Shabbat United unifies the Jewish community
by Mateo Aceves
Op-Ed | 11/17/09
Posted online at 11:11 PM EST on 11/16/09
Every year, a conversation on campus decries a void in the Jewish community at Brandeis. Many argue that a physical Hillel building would allow for a greater level of cohesion, which would combat the pervasive sense that Brandeis Jewish communities are driven apart by theological and ritual differences. This idea correctly identifies the need for unity on campus and presents a possible solution. However, a physical building will not solve our problems.
Judaism is, at its heart, a legalistic tradition. The Torah and accumulated Jewish literature encompasses countless volumes outlining how to eat, pray, marry, farm and adjudicate civil and criminal law. These teachings represent an impressive and extensive case law, with its most authoritative sources in the Talmud, a collection of rabbinic writings. On the other had, Judaism also has a set of overarching meta-values that transcend specific laws and manifest themselves in the beauty of Jewish life, history and morals. Among them, there is the idea to treat others with respect, create a pluralistic society and ultimately to pursue truth and justice. It is upon these meta-values that Brandeis University was founded.
One of the most important meta-values that Judaism demands is the unconditional love of a fellow Jew. To be clear, this divine obligation extends to all human beings, but all too often, we find it easier to judge and negate those most similar to us. For this reason, the idea of loving a fellow Jew is vital to this campus. Our Jewish community is rich, diverse and flourishing. We have first-generation Russian immigrants, Orthodox yeshiva students from New York, Reconstructionist Jews from Philadelphia, Reform Jews from Cleveland, traditional egalitarian Jews from Washington, secular Jews from Los Angeles, South American Sephardic Jews, Syrian Jews from France and Israelis of every background. All of these Jews, living and learning together, manifest a Jewish culture marked by a living tradition, flowing history and a bright future. Lamentably, our community has failed to realize the potential for friendship and unity between its disparate parts.
Judaism is, at its heart, a legalistic tradition. The Torah and accumulated Jewish literature encompasses countless volumes outlining how to eat, pray, marry, farm and adjudicate civil and criminal law. These teachings represent an impressive and extensive case law, with its most authoritative sources in the Talmud, a collection of rabbinic writings. On the other had, Judaism also has a set of overarching meta-values that transcend specific laws and manifest themselves in the beauty of Jewish life, history and morals. Among them, there is the idea to treat others with respect, create a pluralistic society and ultimately to pursue truth and justice. It is upon these meta-values that Brandeis University was founded.
One of the most important meta-values that Judaism demands is the unconditional love of a fellow Jew. To be clear, this divine obligation extends to all human beings, but all too often, we find it easier to judge and negate those most similar to us. For this reason, the idea of loving a fellow Jew is vital to this campus. Our Jewish community is rich, diverse and flourishing. We have first-generation Russian immigrants, Orthodox yeshiva students from New York, Reconstructionist Jews from Philadelphia, Reform Jews from Cleveland, traditional egalitarian Jews from Washington, secular Jews from Los Angeles, South American Sephardic Jews, Syrian Jews from France and Israelis of every background. All of these Jews, living and learning together, manifest a Jewish culture marked by a living tradition, flowing history and a bright future. Lamentably, our community has failed to realize the potential for friendship and unity between its disparate parts.
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