Good piece by Rabbi Art Green about where American Judaism is and can/should be headed spiritually and organizationally. I suspect he over-reads the Pew study data about Jews of religion or no religion, and I think he is mistaken in positing that the basic orientation he advocates can take hold only via a panentheistic theology, ie, God being within all, as opposed to being an Other entity. His own mentor, Abraham Joshua Heschel, developed a rich theological map and urgent spiritual program based on a God who is Other, yet Who acts more in line with the God Rabbi Green describes, rather than his bogey-God who rules over history. Unlike my colleague, Rabbi Shai Held, Im not invested personally in this separate-Being, Personal God, over the neo-mystical God-that-is-within-All, but as a Torah educator, I think its a big mistake not to leave theological room for it. I think that Rabbi Green (and Rabbi Held) are both on point when homing in on the essential theological responsibility of today -- in R. Greens words, Do you encounter a divine presence in the natural world around you?” and “What does that encounter call upon you to do?” My experience listening to and learning with many different contemporary Jews suggests to me that this message resonates strongly and broadly, but that different people can access it through different theological language. To me, it is a shame to lose the ability to help help people access this urgent question of covenantal spiritual living -- which they may be hungry to access -- over a metaphysical commitment which may be largely a response to ones own personal needs or baggage. But on the whole, this piece should be read and taken seriously.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 10:53:04 +0000
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