Spring Break
MAELSTROM: Show us your faces, stylings, Brandeis Jews
by Rebecca Blady
Acting Forum Editor
Columnists | 11/25/08
Posted online at 12:51 AM EST on 11/25/08
The Brandeis community is in an extreme version of a debate over the prioritization of tradition and progression in a Jewish context. While Orthodox Jews persist in following Jewish law as strictly as they can, Jews of other denominations choose a more liberal path and modernize their practice as they see fit. The phrase "two Jews, three opinions," a common joke, can be applied to many Jewish communities.
The Brandeis Jewish community, about 1,500 students according to the Brandeis Hillel Web site, has a wide range of perspectives on Judaism and hence divides itself into several factions according to rather narrow denominational lines. Pluralism among these denominations, though encouraged by the Hillel institution on campus, hardly represents these groups because the individual denominational clusters typically coordinate their own events. This is simply an overview of the complicated politics that active Jewish Brandeisians cope with. The issues are important and interesting. Students engage with them on an intellectual level that would likely intrigue many uninvolved students on campus.
Given all of this information, I often grapple with a blatant discrepancy -- the Jewish population I've just described is composed of about half the campus according to Hillel. And yet the active Jewish community seems to separate itself from the rest of campus.
Speaking as a representative of the observant Jewish community on campus, Julian Olidort '11 told the Justice, "The community should brighten its image by doing outreach. It seems to have an aura of being 'closed in.'" Olidort, along with many other students, believes that it would benefit the Jewish community to further integrate itself into the rest of campus. Jewish religious and cultural practices are fascinating on both intellectual and spiritual levels, and our 50 percent Jewish campus deserves to know more about them. Instead of maintaining a closed-in impression, the community should do some outreach and display its creative and intellectual perspectives to everyone.
The Brandeis Jewish community, about 1,500 students according to the Brandeis Hillel Web site, has a wide range of perspectives on Judaism and hence divides itself into several factions according to rather narrow denominational lines. Pluralism among these denominations, though encouraged by the Hillel institution on campus, hardly represents these groups because the individual denominational clusters typically coordinate their own events. This is simply an overview of the complicated politics that active Jewish Brandeisians cope with. The issues are important and interesting. Students engage with them on an intellectual level that would likely intrigue many uninvolved students on campus.
Given all of this information, I often grapple with a blatant discrepancy -- the Jewish population I've just described is composed of about half the campus according to Hillel. And yet the active Jewish community seems to separate itself from the rest of campus.
Speaking as a representative of the observant Jewish community on campus, Julian Olidort '11 told the Justice, "The community should brighten its image by doing outreach. It seems to have an aura of being 'closed in.'" Olidort, along with many other students, believes that it would benefit the Jewish community to further integrate itself into the rest of campus. Jewish religious and cultural practices are fascinating on both intellectual and spiritual levels, and our 50 percent Jewish campus deserves to know more about them. Instead of maintaining a closed-in impression, the community should do some outreach and display its creative and intellectual perspectives to everyone.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ian
posted 12/04/08 @ 7:29 AM EST
A class should be created about Jewish self-hate and anti-semitism. It is a disgrace how the religion that created the modern world outlook is seen as embarrassing by its adherents. (Continued…)
Post a Comment