REFORM JEWS AT A CROSSROADS January 12, 2024
Following October 7, the Israel-Hamas war kicked up a small storm in Reform Judaism. My synagogue, Congregation Sherith Israel, has not been immune.
I begin with a January 1 column in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper by Daniel Weiner, senior rabbi of Seattle’s Temple De Hirsch Sinai: “What We Reform Jews Forgot to Teach Our Children.” (Daniel Weiner is the son of my former rabbi and friend, the late Martin Weiner, z”l, who served as Sherith Israel’s senior rabbi for 32 years.)
Rabbi Weiner writes that the “infusing of tradition onto social ethics was the hallmark of the Reform Movement from its beginnings. . . . The call of the prophet—the foundation of liberal Jewish identity—affirmed the universal rights and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in the larger society. But it also reflected the desires of most American Jews to secure our acceptance in the larger society.”
Many Reform Jews define Judaism as tikkun olam—healing the world. According to Rabbi Weiner, this has created a “default toward empathy for the perceived underdogs rather than rallying around our too-criticized cousins in Israel.” As such, “we find ourselves at a crossroads.”
Last Friday night, Sherith Israel’s senior rabbi Jessica Graf commented on Rabbi Weiner’s article. She agreed that many Reform Jews have overweighted tikkun olam. Among younger Jews, Jewish peoplehood holds little sway.
Yes, prophetic calls for justice are important. On Yom Kippur, we read Isaiah. The prophet relates God’s dissatisfaction with fasting, commanded by Torah: “Because on your fast day / You see to your business / And oppress your laborers!” (58:3). But Isaiah doesn’t denigrate the Law. He castigates the hypocrisy of Jews whose attempts at atonement are insincere, betrayed by bad actions.
Judaism resembles a three-legged stool. Pirke Avot—”The Wisdom of the Fathers” found in the Mishna, states, “The world is based on three things: / On the Torah, / On worship, / On deeds of lovingkindness” (Chaim Stern translation). We sing Al sh’losha d’varim (“On three things”) . . .” when the Torah is carried through the synagogue.
Rabbi Graf agreed with Rabbi Weiner and, I dare say, Pirke Avot. There is more to being a Jew than working for liberal causes. After all, she noted, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and others, including secular people, help feed and clothe the poor, assist the needy and oppressed. That doesn’t make them Jews.
Rabbi Graf also mentioned that many Reform Jews fear being labeled “tribal.” We American members of the tribe can walk and chew gum at the same time. To wit, we can identify with the Jewish people worldwide while maintaining loyalty to the United States. Who refuses to believe this? Antisemites. I counter: Look at all that American Jews have offered this nation, including dying in its defense.
Sadly, Rabbi Graf’s comments were met by a not-insignificant chorus of groans. That was just rude. Jews don’t have to agree with their rabbis, but decency obligates us to listen before expressing a different opinion.
After the service, I thanked Rabbi Graf for speaking out on a subject too long buried. I also told her that I stand behind her.
Jewish identity loosely recalls a fiddler on the roof. It’s tough to balance on a stool with only one leg. A truer road offers three.
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While I generally agree with your post, there is one point of disagreement I want to raise. When many of us in the congregation last Friday disagreed with Rabbi Graf, it was not the larger point she was making, but rather her praising Rep. Elise Stefanik as a “heroine.” Given that for most of us Rep. Stefanik is a reprehensible hypocrite, calling her a “heroine” fails to recognize that in almost every respect she is nothing of the sort. She has utterly failed to call out antisemitism on the right, including by the former president, so turning her into some anti-antisemitic icon is simply wrong, and that’s what many of us were responding to.
Diving a little deeper, too narrow a focus on Jewish peoplehood can lead to seeing everything through the single lens of antisemitism, as our parents did. Of course, they were coming through the trauma of the Holocaust and the very public antisemitism of the 1930s, so it’s understandable. And, yes, it’s important to recognize that Jews are a people, bound together by religion, history, culture and a sense of ethics. It’s also important to recognize that our prophetic calling — which we share with other peoples — is to act in the world to make it a better place. And sometimes we need to step out of our peoplehood to see the world from others’ perspectives. As Hillel said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me; if I am not for others, who am I; and if not now, when.”
Thanks, David, for a well thought-out comment. Elise Stefanik is a not a hero of mine, either, although the university presidents she questioned blew it. I think Rabbi Graf tried to place her remark on Rep. Stefanik (R.-NY) in context. That may not have worked, but that was her opinion. Disagreement? Fine. I wasn’t thrilled with the groans. I agree that Jewish peoplehood does not mean turning our backs on each other. But many young Jews have turned their back on Israel, lacking in-depth knowledge of the history of the Israeli-Palestinain conflict. As to antisemitism in America, the Nazi threat may not be here now, but antisemitism lives on. American Jews have good reason to fear it without planning to leave the country, although many Jews tell me they give thought to that idea. I don’t downplay anyone’s fear. The post’s key point: Judaism that defines itself solely through tikkun olam does not work for me.
I wasn’t there. But I’ll tell you this. I would significantly groan in response to any rabbi who’d call Stefanik a “heroine.” That’s deplorable. It’s been a long time since I’ve regularly attended Shabbats at Sherith. I’ve attended High Holy Day services led by Rabbi Graf, and only one Shabbat. I was unimpressed, not intellectually inspired, like I was with past Rabbis there. I’m openminded, but that was that. In this, I wholeheartedly agree with David Newman’s response here. And groaning during a service where a Rabbi turns down that path is totally expected. Not rude or disrespectful. I’m not going to sit there and listen to a sermon like that, unless it’s opened up to questions from the congregants. As a Jew, I do not sit back and accept anything that is so apparently egregious; something that is said without thought and consideration to those who need our Jewish leaders to speak out against antisemitism. Considering everything that has happened since October 7th, I will not return to Sherith if there is a Rabbi who spews the kinds of perspectives mentioned. Of course, I don’t have to agree with my Rabbis. I’ve often disagreed and agreed with Rabbi Raphael during the times I’ve attended, during his services and classes. (I miss him so much.) But never in my time back then, have I heard him say or push anything like that. And if he did, I would most certainly not just groan, but get up and leave. That wouldn’t make me rude. I’m a Jew who happens to be black, and in these times, I can not even listen to any person who would call Stefanik some kind of icon. Stefanik mimics the former president who most certainly IS antisemitic, racist, and a host of other things. I wish I could return to Sherith which used to be my home, despite my being one of perhaps 3 black congregants at the time. I felt at home there. And currently, I don’t feel at home at any of the other synagogues, so, it is very sad. I am sad about it.
Thanks for a heartfelt comment, Michelle. I hear you. And I agree that we don’t have to accept other people’s opinions, a rabbi’s or—gasp—mine. Re Stefanik—rabbi Graf can better address that. Maybe as a matter of context. As to CSI congregants who are Black, they are few. Where are the others in SF? We’d love to have them. And should you want to give Sherith Israel another shot—a one-time thing—let me know. I’m there every Friday night—to daven.
David, like David Newman, my groan was because of Jessica’s characterization of Stefanik as a s/hero, someone who would call out antisemitism when liberals and progressives failed to do so. As others have pointed out, Stefanik is a hypocrite and no friend of the Jews: the hearings were a setup, targeting the “woke” culture of the elite colleges. While the Israel/Gaza war has evoked a terrifying explosion of antisemitism wroldwide, the weaponization of antisemitism in service of the right-wing agenda is definitely not good for the Jews.
I am also a firm believe in the 1st amendment and, as much as I abhor hate speech, I believe that hate speech is protected speech as long as it does not descend into harassment or violence. We suppress ideas, include hateful ideas, at our peril. I believe that the response of the university presidents, while perhaps not artful and definitely not popular, was the correct response. This does not mean that the universities should not be called out for hypocrisy and applying a double standard, but the response was correct.
Lisa, I get the Stefanik thing and will concede that a groan may be emitted as a reflex. But Rabbi Graf should have been heard out and then responded to by those who wished to do so. Let’s leave that there. Free speech has become a challenging issue for sure. I agree that the presidents’ responses were not artful, but they needed to be. Calls for genocide light a match even if the dynamite fuse is some distance away. I wouldn’t want someone to believe that genocide is contextual and therefore set off an explosive at our or any synagogue. As to hypocrisy at universities, I find it hard to believe that the presidents would call for context if genocide against African Americans was proposed. That hasn’t happened on any campus to the best of my knowledge. Hopefully, it never will. And thanks for the considered comment.
David, those of us who groaned in no way prevented Rabbi Graf from speaking; we heard her out and responded afterwards. She and I have had an ongoing email exchange and I know I am not the only one with whom she has had ongoing conversations either in person or via text or email.
I think you are absolutely correct that the presidents would not call for context were genocide against at least certain other minorities were proposed and therein lies the hypocrisy. Still, althought I may be hopelessly naive, I do believe that freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracy and is, in fact, in peril from the autocratic drift we are experiencing. The answer to abhorrent speech is more and better speech, not suppression. This is my ongoing debate with Rabbi Graf. (And, FWIW, I thought Daniel Weiner’s article was excellent.)
You are correct, Lisa, that the groans did not prevent Rabbi Graf from speaking. I’m delighted that you are having an ongoing conversation. These matters are challenging, and it is to everyone’s credit that we can discuss them without vilifying those who hold other positions. And no, you’re not hopelessly naive. There are, however, differences of opinion about what free speech involves. I see it as involving the exchange of intellectual ideas. I don’t see genocide as such an idea. Beyond that, I too liked Rabbi Weiner’s article. I’d also like to point out—again—that I believe Judaism involves more than tikkun olam, which was the premise of my post. Let’s conclude there.
Ellen and I hung around the bimah for close to an hour after services on Friday night discussing Rabbi Graf’s sermon and the issues she raised. And the issue got more discussion last night at a Coping Together session. The conversations were respectful and substantive — disagreement for the sake of heaven. A rabbi should be proud of a congregation that feels so comfortable with her that they can react honestly and spontaneously to a sermon. At least no one was sleeping through the sermon.
In response to Michell’s heartfelt comment, let me echo David P’s invitation. Come on home to Sherith Israel and join the conversation. You and your opinions should be part of the community.
Respectful conversations shem hashamyim—for the sake of heaven—are good things. And Sherith Israel remains a welcoming community.
Thank you, David N and David P! I really appreciate the invitation to come back home to Sherith Israel. That made me feel very warm and welcome. Perhaps you will see me soon. I need to feel the spirit of the community to daven. It’s powerful. I have so many good memories and would love to agree, disagree, groan, be inspired, and all of that during Shabbats and other events. Sherith Israel has always been special to me. Thank you, David P for fostering these kinds of conversations. I’m still thinking about the Tikkun Olam thing. I do think that people use it in a way that makes it seem cliché to me. Like it only has one meaning, and they don’t delve deeper. So, I’ll mos def be getting back to you about that. 😉 In the meantime, Shavua Tov, my friends! 😀
Shavuah tov, Michelle, and look forward to seeing you.
I was at services virtually. From my perspective I did not think Jessica was making Stefanick a heroine or an icon. What I got was that someone was not sweeping antisemitism under the rung. Unfortunately it was Stefanik and perhaps Jessica could have been a bit clearer about what she intended.
All that said, free speech is a treasure of our democracy to a point. You can’t yell fire in a crowded theater. The health and safety of citizens does have some priority. When college students are afraid and hold up in libraries. When Ice cream stores are vandalized. It’s not Kristallnacht, but where do we draw the line?
I grew up in small towns in Pennsylvania in the 1950’s We couldn’t buy a house in a neighborhood my parents wanted because we were Jewish. Friends at elementary school said hurtful things The Klan burnt crosses on the hillside I’m talking Pennsylvania, not the south.
Antisemitism has never gone away, it just went under the rug. Now the rug has been pulled up and we can see it. Some people are trying to find another rug to sweep it under, the anti Israel carpet. They say it’s the government not the people. Yet in Gaza they say the people and don’t blame the Hamas government.
Israel is not perfect. Netanyahu is Israel’s Trump. Couldn’t have a worse leader at this terrible time. However I’m tired of Israel being held to a standard that no other country in the world is held to. Let’s treat all countries equally. The US & the UK just bombed Yemen. Did they distribute leaflets before telling the innocent civilians to take shelter?
When there is an earthquake or a hurricane, Israeli’s are among the first to come for search and rescue and set up field hospital tents. When Aids first happened Israeli doctors went to Africa to teach people in orphanages that it was okay to hold and comfort Aids children and victims. But when Israel experience a horrific massacre, everyone is there to say they brought it on themselves. Really? Innocent kids at a peace concert? Where’s that coming from?
I agree, Sandy, that special standards are set for Jews.