Lee Diamond – Egalitarianism and Theology
The struggle for egalitarianism in Israel has taken giant steps recently.
Indeed the government of Israel has sanctioned the possibility of men and woman praying in certain sections equally and together at the Western Wall.
Kudos must go to the Woman of the Wall who have led this struggle consistently and with great courage over many years. Yashar Koach. We are another step closer to a more just Israel.
But with all due respect to this accomplishment, a significant question has to be raised at this moment.
There is no doubt that the Kotel has great historical significance for Jewish people here in Israel and abroad. This remainder of the retaining wall that supported the platform of Herod’s second Temple stands as memorial to the destroyed 2nd Temple by the Romans on Tisha Bi Av in the year 70 c.e.
As an historical site it is most imposing in every way. As a site that the Jewish people have revered and worshipped at throughout many generations it captures our imagination. As a site that reflects the tragedy of loss of Jewish independence in 70 c.e. and the re-establishment of Jewish sovereignty in our day it is most significant. As a location to stand in the footsteps of our historical predecessors, the Kotel works well for us.
But as contemporary liberal Jews we must ask the hard theological questions about prayer at the Wall.
I was under the impression that Conservative and Reform Judaism throughout the Jewish world has moved beyond the Wall–
-moved beyond the holiness of place;
-moved beyond praying for the re-establishment of a sacrificial cult in a 3rd Temple;
-moved beyond praying the words נעשה ונקריב (we will once again offer sacrifices)
and have replaced these words with a past tense wording or simply dismissed them.
-We have celebrated prayer as a replacement for sacrifice;
We chose to see bet Knesset (synagogue) as an advancement over the theology of sacrifice in a Holy Temple.
Wherever we pray is a מקדש מעת ( a holy spot of our own).
We remember our past but we sanctify the growth and development of a living and changing Judaism.
Sanctity for the contemporary Israeli or Diaspora Liberal Jew is to be found in “time” and in “Re Jew vi Nation” and not in a return to a former stage of development in Judaism.
We learn “about” our rich past; we learn “from” it as well;
We move on by reinterpreting and incorporating the ancient into a modern Jewish lifestyle.
Jewish life will move on after us as well. Coming generations will learn about us and hopefully will add to the Tel of Jewish development .
Is the joy of the newly won egalitarianism at the Kotel leading us astray from the hard won theological advancements that historical/interpretive and changing Judaism has achieved in our time?
Perhaps the physical entity of the Kotel has become a another “golden calf” and perhaps a Moses in contemporary form needs to descend from heights of Mt. Sinai to smash the tablets in order to bring us back to our senses again!
Rabbi Lee Diamond is based in Israel and began his unique rabbinate as an Israel Educator for the Diaspora. Rabbi Diamond has served as director of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, and Associate Director of the Israel office of the UJR and NFTY Israel programs. He has dedicated his life to sharing the Israel he loves and creating an educational experience for everyone visiting Israel. Rabbi Diamond’s philosophy: Israel is the stage on which I want to act out the drama of the Jewish people, its creative survival, and to affect people’s lives. When we see each other our discussion always seems to find its way to the ever changing political situation in Israel. In the end of course we come around to what is dear to the hearts of both of us: the importance of emphasizing Jewish values and ethics in our society.
