This seems like an excellent strategy for all peoples who want to preserve themselves, including whites. Can you imagine the uproar if whites published these sentiments about preserving their own group?
At some point, however, inclusion leads to diminishment. At some critical point, boundaries become so porous that they no longer function as boundaries, and standards become so vacuous that they lose all meaning. This decision brings the Reconstructionist movement to that point, and to the degree that it places pressure on other denominations — and history suggests that it will — then it risks damaging our religious, moral and spiritual leadership at a time when we need it the most.
Here are some of the comments to this article on the Forward.com:
* This, to me, is a mistake. The deep, new reality of the moment we are in is one in which people inhabit multiple identifies and boundaries at the same time. I am Jewish, and also someone who meditates taking from Eastern religions, who works in an interfaith context, has a Christian mother / Jewish father, and who could theoretically choose to be any religion, actually — but more likely is that I’m going to choose to be multiple things at once in order to piece together a full spiritual life.
Jewish leadership, in this age, is about showing how living a good life is deeply possible within a Jewish framework. Checking membership cards for Rabbis or whomever feels a little silly when we are faced with a crisis of meaning and an age of radical choice (unlike any other context in Jewish history).
I would also say that I know intimately what it feels like to be INCLUDED by decisions like this — rather than excluded, as I have been in different contexts over the years. And wow, a welcoming and invitational approach really shifts how I am able to show up in whatever context. Duh. But stuff like this isn’t an abstract theological discussion, but involving real people and real moral opportunities and tests.
I just wish we’d spend less time policing the boundaries of who is a Jew, and more investigating and learning and publicizing what makes our community’s ethical monotheism so critical as a spiritual technology for this age.
* Indeed you have chosen to be “any religion.” To you this blending of cultures, traditions, rituals and spiritual practices is wonderful.
It may be just peachy for you, but it is not Judaism. It may be personally enriching to you, but while you take from your “multiple identities” It sounds like do not accept the responsibility that comes from living a committed life that builds up those traditions.
You can take what you want and leave the parts that are too challenging, annoying, boring, or whatever because when you do not commit to a religious community, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or whatever, no one can make demands of you or expect anything from you. You are precisely the predictable outcome of RRC’s decision, people of partially Jewish descent
who are not committed to the wellbeing of Jewish life or the Jewish people or civilization. Your post supports the editor’s position by the case you make for syncretism and disconnection.
* Eisner is asking the impossible. She is asking Jews to remain universalists and full participants in diaspora society while remaining a people apart. This deeply misunderstands the fact that we are all temporal beings in a temporal world. Human beings and their contexts change. If we don’t understand that, and figure out a way to deal with that reality, then all the musar-ish lectures by Jane Eisner won’t accomplish a thing.
* How about this. I cannot marry you because our religion commands us to believe in one God, and not in strange gods. Love, unfortunately, cannot do away with this commandment.
If you do not believe in the Jewish religion, fine, marry whom you please. Those of us who regard our commitment at Sinai seriously, have a different answer. Good luck, best wishes, and do not close the door behind you.
* As a non-Jewish partner of an intermarried couple, I’m tired of hearing this discriminatory, fallacious, and short-sighted “argument.” I’m tired of putting up with the racist insult that I’m unworthy of Jews — and worse, the lie that my presence in the community is somehow an existential threat to the people I love.
I’ve been married to a Jew, learning about Judaism, co-creating a Jewish home, attending shul, and marching in the streets with Jews for social justice for ten years. I’ve always been committed to what many Jews tell me are “Jewish values.” My partner and I see eye-to-eye politically, ethically, and theologically about almost everything, and when we don’t, we argue. How Jewish is that?
So why not simply formalize what has already happened anyway in the most important ways and make my conversion to Judaism official?
Because the fact is, while I’m fully committed to living what could easily be defined
as a “Jewish” life, I simply do not identify as a Jew. My own background happens to be diverse, and I refuse to accept the fallacy that I have to renounce or ignore everything non-Jewish about my identity in order to exist among Jews without harming the Jewish community. Not only have I not harmed anyone, I’ve actually seen my perspective as a non-Jewish ally benefit some of the Jews in my life. As an outsider, I’ve asked unexpected questions about Judaism that have prompted us to analyze Jewish texts and rituals together in new ways. It seems like more rabbis should think more critically, carefully, and creatively about Jewish traditions and texts, asking new questions, and that if a non-Jewish partner can particularly assist in that effort, it should be welcomed and encouraged.
I’m not a Jew, but I’m proud to say that Judaism has become my home. I was lucky enough to have been welcomed by many thoughtful, confident Jews who agreed that it doesn’t matter that an Orthodox, male rabbi hasn’t muttered a few brachot over my head and given me a new name. Many progressive Jews will enthusiastically argue that there is no one “true” way to be a Jew, yet there are so many self-appointed gatekeepers. We strangers are here to remind you that “the stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself.” We’re here in love, friendship, and solidarity, and like it or not, we’re not leaving. I’m thrilled that the Reconstructionists have decided to join the proud tradition of iconoclastic Jews who have had the moral courage to reject racism and tear down walls.
* I am a resident of the U.S, here legally. I have never applied for citizenship. It is racist that I am not allowed to vote because some U.S. Federal District Court Judge has not muttered a few words over me.
