It's a new world, Golda...

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

From Jewish people to Jewish purpose: The new age of social innovation in American Jewish life

Shalom All,

“Mah sh’hayah, hu sheyih’yeh; umah sh’na’asah, hu sh’yei’aseh; v’ein kol hadash tahat hashamesh,” ” What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; And there is nothing new under the sun.” Kohelet 1:9

Professor Cohen’s article reminds all of us of the timeless truth of the 3000 year old wisdom of King Solomon quoted above. Turn back the clock forty plus years to 1968 and one could write a very similar analysis referring to the beginning of the havurah movement with the establishment of Havurat Shalom.
In fact, check out volume one of “The Jewish Catalogue,” by Siegal, Strassfield and Strassfied, beginning on page 281 to see what I’m talking about.

What interests me most is Professor Cohen’s last paragraph with a title WARNING. He writes:

“The community may well need to ‘change or die’.”

Correct! This is the amoral Truth of life itself. In the animal and plant kingdoms
(for the purists among us the biological kingdoms are: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Archaea, Bacteria) it is called natural selection; in economics it’s called capitalism. Prof. Cohen continued:

“The change agenda requires three components: a ‘wedge’ - a critical image of contemporary reality,”

Correct again! We can’t change what we don’t acknowledge. And the brutal and unvarnished Truth is that non-orthodox Judaism and its primary delivery system, the synagogue, are woefully broken and out of touch with the vast majority of Jews, most of whom are unaffiliated. The same can be said as well of the majority of affiliated non-orthodox Jews whose most likely reason for affiliation is a bat/bar mitzva for their child(ren) or another lifecycle “fix”, and/or the perceived need (for ever fewer of these folks) for a High Holiday or other worship service. Prof. Cohen continued:

“a ‘magnet’ - a vision of how things could look,”

Once again King Solomon’s words ring true. “B’ein hazon, yipara’ ‘am” “In the absence of vision the people will be unrestrained.” Mishlei 29:18.

Vision is “a passion producing picture of a preferred future.” Thanks to Bill Hybels Senior and Founding Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, A megachurch in northwest suburban Chicago, for this alliterative masterpiece. Vision answers the question, “Why do we need this synagogue?” Vision casting is about the creation of a compelling narrative around which the folks will coalesce. People will connect emotionally when a God and community honoring vision is cast, ultimately resulting in them feeling personal ownership in/of it.
Professor Cohen continued:

“and a ‘bridge’ - a means by which to move towards that vision.”

The means would be mission, values and strategy defined as follows. Mission answers the question, “What business must we be in to move intentionally toward fulfilling our vision?” If the mission statement is crafted skillfully (Peter Drucker said it should be able to fit on the back of a tee shirt), it too can draw people into connection with it and each other. One can’t know what business one needs to be in (mission) without first creating that compelling narrative that paints the passion producing picture of the preferred future (vision). After Why? and What? comes… Walues (I know daeinu already with the alliteration). Values are nothing less than the guiding principles and behavioral engines for all synagogue activity.

The measurable success of the megachurch is directly traceable to the clarity they and their members ALL (not just their paid staff and lay leadership) have about the vision, mission and values of their respective communities. The resulting focus and unity that they have makes other churches as well as synagogues without such focus and unity appear to be struggling by comparison.

Strategy answers the question “how?” Before you have a “how?” you need to have vision–the passion producing picture of the preferred future; a mission: a statement of what business you’re in so as to move toward the fulfilling the vision; and a statement of value: to know what will be the behavioral engines of all strategic/tactical action taken.

Then and only then can one undertake formulating a strategy, i.e., answering the “how” questions. Strategy can and must evolve over time; vision, mission and values ought to be the 2nd “Torah miSinai” of a synagogue.

Since it all starts with vision the question is first and foremost: Where/What exactly is that clear, crisp and compelling vision (as defined above) for non-orthodox Judaism and it’s primary delivery system, the synagogue?

Chabad “sh’lihim” have deeply held kishke level convictions (not to be confused with mere opinions or beliefs) about their vision for a Jewish future as well as what they have to do to bring it about (their mission). So strong and heartfelt are these convictions, that they are willing to live a very frugal/bare minimum lifestyle as independent entrepreneurs in order move that vision forward.

The founders of Willow Creek Church (Bill Hybels and the youth group he led) sold apples door to door in the early days (the mid ’70’s) of their community in order to raise funds to further their vision and mission.

Rick Warren and his wife started Saddleback Church (a megachurch in Lake Forest CA), 30 years ago with a bible study of 6 people and no money.

So I’ll repeat my question and add a few more. Where/What exactly is that clear, crisp and compelling vision (as defined above) for non-orthodox Judaism and it’s primary delivery system, the synagogue? And will this vision inspire kishke level convictions in non-orthodox Jewish leaders (one might ask is there such a thing as a non-orthodox Jew having convictions about anything but that is a whole different discussion)? An obvious component of these convictions (if Chabad and the megachurch are any indication) is the willingness to live financially modest lives in order to move this vision forward. Are non-orthodox
Jewish leaders willing to trade comfort for a God and community honoring vision and mission? These are the real questions that need brutally honest answers.

Sadly the pasuk from Mishlei repeated below rings all too true as a description of the current reality of non-orthodox Judaism.

“B’ein hazon, yipara’ ‘am” “In the absence of vision the people will be unrestrained.” Mishlei 29:18.

Biv’racha,
Jordan

Beyond Spiritual Consumerism. . . Or Not

Shalom All,

People do things for two reasons: because they want to or because they have to. Most Orthodox and a small minority of non orthodox Jews are in the “have to” category: ” ‘ol malchut shamayim,” is a real and abiding obligation. Some are in the “want to” category. Judaism for most who self identify as Jews is neither a “have to” nor a “want to.” What’s left is the great opportunity to persuade those marginalized and disenfranchised Jews to ‘convert’ to the ‘want to’ group. This is the ever growing pool of “just Jews” about whom the vast majority of congregational Rabbis as well as the Jewish movements, academics and “leadership” are clueless as to how to reach with measurable success. Indeed, it appears that these “experts” have abandoned the vast majority of these “just Jews.”

In contradistinction, the ten word mission statement of Willow Creek Community Church (a megachurch in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago) is “to turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Jesus.” Yes it’s evangelistic and so is Habad. Willow and Habad not only understand that opportunity, they both have kishke level convictions about their obligations “lo l’hibatel” from seizing that opportunity. Quite simply there can be no renewal of non orthodox Judaism or its synagogue without an antecedent non Orthodox analog/equivalent to kishke level convictions.

Biv’racha,
Jordan
eashtov

City Rabbi Goes Country

Shalom All,

@Rabbi Jamie: Thanks for addressing my original question above re the utility of your learnings as the Adventure Rabbi, in an urban/suburban synagogue setting. While the questions you pose re Psalm 23 and Job (without the backdrop of Nature) may be of interest to someone like me, i.e., one who is already engaged in Jewish life and study, I have my doubts as to the efficacy of this approach (without the backdrop of Nature) with those on the margins of Jewish life. Psalm 23 and Job have to earn their way back into the consciousness of most non Orthodox Jews who have all but given up on Judaism and the synagogue for anything beyond a life cycle or High Holiday fix.

My other questions above remain as yet without a response.

@Dr. Ron: Extending a hand is a wonderful beginning; i.e., making a warm and welcoming, first impression. The bigger questions remain: What will the rest of the High Holiday experience look and feel like, especially to those who we don’t otherwise see during the the rest of the year and may not see ever again?
What are we going to do that will deeply penetrate the hearts and minds of the members of our communities so that they will choose to engage with the synagogue and Judaism in a more meaningful way (beyond the near trivial lifecycle and High Holiday fix) after the High Holidays?

In the consumerist world in which we live where “what’ s in it for me,” is the operative question, “relevance” is the key to bringing the disenchanted, 
disengaged majority of Jews back to Judaism and the synagogue. Theses folks will not even think about no less care about “Job and Psalm 23,” until Judaism and the synagogue prove that they understand their lives as they are lived and experienced in the 21rst century. The folks want to know that the synagogue and and Jewish teaching, have “walked a mile in their moccasins.” People ought to leave the synagogue saying, “yes they really get it,” and not “so what,” or heaven forbid, “whatever.” The only hope for Judaism’ s life transforming prescription of a life of holiness is through the doorway of relevance.

I just heard from a Rabbi friend of mine that President Obama, had a conference call very recently that was open to all rabbis from the non orthodox wings of Judaism. The President called for the rabbis to help him in getting his healthcare initiative passed by seeing this as a moral issue and not a political issue. Obviously the President realizes the unique opportunity presented by the High Holidays to reach more Jews in the pews than otherwise seen the rest of the year. So it’ s now obvious to me that at least one High Holiday sermon this year in many if not most non orthodox synagogues likely will be on this topic.

And it won’ t have any carryover value for the rest of the year re involvement in the synagogue nor in “doing” Judaism.

President Obama and his team better understand the importance of this unique opportunity to reach the Jews in the pews with his vision for healthcare than we do with our vision for the synagogue and non orthodox Judaism!?!!??!! What a shame!!!

In the High Holiday liturgy we find “B’ rosh hashana yikateivun, u’ v’ yom tsom kippur, yeikhateimun, mi yixyeh umi yamut…” On Rosh haShanah it is written and on Yom Kippur it is sealed; who shall live and who shall die…..

So the question is “will the synagogue and non orthodox Judaism be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for the coming year?” God only knows and it doesn’ t seem like we’ re doing m uch to help Her/Him out with the decision.
What is the necessary redefinition of “t’ shuvah, t’ fillah, u’ ts’ daqah” needed to “avert the severe decree” i.e., to change the fate of the synagogue and non-orthodox Judaism?
Biv’ racha,
Jordan Goodman

City Rabbi Goes Country

Shalom Rabbi Jessica,

Most synagogues are in urban/suburban areas. What were the transferable takeaways and learnings from your adventure that are strategically and tactically applicable to that reality?

With Rosh Hodesh Elul coming this week, the High Holidays are fast approaching. High Holidays are the single biggest outreach and inreach opportunity of the synagogue year; more Jews in the pews than at any other time. What action(s) are you advising congregations to take to maximize this singular chance to engage or re-engage the vast majority of otherwise disengaged and disenfranchised Jews, who for whatever reason find themselves in “shul” for the holidays?

These folks are looking to be challenged and engaged. They are looking for a reason to return to the synagogue and Judaism for more than an occasional lifecycle fix and yearly high holiday fix. The clock is ticking and we can’t afford to ignore this once yearly unique opportunity to reach and teach those we otherwise won’t see, perhaps ever again.

Biv’racha,
Jordan

PS If you’d prefer to take this offline my email is eashtov and my phone # is 847 520-9610

Synagogue 3000: A Concurring Dissent; Or, Of Babies and Bathwater

Shalom All,

Though this just hit my desktop, Pastor Rick Warren gave this talk in 2007, and it is germane to this discussion. It’s a little less than 20 minutes long. And, in the spirit of Shim’on ben Zoma’s important question and answer, “Who is wise? One who learns from all people.” Pirke Avot 4:1; it is worthwhile as well. Re the Christian theology that’s used; I’ve found that mentally substituting Torah for Jesus, Godly for Christlike, and Torah for usually works quite well.

My question is simple: where are the talks like this one, on the Jewish side of the aisle to be found? Where/Who are the Jewish teachers that teach and talk about these things?

http://www.qideas.org/talks/default.aspx?id=14

Happy Father’s Day and Shavu’a tov,

Biv’racha,
Jordan

Synagogue 3000: A Concurring Dissent; Or, Of Babies and Bathwater

Shalom all,

Indeed, this has been an interesting thread! Warning: an overarching assumption and generalization about the status quo is coming. To the vast majority of Jews in the non-orthodox world, Judaism is of trivial to near meaningless concern, and its primary delivery system, the synagogue, has been and remains ineffective in changing that truth. Quite simply Judaism and the synagogue are marginal to irrelevant to most Jews.

We’ve done a fine job identifying the status quo. Few of us have outlined an actual strategy for fixing Judaism’s primary delivery system, i.e., the synagogue, in order to move Judaism from a fringe concern to a more valuable part of the lives of most Jews. To be sure, that’s what S3K and STAR are trying to do. And I find it quite disconcerting to have read the post of Rabbi Jessica, an alum of both of these organizations and a now a consultant for S3K. Rabbi Jessica with state-of-the-art Jewish leadership training is at wit’s end about the status quo and what to do about it. No blame or finger-pointing intended; I’m just trying to understand.

The challenge is to help Rabbi Jessica with the following hypothetical and question. You have ONE chance to Jewishly reach your Jewishly disengaged
“Gen X” peers. Budget is NOT an issue. Our objective/goal is not only to get them to assemble initially; it’s to engage them in such a way that they would want to return for “seconds.” What strategy and tactics will/would we employ? I know that this is the $64 zillion dollar question and I believe that we have the insight and tools to formulate a workable plan.

I wrote “one chance,” as I believe the truth of the old “Brylcreem” (hair goop) commercial, that “you only get one chance to make a good first impression.” Combine this with the fact that in a world of internet and information abundance the only thing that is really scarce is attention, and you can see the importance of getting it right the first time.

I offered the beginnings of a solution to the hypothetical that I just posed in my longer post above in the paragraph that began, “The problem is relevance..” In the spirit of Shim’on ben Zoma’s important question and answer, “Who is wise? One who learns from all people.” Pirke Avot 4:1, I offered hope in the form of the suggestion to learn the lessons of successful megachurches, a segment of organized religious life that continues to grow in contradistinction to the remainder of denominations that are in decline.

Rabbi Tarfon said, “the day is short, and the work is great, the workers are lazy, the reward is much, and the Master is demanding.” He also used to say, “it is not your duty to complete the work, nor are you free to abandon it…”
Pirke Avot 2:20-21.

Shavu’a Tov to all of us,

Biv’racha,
Jordan

Synagogue 3000: A Concurring Dissent; Or, Of Babies and Bathwater

Shalom All,

@Rabbi Gary,

For the record I did not compare you to an ostrich as you suggested in your last post. I did say, “For the vast majority who identify as Jews (the approximately 4/7 Jews who are unaffiliated as well as the majority of the non Orthodox affiliated), Judaism and the synagogue are not in the “have to” (read obligatory) category and no amount of handwringing or ostrich-like desire to turn the clock back to the “good old days” (read the middle ages) will change that fact.”

As you can see I was referring to your ideas and not you. This is not just a semantic triviality. I am sorry you felt insulted and ideas are fair game in a forum such as this one. I offered mine and welcome any and all criticism.

@Allan

Bingo and Dittos!!!

Where Would Darwin Daven?

Shalom All,

Below is a link to Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s latest blog entry secifically about this article.

Kol Tuv,
Jordan

http://rabbirami.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-would-darwin-davven.html