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Monday, January 8, 2007

American Jews: Can't We all Just Get Along?

American Jews are weird.

Let’s face it, this is the only country in the entire world where Jewish people identify their religion by first stating their denominations. Not that there aren't different flavors of Judaism in other places but they identify themselves as Jews. We, on the other hand, identify ourselves as Orthodox Jews or Reform Jews etc. With those designations comes a chasm in the unity of out people. And it is that unity (with lots of divine help) is probably the biggest reason we have stayed together as a people.

This divide is widened every day, by each of the different divisions, from the reform Jew who looks disparagingly at the Orthodox guy in "traditional black garb", to the conservative man whose title for the reform Shul down the block is Temple Two Daysayear, or the Orthodox fellow who believes that Rabbis of a different "flavor" of Judaism are not qualified to have a halachic discussion. As Jews in America we are more concerned about what separates us than what keeps us together.

In a speech delivered at the First Annual Aleph Society Dinner in New York in 1995, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz said:

If we want to survive, we cannot do it by simply surviving. There are more Jews, of one description or another, living in the United States than anywhere else. They did, all in all, quite well for themselves. But what they did not do was to create a communal future to look forward to. As individuals, some are very successful, perhaps as successful as Jews were in any other place ever in history. As a community, as a people, they are second raters, third-raters or less. One cannot go on living with the knowledge that you have to be a third-rater forever. It cannot be done. You cannot have a people striving and struggling, fighting and working only for that.

In Shul tomorrow we finish the book of Beraysheet (Genesis). This book can also be called the book of fighting brothers: Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers. Even at the end of Beraysheet after the death of Jacob, the brothers lie about Jacob's last wishes because they don’t quite trust Joseph.

It isn't till the book of Shemot (Exodus) that we find brothers getting along, Moshe and Aaron. Not surprisingly the Jews are not considered having grown from a family to a "people" until Shemot. I think HaShem is telling us that we are not really a people unless we treat each other as loving family.

In the last week or so, I have written many posts about the goings on in the Five Towns. At the same time I received many e-mails questioning my right as a Jew who goes to a Conservative Shul to participate in that discussion. Please understand that my intent was to follow the Torah commandments about protecting the weak against the strong. I never had any intent to disparage any Jew who follows the minhag of a Rabbi ordained by an Orthodox seminary. I try to avoid disparaging the observance level of any Jew. To be honest, I am too busy learning how raise the level of observance in my home, than to worry about it in yours, be it Orthodox Jews, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, or any other type.

This week as we leave the book of fighting brothers, lets dedicate ourselves to being more like Aaron and Moshe, brothers who respect and love each other, instead of being what Rabbi Steinsaltz accurately described as "third rate" at being a people.


Shabbat Shalom

9 comments:

Jeremy Jacobs said...

I went to a dinner party fairly recently. One of the attendees, a non-Jewish woman of senior years, said about Jews(she didn't know my ethnicity) "the first thing about Jews is that they tell you that they are Jews".
I didn't take it personally but this is typical, in my experince, of the thinly veiled anti-semitism that still haunts Anglo-Jewry.

Anonymous said...

When Hitler, may his name be obliterated, wanted to destroy the Jews, he didn't differentiate between the scholar and the ignorant, between the one garbed like a chossid and the one who did not even have a yarmulkah... They were all Jews to him and his murderous attack dogs. He even went as far as 7 generations backwards to find out if there was any Jewish blood in a German's veins and this including some very prominent people in the arts, in the sciences and in politics.

Frankly, as a people united we are invincible, divided we always sink. Perhaps, it would behoove some of my brothers to remember that having extra knowledge is not a crown in itself. The crown of knowledge can only shine when we teach each other, when we teach those who ask and those who don't know how to ask, when we teach the smart one (even a true scholar knows there is so much more to learn!) as well as the foolish one! Knowledge is an obligation for us Jews. The possession of knowledge entails a further obligation, the obligation to teach with understanding and compassion. Ultimately we are all one people... ask any antisemite!

Anonymous said...

I thought the Sanhedrin had the responsiblity of setting the halachah for Hashem’s commandments. Would the reestablishment of the Sanhedrin help settle such disputes?

Anonymous said...

Two comments:
1. "Reform" "Judaism" = oxymoron.
IF you are so concerned about the disunity, then you should get behind the singularity, and that is Torah observant Normative, Rabbinic Judaism.
This means dumping all the "reform" non-shuls, as well as "conservative", etc.
There can only be unity if we are united behind Torah.

There is no such thing as "reform" "Judaism".
And we do, in fact, know just about exactly what we are commanded to do.
Thus this comment:
2. "Would the reestablishment of the Sanhedrin help settle such disputes?"
- Is silly.
There are no real disputes.
Just some folks who don't want to observe Normative Judaism.
Further, the guys running this org are not recognized as torah scholars. In fact they include Trotskyites!
So that group cannot possibly be an authority for others.
Bye from Cleveland.

Anonymous said...

RabbiHaim has left a new comment on your post "American Jews: Can't We all Just Get Along?":

The "YidwithLid" posts a blog entry asking for Jewish unity; "let's live as brothers with no divisions," and he posts it on Shabbat, (accordng to the blog's dating). There is an old Southern story about Granny and Gramps riding down the road. They pass a convertible with a young couple snuggled up, (the young man driving and hs lady friend up against him). Granny asks Gramps, "Remember when we used to drive around like that?" Gramps responds, "I haven't moved."

Unknown said...

Rabbi i just double checked to see if I was crazy (which I admit I somtimes am) the post was dated Saturday at 11:40 PM.at which time not only wasnt it shabbos but I had already began to long for next shabbos. The point is what I usually to is when I post...post it 4-5 times across the day because people check the aggrigators at different times. On friday when I pick my Shabbos post(s) I ususally do it for 11 oclock or after on my blog. This is for two reasons. the first is that. anyone who goes to my blog to read on will see a non shabbos time. The other is for some silly reason Jrants shows my time at -5 hours. so when I show it at 11:40 jrants will show it at 6:40.

Beyond that to be honest Rabbi, My "shomer shabbos" level has nothing to do with the article. The article is trying to say that all Jews shouldnt do what you did, but we should find ways to play nice in the same sand box. And you kind of proved my point with your response. Instead of saying it would be nice for all of us to get along, you responded ...Look A shabbos violator. If one of my posts reaches a non observant Jew on a shabbos that is a good thing.

The great Rabbi Steinsaltz once told a story about a Jewish guy who told him that he eats bacon, but only on Saturday, because saturday is the only day he has time for a big breakfast. This guy said that He loves saturday's Because that when he gets to eat bacon.

Rabbi Steinsaltz responded by saying like, well Hashem says were are supposed to honor the Sabbath, and while this is not the way I would ever recommend honoring Shabbat, at least you have found a way to honor shabbos.

If someone goes online to read about Jewish issues on Shabbos, it is not the way I like to study on Shabbos, but I would prefer that to not studying at all. And based on the story above, I tend to thing that the man who I think is the greatest rabbi of our time would probably agree also.

Anonymous said...

My comment is being made to answer two individuals who though technically right are absolutely wrong in their approach.

Kol Yisroel achim, areivim zeh lozeh - All Israel are brothers, guarantors one to the other CHaZa"L taught us. What does it mean? It means that while one may have learned more than another, this simple fact does not make one better or superior. What my brother does, whether because of apathy or ignorance is my fault as well as his. If Hakodosh Boruch Hu, in His infinite wisdom, has given someone the wherewithal to learn something, he also has imparted that individual with an obligation. That obligation is to lovingly teach one's brothers and sisters!

Not to act arrogantly is an imperative, as Hashem Himself reminds us: "There is no place in this world for both an arrogant man and I." How then do we rebuke someone who is doing something wrong? How do we do bring him/her close that he/she may understand and learn and not repeat the wrong? Nobody who is truly an observant Jew can dispute the fact that Halacha is Hashem's blueprint for the path we Jews must follow. Nobody can dispute that only through a strict adherence to Halacha do we become an "or la'amim - a beacon unto the nations." But Halacha is not a cut and dried, black and white matter. What distinguishes the great posskim - decisors through the ages, what makes their responsa endure the passage of time, what makes their writings to still be consulted with reverence, is their absolute understanding of human nature. Long before psychology was coined as a word or the concept of such was even understood, our Rabbis already practiced it. They knew human nature, they saw the special circumstances of each case brought before them. Whether one speaks of the Noda B'Yehuda in the 16th century or Rav Moshe Feinstein in the 20th and everyone in between, or prior, or after, they all have one trait in common, in spite of the different circumstances, in spite of the advances in science, in medicine, etc... etc... That trait is a thorough understanding of human nature, coupled with a deep ahavas Yisroel and a deep sense of compassion. While these individuals' knowledge of Torah in all its ramifications was encyclopedic, they were great not just because of their knowledge but because of their tremendous humanity.

When a fellow Jew pleads for unity, it behooves us all to remember that at our most glorious time in the desert, when the Jewish encampment was surrounded by the "Ananey Hakovoid - the Clouds of Glory," this circumstance was made possible though the ministrations of Aharon Hakohen, who made peace among husband and wife or among one Jew and another. Because of that peace we were a united people, an invincible people!

When Hashem wanted to rebuke Aharon and Miriam for speaking about Moshe (albeit for the purest of reasons) amazingly the Torah tells us he used the word: no - please. The Holy One, Blessed be He, talks to two humans and says, please?!?!? He needs to plead with humans?!?!? Certainly not! Would Aharon and Miriam not have heeded His words if he had just commanded them? Of course, there is no question of that! Why, then was it necessary for the Boireh Oilom - Creator of the Universe, to say please to mere humans who exist or cease to exist at His will? Hashem, as the Creator, knows the human heart and while there was no question that these two would listen and immediately and unhesitatingly do as told... there would be something deep within their subconscious that would hurt, that would resent so He said, please.

If Hakodosh Boruch Hu, Himself rebukes with love how much more incumbent is it upon us humans to rebuke with love, with understanding and compassion? Surely knowing a sefer is admirable, but letting it penetrate one's heart is the real culmination of learning that sefer. When we rebuke, we should not sound either arrogant, better, or even proud that we are different than the one rebuked. Not only is that a totally ineffective rebuke but we have dragged ourselves down to the level of the one earning the rebuke... in fact we are dragged even lower, because whereas the one deserving the rebuke may not know or care, the rebuker supposedly does know. Should the rebuker, rebuke in a way that violates the halacha he or she comes to defend?

Rabbi Chaim Szmidt
Lecturer
Kollel Ayshel Avraham Rabbinical Institute
Monsey, NY

Anonymous said...

Reb Leivi Yitzchok of Berditchev one of the early Chassidic Masters, was famous for always finding something good and admirable, no matter the horrible deed the other Jew may have been guilty of.

It is said that one day he was walking, very early in the morning, through the fields when he saw a Jewish farmer milking a cow. As he got close, he saw the farmer sitting down with tallis and tfillin, as he got even closer he heard the farmer davvening, as he was really close he realizes the farmer is reciting the Eighteen Benedictions.

Any of us, lesser mortals, would have exploded at the fool. He is getting his hands dirty with a cow while wearing tallis and tfillin, he is sitting down instead of standing during the Eighteen Benedictions, is this an idiot, or what. He should be slapped around, to teach him proper respect for Hashem!!!

But what did, Reb Leivi Yitzchok do? He stood barely a foot away from the ignorant farmer raising his hands to heaven. With a voice trembling with emotion, he screamed out at the top of his lungs: "Ribon kol Oilomim - Lord of all the Universes, see how precious your Jews are! Even when they must work every waking moment to support their large, poor, family they do not forget to pray to you!"

Always we must judge our fellow Jew's behavior in the best light, no matter how outlandish. Judging our fellow favorably will earn us a favorable judgment. This is often more important than rebuking. Had the farmer been rebuked the way any of us 21st century "scholars" would been tempted to, we might have caused that farmer to never davven again. And when he finally would get to the point where is he old and one of his sons could be doing his work, while he properly and fervently prays to Hashem... he may no longer be interested or used to praying. We must think carefully of the circumstances before we rebuke, we must think carefully of the consequences before we open our mouths.

Following WWII, a 19 year old survivor found himself alone out of a chassidic family of 12 children, all the others had been exterminated by the Nazis. He was mad at Hashem, he felt He was either a cruel sadistic God or He did not really exist. In a case the 19 year, alone, angry, embittered resolved to never pray, to never follow the religious life his parents had brought him up in before the war. What was the point, he reasoned, how did it help his devoutly religious parents and siblings?

Soon he was found by some relatives who lived in New York. They helped him come over to the US as they tried to get him to come back to his ways of old. They were still religious, why not he? He wouldn't listen and finally they gave up. He kept no Shabbat, didn't cover his head, didn't pray and certainly did not put on tfillin in the mornings. This went on for a while until one day the relatives convinced the young man to visit the newly arrived Klausenburger Rebbe. The young man was willing on condition the Rebbe not start telling him to eat kosher, to go to to shull, etc... If the Rebbe would attempt to tell him such things he would run away and never again set foot in their home. They reluctantly agreed. After the Rebbe spoke to the whole family for a while, he asked everyone to step outside except for the 19 year old. When they were alone, the Rebbe asked gently: "What hurts you, my son?" unable to hold back his tears he answered, "Hitler took them all and only I survived..." "Yes, yes," answered the Rebbe,"my wife and children too" as he embraced the young man and they cried together... That young man came out a changed person. The Rebbe's simple words came from his heart and they penetrated the heart, "Dvorim hayoitzim min halev, nichnasim lalev! - Words that come from the heart penetrate the heart!" The young man became a chossid again because the Rebbe did not rebuke. Today that young man is much older and has raised a beautiful chassidische mishpoche - family. Had the Rebbe used one word of rebuke he would have run away and probably never returned to Hashem... And yet, the Rebbe, subtly, gently, lovingly, compassionately, did rebuke... didn't he?

Perhaps when a Jew pleads for achdus -unity, we should not first look at his/her faults, we should look for common ground and embrace as one family!

Rabbi Chaim Szmidt
Kollel Ayshel Avraham Rabbinical Seminary
Monsey, NY

Anonymous said...

I live in Woodmere, and I have noticed some things that are someehat discerning.

I think there is a BIG danger in the distance and rifts that are emerging between the segments of Jews here.

The one reason I became observant was to feel a bond with other Jews, and to make sure my kids don’t assimilate like everyone else.



While I may be observant compared to a non-affiliated person , I find my reletively "left wing orthodox" life style is less and less compared to the average orthodox person. This is NOT the issue. The problem is when I feel more and more irrelevant, unconnected towards the general orthodox community.


When the message you get is that you as a Jew are different than the trend of the typical orthodox person, when there is little social interaction or interest in you because you are not the cookie cutter type , when so many of the ads you see in the 5 towns Jewish times are geared towards other Jews and not you , you can feel disenfranchised.


It is only when I get yelled at by Public School parents at a district 15 meeting do I feel part of the "frum" community. I also connect on Israel issues.


Nobody is evil or bad. Nobody means harm. It may be natural for people to gravitate towards whom they are more similar with. And there are many nice, friendly, frum people.

People are not cliquy or snobby becase they are frum. They are cliquy or snobby DESPITE being frum. Human nature seems to overule.