I have posted from ReformJudaism.org occasionally without comment from readers. I believe that their Torah study and commentary are important contributions to how we understand monotheism and ethics and creation itself, but I also understand that many Christians reject this or are firm in their beliefs that Christianity supersedes and replaces Judaism or that Christians have been "grafted" onto Judaism and monotheism and that they (Christians) are freed from Jewish law and practices. In my mind, Christian Zionism is one of the great errors of the day, but I have to admit that it is a powerful cultural and political force. All of this and busy schedules and the demands of daily life means that decisive numbers of Christians are not going to engage with Judaism. And ReformJudaism.org is not put together with Christians in mind.
I have recommended in the past that Christians engage with Amy-Jill Levine and her interesting work. She attends and Orthodox synagogue and is not, so far as I know, part of the Reform movement. It's not that I agree with her on everything, but that her methodology and scholarship are closer to what we need than closed minds and dead traditions. It would be helpful if more Christians read her work or watched her videos and discussed her lessons. She's smarter than the average bear and she lives in Tennessee, which are good recommendations, though she isn't all that into talking about the Tennessee Volunteers football program. Someone must have said a good prayer for the Volunteers when they took down Alabama recently, but it must not have been Amy-Jill Levine. Amplify Media has many of her books and is within the comfort zones of many Christians, so readers can start there.
The following essay by Jacob Kraus-Preminger appeared at ReformJudaism.org before the elections. I'm lifting it without permission and only giving part of the article with a link for you to follow up with. This is a good example of how faith works and how faith and works inform one another. Please read 'til the end because there is mention of other important articles and link as well added on.
I still remember when I was 13 years old and decided that I wanted to learn to play guitar. It did not come easily to me: I have always struggled with coordination and am left-handed; most guitars are made for right-handed people. Practicing guitar was the first thing that I truly committed myself to. What kept me going was not a desire to be the next great guitarist, but a love I had discovered in synagogue and at summer camp for singing as a community. When I was finally able to lead communities in song myself, I was grateful both for my newfound skills and for what I had learned from the experience of acquiring those skills: namely, how deep commitment and ongoing practice could enable me to do something I did not think was possible.
I am mindful that democracy also takes commitment and practice. Democracy takes practice because it still is not accessible to all. The democracy we live in today was established by people who restricted political power to white, Christian men. Over the centuries, people and movements have pushed these boundaries and pursued a democracy that better reflects all who call this country home. Nevertheless, voter suppression laws still intentionally keep Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from voting, as well as poor people, people with disabilities, and young people.
Democracy takes practice because it is messy. It requires that people who will not always agree come together and make collective decisions.
Democracy takes practice because it is at risk. People who gain power by spreading division and fear are challenging the very foundations of free and fair elections.
Go here to read the rest.
Now, the Union for Reform Judaism is doing some great work of affirming and embracing children of all genders and helping families and communities support their transgender youth. This isn't something to turn away from or refuse to engage with, and it should help many Christians to know that Jews are doing this in ways that are Scripturally and ethically sound. No one is rewriting God's Holy Word to suit current fashion, please Nancy Pelosi, keep Biden in the White House, and destroy America. Really. There are great videos here and here to check in with.
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