So how cool is ' Cool Judaism'?
Aks a stranger on the street what they know about Kabbalah and your are more likely to hear about Madonna and little red bracelet about mysticism
Ask the person about Hanukka and you are more likely to hear about Seth Cohen, a holiday busn and the O.C than about the macabees -that was a famous Holliwoud TV show by the way cancell last year-.
As a matter of fact, ask someone about Judaism in general and chances are you will hear as much as Jewtopia, Jvibe, and Heeb magazine as you will about the Torah!
It's undeniable that Judaism is receiving unprecedent exposure in the mass media. But it leads me to ask: is pop-culture bad for Judaism?
The Jewish community can no longer tout rabbis as its spokespersons to the world. In facta, I'be bet that few jews can even name the two chief rabbis of Israel ( for the record and Jewish sake, they are Sephardi Chief Shlomo Amar and Askenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger- there is a famouse one is Sephardi Rabbi Ovadia Joseph.
Modern Judaism has witnessed the birth of ' Cool Judaism' and with it the beginning a new trend in wich Judaism has been equated with everything fashionable, from Madonna to popular hip-hoppers members of the Tribe and Mastisyahu.
Despite the trend, the reality remains that halachic Judaism and pop culture have very little to offer one another. They are, more than not in completed discord. However , judging solely by the number of T-shirts with slogans 'Everybody loves a Jewish girl or boy' and "Kosher" tht i saw walking from my house to the Barbara Frum library here in Toronto, three shirts in six blocks-wow this union is here to stay !
Whether you are a trendsetter in the emerging market of jewish cool or are offended by marketing ploys that cheapen cultural idioms, yhou can't deny that the effects of this movement could define Judaism for current and subsecuent generations.
Does the current climate represent a cultural revival?- a way for a new generation, which may feel alienated by a heritage that's perceived as keeping us separeted, to link our own lives with the culture of our ancestors- or own lives with the culture to turn a meaningful religion and culture into a catchphrase for T-shirts and CD's covers?
Undoubtedly, this trend makes Judaism more visible. That, in and of itself, is a positive thing. For youth growing up outside Israel as part of a minority in a multicultural society, its quite easy to feel lost in a veritable sea of foreign cultures. Having role models who garner society notoriety, certainly make identifying with Jewish culture much easier.
That being said, the role models that are often elevated by society may not be the best ones to base our values on. It comes down to what 's behind the trend. Judaism has a (small) enlightenment seeking nature to it-as evidenced by the mysticism of kabbalah. This aspect of Judaism is personal, alternative and progressive. It's more about inwardness and insight than synagogue on part of the Saturday. Cool Judaism was born from the union of misticism, Judaism and the pursuit of enlightenment.
But while this alternative and egalitarian Judaism i progressive and individual, without a proper connection to traditional Judaism and Torah, it becomes an empty pursuit, devoid of meaning behind that slogans.
What is important are the values being promoted by those who partake in and create the notion of Cool Judaism. Merely inserting a stanza about Manishewitz wine or bagels and lox into a song doesn't stil it with Jewish values.
If however, or especially young jews can build a community of shared values through this peer-to-peer Judaism there may be some value to it. Cool Judaism could ultimately stimulate a flock of Pop-cultural nomads to reconnect with their roots.
It's essencial to recognize, though, that Judaism transcendes any passing notions of cool ,Beyond the slogans that claim to represent Judaism, there is real value in a religion that teaches equality, human decency and social responsability. Too bad that doesn't fit on a T-shirt or 'juicy pants'.
Religious writer, Me
