While I respect Rabbi Artson, I disagree with the premises upon which this article seems to be built: that we need to recruit either to stem the hemorrhaging numbers or to find some diamonds in the rough of other traditions or to stem the flood of assimilation and apathy that threatens our future.. Celebrating a Judaism which is filled with Torah and search for God should be sufficient. If others want to join our ranks, to paraphrase Rambam to be enveloped under the wings of the Divine presence then rabbinic tradition has a method of joining the Jewish people. We have historically been small in numbers but great in impact. If institutions have become bloated and need new sources of revenue, then they should start attracting those already Jewish or streamline and lose the fat. The method advocated here sounds more like an organ transplant -- get more non-Jews to want to be Jews to balance out the born Jews we are losing. Why not start with healthy practices -- exercise and eating right -- or in our context, learning Torah and fulfilling its commands both between Man and Man and Man and God. Strengthen the core and the rest will work itself out. There are many wonderful converts, but I cant see why seeking them out is the solution. If Judaism is attractive to Jews, it will be to others as well. If someone approaches with the desire to join, and they are not discouraged, then by all means. But allocating precious funds to outreach to non-Jews is a misdiagnosis. nblo.gs/10QJsr
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 08:41:29 +0000