Jewish congregations and institutions—particularly non-Orthodox ones—often focus on how they can be more appealing and accessible to the growing number of Jews who feel like religion isn’t for them. This has resulted in “big tent Judaism”, which may have swung the door open for the masses—but has it also diluted Jewish spaces and expertise?
Recently, Rabbi Ari Witkin, ordained in the Reconstructionist movement, wrote an article that cautions against over-universalizing Jewish life and messaging. “We’ve become more inclusive, more welcoming, more responsive to the diversity within our communities. It’s allowed countless people who once felt pushed out of Jewish life to find a place and build authentic relationships with our practice and tradition. But somewhere along the way, ‘meeting people where they are’ became the goal instead of the starting point…. And so I think we have to ask: Are we actually helping people grow? Or are we just trying not to lose them?”
And so, on this week’s episode of Not in Heaven, our rabbi panel digs into whether the future of Judaism lies in smaller tents, rather than bigger ones—digging into niches, embracing stricter communal authority, and not trying to water-down the public sphere.
After that, the gang discusses Avi Finegold’s latest article in the recently released summer edition of Scribe Quarterly. Are horoscopes kosher? While the popularity of star signs and astrology—among Jews and non-Jews alike—may seem distinctly “new age”, Avi offers a variety a sources that show they are anything but.
Credits
- Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl
- Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
- Music: Socalled
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