Video: The Vanishing American Jew - Circa 1997
Earlier today, I stumbled upon this interesting Charlie Rose segment on the “vanishing American Jew”. Its over a decade old but watching it I realized that for the most part, it is as relevant today as it was when it first aired. Also watching it, I realized, that a huge part of the problem, is that Jews can’t seem to agree on what Judaism is. On the one hand (as Rabbi Ismar Schorsch argues in this video) some argue that Judaism is first and foremost a religion and therefore religious observance is key to survival. While on the other hand (as Alan Dershowitz argues in the video) some believe that Judaism is much more than just a religion, it’s a civilization and efforts to prevent assimilation need to reflect this reality.
Ultimately I agree with Dershowitz, Judaism is a dynamic civilization and any efforts to fight assimilation need to reflect the cultural diversity, that is the Jewish reality of the 21st century. Let’s face it, some Jews will be religious, and some will not, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. I personally place great value on the religious aspect of Judaism but that’s not to suggest, that it’s the only important part. It seems to me that in nature, the more diverse the gene pool is, the more a species can thrive. I suppose you could say that I view, Judaism as a socio-cultural-spiritual entity and that all of these various aspects of our civilization, are essential to its overall health. I don’t think everyone within the Jewish community needs to agree on what Judaism is or even the who is a Jew question, but maybe some tolerance on all sides is needed. We need shul’s with mechitzas, just as much as we need shul’s without them. We need to fund programs and create opportunities which allow people who may not connect to G-d, find other ways of engaging with Jewish culture.
Some might argue, that what I and others are suggesting, is simply to water down Judaism into something unrecognizable, but I disagree. A one size fits all Judaism may have worked in the Shtetl but it’s not going to fly, for the vast majority of post emancipation Jews living in America. And like I have already stated above, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Does it create new problems, absolutely, but I also believe it creates new opportunities. As I see it, having multiple ways of connecting to Jewish identity and engagement, will be beneficial in the long run. The children of more secular Jews, who become disenfranchised with the way they were raised, will be able to (should they feel the need to) connect to more religious expressions of Judaism and the opposite is true, as well. Those who come from more religious backgrounds, will be able to (again should they feel the need to) connect to more secular/liberal aspects of Judaism, without needing to reject Judaism as a whole. I don’t see that as watering Judaism down, I see it as creating, a fluidity that can only serve to enrich Judaism as a whole. I think it creates a situation where diversity can be used as a tool, to fight assimilation. In fact I think diversity may do a better job in the long run than trying to force, a monolithic form of Judaism down everybody’s throat.
Anyhow, it would seem that I’ve gone on a rant, sorry about that.
If you have the chance to check out the video I recommend it. It’s certainly an interesting and important topic.
The Jewish segment begins about 23 minutes in to the video. Don’t worry, you won’t need to watch the entire episode, you can (ok, should be able to) drag the play button/bar to the 23 minute marker.
I think I basically agree with your argument, there, and I’ll have to watch the clip on Dershowitz. Odd fact: reading Alan Dershowitz’s book “Letters To a Young Lawyer” in my first year of law school was really what put me on the track to conversion.
I just realized that Bloglines has not been sending me notice when our blog is updated.
In addition to finding Dershowitz’s tendency to dominate every conversation irritating, I am often amused at his self-contradictions. It’s interesting to note that while he rejects the centrality of practice and observance as definers of Judaism in this argument, he also keeps pressing that unless there is an alternative to those things, the only Jews remaining in a few years will be haredi (ultra-Orthodox), i.e. those for whom observance and ritual are THE primary definition of Judaism.
I agree that ritual observance is not for everyone and that there are many ways in which people can express their identification with the Jewish people that don’t involve long hours in synagogue. But if you dumb down Judaism too much, i.e. make it political and cultural at the expense of Jewish education, you end up with ignorant Jews and no continuity. Elliot Abrams has a point when he says that social justice and efforts toward tikkun olam are good (and, I would point out, stem directly from the teachings of the prophets), but that those values are not always easily passed on from generation to generation. They are emblematic of Judaism, while not being exclusively Jewish in the way that Jewish practice is.
Migration between ethnic groups is inevitable, and in many cases desirable. (Look at us, after all!) It can serve as a form of renewal and inject new life and motivation for learning. But Craig Horowitz’s comment near the end (how I wish we could have heard a little more from him!) that the basis for the concern of Jews about assimilation is their small numbers is perhaps one of the most important points made. It explains why you can get these four guys (three of whom are very genteel and civilized) and get such a fiery, impassioned argument going. It would be a tempest in a teapot if they didn’t really believe we could be facing the end of Judaism as we know it…