h Life!

d Kushner's latest book is
sews.

JONATHAN WILLIS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

"I write the same
things I said when I stood
before my congregation,
only now I have a wider
audience for what I have
to say," Rabbi Kushner
said.
Much of Rabbi Kush-
ner's message shows his
feeling toward the grow-
ing assimilation and
intermarriage of Ameri-
can Jews. Traditionally,
Jews were forced to be
Jews by a hostile outside
society and only had lim-
ited opportunities to
leave Judaism. He said
that Jews are inevitably
shaped by American cul-
ture, which does not take
Jewish values very seri-
ously.

For American
Judaism to
survive,
individuals
must be more
aggressive.

Rabbi
Kushner

arold Kushner is a man
on a quest.
The much celebrated
author of Why Bad
Things Happen to Good
People has recently
focused his energies on
encouraging non-affiliat-
ed Jews to re-examine
their heritage.
When an opportunity to
write a book for
Christians about Jews
fell through, Rabbi
Kushner decided to write
To Life!, a guide to why
Jews should be Jewish.
To Life! is directed
toward young Jews who
seek answers to lifelong,
ageless questions that
allow us to be more fully
human, Rabbi Kushner
said.

In Detroit to speak at
Congregation Shaarey
Zedek's sisterhood lun-
cheon on May 5, Rabbi
Kushner spoke of his
hopes for the book.
"Nothing I will ever
write will approach the
importance of Why Bad
Things Happen to Good
People. Maybe this book
will help some Jews feel
more positive about them-
selves as Jews, to counter
some of the negative
experiences they may
have had as children,"
Rabbi Kushner said.
Giving up his pulpit
three years ago to focus
on his writing and speak-
ing, Rabbi Kushner views
his books as extensions of
his pulpit.

"We live in a hyper-
democratic society where
you can choose to do or be
anything," he said.
"Judaism is just an option
in a sea of possibilities."
Directing To Life!
toward ambivalent Jews
who may have been seek-
ing answers with groups
like the Hare Krishnas,
Buddhism or the Uni-
fication Church, Rabbi
Kushner wants to encour-
age Jews to feel more pos-
itive about their own reli-
gion.
"Judaism helps people
meet the challenge of ful-
filling their human poten-
tial," he said. "The power
of Judaism is that it
allows you to make the

ordinary holy. To be holy
is to immerse yourself
more into the world and
make it more relevant
and meaningful."
For Rabbi Kushner,
there are only serious
Jews and non-serious
Jews.
"Some committed Jews
allow their lives to be
shaped by living tradi-
tional Jewish values.
Others meet the need of
having God in their life
by working for charities,
by being a good neighbor,
or working for Jewish
organizations," Rabbi
Kushner said.
Rabbi Kushner believes
the only way for
American Judaism to con-
tinue to survive is for
individuals to be more
aggressive in encouraging
Jewish growth and devel-
opment.
"We have to view inter-
marriage as an opportu-
nity to bring more Jews
into our community," he
said. "We have only two
choices in our response to
modernity. We can either
ghettoize ourselves and
close ourselves to secular
society, or we can be more
open to proselytizing and
welcoming Jews-by-
choice."
Though only on book-
shelves for just over a
month, Rabbi Kushner
thinks that To Life! is a
valuable tool that will
encourage Jews to ask
the questions that will
allow them to see the
richness of their heritage.
"I have come to define
Judaism as making the
ordinary extraordinary,"
he said. "Judaism helps
turn everyday moments
into something holy and
meaningful." El