Editor's Letter

Giving Tradition Relevance

I is no longer enough to teach young people about Jewish
practice Judaism is because it makes us more ethically, spiritu-
tradition. We also must show them how to apply what they
ally, engaged human beings. "The goal;' he said, "is not to be
learn and make those applications matter.
Jewish. It is to be a developed, involved, flourishing human
Its not enough to pray for healing; we also must strive to
being. Judaism is a technology to achieve that!'
improve access to medical care and prescription drugs. It's
So the key question is: If you are proud of your Jewish iden-
not enough to say hunger is bad; we also must strive to ease
tity, but don't apply Jewish tradition and values in everyday life,
it through Meals on Wheels and food
are you a good Jew? There's too much subjectivity to derive a
banks.
definitive answer. But Kula is right: "When we wind up obsessed
Studying tradition without acting on with Jewish identity and not the content and pragmatic applica-
its lessons is an exercise in strip min-
tion of the identity, that's the end!'
ing. Such action is crucial to making
our sacred tradition come alive and
Challenging Thought
give it enduring texture.
Kula, 50, is a regular on the TV and radio talk show circuit with
Young people not brought up Torah
200 appearances a year. In his latest book, Yearnings: Embracing
observant want to be shown that their
the Sacred Messiness of Life, he explores and celebrates seven of
parents, teachers and mentors practice
our deepest desires.
what they preach.
In his JFS talk, he described the American Jewish dream in
"When that's done, the tradition itself the years since the Holocaust as not only to feed, house, clothe
is proven to work:' says Rabbi Irwin
and care for fellow Jews, but also to widen and deepen the char-
Kula, president of the New York City-based CLAL-The National
acter and compassion of what makes us Jewish.
Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.
"Do we ratchet up the dream?" Kula asked.
For perspective, Kula was ordained at the
He answered "yes" and reiterated the need
Conservative movement's Jewish Theological
to connect tradition with reality. "If you put
Seminary in New York City. He's one of the
up a mezuzah at a time when homes are being
most provocative thinkers on the shaping of
foreclosed and you don't make a connection of
the American spiritual landscape.
urgent need," he said,"it's better to take off that
Animated and enlightening, he said: "We
mezuzah!'
have this assumption that there's this holy
Moving on, Kula said a new challenge for
stuff and religious stuff over here and then
American Jews is to use the power, freedom
our social services network and agencies over
and affluence attained since Nazi Germany's
there!' Kula called this a fundamental discon-
demise and Israeli statehood in ways that
nection. And I agree.
spur an even broader impact. Resistance is
Jewish continuity is the passage of our heri-
the course of choice, he said. "It's no different
tage from one generation to the next. Kula says
than reps on an exercise machine he said.
Rabbi Irwin Kul a
much of our younger generation is discon-
"If we want to grow our moral, spiritual, ethi-
nected from the tradition, including
cal, psychological muscle, we must
its wisdom and practices. He says
feel the resistance. That's the weird
this generation sees how successful
thing: The adrenaline rush of going
Christianity is in drawing younger
beyond the call of duty, and work-
followers and wonders why Judaism
ing with people who go beyond the
can't be equally attractive. I wonder
call of duty, provides spiritual juice
the same thing.
— a Jewish juice
Because of the expanse and
The Identity Trap
effectiveness of its services, Kula
Rabbi Kula keynoted the 80th annual
said, Jewish Family Service has the
meeting of Jewish Family Service of
potential to help Detroit Jews fulfill
Metropolitan Detroit on June 3 at the
the dream of instilling our children
West Bloomfield JCC. His stimulating talk before 210 people
with meaningful applications of our tradition.
dwelled on the nature of Jewish identity and the trap it presents.
"If you inspire that connection:' he said, "I promise you that
He said a Jewish community that spends millions of dollars
our children will learn the text, and how to apply it, so easily, it
teaching about Judaism but fails to deliver on essential com-
will be like mother's milk!'
munal needs is caught up in "identity tribal politics!' He said
I don't know if Rabbi Kula's formula for bringing young peo-
a Jewish community that focuses on identity and not also on
ple into the Jewish fold will work. There are too many variables.
the purpose of identity building is flailing in "a cultural death
Only time will tell.
spiral!'
But let there be no doubt: He's one compelling speaker. ❑
While intrigued, I sought clarity of the thrust of his mes-
sage. It seemed to be that Jews view caring for people in pain
What are other ideas to make tradition
or distress as separate from what he called "the Jewish identity,
echo for our young people?
education, continuity industrial enterprise!' It seemed to be that
if we don't demonstrate the tradition we teach our children, we
Do we dwell more on the tradition of
lose their buy-in.
mitzvot than doing mitzvot?
I found resonance in his contention that the only reason to

Rabbi Kula is one of the
most provocat ive thinkers on
the shaping of the American
spiritual lands cape.

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June 12 • 2008

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