I recently came across a post "Bad for Jews, Bad for America"
by Sandy Goodman. The premise of the article is that Jewish life in the
U.S. is being pulled in two different directions: toward complete
assimilation and disappearance through intermarriage on one hand, and
Ultra-Orthodox extremism on the other with the middle of the road
(Reform, and Conservative) movements coming apart at the seams.
As a secular Jew, I have to say if this alleged tug of war is the case
and that it will continue to the bitter end, then sadly, it would be
better that Jewish life in America fade away altogether than fall
completely into the clutches of the ultra-Orthodox fanatics who instead
of moderating their beliefs are becoming more rigid with the passing
years to the point that they would extinguish the lamp of Haskala
(the Jewish enlightenment and its gains) and turn Jewish life into an
oppressive counterpart of that under Islamic Shari'a law. (BTW this
fanaticism isn't confined to the U.S. There's a Chasidic sect in London
that wants to prohibit its women members from driving. Shades of Saudi Arabia.)
Further, according to the article, the benighted "ultras" may win out
in the U.S. just by sheer numbers as they do not believe in
contraception and consequently have large families that often include 7
or 8 children(!) But the main issue is that Ultra-Orthodox culture is
characterized by anti-intellectualism, male dominance, unemployment,
and a society that tries to shut itself off from outside contact or
influence. This life-style is one reason that as I indicated in my post "Change the Channel" it's self-defeating for rational Jews to offer any type of support to the likes of these reactionaries.
Anyway, I don't think that the future for Jewish life in America has to
necessarily turn out the way Goodman claims it will. Secular Judaism in
America is not without its own resources. For example there are
organizations such as the Society for Humanistic Judaism
that have long supported Jewish continuity but without the trappings
(and the trap) of theism. Further, leaders of the MOR branches of
Judaism are sensible, and if there is a decline at present in
maintaining synagogue membership, I think they will find a solution.
Moreover, Mainstream American Jews, whether observant or secular, have
traditionally have opted for the exercise of reason and a quality life
style. And if they fully realize what's at stake, I don't think that
they will go quietly into that dark night of dominance by the
ultra-Orthodox.
Goodman has done a service by pointing out that there is a struggle, but in the end I think that Jewish progressivism can prevail in America, especially if we consider that the
alternative outcome of a Jewish Dark Ages is not acceptable and is one
for which the moderate wings have a huge incentive for working
together to prevent from happening.
