The nightmare scenario in inter-religious dialogue rarely involves open hostilities anymore, at least in much of the United States and Europe. This is a mark of progress. People who participate in dialogue genuinely want to interact with practitioners of other traditions – or at least learn something new. These days, dialogue at its worst is limited to platitudes and generalities about religious traditions: “Christians and Muslims both love peace. Why can’t we all just get along?”

The essential goal must be to raise the quality of dialogue and broach the difficult topics that preclude truly positive interactions, without provoking heated and counterproductive discussions. The question in people’s minds when they engage in dialogue may actually be: “Christians and Muslims both love peace and yet there is conflict between practitioners of each tradition in Nigeria. How can we collaborate to reduce tensions between our communities overseas?” Yet the message can get garbled in the heat of the moment, as people are trying so hard to please each other that they end up underwhelming everyone. Hence the platitudes.

Several major responses to sub-par dialogue have emerged, each with the goal of producing more meaningful inter-religious interchanges. Broadly speaking, these varying strategies may be categorized as cooperative, coupled, and intellectual.

For more, please see the Tikkun Daily.

Many religious leaders like to feel in control and give others advice. Though I am still a very much a rabbi-in-progress, with three-and-a-half years of study to go before ordination, I think it would show a great deal more strength for clergy to admit their shortcomings and be honest about how often they (and fairly soon soon we) don’t know what to do or how to do it.

In the spirit of seeking, rather than giving, advice, I wanted to share some of the fears that I have about my future career – and lifestyle – as a rabbi. I was recently asked to record these as part of a professional development course at Hebrew Union College but thought they might be of interest here and foment conversation about the difficult life’s choices that many religious leaders face.

As I look forward to life as a rabbi, I have a number of aspirations, tinged by concerns about achieving them – or missing the mark. In some ways it is as though rabbinical school is a prolonged Yom Kippur. I am ‘cleansed’ through learning but somewhat removed from the world in which I will eventually live. Challenges seem remote, but hopes are all too close. (Food, thankfully, is more abundant at Hebrew Union College than I have found it to be on Yom Kippur!) In short, I have insufficient practical experience and eyes all too widely opened with expectation.

My biggest concern is quite honestly ennui. If I have an unexceptional career, will it all have been worth the trip? If I don’t push a social justice agenda, should I have just gone to Wall Street? If my congregation doesn’t blossom, should I have just joined the non-profit sector?

A lack of certainty also concerns me. Even as junior rabbis – extreme circumstances aside – we can at least be assured of two or even four years of steady work. For now [as students], all that exists is uncertainty. Admittedly, excitement also dwells in the uncertainty. What can I do with the next forty years of my life? Could I change the Reform Movement? Could I learn how to be the next great (insert name of prominent rabbi)? What do I need to do to get there? Can I do what it takes? I should really get around to studying more!

Beyond the personal, egotistical concerns of the rabbinate reside even bigger hopes and worries. Can I be a rabbi and a family man? Will I be a good husband? Will I be a good dad, if I become one? Will I still be able to support my wife’s career in full – by cooking, cleaning, helping out around the house – or will hers suffer as mine grows? Will the reverse happen? Is our marriage really egalitarian, or only so long as neither one of us has a career on the chopping block? How can we resist the urge to prioritize ourselves and our work?

For more, please see the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue or the Tikkun Daily blog.

Over the past week, people have affirmed and questioned an article I wrote, entitled “Sexy Jewish Stereotypes.” Most recently, Dave Belden wrote a counter-article, “Sexy Jewish Stereotypes — Questions.” I, for one, have been grateful for the opportunity to speak openly about issues that too often are left unsaid — namely sexuality and the way in which it is perceived. (Another interesting discussion on the subject just came out in the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue this fall and may be worth a gander.)

I appreciate Dave’s concern that sexuality and the notion of being “sexy” may contribute to the pressure that everyone, and women in particular, face to adhere to external standards of beauty. It may even push some people to become one-dimensional. But negating the sexuality and beauty of the human body is similarly problematic, if not more so: such traits are inherent to our bodies — could ignoring, subordinating, or sublimating one of the many prominent characteristics that we as humans hold ever be healthy? Even in ultra-traditional Jewish thought, in which modesty is praised, the idea of humans as inherently sexual beings — and beautiful, miraculous beings at that — is widely accepted. It is considered further evidence of the idea that we were made in God’s image.

For more, please see my respective articles on Judaism, sexuality, and stereotypes here and here.

Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyhu is Israel’s Prime Minister and shrewdest politician. Even his fiercest critics admire his savvy. But his latest maneuver, intended to appease both voters at home and U.S. President Barack Obama, may permanently debilitate peace talks. We must not fall prey to his sly trick.

Under pressure from the Obama Administration, Bibi agreed last week to what sounds like a complete freeze of settlements. But, as the New York Times’ Editorial Board aptly pointed out, it is one that “exempts Jerusalem, schools and synagogues and permits Israel to complete 3,000 housing units already under construction.” This is tantamount to claiming that housing currently being built by Israel under (at best) questionable means in East Jerusalem, should not be considered ’settlements’ by the international community.

For more, please see the Tikkun Daily blog.

 

Rabbi David Ellenson

 

Members of the American Jewish community have long pushed for better enforcement of the Israeli laws guaranteeing equal rights for its Arab citizens. But this month, the Jewish movement for Arab-Israeli rights went mainstream, as leaders of America’s largest branch of Judaism unanimously endorsed a “Resolution on Israeli Arab Citizens.”

The Union for Reform Judaism proudly issued the declaration at its Biennial Conference in Toronto. Among its major points, the Resolution on Israeli Arab Citizens asserts:

THEREFORE, the Union for Reform Judaism resolves to:

1. Recognize Israel’s repeated commitment and efforts to address inequality among Jewish and Arab citizens, reflecting the principles in its Declaration of Independence.

2. Encourage the Israeli government in its efforts to implement its Or Commission recommendations to reduce the gaps between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel in all areas of life, including but not limited to education, housing, industrial development, employment, and services….

For more, please see the Tikkun Daily blog.

In the past week, the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue has been featured in several speaking engagements, including the Dean’s Convocation at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and a gathering of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio. Then, on Friday, co-Editor Josh Stanton delivered a speech at the United Nations to the Tripartite Interfaith Forum. For a transcript of his remarks, please see the Journal’s website.

When Bernie Madoff was arrested in December, 2008 the blogosphere filled with hate. Anti-Semitic remarks of the sort not seen in a generation surfaced, as Madoff fulfilled all of the worst possible stereotypes about Jews. One crooked investor who preyed on his coreligionists’ charitable contributions made anti-Semitism seem trendy.

Last week, when a mentally unstable major in the army shot up a meeting space at Fort Hood in Texas, the blogosphere was again overflowing with hate, this time aimed against Muslims. Even as top military brass made clear that the incident was a military – not religious – matter, bloggers framed Nidal Hasan as a terrorist, inspired to kill in the name of his religion.

The hate must stop. But even as Jewish organizations denounce Madoff and Muslim organizations condemn Hasan, their voices cannot alone silence the din of the blogosphere. They desperately need for institutions outside their own religious communities to join in the chorus against hate and reframe the discourse. This mutual need may in fact provide an unprecedented opportunity for collaboration between the two religious communities.

For the complete article, please see the Faith Divide column.

The peace process has reached another crisis point – yet one inadequately emphasized in the world media. Mahmoud Abbas just announced his intention not to run in the Palestinian elections in January. While many leaders (and reporters) have interpreted the move as a bluff intended to pressure the Obama Administration, Abbas may very well follow through if there is no sign of tangible progress towards peace and, more concretely still, the betterment of life in the Palestinian Territories.

Abbas is caught in a political bind, flanked by Hamas leaders on the right. Having seen his motorcade firsthand, I realize that the threat of his assassination by rightists is just as real as the possibility of his electoral defeat. Abbas needs to have something to show for his overtures of peace and so far does not have nearly enough. Much talk and little action on all sides is particularly harmful to Abbas, given his precarious political position. And his resignation would place a serious impediment before the peace process. The Israeli government has come to trust its Palestinian counterpart in an unprecedented way — a crucial piece that had been missing during the negotiations taking place with Yassar Arafat.

For the complete article, please see the Tikkun Daily Blog.

Saleemah Abdul-Gharfur and I share a laugh while on the air together

“On Monday, October 26, Brian [the DJ of Vocalo] was at the Inter Faith Youth Core 6th Conference on Interfaith Youth Work in Evanston, Illinois.  We were fortunate enough to talk to everyone from organizers to featured speakers to attendees and Conference fellows on issues of religion, interfaith organizing and how folks are using faith-based groups to affect change all over the world.

This was probably the most diverse collection of guests we’ve ever had on the mic. Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Atheists and a Buddhist (for good measure) came together on Vocalo for an afternoon of conversation. Hear interviews from the beginning of the day here.” – www.vocalo.org

In the past week, the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue has been noted in the Tikkun Daily Blog, invited onto the airwaves of Chicago Public Radio (about 3/4 of the way through this particular show), and featured in the Chronicle of Hebrew Union College.

In addition, Journal co-Edtior Joshua Stanton was honored with the Bridge-Builders Leadership Award at the 6th Conference on Interfaith Youth Work at Northwestern University. This honor is to be shared by the entire Journal community as a sign that its efforts are significantly furthering the inter-religious movement both within the United States and around the world.