Rick Jacobs by Ben Fink Shapiro
Rick Jacobs, a rabbi in Brooklyn and Westchester for the last 30 years, has taken over as president of the Union for Reform Judaism. He was profiled by the Reform Jewish magazine as a “Catalyst for Change.” There was not a lot of hasbara in the interview, but there was this story, reminiscent of old-timey movies in which a young woman sees her future husband for the first time:
Q. A recent survey found that only 60% of Jews under 35 believe that caring about Israel is a key part of their Jewish identity. What can we do to reverse this trend?
Jacobs: It is up to all of us to foster a deep love for and engagement with Israel among Reform Jews of North America, young and old.
This past summer I had the privilege of welcoming a few busloads of our NFTY [North American Federation of Temple Youth] teens to Jerusalem. Blindfolded, they stepped off their buses holding hands, moving slowly toward the edge of the Haas Promenade that overlooks the Temple Mount in the center of Jerusalem. They were about to have their first glimpse of the City of Gold. You cannot imagine the look of amazement and wonder on their faces as they opened their eyes to the setting sun over Jerusalem. Watching these Reform teens fall in love with Israel, I remembered my own love affair with Israel that was sparked during my junior year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Ever since, I have spent much of my rabbinate working to strengthen Israel’s security and well-being. I hope that every Jew can come to see Israel the way those teenagers did, with the sparkle of its promise searing our souls.
Normally the young woman after the betrothal ritual goes ahead and moves in with that young man. Imagine if instead, she continued to live under her parents roof and genuflected ritually in the direction of her nominal husband and demanded that her parents send a generous allowance his way.
“A recent survey found that only 60% of Jews under 35 believe that caring about Israel is a key part of their Jewish identity. What can we do to reverse this trend?”
It really is not that difficult if you can face some very pertinent facts, the more American Jews find out about Israel the less inclined they are to be full throated supporters of a country that, no. 1 is not their own and no.2 causes people to conflate being jewish with Israels misdeeds.
So if you can go back to the days of the special relationship that CAMERA was able to enforce on the msm then you might be able to keep them from escaping from the Shtetl.
either wise it’s katie bar the door.
You cannot imagine the look of amazement and wonder on their faces as they opened their eyes to the setting sun over Jerusalem.
after that first look of amazement the young bride finds out her betrothed is a serial abuser, or worse. ouch.
RE: “They were about to have their first glimpse of the City of Gold [Jerusalem]. You cannot imagine the look of amazement and wonder on their faces as they opened their eyes to the setting sun over Jerusalem.” ~ Rick Jacobs
MY COMMENT: First impressions can be very deceptive!
SEE: “The First Word: A day in Jerusalem”, By Yehudah Mirsky, Jerusalem Post, 05/07/09
ENTIRE COMMENTARY-http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710892040&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Perhaps Rabbi Jacobs should read Mondoweiss so that he may be informed by some Mondoweissers of the difference between Judaism and Zionism. He seems to be conflating the two. Strange that the President of the Union for Reform Judaism would do that.