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Religious Pluralism | Parashat Hashavua-- The Weekly Torah Portion

An Invitation from Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Dear Chevra,

I am happy to announce the creation of a new Email discussion group, focused on Jewish renewal. We would be delighted for all who have a serious and respectful interest in Jewish renewal to join, without regard to denominational boundaries or background.

The list will have an unusual feature: in the first week of each month, one of the teachers of Jewish renewal will post some thoughts and suggestions for practice, exploration, etc., and will stay available for discussion of them.

The list is sponsored by ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal as a service to the broader Jewish community, because ALEPH views itself as an enabler rather than the sole vessel of Jewish renewal.

Like a Sukkah, the list will have clear boundaries yet be open to the world.

Within the broad movement for Jewish renewal there are many currents -- and general agreement on --

  • pursuing a Jewish path of loving encounter and wrestle with the Divine, often experienced through new metaphors and new forms of prayerful words, dance, music, art, ethical relationships, and meditation;
  • openness to learning from all of Jewish tradition and history, including its Prophetic, Kabbalistic, Hassidic, Jewish-secularist, and non-halachic as well as halachic strands, and openness to renewing and transforming some of those strands in the light of our own generation's encounter with God.
  • the full equality of women and men in all aspects of Jewish life, and in bringing their own spiritual life-experience into shaping the Judaism of the future;
  • respect for and openness to learning from other spiritual paths like Buddhist meditation, environmental commitment, feminism, etc., while seeking to integrate them into a Judaism for the 59th Century and beyond;
  • the full equality of gay, lesbian, and bisexual Jews in Jewish life and celebration;
  • affirmation of both tikkun ha'lev (healing of the heart) and tikkun olam (healing of the world) as necessary aspects of Judaism and Jewish renewal;
  • commitment to seeking peace between Israel and the Arab peoples, especially including the Palestinian people, on terms of mutual respect.

    Affirming all these views is not a requirement for membership on the list. Respect for all of them is. And someone who disagrees with a number of them would probably not find membership on the list useful to him/herself or to the list.

    To join the list, write

    Listproc@shamash.org

    and in the message write:

    Sub Renew-J [YOUR REAL NAME]

    Good yontif, and -- Bruchim ha'baim, bruchot ha'ba'ot (Blessed are those who come!)

    Rabbi Arthur Waskow is the author of Godwrestling - Round 2 (Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock VT) and many other works of Jewish renewal. He is a Pathfinder of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, an international network with headquarters in Philadelphia. You can write to Rabbi Waskow .


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