Category: Books

A single sermon cannot heal our world.  A single person cannot heal our world.  Social justice is a collective endeavor.  We need partners to make systemic change in our communities, our states, and our nation.

More than three years ago, Rabbi Judith Schindler invited me — a lay leader — to co-author a book with her on Jewish social justice.  I was not an author by profession, but I wanted to help her mobilize other congregations to effect meaningful change such as we had accomplished together in our community.

The existing Jewish social justice books we found were targeted to rabbis, rather than synagogue boards or social justice committees.  Rabbis and congregants hear sacred texts differently, see community issues differently, and operate in their synagogues differently.   Collaborating, we could write a book to guide rabbis and congregations to travel together on their own journeys of synagogue civic engagement.

Recharging Judaism calls American synagogues to take institutional stands on social justice issues, explaining why with deep discussions of Jewish texts, and showing how utilizing our primary research — fifty interviews with lay leaders and clergy from congregations immersed in this work.  Our intended audience included rabbis, of course, but also their lay boards and social justice volunteers, three groups with diverse agendas and a broad spectrum of Judaic backgrounds.

The writing process taught us how to reach these dissimilar audiences because our own perspectives were so different — hers as a rabbi, mine as a former synagogue board member and social justice committee co-chair.  For example, my co-author would draft a paragraph referencing God and I would recommend we substitute the word “divine.”  I would enumerate the details of a successful process and she would suggest we edit it down to a key anecdote.  Whether we were parsing a text or illustrating a framework for action, we debated every word so that our book would speak to all its readers.

I laughed out loud while we were writing the preface.  I had drafted the sentence encouraging more exploration of the modern rabbinic works that we had excerpted.  When she edited the paragraph, she added the same suggestion about the writings of the Jewish sages — a thought that had not occurred to me.

I was not the only one attuned to modern issues rather than the timeless relevance of Torah and Talmud.  When asked which Jewish text inspired their social justice work, lay leaders we interviewed were more apt to quote some version of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel “praying with his legs” as he walked in Alabama for voting rights fifty years ago than they were to cite an ancient text that their clergy had shared at the start of a social justice committee meeting.

Do I believe that sharing these texts is important?  Absolutely.  Establishing the basis of civic engagement causes in Judaism is a unique responsibility of synagogue clergy.  Recharging Judaism provides discussions of our ancient texts that are accessible to lay leaders like myself who are eager to live our Jewish values outside our sanctuaries.  To assist this work, Sefaria Source Sheets with Rabbinic texts are available as companions to every chapter.

Recharging Judaism uniquely guides the rabbinic work that ensues from applying those teachings in America today.  We share examples of how rabbis recruit capable lay leaders and align with their board while leading the congregation and the community. Our frameworks also enlist the participation of your congregation — rather than solely your social justice committee — and guide you to do this work outside your synagogue building where many American Jews are rallying to stand for our values.

Perhaps your congregation already accepts civic engagement as its fourth pillar alongside Torah study, worship services, and acts of loving-kindness.  If so, kol hakavod.  Yet you might find that the examples we cite from other successful congregations — and the cautionary tales of missteps — inspire even more effective and sustainable work.  The polarizing political climate today may also warrant rethinking how you navigate your congregation’s journey of civic engagement.

This book was my sixth major collaboration with Rabbi Schindler over the course of more than a decade in which I was enjoying early retirement from the business world. Just over a year ago, I realized that I was no longer retired, but an author charged with a new mission — as a Jew, as an American, and as a synagogue leader.  What Dr. Susannah Heschel wrote about clergy and congregants in our foreword spoke to me personally: “We are partners and we are Jews of passion. To pray and keep silent on the injustices of our world is blasphemy – and utterly un-Jewish.”

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Judy Seldin-Cohen is a community advocate and first-time author in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Her prior professional life included management consulting at Booz Allen in Chicago and vice president of ticketing at the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. She and Rabbi Judith Schindler co-authored the newly published book, Recharging Judaism:  How Civic Engagement Is Good for Synagogues, Jews, and America, available now from CCAR Press.

Each morning we face the news of the evening before. I often pick up my smartphone with dread. Who will be cast into fear and despair today? The undocumented student fearing deportation? The person victimized by racial bias in policing?  The person made homeless by the most recent storm?  There are days when I feel emotionally sapped before finishing my coffee.

When Elie Wiesel (z”l) visited Charlotte in 2007, he met with twenty local religious leaders in a lengthy, powerful exchange.  He discussed with us our responsibilities to counter the injustices that we see. One pastor asked him, “How can we respond to the enormity of the world’s problems?” And he said to the assembled clergy, “All of you, because of who you are, know how to use words.”

I continually strive to fulfill Wiesel’s charge.  As rabbis, we know how to use words – to craft classes, sermons, and editorials, and to speak from podiums across our cities.  That is a critical first step to responding to the issues of our day. But it is not enough.

To ensure the values that we teach inside our synagogues are lived outside its walls, we need to work not harder, but smarter. And as we do –- as we partner with our congregants engaging them fully in this work — we recharge our synagogues, we strengthen our congregants’ Jewish identity, and we engage meaningfully in democracy.

Recharging Judaism states the case for how civic engagement can recharge the synagogue. As we extend our congregational work into our communities by addressing systemic issues and unjust policies, we create “minyans on the move” where Jewish friendships, community and memories are nurtured. I value the friendships I created long ago travelling to Albany with Westchester Reform Temple’s sisterhood to argue against a harsh Welfare Reform Bill and the relationships nurtured from a caravan of congregants driving with me to Raleigh for Moral Monday protests.

Recharging Judaism also demonstrates how civic engagement can strengthen Jewish identity. While theology and mitzvot are not always hot topics for conversation, the issues of our day certainly are. Actualizing our prayers by working for justice creates a Judaism of meaning and relevance for my congregants — and for me.  My father and grandfather lived their Judaism fighting for the marginalized and oppressed. With their words and work, they saved lives and created greater justice, equity, equality, and peace.

Lastly, Recharging Judaism: How Civic Engagement Is Good for Synagogues, Jews, and America,  offers a path for becoming engaged with democracy as Jewish institutions. We need that now more than ever. Democracy is fragile and requires our voices and vision.

From the moment I was named Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2003, I had a clear goal of expanding my congregation’s mission to include social justice. I was not alone.  Rabbis and congregations across our country have been doing the same.  Through more than 50 interviews, my gifted co-author Judy Seldin-Cohen and I bring to you the wisdom that clergy and lay leaders in congregations large and small spanning the country have gleaned from their work. We learn from their successes, their failures, their models for congregational engagement, the ways in which they garnered support from their Board and lay leadership, and from how they sustained and evolved their work.

Like the study of Torah, successful civic engagement requires continual learning. Like the cycles of Torah, civic engagement is not linear.  Issues arise and issues subside.  There are always new politicians, new political realities, and new partners with whom we can work.

The words of academic Michael Walzer, lifted up in our liturgy, ring true: “…wherever you live, it is probably Egypt; …there is a better place, a world more attractive, a promised land; …the way to the land is through the wilderness. There is no way to get from here to there except by joining together and marching.”

Each morning, I sense we are in a wilderness. But during the day, when I stand with others drawing strength from their wisdom and experience, I know we are moving forward.  As Rabbis, collaborating with our congregants, with our interfaith community partners, and with others across our country, we can indeed bring our nation closer to being a place of promise for us and for so many who have been left behind for far too long.

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Rabbi Judith Schindler is Associate Professor of Judaic Studies and Director of the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice at Queens University of Charlotte.  She served for thirteen years as Senior Rabbi and is now Rabbi Emerita at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC. She and Judy Seldin-Cohen co-authored the newly published book, Recharging Judaism:  How Civic Engagement Is Good for Synagogues, Jews, and America, available now through CCAR Press.