The Myth of Normal Judaism: Why Judaism Is Deteriorating in the West
"Being Jewish is defined by membership in the People and not by religion. The Jews have a religion, but Judaism is not a religion."
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Despite the extensive and meaningful contributions that Judaism and the Jewish People have gifted the Western world, Judaism is deteriorating in the West.
Modern societies typically ignore these contributions due to a paradigm that treats anything old or ancient as outdated, irrelevant, politically incorrect, or even harmful.
And many Jews themselves look for meaning and purpose in every place except Judaism, despite the vast treasure trove of Jewish wisdom, philosophy, history, and experience.
Our culture of materialism and individualism rooted in capitalist, industrial modernity has caused many of these trends — because this culture, in many ways, directly undermines Judaism, both past and present.
As such, a new paradigm is needed to explore the connections between Judaism, the Jewish People, and the greater world.