This collection of 16 essays on the topic of sustainability and its connection to Jewish Peoplehood is a partnership between the CJPE and Siach. With shmita as the framework, authors from different disciplines consider what sustainability means for the Jewish People in the 21st Century. Some take an activist stance and call on us to…
In this contemporary midrash (legend) David Zvi Kalman imagines the giving of the Torah to each individual Israelite, and to the Jewish People at the same time.
The author brings her experience with engaging unaffiliated young Jewish adults and argues that one key element of fostering Jewish Peoplehood is through the building of meaningful relationship between individuals from different backgrounds.
Fiss suggests that modern Jewish experience can be compared to other diaspora groups and takes a look at which characteristics and experiences are unique to the Jewish people and which are universal. She suggests that the idea of "homeland" is a universal concept, but is defined per group. She also suggests that the Jewish experience…
Friedman reflects on the tension of universalism and particularism in Israel's current ethical dilemma surrounding whether to absorb African refugees into its population. She expands the tension to her work as coordinator of Siach, a network of international Jewish social justice and environmental professionals. She uses an upcoming conference in Budapest of Jewish social justice…
Grant points to Daniel Elazar's work to show how American Jewry has leaned towards universalism while Israel leans towards universalism, the difference and differentiation threatening to divide the entities. But she also points to Chaim Nachman Bialik's writing to show how "Jewish life is challenged, but ultimately strengthened by the constant tension between the pull…
Sztokman and Sztokman suggest that one of the most powerful messages in the Torah "is the mission of the Jewish people to look after the vulnerable members of society." They point out that, "the Torah tells us that we actually can change others’ lives and fates for the better. This radical idea, that we can…
Messinger proposes two guiding principles "to advance the discourse about balancing universalism and particularism in the 21st century." First, she suggests moving beyond the binary and embracing hybridity. Quoting Rabbi Hirsch, she writes, “We must forget the views and prejudices that we inherited about Judaism. Instead we must turn to the sources of Judaism… because…
Nir Lahav and Idit Groiss try to understand the Jewish collective responsibility for others. They argue that "The poor of your city come first" cannot come at the expense of "Repairing the World" ("Tikkun Olam B'Malchut Shaddai"). They suggest that there is no conflict between the options, but rather, it is a question of timing…
Fein argues that the tensions between particularism and universalism can and should never be resolved. He believes that this is a tension that is "meant not only to challenge us but also to enliven us." He believes Rabbi Hillel's statements, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" and "If I am…
Josh Feigelson suggests addressing the issue posed in this volume through "Big Questions," Big which provide the possibility of creating new dynamics and new paradigms. “If we are to renew a sense of peoplehood, we have to renew a language and ethic of responsibility. And doing that starts with asking bigger questions … that animate…
Ellenson shows that within Judaism there have always been universalistic and particularistic dimensions, starting with the concept of covenant (brit) in the Bible. "This notion maintains that God stands in relationship with all people." These dual dimensions are also displayed in the idea of Tikkun Olam, a concept that also binds Jews to God. "The…
Bitton argues for a "balanced particularism" that allows one to continue to contribute to all of humanity. "This vision of Jewish particularism does not assume that there is something ‘better’ about Jews than non-Jews," but simply, that the Jewish people are one family, with a shared history, destiny and humanity. She believes that universalism only…
Looking back on an article she wrote almost a decade ago (“The Mitzvot of Peoplehood”) where she posed the question, “I’m a member of the Jewish People, so what should I do when I wake up in the morning?”, Wilf offers five potential avenues of action to nurture a sense of belonging to a Jewish…
Schwarz reports on the program he directs, the Rene Cassin Fellowship Program (RCFP), a yearlong program on Judaism and human rights for young adults with hubs in New York, London and Jerusalem. He believes that the "lesson for those who care about strengthening the Jewish people is…to meet today's young adults where they are at…
Schusterman shares her family foundation's approach towards the development of a virtuous cycle of vibrant Jewish life. "If we are successful, we will see a time when the vast majority of young people readily participate in Jewish life, draw on Jewish values to inform their worldviews and take on leadership roles in their communities. We…
Porat is the director of the NY-IL connections office of the UJA Federation of New York, which oversees joint programs that partner NY and Israel-based institutions, with the aim of enhancing connections and nurturing Jewish Peoplehood. All programs include a mifgash (encounter) element. He highlights what happens as a result of including a mifgash experience…
Pianko proposes a paradigm shift, from nationhood to neighborhood. Peoplehood based on a neighborhood rather than a nationhood model promotes understanding of Jewish collectivity as the sum of divergent processes of Jewish exploration and community building. "Neighborhoods" broadly construed, either in-person or via focused global networks, create a platform for engagement, meaning, creation, and innovation,…
Flint points to an untapped resource of global Peoplehood change agents: individual Jews who relocated to other countries on the globe. Using the examples of Israelis who reside abroad and Olim who moved to Israel, she proposes that our goal should be to cultivate and nurture those individuals who can serve as "living bridges," and…
When the challenges of Jewish Peoplehood emerged in the Jewish world, most efforts went into trying to understand the meaning and significance of Jewish Peoplehood in the present. Some lead questions included: what does peoplehood mean today? Why is it important? How do we define it? Later, Jewish organizations and leaders asked: How do we…
