YUTOPIA: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Josh Yuter
In what has become an annual tradition, at the end of every year, I review all the books I read over the previous year. This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading the most in the hopes that maybe someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their content stimulating and engaging.
This year’s Goodreads tally is 79 books, which includes more fiction than usual. Aside from starting the year off with Brandon Sanderson’s Four Secret Novels, I also caught up on the Golden Compass trilogy (the first one, anyway) and Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. These were all fine, but nothing I’d put on my favorites list for 2025.
So, what did make the cut?
Honorable MentionsModern Musar: Contested Virtues in Jewish Thought – Geoffrey D. Claussen
Although I disagree with its tacit biases,1 I appreciate any project that expands the breadth of understanding Judaism beyond the popular reductionism.
Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI – Karen Hao
A Study in Power, John D. Rockefeller, Industrialist and Philanthropist, Volume I – Allan Nevins
I’m listing these two books together in part because I read them back-to-back and because they share some important features. Aside from the superficial similarities of individuals amassing vast fortunes in industries that care little about social or environmental impact, both works recognize the challenges and importance of accurately documenting the rise of businesses.
As Nevins’ writes in his preface:
The writing of business history or biography in the United States (this is emphatically a biography, not a history) has suffered from two grave handicaps: on one side the reluctance of corporations and businessmen to open their records to students, lest they be made victims of prejudice and distortion, and on the other side, a public suspicion that any work founded on such records may present an uncritical view of business activities. It is evident that unless these handicaps are overcome, one of the most spacious, interesting, and important areas of American history will remain imperfectly explored. The widespread prejudice against big business may die hard; but unless we study its growth objectively, the very nature of our civilization and the very character of our nation’s place in the world will be incomprehensible. Little by little, the two antithetical types of distrust may be dispelled by honest searchers and interpreters (xi).
That said, these are still to very different books. Despite being “emphatically a biography”, Nevins’ book on Rockefeller2 is still essentially a work of history. Nevins explores Rockefeller’s rise through meticulous (and surprisingly readable) narratives of financial transactions of Rockefeller, his colleagues, and competitors.
Hao, on the other hand, is not writing a history as much as a commentary (and warning) of the present. Whereas Nevins’ Rockefeller’s personality is revealed by his business decisions, Hao’s narrative demonstrates how personalities drive the business decisions, especially those with dire social consequences. While some claims have been contested,3 I believe the fundamental thesis regarding the financial and social costs of AI is still relevant and worth exploring.
The Spirit of Jewish Law: A Brief Account of Biblical and Rabbinical Jurisprudence With a Special Note on Jewish Law and the State of Israel – George Horowitz
Though its length may seem intimidating, this ambitious work is a surprisingly decent overview of several aspects of Jewish law. I might even add it to my list of recommendations for those who are academically inclined looking for an entry point into understanding Jewish law.
Favorites:Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus – Susannah Heschel
This was easily my favorite book of the year, and I daresay may be one of the most important books for understanding contemporary Judaism. The book focuses on how Geiger’s scholarship on Jesus influenced the academic culture of his day, which, while interesting, is in my opinion secondary to understanding how Geiger’s interpretation of Jesus paralleled his vision of Judaism. Per Heschel:
True Pharisaic Judaism had been lost in the rigidity and narrow-mindedness of later talmudic Judaism, which developed under the pressures of Christian intolerance and persecutions. Liberalizing Judaism constituted not only a recovery of authentic Pharisaic religion but also a restoration of the faith of Jesus. Reform Judaism was therefore the answer for both an authentic Jewish faith and for authentic Christians seeking to follow the faith of Jesus (13-14) [Emphasis added].
Following this read, just as Jesus rebelled against the legal formalism of the rabbinic sages in favor of the spirit, Geiger’s Reform Judaism rejects the structures of Orthodoxy in favor of higher metaphysical principles, and just as important, the enlightened authorities who preach them.
At some point I hope to revisit this idea in a better suited format, but I believe this narrative offers one of the more useful insights into understanding the religious foundations of liberal Judaism.
Super Duper Safety School: Safety Rules For Kids & Grown-Ups!NO Trespassing – This Is MY Body!
Pattie FitzgeraldThere are countless of difficult conversations parents need to have with their children. Pattie Fitzgerald provides a invaluable resource for discussing abuse with children with an eye towards taking preventative measures. While it’s depressing that such books are needed, I’m grateful that such books exist.
American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation – Jon Meacham
Political conservatives often claim that the United States was founded on Christian (or Judeo-Christian) values. Meacham’s American Gospel challenges this popular cliche`, and reframes the founders’ political relationship with religion based on copious citations. My favorite discovery from this book was Article 11 of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796:
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,- and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.[Emphasis added]
But then again, what did the founders know about their own opinions?
The Gnostic Gospels – Elaine Pagels
Finally, I have to include Elaine Pagels’ classic The Gnostic Gospels which has sat on my shelf unread for longer than I care to admit. A perfect companion to Morton Smith’s Jesus the Magician, Pagels discusses the other texts written about Jesus that were deemed heretical by the church who wished to push their own vision Jesus to the exclusion of all others. If nothing else, these books demonstrate the importance of canonicity and authority and how certain early theological choices (and the power to enforce them) can change the trajectory of an entire religion.
The post YUTOPIA’s Favorite Books – 2025 first appeared on YUTOPIA.
It’s the most…wonderful time…of the year…
Once again, it’s time to review the books I’ve read over the past year and share my favorites with fellow readers. Plus with my memory in gradual decline,4 it’s a nice opportunity to revisit ideas that may have slipped my mind over the course of life.
This year the tally is 58 books, keeping up with my average of about 50 a year. In terms of content, I found myself reading more memoirs than usual and I caught up on some “classics” that everyone seems to recognize and reference but few have bothered to read.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything; they’re roughly listed in chronological order of reading. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading in hopes that someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their content stimulating and engaging.
The Romance of American Communism – Vivian GornickI know it’s a rhetorical cliché at this point, but in reading the experiences of American Communists recounted in Gornick’s book, it’s hard not to notice parallels between the American communist party and religious sects. Some traits may be found in other ideological movements such as proselytization and expulsions, though the Communists held formal trials. But an underappreciated component of Marxism is its underlying eschatology: the inevitable workers’ revolution that will usher in a glorious utopia. The parallels of “Messianic Marxism” have not gone completely unnoticed; see, for example, WalterBenjamin’s “On the Concept of History.”
Just as the Messianic undertones of Marxism undoubtedly contribute to its appeal to the oppressed masses, its failures just as easily lead to disillusionment. The narratives portrayed in Gornick’s book parallel erstwhile religionists whose Messianic dreams had been shattered by the revelation of Stallin’s crimes.
The Social Animal – Elliot AronsonThis is a classic of sociology I finally got around to reading in full, and glad I did. A must read for anyone with even a passing interest in the field.
The ‘Am ha-Aretz: A Study in the Social History of the Jewish People in the Hellenistic-Roman Period – Aharon OppenheimerThere used to be an elegant simplicity to Rabbinic scholarship of examining what a single term meant in different eras and tracking its changes along the way. This is a wonderful study on the evolution of the “Am ha-Aretz,” often attributed to the ignorant or those lax in observance, and the Sages’ turbulent relationship with them.
Becoming an Ex: The Process of Role Exit – Helen Rose Fuchs EbaughWhat happens when someone leaves a group that has defined their identity?
My Effin’ Life – Geddy LeeAside from being a must-read for any Rush fan, I was most captivated by Lee’s Jewish upbringing as a child of survivors and the familiar unfortunate tale of being pushed away from religion. I’d like to think we’ve learned some lessons since then.
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism – Naoki HigashidaLike many parents, I often wonder how my child processes the world, but at least my child is somewhat communicative even at a young age. Not everyone is as fortunate. With the obvious disclaimer that every child is different, even those with autism, it is rare to encounter anyone with such self-awareness and expressiveness, let alone a young teenager and certainly one with severe autism.
Seduction of the Innocent: The Influence of Comic Books on Today’s Youth – Fredric WerthamThis is another of those classic books I mentioned that many people recognize, but few have read. Seduction of the Innocent is not only a wonderful historical artifact of mid-20th-century popular thought, but it’s also a brilliant case study in moral panics. The discerning reader will find parallels in contemporary political discourse emanating from all partisan affiliations.
Lessons for Living: What Only Adversity Can Teach You – Phil StutzI found this book via the Netflix special with Jonah Hill. While Stutz has been accused of appropriating ideas from dialectical behavior therapy, the substance of the newsletter essays in this book are concise, accessible ideas that some readers might find helpful.
Sid Meier’s Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games – Sid MeierI’ve never been much of a gamer, but like many of my generation, I got addicted to Sid Meir’s Civilization. Initially released in 1991, Civilization spawned many sequels (which I have not touched) and regularly ranks on lists of the greatest games of all time to this day. The story behind it is just as engaging as the game itself.
Not to brag or anything, but here’s the best I’ve ever done.5
I Can Help
Let’s Go to the Farm
I Go Visiting
Rikki BenenfeldA niece gave my toddler Let’s Go to the Park for his first birthday and it quickly became one of my favorite Jewish children’s books. This year I picked up a few more by the same author and can easily recommend these to any Jewish parent.
Little Blue Truck – Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurryEasily my favorite children’s book (so far). People I know who have worked in children’s publishing tell me that rhyming books are the most difficult to pull off. In my opinion, Little Blue Truck is the gold standard by which other rhyming books ought to be measured.
What Is Art? – Leo TolstoyI freely admit I’ve never understood art except superficially. Another book I read this year, The $12 Million Stuff Shark goes into the convoluted economics of art collectors, but Tolstoy offers his own criteria not only for what makes art, “art” but how we define what is truly valuable.
Honorable MentionsAll of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told – Douglas WolkAs the author notes, this book isn’t one that is best read cover-to-cover which might be a turnoff for potential readers. Nevertheless, one cannot help but be impressed at the scope of the research which rivals many PhD dissertations.
My First Tanakh Stories Set (4v): Avraham, Miriam, Eliyahu, Ruth – Shira Greenspan / Rinat GilboaThe Big Book of Jewish Holidays with Bina, Benny & Chaggai HaYonah – Yaffa GanzAside from Jewish children’s books that emphasize middot (character traits, behavior), we’ve also been looking into educational books that also teach substantive Jewish content.6 The problem, or more specifically my problem, is that I’m often hyper-critical about how things are presented.7 I was pleasantly surprised by both of these books as doing a perfectly good job at presenting substance without anything to which I found objectionable.
The First Tanakh Stories set is wonderfully done. Although the rhymes can be a bit awkward at times, they’re still enjoyable and accurate reads with vibrant, engaging artwork.8
The Big Book of Jewish Holidays provides wonderful summaries of holidays with scattered references to frequently-cited rabbinic midrashim. Both are easy recommendations for any Jewish library.
Most importantly, my toddler approves and in the end, that’s what really counts.
The post YUTOPIA’s Favorite Books – 2024 first appeared on YUTOPIA.
In what has become an annual tradition, every December I review the books I read in the past year and pick out my favorites to share with other avid readers.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading in hopes that someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their content stimulating and engaging.
According to Goodreads, I’ve read 52 books this past year, which is about my average, though parenthood understandably puts a crimp in my “spare time.”
And now, on with the list!
Honorable MentionsLaugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier – Alan Zweibel
One of my favorite cultural shifts from when I grew up has been an increasing public recognition of the people “behind the scenes.” We all know the public faces of comedy and sitcoms, but the writers behind our favorite shows tended to remain in obscurity from the general public.1 I’m old enough to have remembered most of Alan Zeibel’s contributions2 but I had no idea who he really was until reading this book. Highly recommended if you’re a fan of comedy and/or grew up in the 70s and 80s.
Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 – Duane Tudahl
Another book that brought up feelings of nostalgia, this book dives deep into the creative process of one of popular music’s most enigmatic figures. The book does get redundant at times but there are more than enough anecdotes to make this book worthwhile not only for fans of Prince but for the dozens of adjacent artists.
Winners (Listed in order read)The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel – Neil Gaiman, P. Craig RussellLook, I’m going to like just about anything written by Neil Gaiman. In this case, it was the graphic novel version of The Graveyard Book,3 which was one of the many books my wife brought into our marriage. I’m not going to sing Gaiman’s praises any more than anyone else does, other than to say this is a fun fantasy/horror story.
A Fortress in Brooklyn: Race, Real Estate, and the Making of Hasidic Williamsburg – Nathaniel Deutsch, Michael CasperThe subjects of sociology, religion, urban planning, and New York City politics are each difficult to get right on their own, but A Fortress in Brooklyn weaves everything together to tell a captivating story.
The Birth of Conservative Judaism: Solomon Schechter’s Disciples and the Creation of an American Religious Movement – Michael CohenSpeaking of sociology, Michael Cohen employs Max Weber’s theory of charismatic leadership to tell the story of Conservative Judaism. While other narratives focus on institutions or the laity, Cohen points to Solomon Shechter as the key ideological figure of Conservative Judaism and outlines how and why his influence spread as it did.
Bonus: Cohen’s theories apply to other movements driven by charismatic leaders e.g., Open Orthodoxy.
How to Think like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education – Scott NewstokShifting gears, this fun little book reconsiders what education ought to be. I’ll defer to historians to determine the historical accuracy, but the pedagogic insights are valuable on their own.
Spiritual Socialists: Religion and the American Left – Vanessa Cook
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor – Kaitlyn SchiessReligiously motivated political rhetoric and activism are typically associated with the political right, a perception with implications for both politics and religion. Spiritual Socialists documents a history of religiously motivated political activism from the political left, demonstrating important strategic similarities and differences from their counterparts.
Schiess’ Liturgy of Politics provides a corrective from the perspective of the religion. Just as the religious left in Judaism often co-opts religious rhetoric for political activism, Schiess objects to the same being done by the Evangelical right, while wrestling with not falling into the same ideological traps she criticizes.
Hebrew Law in Biblical Times: An Introduction – Zeev W. Falk
Introductory books have a tricky balance between accuracy and simplicity. I’m always going to read books about Jewish law with a more critical eye, and this one provides a worthwhile overview of Biblical law.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick RubinRick Rubin’s book is on many people’s “Best Of” lists and for good reason. I’m adding this to the list of books I would have loved to have read years ago when I could have done more with Rubin’s ideas.
Social Justice Fallacies – Thomas SowellSocial Justice Fallacies is typical Sowell with his eloquence and evidence, though I did notice he still relies on decades-old social science that may no longer be relevant. At any rate, fans of Sowell will appreciate this latest entry.
The post YUTOPIA’s Favorite Books – 2023 first appeared on YUTOPIA.
In what has become an annual tradition, every December I review the books I read in the past year and pick out my favorites to share with other avid readers.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the books I read, nor is this a ranking of these books as the “best” of anything. Instead, I prefer to share the books I enjoyed reading the most in the hopes that maybe someone will find and enjoy something they otherwise might not have encountered. Enjoyment does not imply agreement with or an endorsement of their arguments, only that I found their content stimulating and engaging.
I’ve said the above before, but I’d like to stress a point for clarification. Last year I received a comment that my list didn’t include enough representation. What I read on an annual basis depends on a variety of factors and can include a range of authors. However, just because I read these books doesn’t mean I enjoyed them, or at least not to the extent I feel like spreading the word about them.
I should also mention that this past April, my wife and I welcome the birth of our first child which unsurprisingly affected my reading (along with everything else in my life). The 59 books I read in 2022 include several books related to children that I most likely would never have encountered including a wider range of authors. That’s just how it goes some years.
With all that said, on with the list!
Honorable Mentions:
Yitz Greenberg and Modern Orthodoxy: The Road Not Taken ed. Adam Ferziger
This book provides useful insight into how certain elements on Modern Orthodox’s left flank see themselves and those who had the temerity to disagree.
Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas–Not Less – Alex Epstein
Fossil Future is just as much about epistemology and moral philosophy as it is about energy policy. I’m not qualified or learned enough to address the policy claims and data in the book (which is why it’s an honorable mention), but it’s a worthwhile read for how to make an argument.
Winners (Ordered by when I read them):
Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity – Charles L. Marohn Jr.
I’m not sure why YouTube once recommended a video on the channel NotJustBikes channel, but I’m thrilled that they did because it’s one of the best and most accessible channels I’ve found on the complexities of urban design. It’s because of his series of videos that I found the book Strong Towns which I highly recommend in addition to the channel. Strong Towns deftly describes common economic mistakes made by municipalities, their long-term consequences, and offers sensible alternatives. I don’t know how many readers are in positions to effect civic changes, but Strong Towns should get people thinking differently about community politics.
Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility – James P. Carse
I added Finite and Infinite Games to the queue when I saw it cited in Strong Towns. I bumped it up in priority after learning my CEO relied on this book for the company’s vision. This is one of those books I wish I read earlier in my life because it would have had a more profound influence on my general worldview.
Thinking in Systems: A Primer – Donella H. Meadows
It’s not uncommon to find discourse related to “systemic” problems, but it’s rare to find articulations of what systems are, how they operate, and how people respond to the systems in which they find themselves. Thinking in Systems does a wonderful job explaining the concept of “systems” that so many people take for granted.
Nuclear Physics for Babies
Astrophysics for Babies
Optical Physics for Babies
Statistical Physics for Babies
– Chris Ferrie
Someone shared one of these books on Twitter and it turns out they are part of a larger series called “Baby University.” I got these books as a set in part to start teaching my baby important things and in part because many baby books are painful especially on repeated reads. I can say that my baby has enjoyed these very much so far as have I. We purchased a few other books in the series but were disappointed with those. If you’re in the market, stick with these.
The Lessons of History – Will Durant, Ariel Durant
This was a quick and fun read with some remarkable insights. Better than it has any right to be for such a short book.
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software – Charles Petzold
Here’s a book I wish I had when I was a computer science major in college. Code somehow manages to tell a story about fundamental unifying principles behind most of the technologies in use today. It’s an absolute must-read for anyone in a technical profession but I think there’s enough in here for non-techies to appreciate (even if some chapters might go over people’s heads).
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans – Michaeleen Doucleff
Like many new parents, I don’t have a set idea about what I’m doing. Not that I’ve been panicking either, but Hunt, Gather, Parent, provides a nice corrective to alternative strategies of parenting that have been successfully practiced in cultures all over the world.
This brings me to the next entry (also cited in Hunt, Gather, Parent)…
Dream Babies: Childcare Advice From John Locke to Gina Ford – Christina Hardyment
Dream Babies can best be described as an intellectual history of childcare advice and how, for the most part, “experts” had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. It’s also amusing to see how ideas that were once popular come back into vogue 50-100 years later.
Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory – Raymond Wacks
The final book on the list is also another one I wish I had read earlier. Understanding Jurisprudence is by no means an easy read, but that’s mostly due to the complexity of the subject. Wacks provides an excellent survey and summary of key ideas and scholars. If nothing else, I’d say it’s shelf-worthy for reference.
The post YUTOPIA’s Favorite Books – 2022 first appeared on YUTOPIA.
For almost as long as there have been rabbis, there have been rabbinic insults. Whether sages were calling each other children, referring to one’s younger brother as “the firstborn of Satan,” or exchanging, “God save us from your opinion” with each other, rabbinic discourse was not always as dignified as we might imagine.
But even if a degree of incivility is justified by rabbinic tradition, some insults are seen as outside the boundaries of acceptable discourse. One such insult is referring to a “Rabbi” with scare quotes.
Common objections include that rabbinic scare quotes are a uniquely offensive insult because it not only dismisses the personal effort (and sometimes money) invested but it is a complete delegitimization of everything the individual’s professional credentials and religious affiliations.
For their part, those who address rabbis with scare quotes would probably concede to these criticisms because that is entirely the point.
Why Scare QuotesThe MLA defines the purpose of scare quotes as, “to convey an ironic, skeptical, or even derisive stance toward the word or phrase they enclose.” It’s not uncommon to find scare quotes in the context of academic degrees or professions, the former referring to deficient qualifications and the latter being a comment on professional competency and integrity. Scare quotes around “Rabbi” may refer to either (or both) as well as impugning the implications of the rabbinic title such as a conveyer of religious authority. “Rabbi” in scare quotes signals the target is lacking expertise, unworthy of honor, an imposter of authority, and/or generally an illegitimate representative of Judaism.
This sort of rhetoric exists in part due to the complete lack of uniform standards for ordination. The original process for ordination has not been in effect for over 1,500 years which means no one since then has ever been a “real” rabbi.1 Without the original ordination, the criteria for bestowing the rabbinic title has varied wildly between institutions and “private” ordinations conferred by individual rabbis. The result, as I once put it, is that “an individual who has mastered a vast corpus of Jewish texts…may hold the exact same title as a functional illiterate with a guitar.”
When anyone can invent their own criteria for ordination, then we can no longer presume a shared baseline for expertise or even observance. And once the rabbinic title is conferred, these rabbis may then leverage the title to presume authority and legitimacy. This creates a religious tension beyond mere disagreements. These rabbis aren’t just seen as mistaken but as imposters who must be discredited in order to preserve the integrity of Judaism.
Common TargetsQuantifying the use of rabbinic scare quotes is difficult due to the quirks of search engines. Most search engines interpret quotes as a boolean AND operator rather than as strings to be searched (assuming the engine recognizes punctuation at all). The most I can share here are my anecdotal observations from spending way too much time online. And from what I have seen, the most frequent targets of “rabbi” in scare quotes are one of two types of rabbis: non-Orthodox2 and Messianists.
There are important distinctions between the various non-Orthodox denominations such as Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist, but for our purposes, their shared trait is that none of them are Orthodox. As such, they are more likely to deviate from “traditional” beliefs and practices. To some Orthodox Jews (and even some non-Jews) certain promoted beliefs and practices may be unrecognizable as “Jewish” and thus perceived to be inauthentic.3 From this perspective, rabbis who espouse these beliefs and practices are categorically disqualified and seen as appropriating the rabbinic title for presumptive legitimacy.4
The same arguments apply to Messianists, except now they are also made by non-Orthodox rabbis. When Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a rally with the Messianist Loren Jacobs, non-Orthodox rabbis criticized referring to Jacobs as a rabbi, with some invoking scare quotes around “rabbi.” As another explains:
“We don’t even recognize him as a rabbi,” Rabbi Marla Hornsten, past president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis, told NBC News. “Even to call him a rabbi is offensive.”
The Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism elaborates:
“Judaism itself is a multi-denominational religion that encompasses multiple forms of expression and belief,” said the Rabbinical Assembly, an organization that represents the rabbis of the Conservative Movement, in a statement. “Nonetheless, so-called ‘Messianic Judaism’ is not a Jewish movement, and the phrase ‘Jews for Jesus’ is a contradiction in terms, insofar as Judaism does not recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.”
Thus non-Orthodox rabbis may find themselves on both sides of the same rhetoric of rejection.5
Observations and ImplicationsBehind the seemingly juvenile practice of name-calling, debates over rabbinic scare quotes are several underappreciated points to consider.
First, the complaint that the use of rabbinic scare violates some collegial norm is not an argument of propriety as much as legitimacy. If scare quotes are justifiable in certain situations but not others, then the real argument is over who deserves it. As John Stuart Mill writes in On Liberty:
With regard to what is commonly meant by intemperate discussion, namely invective, sarcasm, personality, and the like, the denunciation of these weapons would deserve more sympathy if it were ever proposed to interdict them equally to both sides; but it is only desired to restrain the employment of them against the prevailing opinion: against the unprevailing they may not only be used without general disapproval, but will be likely to obtain for him who uses them the praise of honest zeal and righteous indignation.
Second, the rejection of Messianic Judaism and its rabbis necessarily implies a rejection of self-identification as a singular source of legitimacy. Basing Jewishness or rabbinic status on personal identification has its benefits such as affirming an individual’s chosen identity and sidestepping theological debates.6 Michael Satlow takes this approach in his indispensable introduction to Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice:
By Israel I refer to self-identity, the act of identifying as a member of am yisrael and the particular self-understanding of what that identification means. All groups that self-identify as Jews “count,” and, however much other Jewish communities contest their identity, their own self-characterization puts them on the map. These communities identify themselves as Jews, locating themselves (or not) within a sacred narrative and a bloodline. The objective truth of this claim is less important in this case than the community’s self-perception; being part of Israel begins with the claim to be, not with some outsider judging whether that claim is correct.(8)
But what happens when people self-identify as Jewish while holding obviously troubling theological positions? Satlow later qualifies:
The boundaries of tradition might be broad, but they do exist. Messianic Jews and Black Hebrews have, from a non-normative perspective, every right to call themselves “Israel,” but through their rejection of the postbiblical Jewish literature they have largely ceased to engage in the same conversation as other Jewish communities. Similarly, secular and humanistic Jews, with their rejection of God, puts them outside the limits of the conversation as defined by the tradition. (15)
Anyone can identify as “Jewish” but no one is entitled to acceptance. Satlow concedes that “boundaries of tradition” exist. But once we admit that conformity to “boundaries of tradition” is a requirement for recognition, then the conversation shifts to defining and defending those borderlines. For Satlow, these boundaries include rejecting God or the rabbinic tradition but others may have their own criteria.
This brings me to my final point that demanding religious recognition is no less of a theological imposition than those promoted by parochial rejectionists. Everyone seems to concede to the existence of boundaries, but there is much debate over setting those boundaries. A rejected group that demands recognition essentially denies others the right to set their own boundaries. The alternative is to claim that their chosen definitions are objective, universal, and I daresay, “orthodox.”
Eugene Borowitz (1924-2016), a leading intellectual of contemporary Reform Judaism acknowledges this point:
Theologically, Orthodoxy cannot recognize the teaching of Progressive Judaism as valid. The basic, authoritative Jewish texts of Jewish law clearly classify our modernist reinterpretation of Judaism as heresy, apikorsut…We cannot ask Orthodoxy to violate its own faith and accept Progressive Judaism, de jure, as a fully equivalent, if alternative, interpretation of Judaism.7
Even as R. Borowitz does not accept Orthodox Judaism for himself, he concedes that expecting Orthodox Jews to his way of thinking would be hypocritical.
Final ThoughtsI personally choose not to resort to using rabbinic scare quotes on the grounds they’re needlessly antagonistic ad hominem and do little to convince others. At the same time, I believe they’ll continue for as long as fights over religious legitimacy continue due to their simplicity and emotional impact.
The post Who’s Afraid of Scare Quotes: The Politics of Punctuation first appeared on YUTOPIA.
In which we discuss Bamidbar Rabbah 2:23 and Bamidbar Rabbah 2:24 and God’s grief over the deaths of Aharon’s sons Nadav and Avihu.
The post Bamidbar 2022 – God’s Grief appeared first on YUTOPIA.
In which we discuss Vayikra Rabbah 35:7 and the importance of Torah being a religion of praxis.
The post Bechukotai 2022 – Practical Judaism appeared first on YUTOPIA.
Vayikra Rabba 34:14 provides lessons about charity from how to treat one’s ex-spouse.
The post Behar 2022 – Ex-emplary Charity appeared first on YUTOPIA.
In which we turn to Vayikra Rabba 27:8 for a counterintuitive take on the ramifications of sin of the Golden Calf
The post Emor 2022 – Finding Substance appeared first on YUTOPIA.
After a long and unintended hiatus, the podcast returns with a discussion of Vayikra Rabba 24:5 and how Leviticus 19 parallels the 10 Commandments.
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In which Bereishit Rabbah 91:10 may provide an insight for how to respond to distressing situations
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In which Genesis Rabbah 84:9 teaches the importance of speaking from the heart. Bonus: A disagreement with Rashi
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We take a look at Bereishit Rabbah 75:3 to consider the benefits of picking our battles.
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In which we use Genesis Rabbah 71:6 (with a little help from The Simpsons) to learn about the nuances of jealousy.
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In Genesis Rabbah 65:4 we learn why simply noticing our surroundings can be so important
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In which we compare opinions in Bereishit Rabbah 59:8 and Bava Batra 16b regarding what it means to be blessed with “everything”
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In Genesis Rabba 38:14 we learn the difference between giving birth and making a person
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Gen. Rabbah 32:3 discusses testing the righteous and praising people to their faces. Is there a connection?
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In Gen. Rabba 1:15 Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel debate if heaven or earth was created first, but does it even matter?
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