Too much of what passes today as Jewish “thought leadership” is utterly useless to Jews who need real answers amid skyrocketing antisemitism, political uncertainty, and social insecurity.
Leadership? Maybe in the US it is done differently but in Canada, the old boys' network of the wealthy and well connected are the ones who elect each other with no voting, and no input from the community at all. In my city, a small business person was elected to head the Federation and it has been a disaster since October 7. He may smile prettily, is affable, and a shmoozer and that is that. He did a disastrous interview with a Jew hating city paper for over an hour, with no consulting with anyone knowledgeable before hand, and the major headline last year was the "Jewish community supports a ceasefire". He admitted to me he should have not spoken freely to let himself be used, and the correction was, "The Jewish Federation supports a ceasefire". For that alone, he should have been fired on the spot but no, he is still there, invisible and silent in the fact of worsening demonstrations which have been filled with hate crimes. We do not need ghetto Jews as leaders who think others should be protecting us. We need courageous experienced leaders who can deal with the aftermath of Oct. 7, who can mobilize and use the legal system to fight.
That is a sad story, Bonnie. I’m about to read an article in the Tablet regarding mis-used philanthropy that will no doubt be equally sad. Both at the Board level and the hired leadership level, folks need to be honest, forward-thinking and creative. It is a marvel to behold when it happens.
A lot of what you are saying was already in motion before 10/7. Synagoge attendance being a good example. Outside of the orthodox world, both within Israel and without, attendance has fallen for a long time. And, in some respects, I think it was inevitable as the Jewish people move from the world of exile to the return of nationhood. A new branch of Judaism is going emerge as more and more of us become Israeli nationals. And make no mistake, that process is accelerating as the Jews of Europe flee. It will be a new reinvention of what being Jewish means that, like the Yavneh rules, will incorporate much of what was into what will ultimately emerge.
The fly in the ointment is the return of high levels of antisemitism. That is bringing with it a return to the “keep a bag packed” mindset of the bad old days. There is no real effective way for Jews to counteract this development. We can take defensive measures, fight back when the opportunity presents itself but we must also accept that we are ludicrously outnumbered here. Which, once again, brings us to Israel. Our little nation is going to have to become a lifeboat in this new scary environment. Preparing for that is going to require an enormous effort.
And you stated the heart/root of most of our problems, ECB: "we are ludicrously outnumbered here." It's impossible to fight without *outside* help (other religions involved).
Only last night, I predicted to my American son and his wife that they will likely have their own grandchildren living in Israel. It is time for us to get serious about learning functional Hebrew, for a start.
GenXers like myself know our role and we should not be so easily dismissed or swept under the rug, Josh. We are quick to call out BS, not afraid one bit to be confrontational and happen to be good with knives and ninja stars. I would say now more than ever it's essential to have us Xers around to cut a bitch.
mit a lotta gelt this could be possible... but who's gonna throw sheckels at a plan when there's a war goin' on?... that said....
Mah own modest top 10 admittedly ahrtsy-leanin' list includes:
1. bringin' back the Borsht Belt! (include new & old style comics, music, affordable cabins, zingin', tanzin', a little tennis)--offer fambly discounts, work-study fer students (future tummlers!) The popularity of Mrs Maisel proves interest! (There IS an annual Borscht Fest but they have no $ an' it's all pie--chocolate babka?--in the sky without it)
2. settin' up concert tour "series" featurin' noo an' old-style jooish performers, klezmer, israeli, yiddish zingers, instrumentals etc all ovuh the US where haters ain't congregatin'...
3. do a "Choir Choir Choir" (already run by chews--we LOVE Daveed & Nobu!) but with jooish zongs ta learn & zing together!
4. yiddish theater--it's already robust in NYC but expand it--it's zo fun! (also yiddish lessons)--also yiddish / jooish musical theater!
5. bring back fun jooish summer camps! YES to tie-dye & swim & campfires, but NO ta coding an' stem--all the diggy-tail stuff that puts screens in front've eyes instead of fellow joos / human faces! (have a real shabbos on Fridays like mine did too!) put on shows! (good prep fer Borscht Belt partissypaytion....) Jooish summer camp, some'a my best memories!
6. FIX Sunday skool--it's zo boring! (if it was made fun & interestin' kids wouldn't object!) INCLUDE the his'try an' culcha of joos all over the whirled (includin' mizrahi, sephardic, etc)....
7. TEACH jooish culcha'....every kid needs ta know the stories, the performers, the lit'ra'chur... kids today know gornischt (I've tried ta teach mah goils better--at least they know the fabulous Barry Sisters!)
8. anythang for the kinder should be also offered (in more sophistocated versions...) fer the adults...
9. temples should become "more"--an' host debates, lectures, concerts--they need ta become not just houses of worship but go-to destinations! The Jooish Y's too (BOTH mah NYShitty synagogue--Emanu-El--an' the 92nd St Y do this WELL--but they are lefty-delusional an' also wielded Empire pass like the Yellow Stars--for shonda! But nearly nowhere else I know of has temples or Y's that do this stuff--they should!)
10. bring back da joos to the jooish moose-see-yums--the bee-u-tee-ful one in mah hometown NYSeized started doin' ahrt shows where the ahrtists warn't even jooish (nor were the themes presented) say whut?
BONUS -- bring back REAL jooish delis! I cry at the loss of Carnegie, 2nd Avenue (the original, not the re-brand), an' yes Ratners (grumpy waiters & all).... (only Katz's remains!) an' do so in even every medium-sized city as well as the big-uns....(at least I could drive ta one mebbee?) I'd also have a Sammy's Roumanian in every town if I had mah druthers! (egg creams, lotsa schtick, an' fab flanken & egg creams, how kin ya miss?!)
lol but I'm ser'yus about my suggestions--this fun stuff brings ve chews together!
As fer OCCUPATION with food (oy), I actually got blocked from enterin' my fave health food store in midtown by a group'a crazy-woke pro-pally idiots in keffiya's from chynna.... b/c the store sold... oh the horror! ISRAELI Hummus (which of course the pallies say is "their" invention?!) meh, phooey, baloney! kosher baloney! I didn't even want hummus lol but I'm glad they sold it!
As fer Egg Creams, Sammy's made the BEST--the Foxes-U-Bet & the Seltzer, standin' on the TABLE! (yup, it beat Gem Spa if only for the DRAMA!) as fer pallies stealin' the egg creams, that'd be a war crime! (albeit a food war crime!)
ps of course all this would only "woik" if they schtopped hatin' us an' we don't end up (again!) cowerin' in sumbuddy's attic... b/c everythang old is nu again...
I'm not Jewish, but I agree w/ this 100%. I also would like to add that Jews need a new political party as well as new Jewish groups/ leaders too. #1. The ADL sucks, so I recommend the ZOA. # 2 The GOP or an indept party b/c Dems are embracing antiSemites more often. [Like ''The Squad'']
"We don’t need academics fixated on footnotes while our communities hollow out."(!!)
I agree with much of what you say we need and I hope young and older Jews alike focus on that, but you should be more careful about what you dismiss as of no value. A war against careful footnoting of sources in scholarly research ain't gonna thwart Jewish renewal. This might also explain why you cut my sources out of the post I contributed some months ago without asking if it was okay with me. I had found that inexplicable until I read the above quote.
You might want to check out a visionary Rabbi in Newport Beach: Reuven Mintz. He and his wife, Chani are doing amazing things in our community. Let me know if you want their contact info.
The heterodox world went all in on Tikun Olam and the woke agenda and walked away from any sense of attachment to traditional Jewish values thereby relegating far too many young Jews to ignorance about their heritage Many years ago young Jewish college students held a sit in at UJA because UJA studiously refused to give funds to day schools Think about prioritizing where you give your Tzedaka and time and holding institutions accountable remain good starting points
IN my lifetime, the one figure that made a distinctly different impression from all Jewish leaders was Kahane and I'm not a Kahanist. Today we get self appointed moralists pointing an accusing finger at the Jewish community for our alleged indifference and self satisfaction. One actor, Patinkin comes to mind. Ezra Klein gives a soft , supportive interview with arch racist Khalil Muhammad. "Progressive" Jews and self declared anti Zionist "rabbis" support racist Mamdani for mayor of NYC. I can scream or cry at the lack of any Jewish leadership in the USA. For a lifetime of mediocrity from the Jewish organizations.
Agree! more action, less ivory tower navel-gazing “poor us” verbiage. I’m sure I’m not the first but i got to thinking about why we as a community we haven’t focused on Mizrahi and North African Jews who lost homes in Arab countries mid-20th century. I mean, this fits well with the useful idiots indigenous rights/ stealing land talk. i’m sure legal restitution now is tricky, but maybe influencers or leaders today could document or spotlight these histories? I even mentioned it to Tal the Traveling Clatt on youtube and he said that’s exactly what he’s working on, but he’s only ONE.
I think if we keep it simple and point out, on as many media sites as possible, what Israel and the rest of the world are facing with extreme Islam and jihadist intentions more people will come to our side. For example, the parents and grandparents of most Palestinians supported and cheered Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews and that is what they teach their children to do today. In Gaza they celebrated the destruction of the world trade buildings. When they say "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free" we need to teach the public that they mean many things like kill all the Jews, destroy Israel and create a state called Palestine and it will not be a free democracy but a religious caliphate state like Iran. Why doesn't the media point out that Hamas doesn't want peace but only the destruction of Israel?
“Action leaders” is more like it. I think we’ve covered thinking enough already, lol. More Nobel prizes won’t help. Less thinking more doing. Same issues as the democratic political party: re-thinking, new takes, thought leadership, new agendas, new names, target audience analysis, blah 🤮 blah.
Leadership? Maybe in the US it is done differently but in Canada, the old boys' network of the wealthy and well connected are the ones who elect each other with no voting, and no input from the community at all. In my city, a small business person was elected to head the Federation and it has been a disaster since October 7. He may smile prettily, is affable, and a shmoozer and that is that. He did a disastrous interview with a Jew hating city paper for over an hour, with no consulting with anyone knowledgeable before hand, and the major headline last year was the "Jewish community supports a ceasefire". He admitted to me he should have not spoken freely to let himself be used, and the correction was, "The Jewish Federation supports a ceasefire". For that alone, he should have been fired on the spot but no, he is still there, invisible and silent in the fact of worsening demonstrations which have been filled with hate crimes. We do not need ghetto Jews as leaders who think others should be protecting us. We need courageous experienced leaders who can deal with the aftermath of Oct. 7, who can mobilize and use the legal system to fight.
That is a sad story, Bonnie. I’m about to read an article in the Tablet regarding mis-used philanthropy that will no doubt be equally sad. Both at the Board level and the hired leadership level, folks need to be honest, forward-thinking and creative. It is a marvel to behold when it happens.
A lot of what you are saying was already in motion before 10/7. Synagoge attendance being a good example. Outside of the orthodox world, both within Israel and without, attendance has fallen for a long time. And, in some respects, I think it was inevitable as the Jewish people move from the world of exile to the return of nationhood. A new branch of Judaism is going emerge as more and more of us become Israeli nationals. And make no mistake, that process is accelerating as the Jews of Europe flee. It will be a new reinvention of what being Jewish means that, like the Yavneh rules, will incorporate much of what was into what will ultimately emerge.
The fly in the ointment is the return of high levels of antisemitism. That is bringing with it a return to the “keep a bag packed” mindset of the bad old days. There is no real effective way for Jews to counteract this development. We can take defensive measures, fight back when the opportunity presents itself but we must also accept that we are ludicrously outnumbered here. Which, once again, brings us to Israel. Our little nation is going to have to become a lifeboat in this new scary environment. Preparing for that is going to require an enormous effort.
And you stated the heart/root of most of our problems, ECB: "we are ludicrously outnumbered here." It's impossible to fight without *outside* help (other religions involved).
Only last night, I predicted to my American son and his wife that they will likely have their own grandchildren living in Israel. It is time for us to get serious about learning functional Hebrew, for a start.
That is an excellent idea
GenXers like myself know our role and we should not be so easily dismissed or swept under the rug, Josh. We are quick to call out BS, not afraid one bit to be confrontational and happen to be good with knives and ninja stars. I would say now more than ever it's essential to have us Xers around to cut a bitch.
You're welcome.
mit a lotta gelt this could be possible... but who's gonna throw sheckels at a plan when there's a war goin' on?... that said....
Mah own modest top 10 admittedly ahrtsy-leanin' list includes:
1. bringin' back the Borsht Belt! (include new & old style comics, music, affordable cabins, zingin', tanzin', a little tennis)--offer fambly discounts, work-study fer students (future tummlers!) The popularity of Mrs Maisel proves interest! (There IS an annual Borscht Fest but they have no $ an' it's all pie--chocolate babka?--in the sky without it)
2. settin' up concert tour "series" featurin' noo an' old-style jooish performers, klezmer, israeli, yiddish zingers, instrumentals etc all ovuh the US where haters ain't congregatin'...
3. do a "Choir Choir Choir" (already run by chews--we LOVE Daveed & Nobu!) but with jooish zongs ta learn & zing together!
4. yiddish theater--it's already robust in NYC but expand it--it's zo fun! (also yiddish lessons)--also yiddish / jooish musical theater!
5. bring back fun jooish summer camps! YES to tie-dye & swim & campfires, but NO ta coding an' stem--all the diggy-tail stuff that puts screens in front've eyes instead of fellow joos / human faces! (have a real shabbos on Fridays like mine did too!) put on shows! (good prep fer Borscht Belt partissypaytion....) Jooish summer camp, some'a my best memories!
6. FIX Sunday skool--it's zo boring! (if it was made fun & interestin' kids wouldn't object!) INCLUDE the his'try an' culcha of joos all over the whirled (includin' mizrahi, sephardic, etc)....
7. TEACH jooish culcha'....every kid needs ta know the stories, the performers, the lit'ra'chur... kids today know gornischt (I've tried ta teach mah goils better--at least they know the fabulous Barry Sisters!)
8. anythang for the kinder should be also offered (in more sophistocated versions...) fer the adults...
9. temples should become "more"--an' host debates, lectures, concerts--they need ta become not just houses of worship but go-to destinations! The Jooish Y's too (BOTH mah NYShitty synagogue--Emanu-El--an' the 92nd St Y do this WELL--but they are lefty-delusional an' also wielded Empire pass like the Yellow Stars--for shonda! But nearly nowhere else I know of has temples or Y's that do this stuff--they should!)
10. bring back da joos to the jooish moose-see-yums--the bee-u-tee-ful one in mah hometown NYSeized started doin' ahrt shows where the ahrtists warn't even jooish (nor were the themes presented) say whut?
BONUS -- bring back REAL jooish delis! I cry at the loss of Carnegie, 2nd Avenue (the original, not the re-brand), an' yes Ratners (grumpy waiters & all).... (only Katz's remains!) an' do so in even every medium-sized city as well as the big-uns....(at least I could drive ta one mebbee?) I'd also have a Sammy's Roumanian in every town if I had mah druthers! (egg creams, lotsa schtick, an' fab flanken & egg creams, how kin ya miss?!)
We stole egg creams from the Palestinians. interesting satire post.
lol but I'm ser'yus about my suggestions--this fun stuff brings ve chews together!
As fer OCCUPATION with food (oy), I actually got blocked from enterin' my fave health food store in midtown by a group'a crazy-woke pro-pally idiots in keffiya's from chynna.... b/c the store sold... oh the horror! ISRAELI Hummus (which of course the pallies say is "their" invention?!) meh, phooey, baloney! kosher baloney! I didn't even want hummus lol but I'm glad they sold it!
As fer Egg Creams, Sammy's made the BEST--the Foxes-U-Bet & the Seltzer, standin' on the TABLE! (yup, it beat Gem Spa if only for the DRAMA!) as fer pallies stealin' the egg creams, that'd be a war crime! (albeit a food war crime!)
I’m definitely on board with #6. Also with giving our full support to day schools and camperships for Jewish camps.
ps of course all this would only "woik" if they schtopped hatin' us an' we don't end up (again!) cowerin' in sumbuddy's attic... b/c everythang old is nu again...
I'm not Jewish, but I agree w/ this 100%. I also would like to add that Jews need a new political party as well as new Jewish groups/ leaders too. #1. The ADL sucks, so I recommend the ZOA. # 2 The GOP or an indept party b/c Dems are embracing antiSemites more often. [Like ''The Squad'']
"We don’t need academics fixated on footnotes while our communities hollow out."(!!)
I agree with much of what you say we need and I hope young and older Jews alike focus on that, but you should be more careful about what you dismiss as of no value. A war against careful footnoting of sources in scholarly research ain't gonna thwart Jewish renewal. This might also explain why you cut my sources out of the post I contributed some months ago without asking if it was okay with me. I had found that inexplicable until I read the above quote.
You might want to check out a visionary Rabbi in Newport Beach: Reuven Mintz. He and his wife, Chani are doing amazing things in our community. Let me know if you want their contact info.
The heterodox world went all in on Tikun Olam and the woke agenda and walked away from any sense of attachment to traditional Jewish values thereby relegating far too many young Jews to ignorance about their heritage Many years ago young Jewish college students held a sit in at UJA because UJA studiously refused to give funds to day schools Think about prioritizing where you give your Tzedaka and time and holding institutions accountable remain good starting points
IN my lifetime, the one figure that made a distinctly different impression from all Jewish leaders was Kahane and I'm not a Kahanist. Today we get self appointed moralists pointing an accusing finger at the Jewish community for our alleged indifference and self satisfaction. One actor, Patinkin comes to mind. Ezra Klein gives a soft , supportive interview with arch racist Khalil Muhammad. "Progressive" Jews and self declared anti Zionist "rabbis" support racist Mamdani for mayor of NYC. I can scream or cry at the lack of any Jewish leadership in the USA. For a lifetime of mediocrity from the Jewish organizations.
I am not jewish myself but wish you all the best for a bright future <3
This article brings up a very good point. I guess that it was like this in 1920s and 1930s.
Agree! more action, less ivory tower navel-gazing “poor us” verbiage. I’m sure I’m not the first but i got to thinking about why we as a community we haven’t focused on Mizrahi and North African Jews who lost homes in Arab countries mid-20th century. I mean, this fits well with the useful idiots indigenous rights/ stealing land talk. i’m sure legal restitution now is tricky, but maybe influencers or leaders today could document or spotlight these histories? I even mentioned it to Tal the Traveling Clatt on youtube and he said that’s exactly what he’s working on, but he’s only ONE.
Maybe we have just run out of ideas…
Golda Meir
I think if we keep it simple and point out, on as many media sites as possible, what Israel and the rest of the world are facing with extreme Islam and jihadist intentions more people will come to our side. For example, the parents and grandparents of most Palestinians supported and cheered Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews and that is what they teach their children to do today. In Gaza they celebrated the destruction of the world trade buildings. When they say "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free" we need to teach the public that they mean many things like kill all the Jews, destroy Israel and create a state called Palestine and it will not be a free democracy but a religious caliphate state like Iran. Why doesn't the media point out that Hamas doesn't want peace but only the destruction of Israel?
“Action leaders” is more like it. I think we’ve covered thinking enough already, lol. More Nobel prizes won’t help. Less thinking more doing. Same issues as the democratic political party: re-thinking, new takes, thought leadership, new agendas, new names, target audience analysis, blah 🤮 blah.