SPECIAL COMMENTARY

Making Renaissance Real

are inspired by a Judaism that gives
Washington, D.C.
texture to the concept of "a light
new term is taking hold in
unto the nations," that makes them
the lexicon of Jewish life:
partners in kindling a global reawak-
renaissance. The United
ening of values. They want a cele-
Jewish Communities,
bratory Jewishness. They want to
whose General Assembly met last
"do" Jewish things.
week in Atlanta, has given "renais-
When we use the term "renais-
sance" marquee status as one of the
sance," sparks are struck in
four pillars of its work. I
eyes that have been glazed
take particular joy in the
with indifference. Renais-
arrival of this new brain-
sance has become our
child.
watchword. "Maximizing
Ten years ago, alarmed by
the number of Jews doing
the results of the National
Jewish with other Jews" has
Jewish Population Survey, the
become our mission state-
Jewish community rallied
ment.
around the concept of "conti-
The concept of renais-
nuity." By focusing the com-
sance that we have pro-
munity's efforts on new
RICHARD M.
pounded is more than a
approaches to education,
JOEL
replacement for continu-
continuity connected our
Special to
ity. It requires each of us
past, present and future. It
the Jewish News
as individuals and as mem-
was a step in the right direc-
bers of Jewish communi-
tion, but now it is time to
ties to create new and
move farther along that path.
more beautiful expressions of
As Hillel Chairman Edgar M.
Judaism, renewed and more beauti-
Bronfman and I toured campuses
ful Jewish communities.
discussing continuity, we discovered
Having chipped away at this sub-
that the idea did not resonate with
ject for a few years, I would propose
college students. They did not want
a series of principles to inform our
merely to continue; they wanted to
renaissance agenda as individuals
build. They wanted to create. They
and members of Jewish communi-
wanted to own. They wanted — and
ties. These Six Principles of a
want — a Jewishness that enhances
Renaissance Covenant are a work in
their lives with values and joy. They
progress and I invite readers to share
Richard M. Joel is president and inter-
their thoughts with me at
national director of Hillel: The Founda-
principles@hillel.org
tion for Jewish Campus Life.
1. Literacy. There is no renais-

A

sance in darkness. Literacy pro-
vides light for the mind. Jew-
ish literacy provides light for
the Jewish soul. We must
know our story and embrace
learning.
2. Covenant. As a people with a
4,000-year-old covenant with the
Transcendent, we have certain rights
and responsibilities to ourselves, to

Maximizing
the number
of Jews
doing Jewish
with other Jews
has become
our mission
statement.

others and to the world. By acting in a
sacredly self-conscious manner, we can
guide our actions to meet our aspira-
tions.
3. Participation ("Doing Jewish").

"Doing" has been the hallmark of
Jewish life since Mt. Sinai.
Doing Jewish is passionate and
celebratory, constructive and life
affirming, informed
by our great story and point-
ed toward a better future. Participa-
tion (doing), not membership, is the
key to a Jewish renaissance.
4. Trust. It is time to trust one
another personally and institutionally.
The whole must be greater than the
sum of its parts. We are all responsible
for one another.
5. Shalom Bayit ("Peace in the
House"). The House of Israel needs to
be whole; it has never been one. We
must learn to esteem one another
while permitting radically different
ideas and paths. A renaissance plural-
ism will honor one's right to be wrong
while remaining part of the Jewish
family.
6. Pride. We must act with pur-
poseful pride. Jewish life — and
Jewish lives — must be excellent.
We must celebrate our Jewishness.
At the UJC General Assembly in
Atlanta, more than 300 Jewish student
activists wore buttons saying "Make
Renaissance Real." Now that the word
"renaissance" is at the heart of the
national Jewish agenda, these young
people challenge us to fulfill the
renaissance vision in ways that perme-
ate every aspect of Jewish life and that
are meaningful to a new generation.
The joyous work of renaissance has
just begun. ❑

LETTERS

We believe there are many reasons
for the success of the evening. The
most significant is that we, as Jewish
women, share many common Jewish
values. We embrace these values
whether we consider ourselves
Reform, Conservative or Orthodox.
Beth Applebaum

Sharon Jaffe

Debra Holzman Silver
Temple Emanu-El

Sheri Weil

Esther Sherizen
Young Israel of Oak Park

Bobbie Lewis

Sharona Shapiro
Congregation Beth Shalom

11/26
1999

38

Let's Talk
`Un-Turkey'

A story by Elizabeth Applebaum
("Let's Talk Turkey," Nov. 19) said,
"But just a few generations ago, Jews
wondered if turkeys were even
kosher...
This is still a question to ponder.
A growing number of Jews are keep-
ing kosher by simply avoiding any
and all animal products. There are a
number of commercial plant-based
substitutes for the traditional center-
piece of the Thanksgiving feast. Tur-
tle Island Foods makes a Tofurkey,
and Now and Zen offers a seitan
(wheat gluten) based "un-turkey."
Both of these products have been
seen in local health food stores. Any-
how, "There's plenty to eat, without

eating meat."
The Jewish biblical perspective on
vegetarianism has been covered in
great detail by Dr. Richard Schwartz,
author of Judaism and Vegetarianism.
See his articles at
arrs.envirolink.org/ar-voices/schwartz
Maida Genser
Jewish Vegetarians of North America
Royal Oak

Probe Is
Misdirected

Pardon my disbelief and puzzlement,
but it has been widely reported that
the newly founded and funded United
Jewish Communities, the umbrella
organization for America's Jewish fed-
erations and the United Jewish
Appeal, has hired a private detective

agency to determine who leaked the
fact that it was about to award the
prestigious Isaiah Peace Award to
Palestinian Authority leader Yasser
Arafat (UJC Probes Leak," Nov. 19).
When the information was pre-
sented by the Boston newspaper, the
Jewish Advocate, enough outrage sur-
faced that the new organization
began issuing a series of conflicting
stories denying, then confirming the
event, and finally canceling it entire-
ly.
What I find beyond belief is that
these mavens of Jewish charity, and
acclaimed pillars of the established
American Jewish community, were
not embarrassed that they were giv-
ing the award to Yasser Arafat. They
were embarrassed rather by the fact
that they had been found out pre-
maturely, before the blessed event