I think the point about the Shoah (and other tragedies perpetrated against us) could be taken a step beyond the break in lineage. Such traumatic events stir up spiritual questions: can G-d be trusted? Who, what, and where is G-d during the moments of our destruction? There is, of course, vast literature on these questions but no way to a definite answer at the communal level. Often not at the personal level either. And here we are again, in a moment of communal crisis with the questions arising. So I would add that we are spiritual orphans because of our collective spiritual trauma. We hadn't even begun to heal from the spiritual trauma of the Shoah when Oct 7 added (and continues to add) another layer. At least for me, this is an important part of how I feel spiritually orphaned.
I think your point is well taken. Those theological questions led people away not only from engagement with God but from Judaism in any form. In fact, so many factors have come together that all point in the same direction, and that is away from our spiritual traditions. As difficult as it may seem to wrench ourselves around to reconnect, the costs of not doing that are much higher, individually and communally.
Loved Alan's comments! True for me. Classical German Intellectual Reform in N.Y. in the 40's.
Strong Jewish identity. Very important to be part of the tribe and defend it when I felt necessary.. Little ritual and no spiritual experience. Found my way to spiriitual, mystical, chassidc and experiential connections to Judaism via Buddhism and writers such as Joan Borenstein and Roger Kammenetz. At the same time Reform Judaism was evolving and opening up to study a wider variety of Rabbi's and Commentators.
I feel that the spiritual searching our generation has done and continues to do has the potential to work a tikkun on the disconnect I’ve been pointing to. We went after affluence and assimilation, belonging to the wider society and joining the clubs, getting into the best schools and living in the right neighbourhood … and we neglected the life of the soul.
I like your hypothesis. For me, going after affluence was huge. Assimilation not so much. Yes, to getting into the best schools and certainly living in the right neighborhood.
The soul? Life of the soul? What was that? Never exposed to that concept.
From my limited observations, the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way to more of an emphasis on spirituality and less on organized religion. I think we need both eventually to create the whole.
It's meaningful to believe that our generation's purpose was to created an opening for a more soul filled life.
I think the point about the Shoah (and other tragedies perpetrated against us) could be taken a step beyond the break in lineage. Such traumatic events stir up spiritual questions: can G-d be trusted? Who, what, and where is G-d during the moments of our destruction? There is, of course, vast literature on these questions but no way to a definite answer at the communal level. Often not at the personal level either. And here we are again, in a moment of communal crisis with the questions arising. So I would add that we are spiritual orphans because of our collective spiritual trauma. We hadn't even begun to heal from the spiritual trauma of the Shoah when Oct 7 added (and continues to add) another layer. At least for me, this is an important part of how I feel spiritually orphaned.
I think your point is well taken. Those theological questions led people away not only from engagement with God but from Judaism in any form. In fact, so many factors have come together that all point in the same direction, and that is away from our spiritual traditions. As difficult as it may seem to wrench ourselves around to reconnect, the costs of not doing that are much higher, individually and communally.
Loved Alan's comments! True for me. Classical German Intellectual Reform in N.Y. in the 40's.
Strong Jewish identity. Very important to be part of the tribe and defend it when I felt necessary.. Little ritual and no spiritual experience. Found my way to spiriitual, mystical, chassidc and experiential connections to Judaism via Buddhism and writers such as Joan Borenstein and Roger Kammenetz. At the same time Reform Judaism was evolving and opening up to study a wider variety of Rabbi's and Commentators.
I feel that the spiritual searching our generation has done and continues to do has the potential to work a tikkun on the disconnect I’ve been pointing to. We went after affluence and assimilation, belonging to the wider society and joining the clubs, getting into the best schools and living in the right neighbourhood … and we neglected the life of the soul.
I like your hypothesis. For me, going after affluence was huge. Assimilation not so much. Yes, to getting into the best schools and certainly living in the right neighborhood.
The soul? Life of the soul? What was that? Never exposed to that concept.
From my limited observations, the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way to more of an emphasis on spirituality and less on organized religion. I think we need both eventually to create the whole.
It's meaningful to believe that our generation's purpose was to created an opening for a more soul filled life.