Tonight, we went to the Cinematheque where we drank wine and ate fine cheeses with Hillel bigshots and other of Edgar's acquaintances before heading down to the interview with David Horowitz. It was Edgar explaining and defining his views on North American Jewry and the challenges it faces and basically what he wrote about in his book, Hope not Fear. He started by saying that saying "I believe" is dangerous. But, that he does not believe in the God of the Old Testament and is not sure of a God more greater controlling God and that he is okay with that mystery. Instead, Edgar replaces God with Godliness likening himself to the Golden Rule in a sense. He does not view intermarriage as the enemy and instead takes it as fact and instead of turning ourselves into a ghetto of not allowing intermarriage, we should look to if this couple will create a Jewish Household. Edgar also feels he is pragmatic more than liberal in his ideas as Judaism needs to grow and progress and therefore will not lose its essence if his ideas become more prevalent. He spoke about Hillel, Birthright, and Tzedek. And his move from the Birthright board to the Birthright Next Board to focus on follow-up programing which he feels is vital. He spoke on the fact that he is a Proud Jew and that that is as far as he puts himself in a denomination. And that instead of Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, that we should instead look to what we like in synagogues. Dancing and singing? Davening? Text Study? And by that system we should choose our synagogue (BYFI anyone?) And finally to end, he spoke on the need for further Jewish Education and that more money should be placed into it. But what he said right before that was that anti-semitism no longer exists in the US.
Of course, he is wrong. He cited Al Gore's loss in 2000 and that no one blamed Lieberman for the loss and maybe he is right that in the media and the perspective he comes from there is not anti-Semitism. But I grew up in it. And this has been my issue (ax to grind so to speak) since my first day at Bronfman. So, I called him on it (through a good question and the help of Eliana so I didnt completely botch up my words). Being told that the only reason I am in Beta Club is because Jesus saved me is a form of anti-Semitism. Being told when I complain that I obviously do not believe in the first amendment and it is their right to do so, is anti-semitism. Having prom scheduled on a major Jewish holiday is anti-Semitism. Having my rabbi told not to come to baccalaureate (even though he had been invited by someone else) is anti-Semitism. The jokes and comments in the halls and on the busses is anti-Semitism. The insistence on group prayer in Jesus's name before any sporting event is also a form of anti-Semitism. Working a party as the people you serve sweet tea to joke about their Jewish clients in a derogative manor is anti-Semitism. No Edgar, it's alive and well.
So people tell me to move out of the small town (which I am) but then what is the point of a diaspora if everyone lives in New York and Israel. If the beauty of the Diaspora is that it keeps Jewry around the world alive, how can leaving these areas be the answer. And it has been this struggle for me (and perhaps because it is the only real struggle that I feel I am entitled to or able to sort of speak on with sounding like a complete buffoon, only mostly a buffoon) between my concern for and hate of where I came from. Do we further Jewish Education? Do we just rely on the work of the summer camps that provide sanctuary for a month each summer? Or do we just let it go and support those who get out and don't worry about those who are happy in the environment. It's a question I do not have the answer to and I think that I am sick of focusing on it. But, to say anti-Semitism does not exist is just too bold for today.
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