Ethics In Kashrut & The Greening of Sacred Space
The latest issue of Zeek aka the “Journal of Jewish Thought and Culture” has two interesting articles highlighting how 21st century Judaism is trying to address issues related to the environment and social justice.
The First Article “Rethinking Kashrut: An Interview with Rabbi Morris Allen” looks at how Social Justice Issues are currently not being factored into the Kosher certification process and how one new Conservative initiative called the “hechsher tzedek” is trying to address this very issue.
Here are a couple snippets just to give you an idea.
I was teaching about this at Camp Ramah Wisconsin this summer — they took their kids on a trip to Postville [where Agriprocessors is located], and I was there to prepare the kids for what they might see. Someone raised their hand and said, ’so rabbi, you’re saying it would be just as good (because it’s also Jewish law) to eat food prepared in an ethical way as it is to eat food with a kosher sticker!’ And I said, that kind of bifurcation is the issue — we shouldn’t have to decide between one of these or the other.
We need to be in a world where we can say that keeping kosher is the way in which I demonstrate not only a concern for my relationship to God and Torah but the Jewish concern for our relationship to the world in which we live. That’s what I really want to get across to people.
And I just love this one because it hits the nail right on the head!
We should not be eating food that has been produced in a way that has denied the dignity of the labor! We should not be more concerned about the smoothness of a cow’s lung than we are about the safety of a worker’s hand.
Its a great interview, so head over to the Zeek site and read the entire thing.
The second article titled “Reimagining the Tabernacle: America’s First Green Synagogue” explores some of the how’s and why’s behind the creation of America’s first Green shul.
Here is a quote from the article that caught my attention and got me thinking.
In constructing a modern-day synagogue, the “coming” of God is usually a little more subtle. But the principle holds: if the material aspects of a synagogue become more important than their connection with the personal ethics and religious values of its congregants, then the problem of idolatry begins to creep in.
It’s true (and I had not really thought of it like this until reading this article) that it is important to create a sense of the sacred through aesthetics but shouldn’t the actual materials used in creating such a space equally reflect our spiritual values as well?
I think that makes sense!
Anyhow it’s another solid piece, so go and check it out!
I think both of these articles are excellent examples of how there’s plenty of room within Jewish “tradition” for innovation. That it is possible to change and adapt our practices in order to better suit modern needs. They Show that accommodations can be made without unnecessarily reinventing the wheel and/or jettisoning tradition.
Anyhow I recommend checking out the articles (not that I’m forcing anyone to. LOL) and maybe even have a little discussion to see what other people think about these two initiatives.
Be well
What do I think about Heksher Tzedek? Um….I put together the blog for Rabbi Allen so I suppose you could say I’m on board? LOL I posted about my interest in this initiative back in June:
A Congregant’s View
Just think, Rabbi is stuck with me adding links to the blog….
And now let me go read the other article as well….Thanks for the post, Avi. Things obviously slowed down with Heksher Tzedek over the High Holy Days, but we’re still working away at making Heksher Tzedek a reality.
Pretty fabulous stuff you’re talking about here!
Hi Yael,
I am going to be on the developing congregational committee of for HT, organized by Jewish Community Action, representing the Duluth area Jewish community :)! I’ve not done much yet, but I am really excited about this development, it’s really important. I think it is such a fantastic example of Conservative/Masorti Halakhic philosophy in action…. a Halakhic process moving to address a modern issue in a traditional way - incorporating these justice issues in to kashrut.
Great job on the HT blog by the way!
Yair
[...] read more here [...]
Yair,
I was wondering how your involvement with HT was going! I’m glad you’ll be right in the thick of it as well. Sometimes it seems like just hurry up and wait, but, on of these days….I’ve enjoyed working on the blog with Rabbi and am anxious to see the next steps being taken.
Hi Yael,
I have just sort of signed on. I met briefly with Vic Rosenthal from JCA when he was in Duluth, and I have had some email conversations with Melissa there. I am excited to be useful when I can be, and I hope to take in at least some of the meetings, and maybe I’ll swing in to your shul for the evening minyan when I do :)!
Shabbat Shalom,
Yair
Yael
I guess you’re welcome for the post and by the way I did know you were the lady behind the Heksher Tzedek. So I knew that you were into that article but I want to know what you think about the other Green synagogue project?
therapydoc
Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you like the post. Would you care to elaborate a little bit?
Yair,
Sorry, we don’t have evening minyan. Come down early for morning! It doesn’t start until 7:15am; surely it wouldn’t be any bother to make it on time, we’re just on the south side of the Cities…
That is great you met with Vic and are talking to Melissa. I’m not involved with the JCA end of it, my part is keeping the blog going and trying to get word out on the net. Which reminds me….is there a place here where the HT blog could be linked? I already have the JBC link over on the HT blog.
Avi,
This week was Koach Shabbat with Heksher Tzedek as the topic. The study materials used are on the HT Blog.
I was going to ask Rabbi today if it’s appropriate for me to comment about some other things here, but I sort of didn’t make it to shul, so…..I’ll ask him tomorrow. Otherwise just keep an eye on the blog.
Yael you lost with”
As For the a link exchange with the HT blog (if thats what you asked about in your last comment?) sure. I had a quick look but didn’t see us in the links. Maybe you can point it out to me?
Look under HT Talk on the Net in the sidebar. They’re all in alphabetical order so you can see Jews By Choice there. I link to specific articles. This week I’m going to move things around so that this section is up on the top section of the sidebar and the static pieces are towards the bottom. Time for a face lift over there as we move into the next phase.
I saw that I’d missed the ” at the end. It just took me twice to notice…..I’m so good…..Thanks for fixing it for me.
Hi Yael,
It would probably take me 3 hours to get there, but it is possible that I could come down for a meeting if they are in the evening, and then stay overnight with a friend and catch the morning minyan before my drive back. We’ll see!
kol tuv,
Yair
Yair,
That would be great you could work it out sometime to join us for minyan. I was kind of tongue in cheek about you driving down in the morning. That’s a bit of a schlep….We could use it for bragging rights. Our minyan is so great people will drive three hours just to join us!