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| The President addresses the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas (JTA) |
It saddens me because their intentions were good. They
wanted to restructure Judaism to make it more ‘user friendly’ in the America milieu. As did Conservative Judaism which is what their very name implies. They wanted to conserve Judaism. For a
while it seemed like they were succeeding. They used to be the most populous Jewish denomination. But as we all know, they no longer are - as their numbers continue dwindling. As they do in
the rest of heterodoxy with the possible exception of Reform. They might be increasing since they have redefined themselves out of Judaism.
I have in the past gone into why I believe this is happening
and I shall not do so now. The point here is that it’s happening, and sadly, there is preciously little anyone can
do about it. Sadly because we are losing Jews at at accelerated rate via intermarriage
and plain old fashioned apathy from young Jews who care little if at all about
their own Judaism.
This does not mean that these movements are giving up. On
the contrary. They are fighting for their lives – for their very existence. Some of which is in ways that are inimical to Orthodoxy. Such as trying to get recognized as a legitimate Jewish movement in Israel. Orthodoxy does not consider any heterodox movement legitimate.
But still - the vast majority of Jews in this country
(and in Israel) are not Orthodox. The mainstream Jewish media isn’t either. Their values are not the same as Orthodox values. Their values are about social justice. Orthodox values are about religious values. There might be some overlap. But there are areas that are contradictory. That is what divides us politically. And that is why you will find more heterodox Jews at a gay rights rally
than you will in a synagogue any day of the year with the possible exception Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
JTA reports about yet another blow to heterodoxy (although I’m sure they
don’t see it that way):
Officials of three Orthodox umbrella groups — Orthodox Union, Agudath Israel, and America Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) — confirmed their leaders had been invited to the meeting, which is to take place Tuesday.
Officials of the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements, meantime, said the movements were not invited.
It is astounding that so many mainstream Jewish organizations were left
out of a conference about a subject like that. How, they might ask, can the President call a conference like that without inviting organization that represent the vast majority of Jews in this country?! I’m sure they will characterize
this as an insult to American Jewry.
I’m not convinced that this is the case. I doubt that the
vast majority of Jews even care about what effects the Jewish community. The
only ones that care are heterodox leaders and the mainstream Jewish media... a media heavily populated by heterodox Jews. Some of which are openly anti
Orthodox.
There is a reason Orthodox Jews were invited by the
President and heterodox Jews were not. It isn’t only because 80% of Orthodox Jews voted for him. It is also because the leaders heterodox institutions and the mainstream Jewish media have
been among the most strident critics of the President.
Most heterodox Jews
are liberal. Which means there is a heavy emphasis on social justice. Liberalism is the home social justice. Which is derived of current social values. Some of which are not
compatible with religious values. Like the push to equalize homosexuality in all of its manifestations with heterosexuality. Orthodox Jews cannot support gay rights to that extent because it violates their religious principles. For Orthodox Jews, the President’s conservative policies favoring religious rights over civil rights outweigh is his personal conduct and character. It should therefore not be so
surprising that Orthodox Jewish organizations were invited and heterodox organizations that have been so stridently critical of him were
not. (Some among them might consider not being invited by this President a badge of honor!)
What about the fact that the Jews represented by heterodoxy will
be left out of such an important conversation? Like I said, I doubt that most American
Jews even care about identifiable Jewish issues. Even support for Israel. that too is
waning among most American Jews who could not care less if there is a Jewish
state or not. It wouldn’t even surprise me if many of them even oppose Israel on ideological grounds considering the very idea of a Jewish state to be racist!
Those on the other side of this issue might say that what is
happening now under this President is a quirk… a blip in the historical
timeline for Jews in America. They might add that rational heads will prevail by the next
election (or the one after that) and we will go back to normal. Where heterodoxy will be
restored to its rightful place of prominence representing the vast majority of Jews in this country. Orthodox Jewry will be
returned to place as an insignificant minority – where they belong.
Can’t really say I blame them for this attitude. They may in
fact be right. If a liberal politician wins the Presidency some of the
conservative policies established by the President will be abolished favoring
the social justice values over the religious values. But that
restoration will at best be temporary as non Orthodox Jews are sadly but increasingly
hemorrhaging out of Judaism while Orthodox Jews are growing at a rapid rate. It
is only a matter of time
If I could find a way to keep Jews in this
country Jewish I would heartily endorse it. Unfortunately heterodoxy did not
work. And will likely never work despite all their efforts to turn the tide.
