Dear
Readers,
These columns began on my area of America Online, called: Judaism
Today: Where Do I Fit? People anonymously
sent me E-Mail, and I began to choose one for a public response
in my Jewish E-Mail of the Week column. The column has become
quite popular and is now syndicated internationally in many
Jewish papers and websites. I hope you find they help you
as you think about the Ethics, Spirituality and Peoplehood
components of the Jewish way of Life. I welcome your
comments... see the end of the column.
Gil
PS
Teachers and others, feel free to copy my columns and forward
them or use them as you see fit. Please see the friendly
copyright notice at the end. |
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RETURNING
TO JUDAISM
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Dear
Gil:
I
grew up in a very non-religious,
atheist, Jewish family. I was always
confused about my religion, because my
parents liked to emphasize to me that
although they didn't believe in God,
Judaism is still very important. I
have never understood this. I am 27
and am just now starting to explore my
Jewish heritage.
I
know very little about my culture, and
I don't even know what the major
holidays represent. Having read on AOL
your brief excerpts on the importance
of recognizing "our"
heritage, I feel compelled to learn
more. I just thought I would let you
know that I feel inspired to become
more informed about my Jewish
background, and that it will answer
those many questions I've stored in
the back of my mind.
P
Dear
P:
Your
email reminds me of an unusual Jew I
heard about. This fellow was a poor,
nearly illiterate, agriculture worker
who worked for a wealthy Jewish
rancher. The unskilled laborer fell in
love with the boss' daughter. The
daughter loved him too but said she'd
only marry him if he studied Judaism.
He
agreed even though he couldn't barely
write his own name and was already 40
years old. Study he did and he became
one of the greatest rabbis of all
time. His name was Rabbi Akiva and he
lived about 2000 years ago. Many
schools today are named for him in
part to honor the value of learning in
Judaism and that Jewish learning can
begin at any age.
So
here we are 2000 years later and
thanks to the Internet Jewish learning
has never been more accessible. I
suggest you enter the words
"Jewish learning" into any
search engine and you will find
resources that can keep you going for
years.
I
constantly receive email from others
like you who are exploring their
Judaism anew. This sort of good news
does not make headlines in this day
and age of angst over our diminishing
numbers, assimilation, intermarriage
etc.
So,
I decided to feature your email,
precisely to make a headline, called:
Returning To Judaism. I am doing this
for two reasons. First, to give you
and others encouragement. I want you
and others to know that you are not
unique in wanting to examine or
reexamine Judaism. I have even heard
from senior citizens who are looking
at their Judaism seriously for the
first time in their lives!
Know
that there are many other adults like
you, who have "questions stored
in the back of their minds."
Further the "stuff of
Judaism" is adult material, says
Rabbi Harold Kushner, and he is right.
For example, Judaism has much to way
about such adult topics as: how to
deal with work, aging parents, raising
children, health, friends, enemies
etc.
There
is a second reason I wanting to
feature your email: There has been a
running argument amongst Jewish
academics, rabbis and leaders about
whether to expend Jewish communal
resources, on Jews who are active (the
core) or Jews who are disconnected
from Jewish life (the periphery.)
Some
argue that the Jewish community should
invest its resources on the core Jews
and not waste time and money on Jews
on the periphery. Your email and
contacts I have had with countless
other Jews like you, lead me to reject
this argument.
My
experience is that Jews may and do
come to their Judaism for many reasons
at many times in their lives: a birth,
a death, a career issue, a marriage
issue, a hunger for spirituality, an
exposure to Israel, meeting an
impressive Jew, reading an influential
book and on and on.
We
can never know what will motivate a
Jew to further delve into their
Judaism -- regardless of how connected
or disconnected they are to Jewish
life. I have found the same approach
works for any kind of Jew. The
approach is simple: a personal touch,
a warm welcome and a willingness to
genuinely entertain any questions no
matter how intelligent, ignorant or
challenging.
I
don't believe we can afford anything
less. Besides, the next Rabbi Akiva
may be out there....perhaps it is you?
I hope so. Thanks for writing!
Gil
A FRIENDLY COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© Copyright Gil Mann
These columns can be found at www.beingjewish.org. Not
only do I give you permissions to copy these Jewish Email
columns...I HOPE YOU WILL and that you share them with others!
All I ask is that you never charge anyone for them and that you
also include this little copyright notice. Thank You!
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