blogs/rabbi-huberman

About five years ago, the Reconstructionist movement ran an ad in one of Judaism's national weekly newspapers.

It invited Jews to embrace who they are, and to feel welcome within the movement as it asked: "Are you a...

Wandering Jew

Questioning Jew

Cultural Jew

Interfaith Jew

LGBTQ Jew

Searching Jew

Dancing Jew

Musical Jew

Agnostic Jew

High Holiday Jew

Haven't been to Temple since my Bar/Bat Mitzvah Jew.

The ad delivered a powerful message: It stressed that there is no one kind of Jew. Each of us is wired to enter Judaism through a unique and personal window.

I believe it sent out another kind of message, too: a call to clergy, congregations, and other Jewish organizations everywhere to open their doors, and their hearts and minds, to all forms of Jewish seeking, identity, and expression.

It's never a bad thing to be reminded that if Judaism is to evolve, we must embrace, even cherish, all forms Jewish identity and expression -- particularly in the face of overwhelming millennial rejection of organized religion of the sort we grew up with. 

We must lengthen our reach, widen our embrace, if organized Judaism is going to have a chance of providing a spiritual home to young generations and those to come.

More recently, I modified the ad to appear under our synagogue's banner in one of our local newspapers. Reactions was mixed.

"Is the agnostic Jew to be embraced with the observant Jew?"

"Can the Saturday morning synagogue attendee be compared with the one who stays home?"

The answer I gave to these questions and the ones like them? Absolutely.

A few years back, a study by the Pew Research Center charted an increase -- from fifteen per cent in 2007 to twenty per cent in 2012 -- in the number of Americans who do not identify or affiliate with any religion. 

Among those who reject affiliation, the majority believe in God, and feel deeply connected to the earth.

The majority of these Americans self-identify using the now-familiar descriptor "spiritual, but not religious." This is now the fastest-growing religious category in the United States.

Most of these SBNRs fall into one of four categories. They are dissenters, casuals, explorers or seekers.

Most feel a deep connection with a godly force, with the earth; and an obligation to the pursuit of peace, of social justice, and of the unity of humanity.

Many are looking for a more personal, spiritual God.

When I learned this, I heard a heavenly voice, and it was crying "Yes, yes, yes!"

An old teacher of mine argued that Johannes Gutenberg (d. 1468), who invented movable type and gave us the printing press, was both the greatest friend and enemy of the Jewish people.

On one hand, the printing press enabled us to record Jewish scripture, thought and teaching. On the other hand, it helped block spontaneity and free expression.

My teacher asked, "Where did our oral tradition go? Why are we addicted to the printed page?"

This week's Torah portion is a remarkable one. As we begin reading the fourth book of the Torah, Bamidbar, (translated as either Numbers or Wilderness), God commands Moses to count all of the Jewish males over twenty years of age.

The idea is to ascertain how many men between twenty and sixty could serve in Israel's desert army. The fighting force would not include women, children, seniors, or the priestly tribe.

Many Sages have asked, "If God is so powerful and all knowing, why was it necessary to count the Jews? Didn't God know the answer?"

Rashi (1040-1105), our most famous Biblical commentator, provides the best answer. "Because each was dear to God." Each was counted so that each would matter.

Rabbi Jonathon Kliger expanded upon Rashi's explanation.

"God is here a teacher with her class on a school trip, constantly counting to make sure no one gets left behind. God is a loving parent, gazing repeatedly at each of his children until they complain, 'Why do you keep looking at me?'"

God did not ask Moses to include only those who attended Sabbath services. Nor did God ask to only count those who spoke perfect Hebrew, or professed perfect belief.

Rather, everyone had a right to be included, and to express themselves. Everyone had the right to contribute their two cents -- well, their half-shekel.

A new generation is rising within Judaism, among other religions, which is demanding less bricks and mortar, less fixed prayer, less structure, replacing it instead with more spirituality, more environmental awareness, more focus on family and -- perhaps most importantly -- less tribalism.

And some congregations are responding. This week, for example, we will launch a new millennial focused Tuesday service at a local beach titled "Shalom Moms: Mindful Meditation."

As the newspaper ad attempts to convey, Judaism today cannot just flourish in sanctuaries, revolving around fixed prayers from a book and traditional melodies. Rather, it must embrace all forms of Jewish expression and inquiry.

And perhaps most of all, non-Jewish spouses, friends and family members are invited to participate on this journey, as we work together with God to repair and heal this imperfect world.

Should we continue to embrace traditional Judaism? Absolutely.

But we must have the courage to provide alternative services, such as spiritual nature walks, healing services and group meditation -- lifting Judaism outside the synagogue and into a variety of venues and natural settings.

More windows. More freedom. More individuality. More choice. Just Jewish.

This is the week in our tradition when we celebrate Shavuot, the holiday that we commemorate God gifting Torah to the Jewish people.

The reading of the Ten Commandments, and the traditional reciting of marriage vows between Israel and God remind us that just as each human relationship is unique, so is the relationship each of us has with God.

Some revolve around prayers and traditional observance, some around social action. Some are private, others are public. Some are believers. Others are not.

This week's Torah portion inspires us to remember that every Jew, and for that matter every human being, is precious in God's sight. For each of us carries God's spark within.

During World War II, there were those who tried to remove our identities and replace them with numbers. But we are so much more, and we prevailed.

"Se'u et rosh kol adat B'nei Yisrael", our Torah tells us this week. The verse literally means "Lift up the head of every person in the community". (Numbers 1:2)

So let us lift up our heads, and have the courage to remember, that as long as we are on a pursuit towards understanding and perfection, no matter which window we enter Judaism, that we matter, and we count.

No apologies. No feeling sub-Jewish. No Jewbarassment.

This week, God says that each of us has the right, if not the obligation, to step forward and declare with their half shekel in hand, Hineni. Here I am.

Let our faces be seen. For each of us is unique, and worthy of love.

From the wilderness of Israel, to our wanderings today.

Each of us counts. Each of us matters. Each of us is sacred.

L'Dor V'dor. From generation to generation.

Shabbat Shalom v'kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman