At the dawn of the 21st century, the liberal, universalistic ethic is being challenged by many thoughtful people. The contemporary world has been shocked by the sudden surge of radical Islamic fundamentalism which sees Western, liberal democracy as an evil, surpassed only by the evil of Zionism, Israel and the Jewish people. All are regarded as infidel forces that need to be eliminated by any means possible. Nor is this the only threat to the values and ideals that Judaism brought into the world. Increasingly, it is obvious that secular American culture is not the neutral setting it was thought to be a century ago, a setting that would allow for a multiplicity of faiths and ethnic groups to coexist, leading to a rich cultural mosaic in a tolerant and pluralist America. This country's affluence and its love affair with consumerism has created a culture that is at odds with Judaism's emphasis on justice and holiness.
For several generations, many American Jews were convinced that American values were more or less the same as Jewish values. The logical extension of that assumption was that it was not worth the time to learn the language of Jewish values since America provided much the same set of values. It was a license for Jewish illiteracy. It went without saying that Jewish holy apartness was not only chauvinistic and exclusivist but also un-American. Why should Jews hold themselves apart from an America that gave them unparalleled freedom and economic opportunity? We should drink deeply and fully from the cup of American society.
It was these assumptions that lay behind Mordecai Kaplan's (the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism) rejection of the idea of chosenness. Hoping for a world in which all religions might undergo the same kind of reconstruction that he was proposing for Judaism, Kaplan envisioned a world parliament of religions at which the people who brought the idea of chosenness into the world -- the Jews -- would voluntarily relinquish that claim. In return, all the other religions of the world, which had created their own versions of tribal chauvinism, would also voluntarily relinquish their claims on exclusive truth.
World events of recent years have been hard on Kaplan's brand of liberal universalism. Though we might continue to admire the sentiments that he set forth, most of the Western world has been rudely awakened to a global struggle in which democracy, freedom and pluralism are identified by adherents of radical Islam as a scourge that must be eradicated from the world. Judaism, of course, does not escape indictment by these same extremist elements.
Now it seems clear that Judaism has some wisdom that is in short supply, both in the world as well as in America. Increasing numbers of Jews, and a not insignificant number of non-Jews, are coming to see that within Jewish texts, there are truths and insights that are badly needed in the world. It is also clear that, throughout history, Jews have had some measure of success in making these values operative in their communities. Ironically, at the dawn of the 21st century, it seems that we have not traveled so far down the road from our ancestors who understood that Judaism was "counterculture," offering a way of thinking and living that was embraced by few others in the world. Whereas once the cultural norm from which Judaism dissented was paganism, today it might be religious fanaticism, hedonism or secularism.
From this perspective, the idea of holy apartness has newfound appeal. There may well be no other way for the values and ideals envisioned by Judaism to be expressed and carried forward in the world, even if those ideals are not yet embraced by the society at large. For much of Jewish history, the biblical expression am levado yishkon (Num. 23:9), Israel as "a nation that dwells apart," was descriptive. Today it has become prescriptive.
Unless the Jewish people succeeds in holding onto some parts of the values and ideals of justice and holiness, over and against societies and cultures that have either rejected or ignored those ideals, there is no way for those principles to endure. It can only be done by reclaiming the importance and value of the Jewish people being holy and apart.
Editor's note: This column is excerpted from Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World (Jewish Lights).
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I'm an atheist, but what I read below lends credence to those that say that anti-Semitism, in all of its forms, is alive and well today.
Their conditions are roughly similar to Jewish minorities living in Muslim states.
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Well we do have this in many Brooklyn communities but I don't know how "holy" they are nor how much of a positive influence there is on the other non-Jewish communities.Sometimes apart is just that and it fosters fear and suspicion.
Where do you get your "increasing numbers" and "not insignificant number" from ? Is there a study ? Please cite. What specific "truths" and "insights" are you talking about ? You are not discussing a single one of them. Further down you are talking about "values and ideals of justice and holiness", this however is very unspecific as well. Could you provide us with one specific ideal and or value? If not, how else are we as readers to decide whether the point that you are trying to make makes sense ?
On a different note, would it in your opinon be correct to state, that Israel is a "nation that dwells apart" where Jewish people are "apart" in as much as they do not live within "societies and cultures that have either rejected or ignored" jewish values. And if yes, would you agree with saying that some of the jewish values and ideals that you are refering to have found expression in Israel ? If not, what makes you optimistic that Jews outside of Israel could do better in that regard ?
There is no such thing as Jewish values. There are simply values, some of which the Jewish religion has adopted and many of which other religions have adopted.
A typical self-aggrandising religious article.
Speaking of self-organization author Steven Johnson in "Emergence" states: "It amazes me how difficult it is for people to think in terms of collective phenomenon..." The same difficulty in understanding, or perhaps accept, is reflected in Schwarz's post and in the minds of many people living within hierarchical religions and societies. How, they wonder, can people not descend into debauchery, criminal actions, and anti-social behavior without the guidance of religion or a strict set of laws? It is anathema to them that people can actually cooperate and show compassion on a daily basis without someone standing over them to keep them in line.
Mr. Schwarz fails to see the regression issue with this concept. If it takes an authority figure to keep a person living ethically then who keeps the leaders in check? If he then points to his god, the question becomes who keeps his god in check? If civil and productive behavior cannot arise from within, then all societies would have descended into chaos long ago. Indeed, they never would have been able to organize into a meaningful, cooperative entity.
Israel rabbi calls for 'plague' on Mahmoud Abbas
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11127409
Shas spiritual leader may back ban on renting to Arabs
Former chief rabbi Ovadia Yosef cites centuries-old interpretation of halakhic ruling barring the sale of land to non-Jews.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/shas-spiritual-leader-may-back-ban-on-renting-to-arabs-1.321695
ADL slams Shas spiritual leader for saying non-Jews 'were born to serve Jews'
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/adl-slams-shas-spiritual-leader-for-saying-non-jews-were-born-to-serve-jews-1.320235
Leading rabbi encourages IDF soldiers to use Palestinian human shields
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/leading-rabbi-encourages-idf-soldiers-to-use-palestinian-human-shields-1.320311
I notice how quickly you condemn Islam for the actions of their extremists, but you seem to not object to the sentiments being expressed by those of your own religion. Why is that?
The 'chosenness' idea, although central to Jewishness, apparently, is not persuasive to non-Jews, and is offensive as well.. Certainly Christians are not persuaded. Christianity makes the obvious assertion that God is available to all; it's a universal religion, in other words.
OK. So it is not 6 zillion years old. We have evolved. Older is not better.
Christ does not even want to be called good, and rebukes his disciples strongly when they do call Christ good. Christ said, Only my Father is good. did Christ not send out his disciples to all different churches, each, practicing their own way of belief, calling themselves different titles?
Jesus and His disciples were the last type Jews showing the lifestyle for the chosen. Jesus said, they were in civilization but not of it but called out from it. They showed love and acceptance for mankind independent of nationalities or genders, regarding them as equal fellow brethren. If, as the hundred monkey theory suggest, once the 100th person manifest their anointing their energy will cause peace as never before known since the beginning of civilization.
The chosen will demonstrate justice, holiness (wholeness, Genesis 2:24) and peace contrary to traditions, of even the type Jews, living free of cultural behaviors, limits, dos and don'ts with the liberty of the other animals as man lived prior to civilization based on evil and good concepts. That's what's needed, the acceptance people in or out of their traditions yet not willing to force them to accept their ways but sharing only with those interested.
regards