Boulder Jewish News Arts, Culture, Events, Lifestyles, Holidays, Synagogues, Education
Updated Editor’s Note: Stan Kreis, a regular BJN contributor, took video of this Limmud Colorado panel with Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder, Rabbi Marc Soloway, and Rabbi Josh Rose, which we link to below. BJN appreciates Rabbi Soloway’s introductory remarks as well!
Thanks, Stan!
Editor’s Note: One of the participants at Limmud Colorado “live-blogged” the morning discussion among Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder, Rabbi Marc Soloway, and Rabbi Josh Rose.
We are certain this is not the last we’ve heard in this engaging discussion. However, we are most appreciative to Chaviva Galatz for her diligence in capturing the discussion. Check it out on her blog, The Kvetching Editor.
If you haven’t met her yet, learn a little about her in this video from Ignite Chanukah. Thanks, Chaviva!
Thank you Chaviva for your post.
I certainly don't have many answers when it comes to Judaism, but I'm on an exciting, educational journey.
My fiancé and I have chosen to work with Rabbi Bahir Davis (Rebahir) for our path toward marriage. He challenges us to think about the meaning of life, and the meaning of Jewish life. In our exercise, I came to redefine my existential understanding of the meaning of life from my initial definition of “the meaning of life is that which you create” to “the meaning of life is how you choose to touch it.” The differences are subtle but powerful. When it comes to Jewish life, if my fiancé and I were the only people left living on earth, would we still be Jewish? The answer can only be yes if we make it that way—if we choose to live a Jewish life and keep any or all aspects of Judaism alive. If we choose not to keep Shabbat, then that tradition dies. If we choose to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, then that tradition stays alive. The metaphor is powerful as we think about what Judaism means to us on a spiritual level, and how we want to pass that to the next generation. What parts of Judaism do I want to keep alive for my children? How do I want to touch their lives?
I don’t have all the answers yet. I’m still on my journey, slowing integrating more and more Judaic ritual into my life—and allowing it to evolve organically and symbiotically with what our planet is also yearning for. I’m still learning, and enormously grateful to my friends and leaders Rabbis Rose, Goldfeder, and Soloway.