Can we all get along?

For all the talk of community, peoplehood and unity in our tradition, Jews have never been very good at treating each other well. From the time of Abraham’s first children, we have been at each other’s throats. However, it is still hard to understand the kind of ongoing violence and anger that haredim in Israel exhibit towards towards non-orthodox Jews and to the state in particular. According to some, haredim believe that they are the ones under attack. They feel that the mostly-secular Israeli society conspires to destroy their way of life. Do we really need to bring in Rodney King to reach across this divide, or can we all get along?

Two recent incidents in Jerusalem demonstrate this problem. First was a series of riots sparked by haredi protesters against the City of Jerusalem’s decision to open a municipal parking lot on Shabbat. Second was a series of riots that erupted when city social service workers removed a three year old child from his home and arrested his mother for suspicion of child abuse. City case workers and Hadassah Hospital doctors claim that the mother suffers from a mental illness but they had been prevented from making home visits or assessing the mother or child's health. The boy weighed only 7 kilograms (about 15 pounds) when authorities finally took him into their care. See more here.

I admit that I have not done extensive research on this subject, but the shoe does not often go on the other foot. There are few cases of secular violence against religious authorities.

So what does this matter to a group of American Reform Jews half way across the world? One of the central goals of Zionism today is to strengthen the State of Israel internally as well as it has been strengthened against external threats. The appeal to prop up the values of liberty, freedom of religion, speech and conscience in Israel does not have the gravitas of Golda Meir's January 1948 appeal to the Chicago UJA meeting. However, the future of Israel is clearly not certain and its character is yet to be shaped. Our opinions and our visions for the Jewish homeland must be part of the conversation.

Of course there is no better way to be part of Israel and to understand it than to go there (just avoid Mea Shearim on rabbinically-proclaimed riot days). But even to follow the news from Israel on jpost.com or other websites is an important part of the zionist goal. Get involved and get connected. Israel needs you.

We've Got a Jesus Problem

You might have thought that Jews were the only ones who have "issues" with Jesus. Turns out we're not alone. Though Jay Michaelson wrote recently in the Forward about our "problem" with Jesus, you'd be surprised to hear how many Christians have a Jesus problem.

Today at Chautauqua, Rev. John Buchanan gave a sermon, "What About Jesus?" that seemed to me like a basic, good, old fashioned piece of Christian preaching. While trying to explain why people should believe in Jesus, Rev. Buchanan emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus: "He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died a Jew." Later, some of my Christian colleagues solicited my reaction to the sermon. I wanted to know why the Jewish identity of Jesus was important. In fact, I told them, it struck as somehow inappropriate from a Christian theological perspective to dwell on his Jewishness. It seems to overemphasize the humanity of Jesus and his connection to a system that he ultimately comes to replace (that is, after all, the core of Christianity, right?) Don't they think that Jesus is God? And it seems odd for Christians to say that God is Jewish.

One answer seemed straight out of Michaelson's article. A senior minister explained: "We have a Jesus problem." She went on to describe a mainline Protestant world where most people are uncomfortable with Jesus. They either associate Jesus with some crazy form of fundamentalism or they squirm in their theological uncertainty with the person-God blending. One of the clergy (at another time) referred to the "spookification" that makes Jesus just too "spooky" for a lot of Christians.

It's a strange world out here in Chautauqua land. So much Jesus but, apparently, so much ambivalence as well. Reverend Buchanan certainly got one point right - the question, "What About Jesus?" needs a real answer for lots of people.

The New Clergy Program

Today's Daily Chautauquan featured a story about the New Clergy Program and the current class of fellows. Not a bad looking group of suffering servants (if I may say so myself). Check out the article here.

The day's harvest

From a day filled with lectures, worship, conversations, food and fellowship, here are a few pearls. These are not quotes but my recollection of the speaker's ideas. I am not sure any of them are true, but they made for good thinking. You can, of course, download any of these sermons or lectures from Chautauqua's on line library: http://www.thegreatlecturelibrary.com/ (I think I get a free Chautauqua Bell Tower tote bag if you tell them I sent you).

From Prof. James Heckman: the attributes that used to be lumped together and called “character” (i.e. ability to finish a job once started, ability to delay gratification, hard work, focus, respect for rules, et al.) turn out to be vital for long term success in life as measured by certain economic – though not necessarily financial - parameters. We should therefore shift our policies and invest in programs that cultivate “good character” in children from a very early age instead of focusing on testing and remediation.

From Rev. John Buchanan’s sermon: a recent Pew Trust survey shows that people who go regularly to church are more likely than atheists to believe that torture is acceptable. From his lunchtime talk: You are not called to be successful you are called to be faithful.

From Prof. Elaine Pagels: The Gospel of John is, at least in part, a polemic against the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. References to Thomas, especially the “doubting Thomas” episode, are not really about the apostle character, Thomas, but about the Gospel written in his name. John presents a theology whereby Jesus is absolutely unique – above and unlike humans. Thomas, according to Pagels, sees the light of divinity in all humanity. The “light” in Jesus is equally in all people and all living things. [note: some of my pastor colleagues here did not agree with Pagels’ interpretation.]

From Garrison Keillor: All good stories are about people’s mistakes. You should serve your family homemade potato salad on the Fourth of July because that is how “cautious” “unexpressive” people show their love. It's also an honest way to keep faith with Thomas Jefferson.

Chautauqua Day 2 - Monday

Here's Monday's schedule, typical of the week to come:

8 AM breakfast
9:15 Worship in the 5,000 seat amphitheater, Rev. Dr. John Buchanan, senior pastor Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago and Publisher of Christian Century Magazine is preaching.
10:15 Coffee and discussion of the service and sermon at United Church of Christ Guest House.
10:45 Morning Lecture - Prof. James Heckman, Nobel Prize Economist
12:15 Luncheon and discussion with Rev. Wendy Heinz, "Pastoral Care of a Congregation"
1:30 Break
2:00 Religion Dept. Lecture - Dr. Elain Pagels, author, "The Gnostic Gospels"
4:00 Session - A conversation with Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
5:30 Break
6:00 Fellowship (I think that's like an oneg)
6:15 Dinner followed by review of the day with faculty and other fellows
8:15 "An Evening with Garrison Keillor" in the amphitheater.

A day that only a clergyman could love.