Spirituality at B’nai Jeshurun: Reflections of Two Scholars and Three Rabbis
This S3K Report on "BJ," features three fascinating pieces. Professors Ayala Fader and Mark Kligman undertook a very rich and revealing ethnography of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (BJ) on New York’s Upper West Side, back in 1998 under the auspices of then Synagogue 2000 and BJ itself. Ten years later, they present a reflection now, of BJ, then. "The New Jewish Spirituality and Prayer: Take BJ, For Instance" discerns the elements of BJ’s synagogue culture in a truly insightful and valuable fashion.
Then, B’nai Jeshurun’s three spiritual leaders - Rabbis J. Rolando Matalon, Marcelo R. Bronstein and Felicia L. Sol - offer their fascinating perspective on the distinctive BJ experience in, "Take BJ from its Rabbis’ Point of View."
S3K cofounder Rabbi Larry Hoffman and S3K Director of Research Professor Steven M. Cohen introduce the companion pieces, adding their views and insights to the mix. These three pieces, compiled into one report, then, combine the perspectives of outsiders and insiders, as well as rabbis and social scientists, upon one of the most intriguing developments in Jewish congregational life in North America today.
Download PDF (and read the rest of the report)
Tags: b'nai, bj, bronstein, jeshurun, marcelo, matalon, prayer, rabbi, roly, spirituality, synagogue
November 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Shalom All,
In the the first eleven pages, the academics miss the point; from page 12 to the end of the report, B’nai Jeshurun’s rabbis make it.
They not only make the point they’re actually doing what’s necessary to attract Jews back to Judaism and the synagogue in real time and with measurable success. And it’s far more than just about their worship services on which the scholars are unduly and narrowly focused.
B’nai Jeshurun’s model appears to be the living embodiment of Rabbi/Dr. Richard Rubenstein’s statement on page 148 of his book “After Auschwitz.” He writes, “Judaism will continue to make a distinctive contribution as long as it develops men and women who function as an element of creative discontent before the regnant idolatries of any given time or community.”
Rav todot and bravo to B’nai Jeshurun for bringing their heart thumping and God honoring mission to reality.
Biv’racha,
Jordan Goodman
November 19th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
November 28th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
January 12th, 2010 at 9:58 am
December 2nd, 2010 at 4:43 pm