A Language from page A76
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008
17 —
a weaker tie to Jewish community.
This individual sees Judaism as a
path to personal fulfillment and
a source of human wisdom. To be
Jewish in the 21st century for them
means to share Jewish wisdom with
the broadest possible audience —
Jewish and non-Jewish — wherever
that audience
resides: locally, nationally or glob-
ally.
We'll call this group "personal-
ists" because while they by no
means negate Jewish community,
their quest for personal meaning for
themselves and others takes greater
precedence than Jewish communal
concerns.
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A78
September 25 • 2008
JISI
Is Unity Possible?
Sadly, it is unlikely that placing a
new lens on communal definitions
will enable greater collaboration
with "tribalists," although that is not
a reason to write them out of the
Jewish community. But a rethinking of
categories can more effectively unite
"covenantalist" and "personalist" Jews
around all kinds of causes, unlike
existing categories of "secular" ver-
sus "religious;' or "Orthodox" versus
"Reform" (or some other denomina-
tion) that exercise polarizing effects.
The deplorable allegations against
Agriprocessors, the kosher meat pro-
cessing plant in Postville, Iowa, illus-
trate how an issue of importance to
the Jewish community like kashrut
can degenerate into a denomination-
al dispute when approached through
standard denominational categories.
For example, the situation is viewed
in some circles as a Conservative
versus Orthodox family feud because
the Conservative movement is
sponsoring the move behind ethical
kashrut known as heksher tzedek,
while many elements of Orthodoxy
are skeptical of the Conservatives'
motives.
Conversely, the situation shows
how redefining communal categories
could potentially garner a broader
consensus. Those who care about
the mitzvah of kashrut being prac-
ticed correctly from a legal point of
view, those who are also concerned
about ethical dimensions of kosher
slaughter, and those who care about
the human dignity of the immigrant
workers could all potentially unite
under one umbrella around this
issue.
Covenantalists — includ-
ing Jews who identify as
Conservative, Modern Orthodox,
Reconstructionist, Reform,
Independent, etc. — could work
together with personalists around
the ethics of humane treatment
of animals. Secular and religious
Jews also could find common cause
around the abuse of immigrant
workers. Those involved in Jewish
grass-roots social justice groups
who may be covenantalists or per-
sonalists could enter the conversa-
tion as well.
Coalition Building
This reshuffling of Jews into broader
categories focuses more on their rela-
tionship to community and less on
their particular religious practice or
belief. It, therefore, creates the poten-
tial for new coalitions around impor-
tant issues and new ways to relate
to one another on a daily basis that
labeling by denominational affiliation
alone does not allow.
New categories can promote fresh
thinking about issues, sensible col-
laboration and vibrant partnerships.
In contrast, when sitting around
"the table" grouped by denomina-
tion, a specter of past ideological
battles and competition for current
resources appear. This diminishes
the opportunity for larger thinking
and action.
The reality of denominations as
a way of religious organizing will
remain for the foreseeable future.
Denominations as a way of religious
organizing help to sharpen theol-
ogy and fine-tune religious practice
these are its virtues. Its primary
vices are the potential for triumpha-
lism and exclusion, neither of which
the Jewish community can afford.
That is why we need to supplement
our current way of viewing corn-
munity, reframing the alignment of
active Jews to help promote greater
inclusiveness.
Thinking in these new terms can
provide another lens through which
we can analyze issues, expand oppor-
tunities for working together and
relate to one another with greater
appreciation and respect for what we
can each offer the other in the coming
new year.
In 5769, let's create more inclusive
categories to describe ourselves so that
we can fight less and work more on
the many complex issues that we face
as a community.
❑
Rabbi Hayim Herring is executive director
of STAR - Synagogues: Transformation
and Renewal.