Kabbalat Torah: The Pluralism Problem

This past summer, I spent six weeks in Israel participating in the Nesiya Institute’s Kehilla Israel Experience. One of the intents of Nesiya is to bring together a variety of Jews from the United States and Israel. Throughout the summer, we had many discussions about Judaism. During one discussion, one of the Israelis expressed a strong dislike for “Reform” (and even Conservative) Jews, essentially alluding to the idea that they are not really Jewish. Although, thankfully, not all of the Israelis had felt this way, there were others who said that one could be only religious or secular.
Since the Reform/Progressive and the Conservative/Masorti movements are not very large in Israel, it is not surprising that an Israeli would have trouble understanding the other movements. After a few weeks living with people who identify themselves with these groups though, many Israelis still could not understand these Jews who are “sort-of religious”, but don’t necessarily keep kosher, for example. One of the Israelis was also confused by one of our counselors who is planning on becoming a Rabbi. When we visited an Arab Shuk in Rahat, the largest Bedouin town in Israel, this counselor bought some cheese from one of the vendors, who was obviously not certified kosher. Even though the participant was no longer observant, and would have gladly eaten the food himself, he was disgusted at the fact that someone studying to be a rabbi would do such a thing. Although Israeli society definitely presents an extreme example of these attitudes, as there is significant disconnect among many of the secular and religious Jews, it still presents a great example of some of the problems that we are facing today within our own Jewish community.
In the States, Jews today may “get along” with each other, but they rarely “get together” with each other. Pluralist youth groups, like BBYO, exist, but when involved in one of these groups, teens think of themselves as “non-denonominational” members, and not as representatives of their own denomination. Because of this, bringing different Jews together in one group is clearly different than bringing different groups of Jews together.
This notion of bringing together all different kinds of Jewish teenagers for one event was the philiosophy behind the Chicagoland Symposium of Jewish Youth, which held its first-ever sympsosium this past December right here at Beth Emet. For one day, we explored the portrayal of the Jews in the popular media through clips of TV shows, movies and music, activities led and planned by the BESSY Board, and a panel discussion featuring Comedian and NPR Correspondent Aaron Freeman, Chicago Tribune Entertainment Reporter Mark Caro, our own Rabbi London, and more. Hundreds of Jews from all of the youth groups in Chicagoland were invited, including NFTY, BBYO, USY, NCSY, and more. The event was also promoted through the Jewish Student Union’s Israel clubs throughout public high schools in Chicago and on the North Shore. I had personal connections to people on at least three of the regional executive boards of the different youth groups, and I promoted and pitched the program to them. Plenty of people liked the idea, some said they would come, but when it came down to the day, only about 20-30 people gathered here at Beth Emet, the majority of them coming from BESSY. We were still able to have an amazing program, but it was not quite the same as it would have been with 50-100 people.
So, what went wrong? Maybe we chose a bad date and time, as it was so close to Winter Vacation, and kids were scrambling to finish up projects. We tried to pick a topic that appealed to everyone–after all, what teen doesn’t like pop culture? (or at least doesn’t enjoy some form of film, TV, or music?).
When I first had the idea to have a symposium for Jewish youth, I planned to focus it on Israel, not unlike an AIPAC Conference or a Club Israel event. But, as the BESSY Board was planning the event, we turned to a non-Israel topic, encroaching on territory that hadn’t really been explored before. Maybe, through this experience, we learned WHY it hadn’t been done before, as it was not as huge a success as it should have been. We were missing the key aspect that seems to bring Jews together: ISRAEL.
The main organization in Chicago that tries to bring Jewish teenagers from different denominations together is Club Israel and the JCRC/Hillel Initiative. Although they haven’t had an AMAZING track record, they have had some hit events, like the Idan Raichel concert that took place earlier this year. Two years ago, Club Israel had the first Israelity conference, and this year they were going to sponsor an Israelity event with Elie Wiesel, but it was changed to a Yom HaZikaron ceremony and Yom HaAtzmaout celebration. During the ceremony, members from the leadership of the different youth groups participated, and at least a hundred teenagers filled the theater at the JCC. Afterwards, we were treated to a Middle-Eastern dinner from Taboun.
The success of this event is testimony that the different groups CAN get together and produce something wonderful. But once you leave the realm of Israel, all hope is lost. A few years back, the regional president of CHUSY (or Chicago) Region USY gave a speech at the Walk with Israel introducing her new organization, JUCY: Jewish United Chicago Youth. The goal of this organization was to bring together and UNITE Jews from different denominations. There was no point in arguing about the different youth groups and about which one was better. Jews should be allowed to be different and take pride in their own groups, but they also need to take pride in the Jewish people as a whole.
Although it is easy for me to identify with these ideas, as someone who doesn’t like to categorize himself into “one” group, but that fact does not make these statements any less true. If kids are bickering about these things, then there is no question that adults are also having trouble uniting as one–except around the topic of Israel.
Unfortunately, JUCY fell apart, leaving cross-denomination and youth group programming up to the JCRC/Hillel Initiative and Club Israel. Don’t get me wrong. I have great love for Israel and don’t have a huge problem with there being citywide Israel programs for Jewish teens. What I do have a problem with, though, is that these types of programs are the ONLY programs that are bringing together Jewish teens. By uniting on the issue of Israel, it is almost as if we are “ignoring” the problem. Yes, we may all love Israel–but do we really all love each other?
The Talmud states that “kol Yisrael aravim zeh bazeh”, all Israel is responsible for one another. As Jews, we cannot afford to have unnecessary conflicts between the different denominations. We may not always agree with everything the other group believes in, but this is no reason for us not to accept each other. Over the past two summers, I have participated in two unique programs that deal with Jewish pluralism. During both of the programs I have met amazing people, from all over the world, who have graced the Jewish spectrum-ranging from those who don’t believe in God to those who are “ultra-Orthodox”. At Genesis at Brandeis University and on Nesiya, I have learned how to be in communities where people accept others for who they are. Next year, I hope to participate in another pluralistic program, Kivunim: New Directions, where we not only explore the communities in Israel. Every few weeks we will take trips around the world to visit other Jewish communities. These are not just programs where we say, “Hey, I like you and you like me”; they’re programs where we talk about the problems between us, with the goal of gaining increased awareness and acceptance.
This is is definitely a positive step toward the uniting of the Jewish people, but more can be done. I am not quite sure what the complete solution is, but as our class quote says, “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced”. It may take time for Jews to catch on, but if we don’t start somewhere, then we won’t get anywhere.

Shabbat Shalom.