Golda Meir had many interactions
with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during and after the Yom Kippur War. The Prime Minister marshaled many reasons for
assisting Israel - the country’s geo-strategic importance, its promotion of
democracy, its attitude toward the Soviet Union, but she also appealed to
Kissinger’s identity as a Jew.
Unimpressed, Kissinger responded,
“I would like to inform you that I’m first an American citizen, second
Secretary of State, and third a Jew.”
To which Meir replied, “In
Israel, we read from right to left.”
I often quote this story in
discussing the weakening of Jewish identity and connection to Israel. For example, a recent headline in the Times
of Israel proclaimed, “Jewish Millenials Putting Zionism Second and America
First.”
Do we let our modern values shape
our outlook? Do we read “left to right?” Or deep down, does our Judaism guide us? Do we read “right to left?”
Regardless of ritual observance
or politics, a strong connection to Judaism or Israel requires looking at the
world through Jewish lenses. As with all
of life’s decisions, we may choose to ignore or veer from that Jewish perspective,
but Judaism needs to be the deeply rooted starting point if it is to remain an
important part of our identity.
More and more Jews – sincere,
well-intentioned, and passionate – view the world from “left to right,” with an
outlook that is mainly guided by their Western and not Jewish values.
I believe that reading “left to
right” or “right to left” is at the core of the recent trend in rabbis questioning
and abandoning the longtime opposition to intermarriage.
Judaism does not permit a Jew to
marry a non-Jew. In addition to being against Jewish law, it
harms the Jewish future. Regardless of
the cases where children of such marriages possess a strong Jewish identity,
such stories are the exception and not the norm.
As strongly as I oppose intermarriage,
I welcome any family that seeks a portal to God, Torah, Israel and the Jewish
people. I encourage all forms of Jewish identity. It is not my place to tell someone whether
they are Jewish. I cannot validate the
status or officiate at a wedding unless the standards of Jewish law are met,
but I welcome all Jews - and interested non-Jews - seeking to explore Judaism.
The move by rabbis who advocate a
commitment to Jewish law and tradition to officiate, religiously celebrate, or
validate intermarriages saddens me. To
hear sentiments that this shift is “grounded in Jewish tradition and
inclusiveness” or motivated by an “unwavering commitment to the Jewish future”
indicates that Jewish leaders are increasingly reading from “left to right.”
I understand the motivation. More and more Jews are marrying
non-Jews. How can we keep them at arm’s
length and tell them we respect and love them while not validating their
marriages? I don’t want to withhold a “mazal
tov” from a cherished congregant whose child is marrying someone who is not
halakhically Jewish.
But Jews need to read “right to
left.”
There are standards. Judaism makes demands of us.
This week, we read about Korach’s
rebellion, his challenge to Moshe’s authority.
Korach had a valid point. He
claimed that everyone is holy. Why should
Moshe claim all the authority? According
to the Midrash, Korach also highlighted the inconsistency and absurdity of
Jewish law. If the mezuzah
signifies a Jewish home, shouldn’t it be unnecessary on the doorway of a house
full of Jewish books? Why should a blue tallit
require a blue strand on the tzitzit fringes?
There are great questions!
Judaism doesn’t always make
sense. Korach tried to read the Torah
from “left to right.” Jews must read
from “right to left.”
The challenge for modern Jews is
to find authentic Jewish pride and passion in being Jewish. Without a deeply-felt emotional connection –
without reading from “right to left,” Judaism will lose out to American,
Western, or progressive values. These
values can be positive ones, but they must not be allowed to overshadow or supersede
our Jewish values.
Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, a pioneer
of Jewish outreach and engagement and director of NJOP, recently spoke of the
need to be passionate about Judaism. He
said: “If you want moderate children, be passionate. If you take a moderate approach to Judaism,
your kids will be causal. If you are casual
about Judaism, your grandchildren will be Episcopalian.”
Rabbi Buchwald said this to make
a point. We cannot predict the future. What I am certain of is that casual Jews are
not living the kind of Jewish life that will likely inspire the next generation
of passionate Jews.
We need more Jews living and
teaching an authentic, serious, passionate Judaism. We need to more clearly recognize that our
mission in this world is anchored in God’s Torah and not Western values. Sometimes, we need to say no, to stick to our
standards, and act in ways which don’t make sense.
We need to read from “right to
left.”
