How can Judaism become more than just an identity? - The Jewish Chronicle

When the rat-a-tat-tat of religious curiosity comes along, as it will do in times of need, what do you do? Ignore it and roll over, or listen to the call and do something?

In extreme circumstances, this was the experience of our former hostages, some of whom had previously coded as secular but who found Jewish customs sustained them in captivity. Liri Albag fasted, Agam Berger kept Shabbat and kashrut, and Eli Sharabi davened Shema every morning. Keith Siegel said: “What I really wanted when I was in Gaza was a kiddush cup and a kippah to put on my head.” In their time of despair, their innate religious consciousness gave them hope, focus and connection as Jews.

The hostage stories of rekindling Jewish practice are so relatable. Most of us have turned to God in times of need. But why do we wait for despair before we connect? Why don’t we turn to God, say, on a normal Wednesday? Is Jewish practice just too hard? To me, it’s imperative to offset all the social media gloss and nonsensical pursuit of “nourishkeit” by properly navigating our spiritual lives – and directing our young people to find theirs. As Jews, we’re gifted with an inbuilt and immovable treasure box: our traditions. We can either open the lid and explore, or choose to keep the lid shut.

I believe it’s vital for the health and longevity of ourselves and the vigour of our Judaism to delve in, explore and learn about these treasures. Judaism deals in the awe-inspiring stuff of tefillot (prayers), the meditative genius of talmudic argument and the rich and fulfilling form of practice. It’s joyous and enriching. Roll over yoga and meditation. Our own practice has enough to keep us focused for millennia.

We know from our own observation – and the Pew Research Centre backs this up – that young people seem to turn away from Jewish practice and shul-going post bar/bat mitzvah. Is it just too hard to find a spiritual home within Judaism? How does a young person even begin to keep Shabbat, be kosher, or read Hebrew if they’ve never been taught? Judaism is not easy, and it can’t be done without guidance. Even with good education, it can be intimidating and hard to break in. But is it worth the leap? Yes. Should you feel uncomfortable about choosing to neglect your 4,000-year-old heritage for a secular life? I think, maybe, yes. Let the thought bother you, swill it around and decide for yourself.

Then come back to the hard part. According to Rabbi Joseph B Soloveitchik in his mind-bending essay The Lonely Man of Faith (1965), we are hard-wired to seek spiritual downtime and we owe it to ourselves to make time for this. Since October 7, so many of us identify as “proud Jews”, but can we turn proud Jews into Jews who are proud of their religion? Can we be proud not just of our identity, but proud to explore the rich and complex faith that must come with it?

Jane Tobin-Green[Missing Credit]

Jewish educators are calling out to help, but is the sound of the call either too subtle, or too loud and “outreachy”? Or are we just not bothered enough by it to hear? JFS year-7 pupils were recently gifted The Book of Jewish Knowledge, a wondrous, illustrated doorstep exploration of Judaism. It’s a great place to start, but only if the tome is opened in the first place.

Synagogues are using creative thinking to show and tell differently. Rabbi Dov Cowan runs sessions deep into Hampstead Heath to draw on spiritual teachings from the comfort of a camping chair, and many United Synagogue shuls will meet you with warmth, friendliness and honest non-judgment. There is so much to be gained by levelling up in your Jewish knowledge. It’s your heritage, your own portable tabernacle. It was never meant to be an easy short cut to nirvana, but it’s your spiritual inheritance, a gift from your people, so why choose to take any other path?

Jane Tobin-Green is a gabbayit (female warden) at South Hampstead Synagogue

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Topics:

Judaism

Jewish identity

Synagogues