The votes are in. Reform Judaism has once again demonstrated that it holds firmly to egalitarianism, and that we are a highly diverse and accepting people. If you have not yet heard, Rabbi Cantor Angela Buchdahl has been hired as Central Synagogue’s new senior rabbi (Central is one of New York’s largest synagogues, at nearly 2400 families). Ha’aretz’s article on January 19 (Nussbaum, Debra. “What’s so unnerving about the new Central Synagogue rabbi? She talks about God.” Ha’aretz. www.haaretz.com. January 19 2014.) observed that there could be many things that a Jew might find unnerving about Rabbi Buchdahl: she’s the first Asian-American rabbi, and she’s a relatively young woman to be leading such a large, established congregation, with three young children1. None of these proved to be obstacles to her appointment, and for this we can be pleased. What did raise eyebrows, however, is that God is central to her life, and she is quite out-spoken about it.
It’s almost funny. Though we Reform Jews have less of an issue discussing things like yoga and meditation, when it comes to actually having a connection with a being called God, we remain silent. We speak with discomfort and unfamiliarity. In serving as a chaplain at New York Presbyterian during my student days, it was always the Christians who wanted to talk about God and where He was at the moment of their suffering (few of them had moved to gender neutrality in their theology). Jews on the other hand, wanted to talk about what was going on in the world, with their family, and how frustrating it would be to return home and have to change their lifestyles. Sometimes they wanted a Mi Shebeirach prayer for healing in Hebrew. Even Debbie Friedman’s Mi Shebeirach, the one that helps us pray for healing every Friday night, only comes as close to saying God as saying “the Source of Healing.” It seems that just saying “God” makes a lot of us squirm in our pews.
Perhaps the discomfort comes from a sense of disbelief. Does God really exist? Does God care about me? Can I relate to God? Does anyone listen to my prayers?
Often, when pushed on disbelief, people will tell me about this kind of God: a being who looks a lot like Zeus— an old man with a white beard, perhaps a cloak resembling a college-bed-sheet toga, who hangs out in the clouds and watches down on us, while being everywhere and knowing everything and being all powerful. The only things missing are the lightening bolts.
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So many different understandings of God are available, waiting for connection. In Confirmation class this year, we’re actually having a session called “God Shopping,” and Rabbi Victor Appell taught a course this past fall called “Pick a God, any God.” When it comes to belief in God, there is no need for discomfort. The trick is first coming to terms with the God we don’t believe in. Once that’s established, it’s easy to move on.
I am willing to bet that there is at least one facet of God out there in which everyone here can believe. We just have to commit ourselves to the search. To push past that sense of discomfort. To know that we are part of something greater, something holy.
From Temple Emanu-El’s Feb 2014 Kolaynu.
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