|
|
|
Jewish World Review August 18, 1999 /6 Elul, 5759
IT’S TIME to straighten something out.
Something that is symbolic of something that is all too typical of the Jewish world today.
As regular readers of what I have to say know, I have had a lot to say over the years about Jewish unity. I have written about it over and over and over again, have called for more of it, have pointed out what I believe causes us to have less of it.
And so, if there is one stand I am known for, it is my belief in the importance of Jewish unity, the vital necessity of Jewish unity, the need for all of us – all of us – to put much more effort into, focus much more attention on doing what we can to increase Jewish unity.
That that effort is seen by some as being a radical or hopeless or even dangerous position shows how bad things have gotten.
That some distort its meaning, twist its intent to throw it back in my face shows how hard it is going to be to fix things.
Whenever I criticize a Jewish institution or a group of Jews or an individual Jew for saying or doing something I believe is wrong, is harmful, in they come.
The letters calling me a hypocrite, accusing me, often in not very nice words, of doing the very thing I spend so much time preaching against.
The point of the letters, which are usually from those who agree with something I’ve criticized, is this: Since I call for unity among Jews, I am being a disgusting no good liar for then criticizing Jews.
In other words, since I condemn those who damage unity, I have no right to ever criticize any Jew about anything. If I do, I am doing, goes the accusation, exactly what I berate others for doing.
All of which, in my opinion, shows a clear lack of understanding of what Jewish unity is all about. Shows that it’s easier to try and score some debating points than really try to practice true Jewish unity.
When I call for unity, talk about the need for unity, I am not saying we can’t criticize each other, disagree with each other, fight with each other.
And I never will. Unity does not mean you give up the right to express your beliefs or give up the right to strongly and forcefully disagree with and strongly and forcefully criticize those who see things differently.
I believe one of the reasons the Jewish world is in such bad shape in some ways these days is because our central Jewish organizations have numbed us with their philosophy of pretending there are no differences among Jews because they fear disagreement will hurt fund-raising.
Indeed, I believe there is so much Jewish disunity precisely because we no longer know how to fight as Jews. Fighting, you see, if done Jewishly, actually brings us closer.
Jews have always fought, always disagreed, always seen things differently, always thought they knew better than the other Jew. The philosophic and Talmudic battles between the houses of Hillel and Shammai are, in fact, held up as examples of the best of Jewish life, learning, caring, commitment.
Disagreeing has been good for us. It’s kept us stimulated, brought out the kind of creativity and innovation that only being challenged does, that being forced to defend your position does, that probing the weaknesses in your opponent’s position does.
Jews need to disagree, to contend with each other, because so much is at stake in so much of what makes up Jewish life.
The peace process in Israel, the high rate of intermarriage in America, the shape of Jewish education, relations between the denominations, melding modernity and tradition, all are of enormous importance and huge consequence and should be debated vigorously, with each side putting forth its best arguments and doing its best to point out all the flaws in the other side.
And so no, I do not think unity means not criticizing the other guy. I think criticizing what one believes is wrong in Jewish life is vital to keeping Judaism healthy and keeping Jews connected.
Indeed, I believe one of the harmful effects of the bureaucratization of American Jewish life has been an attempt to stifle dissent in an effort to achieve some kind of artificial consensus. For what that has done is not only cause us to lose the creative input that only comes from challenging the status quo, but also to not know how to fight as Jews.
The rabbis understood the need to teach us, to help us disagree with each other. And so it’s been in generation after generation. It’s only been American Jewry’s almost obsessive desire to show some kind of united front that has, ironically, led to far uglier battles than when we just let it out with each other.
When I write about unity, I don’t mean we can’t criticize each other. What I do mean is we have to do that as Jews. In a Jewish way. In accord with Jewish values. As part of the same Jewish people.
What I mean is we can’t argue by saying our opponents are not Jews. We can’t argue by labeling them and then dismissing them. We can’t compare them to Nazis. We can’t deprive them of a place at the table. We can’t say they are criminals or sinners or Jew haters. We can’t look down at them or call them names or question their motives or accuse them of wanting to destroy Judaism.
Doing any of that, doing all of that, crosses the line, does not lead to good results but to destructive ones, does not bring Jews closer together but pushes them farther apart.
And so when I call for unity, I call for Jews to come together and to fight together as Jews. I warn only against those who want to engage in the traifization of other Jews, in the destruction of other Jews, the dismissing of other Jewish points of view.
That is what I mean.
And so, yes, I do criticize what I think is wrong about the beliefs and attitudes and actions and words of other Jews. That is my right and is the right of every Jew.
What is not my right and is not the right of any Jew is to destroy or demean another Jew in the process. A good, hard, clean fight is fine. A dirty fight is not.
Achieving Jewish unity does not mean, should not mean, that we all have to be the same. That would be terrible for Judaism, besides the fact that it is an impossible goal.
Unity means understanding we are all in the same boat, we are all Jews, we are all part of the Jewish people together, we are all dependent on each other, we each serve a role uniquely ours, a role no other Jew can fill, a role vital for the health of Judaism.
Unity is not being the same. Unity is accepting that we are all different, see Judaism differently, bring different things to Judaism, live Jewish lives differently, find meaning in Judaism in different ways.
Unity is understanding that and embracing that. Unity is loving and respecting every Jew, no matter what, unconditionally, because he or she is a Jew, and so is part of us and we are part of them. Whatever they think or feel or believe or practice.
And unity is then telling them loudly and clearly why we think they’re wrong and trying to convince them why we’re right. But in a spirit of love. And then listening as they do the same to us. In a spirit of love.
We are all members of one family. A very big, diverse, vibrant, stiff-necked, passionate, caring family. And while relatives can criticize each other, try to change each other, they know that all that must be done without destroying the family in the process.
I hope I’ve clarified what I mean when I call for unity. And hope I’ve explained why I’m not being hypocritical when, at other times, I criticize Jews.
And so, next time I write something you don’t like, feel free to tell me why.
Just do it as one Jew to another.
That’s true
06/03/99: Partake from the feast --- but don't gorge
Misconstruing Jewish unity
By Joseph Aaron
It happens every time. Like clockwork.
Never once in any column I have ever written on unity have I ever called for that.
Because we have been told not to express our differences but instead paper them over with slogans that “We are One,” we don’t know how to express our anger Jewishly at those we think are wrong. And so, instead, we tap into other tactics, into the energy and methods we’ve used against those who have historically persecuted us. And have turned that kind of bitter life-and-death way of operating against our fellow Jews.
JWR contributor Joseph Aaron is Editor of
The Chicago Jewish News. Send your comments to him by clicking here.
03/28/99: Things go better with Judaism?
03/09/99: Having seichel
03/03/99: One thumb --- way up
1/12/99: Thank G-d!
12/31/98: Judaism, Inc.
11/19/98: My kind of folks
