Alive in the Marketplace of Life - Judaism Wants YOU!

Leaders of the American Jewish community have been pouring over the latest demographic and cultural data from a survey done by the Pew Research Institute. Rightly so, there is much to be alarmed at from the findings. And yet, I believe the time is ripe for a new Jewish renaissance. For far too long, Judaism has kept a low profile in the marketplace of religion in America. We have a tradition of not actively proselytizing and even turning potential seekers away. Whether this was due to the historical effects of anti-Semitism, or a circling of the wagons, we have often only focused our attention in the Jewish community on those that were by birth traditionally considered Jewish. In the modern world we live in though, this alone is not enough. After all America is about competition in the marketplace of ideas. It is about the best rising to the top and succeeding. The fastest growing religious group in America is “None of the Above.” Interestingly however, the Pew study found that 94% of those polled said they were, “proud to be Jewish.”

Like the 94% I am proud to be called a Jew. I am proud of what Jewish wisdom and ethics has to say about our world and our lives. I am proud of the multiplicity of opinions, and ideas that our Jewish tradition uniquely applauds and cherishes. I am proud to be part of the creative enterprise which is the growth and prosperity of the State of Israel. I am proud to teach and learn, sing and dance, celebrate and comfort, remember and create anew with my fellow Jews. I am even proud to make choices that run counter-cultural to what everybody else is doing (some of the time). I am proud to believe that there is something greater than myself, and that I am indebted to, grateful for, commanded by, and in partnership with God. Yet, are we as a community too proud to encourage and actively seek out and welcome spiritual searchers who have no particular faith affiliation? We should be saying, “Come one, come all! Learn what Judaism and Jewish living has to offer!”

Ask any rabbi who has guided new Jews-by-Choice into the Jewish people how they feel when these Jews become vibrant and active in our community. It is a deeply sacred experience to see people so moved by Jewish life and practice taking the plunge into the mikveh, making their declaration of faith, and choosing their new Hebrew names. The power of the moment reminds us that our tradition is indeed compelling, meaningful, and holy. People choose and want to be a part of it. Our tradition celebrates Jews-by-Choice by giving them, as part of their Hebrew name, the spiritual parents of Abraham and Sarah, and reminds us that it is from Ruth the Moabite that King David descends.

I believe the future vibrancy of the Jewish community rests in part on reaching out to all spiritual seekers, both those traditionally defined as Jewish, and to the countless people who are just searching for something meaningful. I believe there are many people just waiting to be invited into our tradition, to be welcomed into our tent. We must not turn people away, but instead invite them to join in the experience, the wealth, and the benefits of Jewish life. In America as in the modern world at large, we cannot be a closed community, we need to recognize that we are all Jews-by-Choice on our journey of faith and life. So a big welcome to all! Judaism wants YOU!