What is the Greatest Unresolved Challenge Facing Liberal North American Jewry?

What is the Greatest Unresolved Challenge Facing Liberal North American Jewry?

"We have to be lifelong learners as well as doers. Not all of us can be learned but we all can be learners, coming to a richer understanding of the choices we must make as Reform Jews."

    Robert M Heller

 

Eilu V'eilu is produced by the URJ Department of Lifelong Jewish Learning.
Eilu V'eilu: Volume 27, Week 4

 

I thought this was a very engaging question to ask.  "What is the Greatest Unresolved Challenge Facing Liberal North American Jewry?"  I believe that the question is too narrow in scope.  There are numerous challenges that will determine whether or not Reform Judaism will have a secure future.  In Heller's rebuttal, he places much emphasis on attracting more donations by philanthropists to congregations and other organizations as a method of providing a strong future.  He feels economic support will allow these entities to help themselves and the result would be a strong and inviting branch of Judaism.  I strongly disagree with Robert Heller.  The American Reform Judaism can be revitalized if it choose to lead the Jewish and non-Jewish world, rather than be a "follower" branch of Judaism.  Instead of talking and debating about change, it must become doers of change in the Jewish Diaspora in America and the world. 

One of the great challenges facing liberal North America Judaism is Interracial integration.  The face of American and world Jewry has changed.  No longer can Jews be recognized by their manner of dress, traditions, rituals, and or skin color.  Jews can be found in all the major racial groupings and sub-racial groups.  However, Euro-American and European Jews largely refuse to accept and endorse Jewish interracial couples, Jewish interracial families, Jewish interracial children and multi-racial families. Over many years of personal observation, I have noticed in the Reform Magazine, a leading publication produced by the Reform Movement, there are People of Color in their advertisements for various camps, trips to Israel, whatever. There have been featured stories of examples of Jews of Color.  However, for Reform Judaism to resolve the problem of "Interracial integration, examples of Interracialism must be everyday and common place not examples of such "supposedly non-biasness.

Another issue is the need for Jews of Color in Israel and the Diaspora, whether in the Reform branch of Judaism or the three other remaining branches of world Jewry to be accepted and included as "Jews".  We do not want to be labeled as " Jews of Color".  Often Jews of Color must seek friendships and relationships outside of Judaism to feel accepted as equals.  It is most difficult for the progeny of interracial Jewish families who grow up Jewish.  When they are ready to date and marry, they must again look outside Judaism for a partner. Many are force to choose between being  Jewish or whatever white society tells them they are. They often cannot have both. The Reform Movement must take the first step toward the goal of not only inclusion but endorsement of such individuals, couples and families in the publications we produce and in our community. Interracial individuals, families and relationships should not be seen as the last alternative but the first in mainstream Judaism.  It is important the second largest and most influential Jewish population outside the State of Israel, take the lead in overcoming these barriers to equality.

The issue of economic disparity within our Jewish communities, is another challenge that face Liberal North American Jewry.  One community maybe well off, while others are destitute.  One community maybe able to afford two or more Rabbis, while another cannot afford to pay rent on a room to be used as a place of worship. We must remember our communities are made of individuals.  Many with well paying jobs while other unemployed or living on some kind of pension such as welfare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, whatever. Our temples and other places of worship charge membership dues.  This is unfair.  No one should be required to pay money to be a member of any house of worship.  Yes, there must be a way to pay for staff and other needs of the place of worship.  But there must be equally a concern to care for the needs of the individual so he or she may become a contributing member of the Jewish community.  Instead of building newer and more elegant houses of worship, put the tzedakah into building strong individuals.  It has been said, "Why feed the soul of a man today, what about tomorrow and the next days to follow? Make sure the man can feed himself today, tomorrow and the days to follow.  Not only have you saved his sense of respect and self worth, but you have planted a seed that the entire community may oneday benefit from."

Finally, Liberal North American Jewry must come to grip with the fact that it has largely placed a wall between itself and the impoverished, non-whites and those deemed inferior who seek to convert.  Our congregations are largely "white", middle to upper class incomes, college educated and conservative.  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, membership standards have been kept high to keep out "social undesirables".  In order to make sure that Reform Judaism in North America does not decline, our communities as well as clergy must begin to represent and reflect the diversity not found in any Jewish community.  This is true whether it is Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or Reconstructionist Jewish communities..  Our rituals and even way of worship must begin to incorporate the various way other groups observe Jewish holidays, etc.. I am not saying discard all the social traditions and rituals.  I am saying, promote both in our communities and places of worship. We must be willing to open our communities to change.  We cannot and should not expect those who convert to Judaism to leave their cultural and assume being "Jewish" and "Jews", if there is no place for them in the Reform communities. The greatest challenges that face Liberal North American Jewry is Interracial integration, giving Jews of Color a avenue to drop being "Jews Of Color" and be Jewish, economic disparity within our Jewish communities and finally removing congregational and social barriers to conversion.

The question posed in the beginning of this commentary is symptomatic of the approach that is and will hamper the Reform Movement especially in America.  It examines one aspect of the problem without dealing with the entire problem. I strongly agree with Robert Heller's statement, ..."We have to be lifelong learners as well as doers. Not all of us can be learned but we all can be learners, coming to a richer understanding of the choices we must make as Reform Jews."