2 Responses to “It’s a new world, Golda…”

1. eashtov Says:
   August 23rd, 2010 at 7:23 pm

   Shalom Rabbi Jessica,

   You wrote:

   “As Tevye said to his wife in Fiddler on the Roof, “it’s a new world, Golda.” And that was a long time ago… Imagine how surprised they’d be to see what Judaism looks like today.”

   So…exactly what does non orthodox Judaism look like? Do you distinguish between Judaism and Jewishness? if so, how? Prof. Cohen’s description of “30 something” Jews has a lot of what they ARE NOT or what they DO NOT do. Other than the accident of birth that can confer Jewish status on anyone, the occasional enthno-cultural remnant (guilt fixes like life cycle events), or some generic social action event that can be called “tikkun ‘olam,” what that’s specifically Jewish in the term “Jewish purpose” (that Prof. Cohen uses) is it that identifies the Jews of your cohort?

   Wholeness,
   Jordan

2. Jessica Zimmerman Says:
   August 24th, 2010 at 10:38 am

   hi, jordan
   great question!

   much better minds than mine have been trying to answer it for the last ten (?) years, as my generation has been moving steadily into adulthood. no matter how much we flinch (or how much last sunday’s new york times magazine insists we’re unwilling to become adults) the truth is, we’re there now. we can’t deny it anymore. so– what we’re going to look like as the next generation of leaders is no longer the relevant question for scholars to ask. we have to get to the point: who ARE we?

   we ARE: totally acculturated into american life– educationally, musically, socially. lots of our friends and partners are not jewish. we learn from and enjoy many of their cultures and spiritual practices. AND– we’re the freest, proudest generation of jews ever to live in america. we love sharing the best of our jewish traditions, foods and ideas. we are excited by the jewish values which have enriched our own people for centuries– and we want to share them with our friends. we are aware of the ideals at the core of judaism– of tikkun olam– how we treat the stranger and how we make the world a better place for all. we are deeply committed to living lives of meaning, connection and relationship — and we want to do it through a jewish lens.

   so– what now? we need to build communities of relationship which allow us to celebrate and explore our history and heritage and bring people with us into a judaism which is relevant and inspiring. we need communities of connection, meaning, learning, celebration. we need leadership that helps us take responsibility to build communities which are our homes– where we feel comfortable, challenged and ready to host others!

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