Jewish History

Professor Simon Rawidowitz scanned the pages of Jews history and noted that there was no generation that did not fret over the demise of Judaism.  Every time, each era, deals with its own issues and then wrings its hands over what might be lost.

In the years following the Hurban, the destruction of the First Temple, circa 70 c.e., the leading rabbis agonized over the death of the Judaism that they knew.  The last Mishna in the tractate of Sotah (Talmud) records the demise of the best, most erudite students; the expounders of Torah that would witness the termination of the glory of Israel.  Even Maimonides in the Middle Ages bemoaned that the Torah was no longer being studied and practiced in the distant Ashkenazic lands.

On the one hand, they were wrong.  Judaism did not wither and die; it survived each time its demise was predicted.  Even genocide did not halt our progress or deter us from our mission. 

On the other hand, each generation was the last.  Traditions changed.  Customs were added of deleted.  Ideas were lost in the long marches of exile.  In a sense, with each catastrophe came a recreation of our existence.  It was a rebirth.

The recent past decades of American Jewish life has seen an atrophy of Jewish connection through it observances.  Our families and leaders have watched the decline of synagogue affiliation and practice.  All the while, the rabbinate and laity continue to counterbalance this phenomenon by creating new programs.  Novel ideas and approaches continue to crop up all over America.  It is exciting to witness these new idea touching millions of lives.

Here is what you can do: this summer do something Jewish.  Send you child or grandchild to a Jewish camp like Ramah.  Give them an experience to cherish and treasure always.  Honestly, they get their fill of secularism during the year.  Give them the gift, which will continue to pay dividends for decades.  If they are older, a trip to Israel can spiritually nourish them more than all else.  When you are done with them take a spiritual holiday yourself.  There are Jewish getaways for grown-ups including to Israel.

Staying around?  God does not go on holiday.  The Shul is always open.

Grow.  Become what you are.