Brickman Interfaith

The Jewish-Christian Journey: An Inclusive Interfaith Worship Experience by Rabbi Dr. Jay H. Brickman There are many species of life which, threatened by an aggressor stronger than themselves, will crawl into a shell as a means of defense. Minority entities in an inimical surrounding will often isolate themselves from the host population and intensify their own cultural identities. This defensive posture has characterized our community for the major portion of Jewish existence. When, as in the Hellenistic period, the surroundings were more amicable, a portion of the Jewish population (despite the opposition of Orthodox zealots) joined in the athletic games and other activities of the overall population. Such circumstances, initiated by the American and French Revolutions, provoked a new liberalism of spirit in this nation and Western Europe. It was in such an atmosphere that Reform Judaism was born and flourished. Rules of dress and diet which prompted estrangement from non-Jews were abandoned. Liturgical portions that spoke of abandoning lands of adoption and returning to the Holy Land were deleted. Emphasis upon antiquated ritual practices were rejected in favor of ethical teachings shared with other faiths, thereby drawing our population closer to that of other denominations. It is unfortunate, in my perspective and that of ACJ, that in the absence of external threat, leaders of Reform Judaism (perhaps in response to the “threat” of assimilation) have chosen to assume the defensive posture, reaffirming: ethnicity, nationalism, ritualism, separatism. Interaction with Non-Jewish Clergy Interaction with non-Jewish clergy has helped me to recognize a similar split within the Protestant community. There is a right-wing element that stresses the mysteries of the divine birth and resurrection. This group feels itself uniquely favored by God and identifies others, including liberal Christians, as marked for damnation. Ecumenical endeavors with this group bear little fruit. Fortunately, there is a parallel Protestant community which draws inspiration from the words of Jesus, and identifies descriptions of his divinity and resurrection as referencing the teachings rather than the individual. It is the “word” which is immortal. I am comfortable with this point of view. Jesus lived and died as a Jew: he had nothing to do with mysteries attributed to him by later writers. His words and his life experience parallel those of other rabbis in his generation. Jesus did no break with Jewish law but offered a liberal and compassionate interpretation of the law. Discussing this similarity of perspectives with a minister friend, we both recognized the similarity of our points of view. I, of course, have a feeling of kinship with fellow Jews which he lacks. The image of Jesus plays a unique

Brickman Interfaith

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