Big Tent Judaism

How to Make a Big Tent JCC

As the first national organization to join the Big Tent Judaism Coalition, we know that the JCC (Jewish Community Center) Association is at the forefront of using innovative ways to reach those on the periphery of Jewish life. For example, the JCC in Manhattan, a member of the JCC Association, has recently launched a program for young adults with learning disabilities called Adaptations, The Young Adult Life Skills Network. According to its website, the program “offers college educated young adults—people in their 20’s and 30’s with learning disabilities or those needing support—the benefits of a supportive environment as they work towards achieving their life goals.”

As part of its efforts to continue providing programs for a wide audience, the JCC Association has invited JOI Executive Director Dr. Kerry Olitzky to lead a session on Monday, May 5th at their upcoming Biennial Conference in Miami. The session, “Thinking Big-Make your JCC a Big Tent JCC,” will address the steps JCCs can take to make their institutions even more welcoming.

The Biennial is an opportunity for lay and professional leaders in the JCC Association to learn together and from each other new ways to energize and innovate the JCC institution. We hope “Thinking Big-Make your JCC a Big Tent JCC” will inspire individual JCCs nationwide to join the Big Tent Judaism Coalition and expand their already extensive program offerings to best welcome everyone associated with the JCC community.

Becoming a Richer Community through Acceptance

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg is clearly one of the greats of this generation. In Hebrew parlance, he would be classified as one of the gedolei ha-dor (religious leaders of the generation). An Orthodox rabbi who embraces pluralism, he has demonstrated his commitment and love for the Jewish community—the entire Jewish community—in nearly every project that he has undertaken in his illustrious rabbinic career. That is why it was no surprise—though particularly heartening nonetheless—to read his words (along with his wife Blu) in a recent article as part of the Forward newspaper’s renewed Bintel Brief column.

In response to a question posed by a reader about the conversion acceptance standards of one rabbi or one movement over the other, the Greenbergs write:

“We believe that those who have the authority should rule that all denominations give full faith and credit to the halachic acts of others that meet their halachic standards. They should not allow the politics of delegitimization to disqualify the other. Alas, this is not what is happening. The sectarians and the splitters are in the saddle in this generation. You will have to find your place within that reality. We are all the poorer for it.”

We are in full agreement. We have to make sure that we don’t continue to splinter the Jewish people by questioning the authority of one rabbi or movement. Instead, let’s work together to build a Big Tent Judaism where all are welcomed and embraced.