The Coronavirus is Transforming Judaism
Item
Title
The Coronavirus is Transforming Judaism
Description
Likewise, for years I wondered aloud whether our technology destroying our sense of community, or merely re-shaping it. Coronavirus answered loud and clear: It now turns out that the past thirty years, phones, tablets, laptops, instant messaging, Facebook, Twitter, and Zoom was a test to see how we can use these tools to adapt ourselves to a moment of crisis. We passed the test. And in so doing, we’re redefining Jewish people. Last Shabbat, I looked carefully at the names and locations of our Facebook flock. Many were gentiles: Christians, Muslims, a few Buddhists from South Korea, even several Sikhs. It turns out that there is an international and inter-religious market for Judaism, a Judaism without defensiveness or apology — the real deal, as we teach it. What I learned was that unlike synagogues and classrooms, which have doors and walls, the cyber shul does not. In the words of the Passover Haggadah: “Let all who are hungry, come and eat!” That is precisely what has happened, not only to me, but to many of my colleagues. Judaism just became more relevant than we could have ever imagined — and to more people.
Subject
Silver lining: Blessed, grateful, or upbeat about the pandemic
has community
Jewish
Spatial Coverage
Hollywood, Florida, 33021
has denomination
Judaism
Date Submitted
10/21/2020 18:55