Someone posed the question this week in class as to why we identify ourselves as Jews. I myself firstly identify myself as a Jew because that's how I make decisions of my everyday life, saying that I am a Jew is saying a lot about myself. Being Jewish is not just a religion, it's a way of life, it's a culture, a history and so much more. It's something that I am always proud of and to me is more important then being an American.
Identifying other Jews is also important to me because it's a connection that I can make with people, and it's a connection unlike any other. When I find out someone is Jewish, the next thing I ask is if they went to camp or if they were in a youth group, because these Jewish organizations make the Jewish world smaller and closer for all of us. The world talks about the idea of 6 degrees of separation, but it seems like when you're a Jew, it's more like 1 degree of separation. Here at Indiana University, although it's a large campus, that Jewish connection can make the campus feel so much smaller.
I myself love going to Chabad! The Chabad family, the Chincholkers, are very friendly and welcoming, and people who come to Chabad are just fabulous people. Shabbos at Chabad is just like Shabbos in Israel! I get a feel at Chabad unlike the Shabbos feeling that I get at Hillel. I think it's amazing how the Chincholkers are so welcoming to anyone, whether it be a reform Jew, convservative Jew, or a Jew who does not even really practice Judaism and just wanted to spend the holiday or Shabbos with them. I think that Chabad is such an interesting concept, in trying to get Jews to do a mitzvah in hopes that they will connect with their Jewish soul.
I do not agree though with the Rebbe being moshiach, but that does not even bother me when I go to Chabad or do anything with them. I've just had so many great experiences, and I think that my Jewish identity would be lost at IU if I did not have Chabad to go to.
I was really appreciative of Rabbi Sue's talk on Recontructionist Judaism, I think I had a very misguided view of it before. I think that the movement is very similar to Reform, but possibly even better, because it challenges you to make choices about your lifestyle, and have a reason. It also challenges you to study Halacha and not just follow the law, but to really learn Halacha and really decide whether or not certain laws are for you, and if you decide it isn't, you don't simply just decide that the law isn't for you, you should justify why you think so.
But what I found most interesting this week is this idea that you can be cultural Jewish and not be a practicing Jew. Someone made a remark that she considers herself cultural Jewish and Jewish because she goes to synagogue on High Holy Days. I call people who are Jewish on High Holy Days, the "twice a year Jews." I feel that if you are going to project yourself as a Jew, you should do more then the twice a year thing, whether its that you make shabbat special in some way, or you follow certain laws, or you are active in the Jewish community. I don't believe in this idea that you can be Jewish without the religion. I believe that the culture grew from the religion, and the spirit of the culture lies within Judaism itself. If you can be cultural Jewish, yet not be religiously Jewish, then couldn't someone who was not Jewish at all, claim they are culturally Jewish, and therefore recieve membership into the Jewish community. If that were true, wouldn't we lose the connections that we have?
Reform Judaism, what an uproar it can cause. I myself who grew up the Reform movement, I can appreciate what Reform Judaism has done for Judaism in general, but like I said in class today, I think that the URJ, formerly the UAHC, has been irresponsible in many places. They have failed to set any standards for the congregations that belong to the URJ. As we talked about in the class today, my mother never learned to speak Hebrew as part of her conversion process, but I spoke with a classmate who said that her mother learned to speak Hebrew as part of her conversion process. We also spoke about the differences in our congregations, her congregation has a kosher kitchen, which is good for encouraging congregates to keep kosher and also allows those congregates to eat at the synagogue and feel like they are part of the community. Also regarding conversion, the URJ was irresponsible in that they do not consider the consequences of when a woman converts according to URJ standards, those standards are not enough for her children to become citizens of Israel. Not only does this not allow the woman's children not to be able to become citizens of Israel, but some Jews will not consider her children Jewish, and her children may not be able to marry a Jew. This is a conflict for me, my mother was converted by a Reform Rabbi, granted she actually went through the mikvah ceremony, but that will not be enough for the state of Israel or for me to marry a man who is not from the Reform Movement. This causes a great dilemma for me, do I go through a conversion process, even though I was raised Jewish, and I have never been anything else, or do I reject the idea that according to Halakah I am not Jewish. I feel that I am in a sense betraying my family if I go through a conversion process, because it's like saying to them that they did not fulfill their duties as Jewish parents, and also I'm afraid they will feel as if I do not think that they are "Jewish enough."
What is the group’s basis for Jewish identification? The URJ states that their “Statement of Principles,” is there to “affirm the central tenants of Judaism.” It states that those tenants are “God, Israel, and Torah.” It then goes on to describe what those three tenants really mean in the Reform movement.
What is the group’s social hierarchy? Spiritual hierarchy? Organizational hierarchy? The URJ has an institution for higher learning for those interested in become Rabbis, Cantors or Jewish educators in the Reform Jewish Movement. The institutions are called HUC-JIR, or Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, which can be located in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Jerusalem, and New York.
Synagogue leadership, such as the executive board, are on a volunteer basis, but President, all Vice-President positions, secretary and treasurer must all be elected by board members.
Who are the group’s major figures? The current President is Rabbi Eric Yoffe, the figures most associated with American Reform Judaism was Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise.
What other institutions/companies does the organization use/own? The URJ has youth programs, NFTY-The National Federation of Temple Youth, and their overnight camps which can be found all over the continent. They have Kesher which is an organization for college students. They have numerous other organizations that are for other different age groups. They also have Temple Brotherhood and Temple Sisterhoods on a local and national level.
The URJ also has publications which include the URJ Press, Transcontinental music Publications, the CCAR Press, HUC-JIR press, and the RJ magazine.
How does the organization differentiate itself from other Jewish groups? The Reform movement considers itself unique because it is open to everyone, they are willing to accept and marry couples in which one of the partners is not Jewish. They accept homosexual couples, couples of mixed races as well.
How does the group relate to the non-Jewish world? The Reform Jewish movement is dedicated to helping not only those who are Jewish but those who are not. They are commonly found to run programs that deal with non-Jews and in conjunction with non-Jewish organizations.
How does this organization group its population? The Reform Movement groups their population by age, sex, and geographic population.
What is the group’s relationship with a divine power? The Reform Movement states its beliefs in God, in the policy. They believe that God is the creator; the Jewish people are bound to God that people encounter God’s presence everyday, and that God is eternal. The reform movement believes that torah is the foundation of Jewish life.
How does this group describe Jewish history? How does it describe its own history? The Reform movement states in its policy as well that, “We are Israel, a people aspiring to holiness, singled out through our ancient covenant and our unique history among the nations to be witnesses to God's presence. We are linked by that covenant and that history to all Jews in every age and place.”
What major issues does the community talk about? The Reform Movement discusses such issues as same-sex marriage, Israel, and other hot political topics as well.
What does it take to join this group? You must join your local congregation and pay the annual dues.
What is the group’s economic structure? Its activities are funded through the synagogues that pay their dues to be affiliated with the URJ, and also they have many donors. They publish lists of donors as well as dedicate objects or places to major donors.
