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| Conservative Rabbi, Daniel Gordis |
I have always been an admirer of Daniel Gordis for his intellectual honesty and the courage to follow his convictions. I find myself in agreement with a lot of what he says. Although we may have some theological and religious differences, his view of the decline of Conservative Judaism is right on target.
He is of a piece with other Conservative thinkers like Jack Wertheimer on these issues. If I recall correctly they both lament the fact that synagogue rabbis of the Conservative movement do not focus enough on promoting the observance of Halacha. Which they see as the primary cause of its demise.
I agree. If as a Jew you do not distinguish yourself from even the most idealistic of your non Jewish peers, then what is it exactly that makes you Jewish other than an accident of birth? Why then even bother identifying as Jewish? Their views on the State of Israel are little more than the progressive/left values that characterize much of Conservative Judaism's rabbinate. And that devolves into the kind of criticism usually heard by Israel's enemies.
This has caused Rabbi Gordis to abandon his once beloved theological home. Here in part is what he said in a Tmes of Israel article:
In recent weeks… (on) Ravnet, the email listserv of members of (Conservative Judaism's) Rabbinical Assembly, (there has been) a lot of absurd anti-Israel rhetoric.... By anti-Israel, I don’t mean “stuff I don’t agree with.” I mean anti-Israel...
When Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City was bombed (about four weeks ago) Rabbi Jill Jacobs, speaking on behalf of the 2300 Conservative rabbis and cantors that make up the membership of Teruah said...
...she mourned the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including many children. (Teruah) called for an immediate, independent investigation into the cause of the blast.
“As we await independent confirmation of who was behind the bombing, we uplift the voices of Palestinians all over Gaza who are suffering a humanitarian disaster. Nearly 1 million Gazans are children, and the international community has a responsibility to intervene and ensure their safety....
“Collective punishment is a violation of international law...
We echo the many family members of victims of Hamas’s attacks who — even in their grief — are calling for the Israeli government to de-escalate and prioritize the safe return of the hostages as well as humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza, knowing that seeking revenge will only result in more innocent lives lost and more families in mourning.
As most of the world now knows, that ‘bombing’ was the result of a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket that landed – NOT on the hospital but in the parking lot next to it. And there were a lot less civilian casualties than the 500 reported by Hamas. But that post is still up at their website albeit with a couple of disclaimers acknowledging that it was no Israel's fault.
THAT is what the Rabbis of Tru’ah are broken-hearted about? THAT is the violation of international law that has them up at night?
Try this edgy thought on for size: rabbis should care about Israel more than they care about Israel’s enemies. Rabbis should care about Jews more than they care about people who despise Jews and seek to slaughter them. I know … so very not PC.
Could not agree with him more. Rabbi Gordis has a son in the IDF and who is currently risking his life for the Jewish people. The description of what his family is going through right now has moved him to reject the Conservative movement despite his warm recollections of his time at JTS. Which had members of his family on the faculty there. While he had always been reluctant to leave the movement because of the love and respect he had for his late grandfather who proudly taught at the school, he now believes that radical changes in the movement – like those articulated by Jacobs on behalf of the 2300 members of Teruah would now have made his grandfather proud of his decision.
The question is, where does Rabbi Gordis go from here? I think that Orthodoxy (at least the left wing version of it) might have a place for him. It is true that I have some serious differences with the Orthodox left. But with respect to Rabbi Gordis that would surely be a major step up from where the Conservative movement is now. Truly a step in the right direction.
