Jack Wertheimer: A New American Judaism? The Sociology of Jewish Practice [Denominations 3/5]
May 28, 2024
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Jack Wertheimer, a professor of American Jewish History, discusses the transformations of American Jewish practice. Topics include differences between lived religion and stated ideals, costs of radical inclusivity, and misconceptions among Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews. The conversation explores the meaning of Judaism in our current time.
Understanding lived religion vs. stated ideals in Jewish movements.
Challenges of radical inclusivity in Jewish communities.
Gender dynamics and leadership shifts in the Reform movement.
Addressing misconceptions between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jewish communities.
Deep dives
Focus on Jewish Denominational Differences
The podcast delves into the nuanced differences among Jewish denominations, highlighting the ideological divergences that have historically shaped Jewish commitment, Torah interpretation, and identity definitions. The speaker underscores the sensitivity and urgency in discussing such cosmic questions, especially in today's vulnerable Jewish landscape. By explicitly outlining the goals for Orthodox and non-Orthodox listeners, the episode aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of various Jewish affiliations.
Challenges in Promoting Intensive Jewish Education
The podcast underscores the Orthodox community's success in promoting intense Jewish education through day schools, summer camps, and Israel gap year programs. The importance of language proficiency, particularly Hebrew, is emphasized. However, challenges arise in extending this educational model to non-Orthodox communities, with many parents hesitant to invest in intensive Jewish education due to commitments to public schooling, exposure to diversity, and concerns about children connecting too strongly with Judaism.
Gender Dynamics and Education in the Reform Movement
The podcast critically examines gender dynamics in the Reform movement, noting a shift where women have taken on key leadership roles while male participation has declined. The speaker acknowledges the complex consequences of egalitarian initiatives. Despite fostering inclusivity, such efforts have unintentionally led to the marginalization of reform men. This reflective view prompts discussions within the movement on how to engage and retain different demographics effectively.
Misconceptions and Social Gaps Among Jewish Denominations
The episode addresses prevalent misconceptions existing between orthodox and non-orthodox Jewish communities, drawing attention to the contrasting perspectives fueled by educational disparities and social divides. A Pew study highlights the lack of perceived common ground between different denominations, particularly orthodox and reform Jews. The widening social gap, coupled with varying levels of Jewish literacy, poses challenges in fostering cohesive interactions and relationships among Jews of different denominations.
Reflection on Jewish Denominations and Affiliation
Reflecting on the challenges and implications of Jewish denominations and affiliation, the podcast delves into the evolving dynamics within the Jewish community regarding orthodox misconceptions of non-orthodox Jews. The discussion highlights the growing ignorance and diminishing connections between orthodox and non-orthodox Jews, shedding light on the divisive impact of religion in Jewish life both in the USA and Israel. The importance of addressing underlying misconceptions, assimilation, and intermarriage trends emerges as poignant issues affecting the future Jewish population.
Inspiring Initiatives and Community Engagement
Exploring uplifting endeavors within the American Jewish landscape, the podcast showcases the innovative approaches adopted by younger American Jews to engage different Jewish subpopulations through various startups and programs. These initiatives aim to foster inclusion, encourage social interactions, and create diverse platforms for Jewish interaction. Examples like the presence of Jewish activities at Burning Man and rabbis developing inclusive programs reflect the positive strides in community engagement and outreach.
Methodologies of Personal, Familial, and Institutional Judaism
By examining the individual, familial, and institutional aspects of Judaism, the podcast presents a thought-provoking perspective on the diverse methodologies used to navigate religious affiliation. Drawing parallels between personal belief exploration (reformed methodology), familial tradition transmission (conservative methodology), and communal standard-setting (orthodox methodology), the discussion underscores the importance of embracing varying approaches to uphold a rich and meaningful Jewish identity across different levels of engagement.
This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jack Wertheimer, a professor of American Jewish History at JTS, about the radical transformations of American Jewish practice over the last century.
We can’t understand the Jewish People without a sobered look at what happens in our synagogues, homes, and communities. We can talk about a movement’s ideological ideals, but amid those discussions we cannot ignore the on-the-ground realities of a community’s practice. In this episode we discuss:
How does a Jewish movement’s "lived religion" differ from its stated ideals?
What is the cost of radical inclusivity?
What misconceptions do Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews have about each other?
Tune in to hear a conversation about what Judaism means for us in our current time.
Interview begins at 28:28.
Dr. Jack Wertheimer is a leading thinker and professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is the former provost of JTS, and was the founding director of the Joseph and Miriam Ratner Center for the Study of Conservative Judaism. Jack has written and edited numerous books and articles on the subjects of modern Jewish history, education, and life. He won the National Jewish Book Award in the category of Contemporary Jewish Life in 1994 for A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America. References: “Sometimes Mashiach Is Not the Solution” by Aaron Lopiansky
