An Open Letter To Michael Steinhardt

November 3, 2009 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

An Open Letter to Michael Steinhardt:

Dear Mr. Steinhardt,

I just watched the video below which contains a short speech by you at a recent conference.

I think you are right on! You spoke about how Birthright (a program you’ve funded that gives free trips to Israel to young Jews) was overwhelmingly disliked by the institutional Jewish world when it started. You added that most things that are worthy and are capable of changing the Jewish world are disliked in their early stages.

I couldn’t agree more. We know that for change to happen, we need something very different. If you always do what you’ve always done – you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.

At OurJewishCommunity.org, we are not just doing what we’ve always done. We are creating entirely new models for Jewish life. We know that existing synagogue institutions serve less than 50% of the Jewish community. We know that there are many Jews seeking a Jewish community, who have not yet found one. We know that there are people with geographic or physical or financial limitations who simply cannot join a brick-and-mortar congregation. We know that there are many people who value a progressive Jewish voice – one in which we can say what we mean and mean what we say. We know that there are people who are looking for a contemporary Jewish experience – and want to be part of the continuing evolution of the Jewish religion.

We know that OurJewishCommunity.org reaches thousands of people who are looking for a Jewish connection and who would not have one without our online synagogue. We know that we are creating such a different model that there are many, as you Mr. Steinhardt said, who do not understand what we are doing. In some people’s eyes, a new model like ours seems too new – or too different. We have approached several Jewish funders who say they value innovation and fresh ideas, but then end up funding more of the same.

It is time for people to recognize that change is not a liability – but an opportunity. We do not need to reject the institutions of the past when they offer value to us today. But we must build for today and for tomorrow – recognizing that we are in a new world and can reach people in new ways.

So, Mr. Steinhardt, please feel free to call me if you want to hear about what we are doing to change the Jewish world. We are not merely talking about changing it – we have changed it – and want to continue to create a vibrant Jewish community.

Sincerely,

Laura Baum, Rabbi

P.S. To listen to Rabbi Barr’s podcast on this, please click here.

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Comments

One Response to “An Open Letter To Michael Steinhardt”

  1. Susan Parsons Says:
    November 6th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Kudos to you, Laura, and to your colleague for OurJewishCommunity.org. I am often alone now at home on Shabbat. It feels empty, (I wish I could still be singing with you in an acoustic wonderland as we did in Terre Haute.) But then I get your prompt reminding me to connect, and I do, and then I feel much better. Thank you for tonight’s service. I didn’t want to sit alone thinking about Fort Hood and the insanity of war. When will we study it no more?

    Best wishes to you. Shabbat Shalom.

    Sue

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