Big Tent Judaism

Torah Study in the Grocery Store

Recently we blogged about the increase of funding and interest from established Jewish organizations such as the Jewish Federations of North America in what we call Public Space Judaism. These organizations have finally recognized that the best way to meet and engage all those who are not affiliated with the Jewish community is by going to where they are and holding Jewish themed events in secular, public spaces. We often promote doing this around holidays like Passover or Hanukkah, when a majority of Jews, affiliated and unaffiliated, will be preparing to celebrate.

But a rabbi in Los Angeles decided that these events don’t need to be tethered to a holiday. For the past few months, Rabbi Dan Moskovitz has been holding Torah study sessions at a Whole Foods grocery store in Tarzana, “in the back near the bulk bins of nuts and trail mix.�

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Build Your Own Haggadah

The two most celebrated holidays in the Jewish community are Hanukkah and Passover. Both are attractive to unaffiliated families and those on the periphery because they take place in the home, not the synagogue, and there is a lot of flexibility in how these holidays are celebrated. As we move from Hanukkah into the secular New Year, we also move closer to Passover. Though the holiday is still a few months away (it begins on the evening of April 18, 2011), we believe it’s never too early to start planning for your Passover celebration.

It turns out we are not alone in our eagerness. People can now visit the new website Haggadot.com to build their own Haggadah – including using numerous resources from JOI.

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