I think that a Jewish community boils down to a minimum of three components for the people who are part of it: Identifying as a Jew, finding others who also identify with the Jewish world at large and participation of some degree. A Jewish community is a place where the people can be either part of a cultural group, a religious group or some percent of each perhaps, and sometimes 0% of one and 100% of the other. What makes it a community is that all who identify in some way with it, self -identify with being Jewish. They may live together, or pray together, or eat, think, play or exist together or are connected by something that by its very existence is perceived as Jewish or even “Jewish Style”, much like my example in the Jewish institutions of a “Kosher-style” deli.
The American Jewish community as a whole is a true melting
pot and is as much been well described by the PEW study categories; not like
the Nuremburg Laws used in Germany to restrict the basic freedoms and rights of
Jews. Although, the Israeli test for citizenship of only having one grandparent
being Jewish and no other criteria for identifying someone as a Jew does
greatly expand both the matrilineal as well as patrilineal descent
identification of many who would become “members” of the greater- worldwide
Jewish community. So if you are Jewish genetically, culturally, secularly,
ethnically, non-observantly or as an Atheist +/- or do not choose to live a Jewish
way of life, or otherwise express yourself through religious practice, but
still live or interact with another Jew whether in person or at a distance
(think online communities also), who does or doesn’t do “Jewish” things, you
are still part of a Jewish community.
An extremely diverse picture of American Jewry changes
almost daily. Some changes stay and others de-popularize over time. One Jewish
community that is not currently de-popularizing is that of Jewish Renewal and
their many prayer communities which seem to be gaining in number and
organization across North America, abroad and even in Israel (www.jpost.com/Jewish-World?Jewish-Features/Jewish-Renewal-grows-up
). Another Jewish community that is growing is that which is made up of
Orthodox families. The larger American Jewish landscape consists of
federations, foundations, social services and civic organizations too, who are
all there to support Jews, and often non-Jews who are served according to our
core Jewish teachings and values of
helping all in need regardless of affiliations.
Interestingly on a related point, to further confirm my
thesis above, one of my seventh grade students brought up an interesting question
just yesterday. We were discussing Passover Seder rituals from around the
world. In 2004 in Afghanistan there was a Jewish community of two. In 2005 the “community”
that existed was one, as one individual had died. Yitzhak Levi, 69, who was the
caretaker of the Kabul synagogue passed away in January (www.gh.org.il/jews-afghanistan).
The one remaining Jew‘s name is Zablon
Siminntov and he lives in Kabul (www.aish.com
>Home>Israel>Jewish World). How can one Jew be part of a community? We
decided that all Jews are connected to all other Jews in the world. So even as
an isolated Jew in a town where there is no other Jew ,and no internet access ,
that He was still part of the larger Jewish community because he identified
himself as such. By holding a Seder he was performing an act that other Jews,
his community, were performing too. Even though it was not in the same physical
location and that he could not verify it, other Jews were still doing the same
thing. He was part of a community. By the way, the largest Afghan Jewish
population of approximated 20,000 is split between Queens and in Brooklyn, NY
according to our classroom research.
My last related theme that I would like to address is a
special and long standing component of a Jewish community. The inclusion of
those who support Jewish thoughts, processes and programs who are part of the
community but not Jewish. Examples would include the administrative staff of a Synagogue,
workers at a JCC, or the staff of a popular deli or restaurant that serves the
Jewish community. They are part of the Jewish community. They share
celebrations, holidays, sorrow and daily life of the Jews in the community and
are part of the everyday workings of the community.
The types of Jewish communities that I participate in
currently are mostly sub -communities within the structure of my Temple. The
wonderful community of Women in my ongoing Torah study group, the group of
teachers that I work with in the Religious and Hebrew Schools of our congregation
and the sisterhood (which is also part of the Reform Jewish Women’s movement) whose
programming I attend. I am also part of the Jewish community of Gratz College
along with the Jewish participants in my two classes. I believe we all meet my
theory of meeting the three basic requirements of group/ community membership.
It is difficult at best to predict what type of community
American Jews should be trying to become. Since the internet is so readily
available and can reach so many more people who otherwise would be isolated, or
marginalized, I would say that we should use our best efforts first to support
Jewish institutions that are already in existence and if there are none within
our region, then we should promote the growth of virtual communities. Virtual
communities are here to stay, and just like learning Torah on the iPhone, they
are not meant to meet everyone’s need for community support or learning, but
they will help meet some of the need.
L'heat (until next time),,,,
