Digital God?

Recently a major newspaper ran an article discussing the ways in which houses of worship are using technology to get their message out. Churches, synagogues, and mosques are all using the web to increase their reach. Religion has gone digital and, in some cases, so has worship. The article detailed how several churches use video streaming to include on-line worshippers. I also saw a recent piece about having a “skype minyan” for davening. The truth is that we live in the internet age. You have to have a website if you are in business of any kind. That holds true for congregations of all faiths. The web is now what the yellow pages were in previous generations- the place where you can let your fingers (or mouse) do the walking. Seven out of ten religious organizations have websites and more are moving into the world of facebook and other social media. There is no denying the good to be found in the digital revolution among religious institutions. The internet and digital communication can be a tremendous force for good. Those unable to attend services can be there in cyberspace. Teaching and outreach can take place on line. People with common beliefs can communicate with each other. The web can be used as a giant “support group” for people who want to share their faith. This “virtual” congregation can share in educational and spiritual programs that were before impossible. People across the country or across the globe can share a common experience and interact in real time. It is amazing and it has great potential. I applaud everyone, regardless of faith or belief, who is willing to use every means possible to “increase the peace,” – to spread the message that all religions share- to honor God and to honor one’s fellow human being. The internet is a fact of life- yes, even religious life, but I do have a reservation about the “religious” internet experience. I can only speak about my feelings as a Jew so I will not assume to speak for other religions. The web is a great way to get information to people- it is quickly become the “only” way- regular “physical” snail-mail is disappearing. Phonebooks are being replaced by 411 websites. Even physical media, like newspapers, offer online subscriptions. That is all and good- in every generation technology changes, it reflect human progress. In my opinion religion (or, at least, my religion) is different. We might be able to teach people about Judaism, or Jewish history, or how to read Hebrew by online outreach but we can’t pray in cyberspace. True worship is about the human heart seeking God. For Jews that has always been a communal search. Judaism’s belief in humanity reflects our belief in God. If you want to know God you must know (and share) with your fellow human beings. For all the bad that we do, humanity is still God’s most beautiful creation. No “cyber” experience can replace the feeling of being in a congregation of people who are there physically and spiritually to reach the same goal that you seek. Judaism has no “hermits,” you can’t go off and live in a cave until God speaks to you! God is most likely to speak to you when you hear the chatter of others around you! I urge you to take advantage of all that the internet offers us- unlimited resources for learning and growth. I also remind you that, in the realm of Judaism, the Divine touch and the human touch are experienced as one. This article appeared in the SOuth FLorida Jewish Journal

Passover and Israel's Security

A Roman official named Marcus Ambivius was prefect of Judea (what the Romans called Israel) from 9- 12 CE. As the resident ruler representing the Roman Emperor, Ambivius kept a record of what he saw the Jews of Jerusalem doing. His words concerning Passover are very telling. After reporting on what happened in the Temple for the holiday, the way in which the sacrifices were brought, and the various activities of the Priests, Ambivius comments on an unusual custom in Jerusalem. He reports that during Passover no one in Jerusalem closed or locked their doors at night. He explains that the Jews had this custom “out of respect for the many strangers who had come to celebrate Pesach” and “as a sign that the Jews depended on Divine protection during this time.” This custom reflects the Biblical text that speaks of Passover as “leyal shmurim,” a night of Divine protection. The Torah records that as the Jews left Egypt they were so secure that not even a dog barked at them. The observations made by Ambivius make it clear that our ancestors felt secure and safe as the celebrated Passover- so much so that they had no need to attend to the normal safeguards. What a way to experience the Holiday of Freedom- to feel completely free and secure from all enemies and confident to welcome anyone through your open door. I bring this ancient Roman record of Jewish life to your attention to contrast it with today. Those who are celebrating Passover in Jerusalem at this very moment should feel just as safe as their ancestors did. All of us, however, know that this is not the case. Just a few short days ago the “Global March on Jerusalem” threatens to send thousands to protest the “Judaization” of Jerusalem. Luckily, that “March” proved to be nothing but the basis for it remains in the minds of many- that Israel has no right to make Jerusalem a “Jewish” city! How absurd! Jerusalem was King David’s royal city and has since then remained the capital of Israel. To deny that is to deny history. Such deniers only have in mind the destruction of Israel by denying any legitimate historical ties between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. It is no wonder that Jews can not celebrate Passover in Jerusalem with the same confidence as our ancestors. Israel is in the midst of a complete assault on her existence and can not find comfort in a “Leyal Shmurim.” There is, however, one small step that would help. This step has, so far, been denied. That step is for America to affirm that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Only a few days ago that question was posed to the administration and the response was that “recognizing Jerusalem would prejudice the outcome of current negotiations.” For those of you who don’t speak political double-talk that means that the administration will not affirm that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. That is not acceptable to me. At this time of freedom I would ask you to invest five minutes in the future of Israel- call or write your elected officials and remind them that Jerusalem has always been the capital of Israel and will always remain so.

Enjoy our Passover episode!!

The Longest Story Ever Told

You would think that after three thousand years we would have said just about everything there was to say about Passover, but after countless generations the Exodus story still catches our attention and teaches us new insights into the physical and spiritual existence of our people. Moses was the first to tell the story as he told the Israelites what they were about to experience. God made sure to give the story plenty of press by commanding that each year we recall the events- slavery, plagues, and freedom. It was a story to be told and retold in every generation for as long as the Jewish people existed. It has been the easiest of the mitzvoth to fulfill- families gather around the Seder table and, in their own way, begin, “why is this night different?” The Seder is the longest story that has ever been told and yet it is as fresh as a newly-released novel. Even those who are not Jewish have found inspiration and hope in the story and have tried to understand their own struggles as if they were the Israelite slaves. It is a story of hope and redemption that we have given the world and one in which countless peoples have found the courage to fight for their freedom. In this way we have truly been a “light to the nations” by sharing our story. I believe what is even more telling is that after three millennia the Passover story still inspires us on so many levels. All of us grew up hearing the story around the Seder table and here we are now- as parents and grandparent we tell the story to our children. The Hagadah is the story of both the Jewish past and the Jewish future. Like watching our favorite movie for the twentieth time- we know how it ends but there is something about it that just keeps calling us back. It is amazing that even though a family may not observe other holidays Passover is an occasion for everyone to be together. No, they may not read the Hagadah cover to cover, and Zade may make up his own version of the Seder, they are still together as Jews. The Hagadah was designed to teach every generation about Passover and it has done a great job. So what is the amazing staying power? What is the secret of a three thousand year old book that still makes the Jewish best seller list? I describe the “secret” of the Hagadah this way: the Hagadah recounts one specific event- the Exodus from Egypt, but in that event we see every moment of subsequent Jewish history. All that our people has experienced can somehow be understood against the backdrop of the struggle for freedom. Likewise, many of our individuals struggles in our own lives can be viewed as a struggle not so different that the Exodus. The struggle to be free, to be independent, to be able to feel like we are doing what we were “meant” to do. All of these things that every person faces sometime in life can be compared to our ancient struggle for freedom. It is for that reason that Passover’s textbook, the Hagadah, is also the textbook for life. This article appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal

Too Much News to Print

It is the end of a long era for all of us who were raised using encyclopedias! Remember in school- the teacher assigned a paper to write and the first thing you did was open an encyclopedia to learn “all about” the subject of your assignment. It made things simple and it made you feel like you “really” knew what you were talking about! That was then- this is now. For the first time since 1768 Encyclopedia Britannica will not print that big, heavy, shelf of books. Britannica will exist in a digital form only. While you might think that this is a step back, it is actually a huge step forward. Physical copies are not being discontinued because of lack of use but rather because a digital copy can be updated constantly in real time. No more buying a set of books that is obsolete by the time it is printed. Not to mention all the wear and tear on your back! As on owner of thousands of books I can’t describe the hassle of moving my personal library. Today I could purchase many of those books on CD rom and move a good deal of my library in a tote bag! As we mark the end of printed encyclopedias consider on real fact- our knowledge is increasing so quickly that we need a data base of knowledge that can be updated with the click of a mouse. If I think of the news stories I have read in the past couple of weeks it is amazing- a fresh water lake below the ice of Antarctica, a tribe of natives that have never had contact with the modern world, two, yes two, new human fossils discovered that shed new light on evolution, new planets discovered, and the list goes on. In the information age there really is “too much news to print.” Children today are taught to access the most current information about our world and that information changes almost daily. So there will not be any encyclopedia salesman coming to your door. They, like many, have been replaced by computers. So what are we to do? Maybe for the first time in human history there really is too much to know. I guess that is why we live in the world of specialists- yes, you remember that if you have a pain in right thumb there is a specialist for that, and so it goes with every field of science and intellectual endeavor. The age of the “renaissance man,” a person who knows about everything is gone. The good news is that he has disappeared because of the great resources that we have. Jews have always cherished knowledge of any kind. Our love for our sacred literature is reflected in our love of secular knowledge. Today it is easier than ever to be a well educated Jew- the internet is a mine of Jewish knowledge as well as knowledge about the world around us. Be a good Jew- log on and learn something new today! This article appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal and the Atlanta Jewish Times.