[JOI Word of Torah] Big Tent Judaism: Vayeshev

[Kerry M. Olitzky]

"Big Tent Judaism" Word of Torah

 

December 1, 2007 / 21st Kislev, 5768

 

Vayeshev

 

This Torah portion begins the well-known story of Joseph, the dreamer.
However unpopular were his dreams or was Joseph at various times during his
life, especially when he was young, it was the realization of those often
controversial dreams that saved the Jewish people from famine. What we learn
from this story is that it takes a dream to save the Jewish people. Theodor
Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism knew it and even added his own insight:
Im tirtzu, ain zo aggdah. This is often translated as: If you will it, it is
no dream.

 

We are currently suffering from a spiritual famine in the American Jewish
community. And a dream will be required to raise the Jewish people out of
its doldrums. Such a dream requires a bold quantum leap, one that moves us
from the delusional comfort of a shrinking status quo. And that dream is
found right in our own midst-it is the dream of creating a Jewish community
that is open to all those who wish to join us. But it will require us to
open our hearts and our heads and our homes to those who now find themselves
in our midst. 

 

Joseph left his home and family in order to realize the Jewish dream. He did
so in a foreign land. But, according to many of the classic commentators, he
was able to do so without abandoning his roots. An open community does not
require us to abandon our roots. Rather it gives us the opportunity to
nurture them. 

 

As a child, Joseph dreams were filled with images of how his life might be.
We all have dreams, for ourselves, for our children, for our community.
Sometimes we are able to fulfill those dreams. And at other times, life
seems to get in the way. Or life provides us with the opportunity to reshape
our dreams and make them fit the reality that surrounds us.  

 

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Rabbi Kerry Olitzky is the author of many inspiring books that bring the
Jewish wisdom tradition into everyday life, and is, among other books, the
author of Introducing My Faith and My Community: The Jewish Outreach
Institute Guide for the Christian in a Jewish Interfaith Relationship
(Jewish Lights).

 

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You are welcome to use these ideas in your own work and writings as long as
you would be so kind as to credit Rabbi Kerry Olitzky and the Jewish
Outreach Institute, thank you.

 

 

 

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