Finding Unity in Our Diversity
A recent decision by the Israeli government is a real game changer- the government has created a new prayer space at the Kotel that will give official recognition, funding, and access to an egalitarian prayer plaza at the Kotel. Plans have been drawn to create this separate space for those who wish to daven in an egalitarian minyan that allows all Jews to enter the plaza via one entrance and then choose the site they wish. I know that to the American mind this hardly sounds like a revolution but, indeed, it is- for years non-orthodox Jews have been unable to hold services as they wished. The many conflicts between the Orthodox administration of the Kotel and groups such as Women of the Wall have been ugly- not the kind of conflicts that bring honor to our most sacred site in Jerusalem. By setting up an official space for non-orthodox services the government has both recognized the diversity of Jewish expression around the world and embraced it. No matter what your religious observance is you now can pray at the Kotel in the way that is most meaningful to you.
There are many steps to be taken before the plan can be fully implemented- construction of the plaza area, construction of a new entrance complex, and, of course, a plan to keep Jews and Moslems safe with the new set up. It will, no doubt, take time and money until the government can bring the new proposals to reality but, in the meantime, there is a universal recognition of the religious rights of all Jews.
The “new” Kotel plan holds a deeper message that we should appreciate. It is a lesson of Jewish history that sometimes gets lost in competing claims of validity and the ever allusive claims of “true Judaism.” Often times we defend our own “denominational” visions of Judaism to the exclusion of all others. The result of such a vision is the fragmentation of our people. That is why I would ask you to support and celebrate this recent decision regardless of what “label” you use to define your Jewishness. The recognition of diversity and pluralism is really the recognition of our unity. This paradox is simple to explain. There never was a time in which our customs were monolithic- even in Biblical times there were different traditions observed by various groups of Jews. In ancient (Talmudic) times the Jews of Babylonia had different customs than the Jews of Israel. Both had customs different than the Jews of Alexandria. To this day there are many differences in the customs of European Jewry and Middle Eastern Jewry. Throughout Jewish history such differences never divided us- they only served to remind us that, no matter what differences exist between communities, we are still one people. Even in diversity we all share in the same faith that the message of Torah and Jewish living is a blessing to ourselves and the entire world.
This article first appeared in the Los Angeles Jewish News
