Ancient Jewish Proverb Says

What is the latest academic rage in China? Science? Medicine? Computers? How about Jewish Studies! A Center for Jewish Studies recently opened in China offering degrees up to the Ph. D. level and there are already over 200 students. Although there has been a Jewish community in China for centuries with a very complicated history, we don’t tend to think of China as being a place in which Judaism would be a topic of study. All the more surprising that the Jewish Program is well funded and growing rapidly. I think the first thing that we would all like to know is why would China want to grow its own native Judaic scholars? While some of the students might be Jewish, it must be a very small number. So why all this interest in Jewish history, culture, and religion? I think the answer tells us a lot about China and ourselves as well. China is an ancient culture that has a long and interesting history. We learn in High School that, when Europe was still in the Iron Age, China had science, literature, and technology. But the China of today is rapidly changing. It’s not just politics, communism or capitalism; it’s not just culture, east or west, but it is about the basic human values that create a country out of millions and millions of diverse peoples. It is ironic that a country as large as China seeks to takes lessons from our history, the history of a people that has always been a tiny sliver of humanity. You see the Chinese know that as a people they are changing. They sense that the structures that have lasted for centuries are crumbling. The Great Wall was meant to insulate, China but in the age of the internet there is no isolation, there is only change. Many Chinese also know that not all change is for the better that’s why they want to understand one of the most miraculous events in human history- Jewish survival. As many Chinese scholars try to deal with the bigger social issues of change and how to preserve that which is unique in their culture, they realize that it is the history of the Jews that holds the key to preserving a culture in the face of change and challenge. We have and do live all over the globe. We have survived in cultures that were hostile to every value that we hold dear and yet, through it all, we have maintained our culture, faith, and identity. That fact is even more impressive when we consider how very small our nation is. I hope the Chinese learn much about our culture. Maybe it will spark some of us to rediscover it for ourselves. With all the hand-wringing in the Jewish community about Jewish survival it is interesting to note that, at least so far, we still have a lot to teach the world. Now the question is can we appreciate our own culture enough to preserve it? An ancient Jewish proverb says…

On Line and Learning

It was a beautiful day at Citi Field in New York. The 40,000 seats had sold out in advance. A good day for any baseball field these days, but there was no game going on- instead it was a rally against the “dangers” of the internet that was sponsored by a coalition of ultra-right wing Jewish groups. These groups came together to warn the faithful that they should not use the internet or allow their children to use it. I understand that there is much on the internet that is undesirable. It is a double edged sword- the information age can spread knowledge but it can also spread hatred and lies. What I question is the wisdom of gathering 40,000 people together to tell them to ignore the greatest revolution in the history of humanity. We can’t make “evil” disappear by ignoring it. You can put your head in the sand but it won’t change anything. Jews cannot ignore the internet any more than we can ignore any other technology. I don’t think you have to condemn the internet to be a pious Jew, nor do I believe that any technology is intrinsically “evil.” Like every other tool, it depends on the user. You can use a hammer to build a home or you can use it to tear it down. As a student of Judaism I am bewildered that anyone would tell people not to use the internet. The web has made Jewish learning easier than ever both for the beginner and for the scholar. Just consider these innovations: the Dead Sea Scrolls were once hidden away, the “intellectual property” of a very small group of scholars who could not possibly do all the research needed to decode these texts. Today the entire contents of the scrolls have been digitized and are on line for the whole world. This makes scholarship much more of a democracy. Collections of scholarly materials that were once only accessible by travelling to many different countries to physically “see” the books are now accessible on line. Having just moved my personal library I can tell you that books get heavier and heavier the older you get- now you can carry an entire Jewish library on a few disks. Yes, there might be a lot of “dark corners” on the internet, but there is an entire world of learning that can go straight to your computer screen. The group that sponsored the anti-internet rally, The Union of Communities for Purity of the Camp, has made its point- there are bad things out there in cyberspace! But the internet is here to stay in every facet of our lives. People send e-mails, people do business on line, and our children are educated on line. For all the dangers the World Wide Web has made it easier than ever to communicate, to learn, and to save our most precious resource, time.

Darwin Knocking

Living in South Florida I get to meet a lot of interesting people. Some of the most interesting are those who have attained a long and eventful life. Through the years I have been lucky to meet several people over one hundred years old. I wish I could share every story that they have told me but suffice it to say that it is always a treat to hear about a life that has spanned the most amazing century in the history of mankind. It is a little humbling to sit with someone who lived through World War 1, the Roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, and along the way witnessed little changes like electricity, flight, and everything else right up to the age of the internet. It is also humbling to realize that all the pride that we have in our “modern” lifestyle will, in another generation, seem as old fashioned as being proud of a princess telephone. It puts the idea of progress in perspective- these last hundred years have produced things undreamed of a century ago and the next hundred will surpass them. When I think of progress, however, I often think of the human side of the story. Are people better than they were a century ago? Yes, we are healthier, we live longer, we are able to protect ourselves better in the face of nature. But are we better? Are we smarter? To my surprise I found a recent study of evolution done by the National Academy of Science. One result shocked me. This study focused on human evolution in recent times (not hundreds of millions but of mere thousands of years) and reports that over the past five thousand years the human brain has grown smaller. How could that be? After all, isn’t modern man the peak of evolution? How could it be that our most vital organ, the one that makes us “human,” has actually grown smaller over the course of human history? I think we would all agree that we are “smarter” than our ancestors. We may not have to know how to hunt an animal or grow crops but there are plenty of things that we need to master to get along in our world. With all that, how could it be that the human brain is growing smaller by the process of natural selection? I can’t explain it but I can make an observation. For all our wisdom we should not be too proud- we may represent the evolution of millions of years but we are still evolving, we are still locked in the same struggles that our more “primitive” ancestors faced. We still need to eat, to sleep, to find security in numbers. We still need to love and be loved. We still need to find meaning of some kind in each day and satisfaction in that meaning at the end of the day. The “amazing shrinking brain” should remind us that we are still very much like our ancestors. Take away our computers, our cell phones, our TVs, and all the other things that fill our lives and you will find that we are only one step ahead of our ancestors (and a small step at that.) I hope that if science is right and our brains are getting smaller than someone will discover that our hearts are getting bigger. This post appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal and the Atlanta Jewish Times

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

The Gift of Jewish Memory


This coming Shabbat has a special name. It is known as Shabbat Zechor (the Shabbat of remembering.) The day takes its name from a passage that is read from a second Torah making mention of the commandment to remember the attack of the Amalikites on the Children of Israel. We are commanded to remember this unprovoked attack on our ancestors and to keep the memory alive. Shabbat Zechor is always timed as the Shabbat before Purim. The rabbis said that Haman (of Purim infamy) was a descendant of the Amalikites and so the connection was made between Shabbat Zechor and Purim. It is another example of how the Jewish past is to inform every future generation.

We often, and correctly, speak of the gift of memory as being the gift that has kept Judaism alive. In many ways this is true- without knowledge of the Jewish past there is no orientation for the Jewish future. It would be as if we were dropped off in a wilderness without knowing which way to go. All too often, however, we find that the gift of memory is a bitter pill to swallow. “Memory” has taken on a very negative connotation. At Purim we remember Haman and the word “remember” has, in the modern period, been permanently joined the memory of the Holocaust. While we need to remember the suffering of our people, and honor the memory of those lost, we cannot lose sight of the other aspect of the Jewish memory.

We, as a people, have suffered at the hands of countless enemies. It was a part of our past and is still a sad part of our present. We would be blind to miss the parallels between the threats to our ancestors and the threats that are all around us today. We, better than any other people, know that to forget the past is a tragic mistake. Just as this Shabbat we are commanded to remember the past, I remind you that we are also commanded to look beyond it. Is the glass half empty or half full? Is the history of our people a long litany of suffering or a glorious record of triumph?

On Purim we not only recall the threat to an ancient community but we also celebrate their redemption, their victory. As a student of Jewish history I am sometimes overwhelmed by the many struggles that we have faced just to exist. Luckily, I can counter that by remembering that Jewish history never came to an end. Every threat was overcome, every defeat followed by a victory. To be a Jew who responds to the command “remember” means to remember everything- not just the bad but the good. Our sense of memory must be more than an instrument for mourning. It should be our inspiration to celebrate.

Published in the Florida Jewish Journal 2/28,12

The Victory of Ignorance



It seems like every time I look at a paper or read news on –line someone else is declaring a boycott of Israeli products or selling off their investments in Israel. It has become so common it doesn’t even draw my attention- just another day in the battle to demonize Israel. You read all the claims, “apartheid state,” “invaders,” “Nazis,” “oppressors.” Sometimes the rhetoric is so predictable and rehearsed I have to laugh! It is, of course, no laughing matter. There is a well orchestrated effort to make Israel out to be some demonic cross between Nazi Germany and Apartheid South Africa (with a little old-fashioned imperialism thrown in for good measure. This kind of hatred starts at the UN and seeps down to the most trivial of organizations. (Hey, think it’s time to throw the UN out of New York?)
We can’t do anything about those who hate Israel because it is a Jewish state- Moslem nations would hate Israel no matter where it was located. That is not going to change. What I refuse to accept is the kind of Israel bashing that is fostered by social causes and college campuses. It has become very chic to champion the cause of the “poor Palestinians” without any knowledge of the real facts. Young people are being fed lies about Israel without any ability to discern between lies and truth. It confounds me that institutions of “higher learning” have no problem allowing their faculties to spread lies and total falsehoods for the sake of their personal politics. That makes these institutions breeding grounds for anti-Israel causes. Worse than this, it makes these institutions breeding grounds for ignorance rather than learning.
It is very easy- take a bunch of young people who have seen little of the world (many of whom probably couldn’t find Israel on a map,) then use your “authority” and “learned opinion” as a professor to present a one-sided set of lies to people who know no better. “Presto” you create a “students against Israel” brigade! The only problem is that this entire construct is based on lies told to and believed by the ignorant.
The final battle in the war against ignorance will be waged on the world stage. As you know there is an up-coming vote in the UN to create a Palestinian state. Such a move has no basis in reality nor does it address any of the realities of the Middle East. It is nothing but a step to destroy Israel and her sovereignty among the nations. It would be a strategic victory for those who hate Israel and bring them one huge step closer to their goal- the destruction of Israel. It is unfortunate that this victory would be urged on by those who are ignorant, ill-informed, and totally deceived about Israel. We all know that the world (and our children and grandchildren) are being lied to- we must not allow ignorance and hatred to achieve their final victory.

End of the Story… For Now
For several weeks those of us who write for the Jewish Journal have been keeping you up to date on the San Francisco proposal that would outlaw circumcision for children. In my writing I have tried to strike a balance between the Jewish issues and the “personal rights” issues. As a Jew I oppose such a law because it infringes on my rights to practice my faith. As an American I oppose such a law because it is an attack on personal freedom and rights. I refuse to support any legislation that dictates issues in my personal life that are of no concern to the government. I believe many of you feel as I do. The reaction to my articles and other pieces that have appeared in these pages show that laws such as this one are nothing more than the strategies of small groups to impose their will and their values on society.
Since this topic is no longer making “front page” let me give you an update: A court recently struck down the ballot issue. The judge said that the right to regulate “medical procedures” belongs to the state, not to the city. On this basis the issue was removed from the fall ballot. This is a victory for both the Jewish and Moslem communities (not to mention a victory for parents who still believe that they, and not the government, should decide what is right for their children. Although this issue has been settled, it is only a temporary solution. The anti-circumcision folks will continue with their meaningless crusade and continue to influence public policy. I would ask you to realize that this is a long term confrontation- it goes to the core of what we believe about freedom, personal rights, and the role of government. This may be a pause but it is not the end of the story.
We live in a time when “freedom” is coming to mean that no one is free- everyone must be the same and it is wrong to dare to show that you have a belief in anything. When reading of the recent decision striking down the circumcision ban I was reminded of how very delicate our freedoms are. Closer to home, I read a story lately that reported that the ACLU has warned a local town not to display Christmas or Hannukah decorations—they might offend someone! It distresses me that we live in a society in which any (or all) religious symbols are a breach of public policy.
I remind you that we, the Jewish people, have survived only because we have refused to abandon our beliefs- what a shame if we have come to a juncture in our history in which our beliefs are subject to the “bullying” of special interest groups. At least circumcision is safe for now, but what’s next?

A Gentle Reminder


For those of us involved in the synagogue world the summer will soon be over. Yes, it is still only July but in Jewish time that means that it will soon be time to begin preparation for the High Holidays. Although Rosh HaShannah comes “late this year,” there is a lot to be done in every congregation to insure that the holidays are welcoming and meaningful for our community. No matter where you will be for the holidays, our congregations and institutions will begin the new year confronting the most challenging environment that we have ever faced. Here in South Florida affiliation rates are among the lowest anywhere. The economy has made those bad numbers even worse. Every congregation has been struggling to do more with less resources and the coming year will not be any better. We are the third largest Jewish population center in America but our institutions will continue to suffer from the economic downturn. That is a reality but all the news is not bad. If you look around you will see that we continue to be a community that offers Jewish experiences, involvement, and education to all ages. Given the difficulty of the task, I would say we are doing a pretty good job!
To my fellow Jewish professionals and those who volunteer their time as members of boards, congregation officers, and community leaders I would like to remind you of some simple facts that we sometimes forget. In the day to day struggle for covering “the bottom-line” we sometimes forget how lucky we are to be engaged in the struggle! I can think of no worthier cause than to strive to serve the Jewish community.
Sometimes we also forget that institutional territorialism can be a very bad thing- yes we all want members, we all want volunteers, we all compete to flourish in a community where there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians, but the basic truth is that we are all on the same side! Despite our various visions for the future of the Jewish people, we are all working for the same goals. That is basic but sometimes we need to remind ourselves.
In the year ahead let’s try to remember these basic truths. We need each other. We need to co-operate with each other. We need to share the resources that we have to educate and serve this wonderful Jewish community. The time has passed to be worried about defending our respective “turf.” In these challenging times we need less competition and more co-operation. We need to feel the bonds of community more than ever on both the personal level and the institutional level.
As I look around at the South Florida Jewish community I see great people creating a great Jewish future. Yes, it may be harder than it used to be, but it is more important than ever. My hope is that this year Rosh HaShannah will bring all of us closer than ever. We can still achieve great things for our community but we can only do it working together.