless, Pepys might have been offended in any event, for Judaism is not simply a reasoned philosophy or rational way of thinking; it is also a whole-person, suprarational way of living, which sometimes requires abandon.  Pepys' critique is not one limited to the 17th century or to non-Jews, however.  Even today, I hear discomfort expressed by some Jews about the ways in which other Jews pray, bemoaning their lack of attention and the confusion found in their shuls.   While I am profoundly glad that we have a variety of modes of worship and shuls amongst our people, I fear that we stand in disturbing company when we critique each other so forcefully in these matters.

By the way, I came across Pepys' diary entry in the British Jewish Chronicle, in a blog posted by Miriam Shaviv.  Shaviv happens to be the daughter of the headmaster here at CHAT.   Read her whole post here: Shul on Simchat Torah -- it's a riot

To leap from the 17th century to today's pop culture, you may also want to take a look at Alex Kasriel's posting in the same newspaper [Britain's equavalent of the CJN].  I must give a health warning:  you will either find it hilarious, or you might agree with Pepys and condemn Jews as being utterly without taste or decorum.  Read her posting here:  When YouTube goes JewTube

Sukka on the air

Sukka on the air, originally uploaded by e fisher.

We build a sukkah in the air when we have no room on the ground for one. Likewise, when we cannot be in the same room on the ground, we must converse "in the air"--i.e., virtually. Welcome to all to this weblog.

Jews speaking to Jews

One of the things I have come to love in Canada is the value of restraint; Canadians interact with each other with a respect and politeness that I, from a more rambunctious part of the world, find refreshing.  Nonetheless, I must say that this great Canadian value seems to make it more difficult for some Jews to speak openly and directly about the issues with which we struggle (and about which we disagree passionately).  I spoke during the Yom Tovim about our need to communicate honestly and fully with each other, but I know that this is more elusive than not.  So today I want to present a wonderful model of the kind of dialogue I believe we need to be having.  Jeffrey Goldberg and Shmuel Rosner, both well respected journalists, allow us a window into their conversation about American Jews, Israeli Jews and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.    Read it here: Prisoners: A Muslim and a Jew Across the Middle East Divide (the link takes you to only to the first entry: be sure to click through all the entries listed at the top of the page). 

New Yorker writer Jeffrey Goldberg is, by the way, an American Jew who made aliyah and served in the IDF, before returning to the United States.  I wasn’t aware of his background when I read his pieces in the New Yorker, but it makes intuitive sense;  he always seems to exhibit an empathy that goes beyond journalistic talent.  Here is an article he wrote in 2004 on the settler community on the West Bank (Among The Settlers) that furnished painful insight.  It is a must read.   It came as no surprise to me when I discovered that this article was used by the Jewish Agency as a Israel teaching resource (see here for more.)

I will, I am quite sure, write more in future posts about Shmuel Rosner.   Suffice it to say that this Israeli Haaretz journalist is someone always worth reading.

Happy Sukkot

Happy Sukkot by Zach Pousman, zach@thinky.org, originally uploaded by Rabbi Landsberg.

I hope you have most sweet and lovely Sukkot. I was scouring for an image to sum up the feelings that Sukkot evokes within me and I found it in this picture.  I can think of no better way to wish you and  your families a Sukkot filled with abundant blessing. I hope you can join us in the Temple Emanu-El Sukkah this 5767.   Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation for all the hardwork performed by our Sukkah building team who once again, make Sukkot here so very special. You can see the men at work here Sukkah building at Temple Emanu-El .

If you would like to deepen your understanding of Sukkot a good resource to turn to is My Jewish Learning.

Chag Sukkot Sam'each

Shira Herzog appeals to Diaspora Jews after the war in Lebanon

Since my arrival in Canada, I have discovered that Shira Herzog is one of the most incisive commentators on Israeli affairs. Her latest article is an appeal to Diaspora Jews to embrace a more socially oriented agenda in how we direct our efforts and activism towards Israel. Her article was published Rosh HaShanah morning, while I was broaching the very same themes in our sanctuary. I am more than glad to find I am in such good company as Shira amplifies these issues. 

Read it here: Diaspora should heed public outcry in Israel