Jack Wertheimer: A New American Judaism? The Sociology of Jewish Practice [Denominations 3/5]

18Forty Podcast

18Forty

Religion & Spirituality, Judaism

4.6 • 638 Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2024

⏱️ 102 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jack Wertheimer, a professor of American Jewish History at JTS, about the radical transformations of American Jewish practice over the last century.

We can’t understand the Jewish People without a sobered look at what happens in our synagogues, homes, and communities. We can talk about a movement’s ideological ideals, but amid those discussions we cannot ignore the on-the-ground realities of a community’s practice. In this episode we discuss:

How does a Jewish movement’s "lived religion" differ from its stated ideals?
What is the cost of radical inclusivity?
What misconceptions do Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews have about each other?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what Judaism means for us in our current time.

Interview begins at 28:28.

Dr. Jack Wertheimer is a leading thinker and professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is the former provost of JTS, and was the founding director of the Joseph and Miriam Ratner Center for the Study of Conservative Judaism. Jack has written and edited numerous books and articles on the subjects of modern Jewish history, education, and life. He won the National Jewish Book Award in the category of Contemporary Jewish Life in 1994 for A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America.

References:

“Sometimes Mashiach Is Not the Solution” by Aaron Lopiansky

“Politics and the Yeshivish Language” by Cole S. Aronson

The New American Judaism by Jack Wertheimer

A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America by Jack Wertheimer

Sliding to the Right: The Contest for the Future of American Jewish Orthodoxy by Samuel C. Heilman

Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal by Dana Kaplan

“What Jewish Denominations Mean to Me” by David Bashevkin

Michtav Me'Eliyahu by Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler

The 18Forty Podcast: “Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha”

“Shomer Yisroel” by Omek Hadavar

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi friends, a few months ago we advertised the birth of a new community in Israel.
0:05.4	Eden Bait Shemesh, a community tailored made for all those of us in need of a five-year plan,
0:12.7	and let's face it, we are living in a time when every single one of us should be drafting the five-year plan for our futures in Israel.
0:20.5	Our own listeners from within the 1840 community have purchased in Eden, an opportunity which
0:26.4	they will longingly watch unfold into a reality, a shul, and a community.
0:32.1	I am so proud that the leaders behind Aden are none other than Rabbi Benny and Khani Krohn. I know them personally because they are the rabbi and Rebitten of my own
0:42.4	personal community and they are the ones leading this new development community. And I know for my own life that
0:49.6	their stewardship, their leadership is you know this is going to be a welcoming, joyous, incredible
0:55.7	community where everyone is going to be able to feel comfortable and build a home.
1:00.2	On June 29th, Eden will be hosting a webinar to speak in detail about the vision for this project.
1:07.6	In order to register, please click the link below or email info at
1:12.7	Edenbateschemish.com to find out more. Once again, that's info at Edenbateshemesh.com
1:20.2	to find out more. Hi friends and welcome to the 1840 podcast where each month we explore different topic balancing modern sensibilities with
1:44.9	traditional sensitivities to give you new approaches to timeless Jewish ideas. I'm your host,
1:50.9	David Bischefkin, and this month we're exploring Jewish denominations. Thank you so much to my
1:57.0	dearest friends, Joel and Lynn M Mail, who have generously sponsored this series
2:01.7	in memory of Joel's parents,
2:03.5	Esther Bas-Zvi and Nissen Ben-Yakov-Zvi.
2:06.4	I so appreciate your friendship and support
2:09.1	over all these years.
2:11.3	This podcast is part of a larger exploration
2:13.8	of those big, juicy, Jewish ideas.
	...

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