PLURALISM
Promoting the value of Jewish pluralism.
Pluralism is a core feature of the historical and contemporary Jewish experience. Jews continually face the challenge of creating a sense of a People that transcends differences in perceptions of core issues. How do we sustain a sense of a meaningful Peoplehood consciousness while disagreeing on ways of practicing Judaism and other social and political issues? How do we embrace diversity and remain whole?
The notion of committed belonging to a particular national or ethnic group is often counter-cultural in today’s society. Instead, we are encouraged to feel and behave as active members of a global society with access to multiple communities, moving physically and figuratively between different homes and identities.
As a result, Jewish Peoplehood can be a challenging concept for young Jews who find themselves struggling for reasons why being an active member of the Jewish People is valuable and relevant to their lives.
In other sections we dealt with many of these challenges. In this section we explore three more: the challenges of individualism, pluralism and multiple identities.
PLURALISM ACTIVITIES
JEWISH PORTRAITS
CONCEPT
METHOD
Reflection
The aim of this activity is to focus the participants’ thoughts upon specific kinds of Jews who are different from each other and to examine the question of what living a Jewish life means.
CONSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT
CONCEPT
METHOD
Discussion
To encourage participants to move away from seeing disagreements within their Jewish community as divisive toward being constructive.
Y-LOVE'S ``THIS IS UNITY``
CONCEPT
METHOD
Reflection
To learn about other Jews who are different from you and how their differences can enrich how you understand being Jewish.
TORAH, COMMUNITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL
CONCEPT
METHOD
Reflection
To explore the role and relevance of community in living a Jewish life
JEWISH FACES
CONCEPT
METHOD
Discussion
To give students an opportunity to observe and appreciate the diversity in the Jewish community, the way one would for a work of art.
JEWISH UNITY! WHAT FOR?
CONCEPT
METHOD
Reflection
To provoke participants to consider the value of Jewish unity in our diverse world