Sublime

the future of Jewish life is dependent on Jews—not just rabbis—taking hold of the rich, challenging, surprising, and inspiring heritage that makes up our texts and traditions.

From earliest rabbinic times there were such institutions as the tamchui, or mobile kitchen, which distributed food daily to whoever applied,

“Empowered Judaism.” This is a Judaism in which people begin to take responsibility for creating Jewish community, without waiting on the sidelines.

the power of Judaism is clear to those truly engaged in its complex struggles and searchings for truth and divinity. Instead of focusing on new ideas, the Jewish community would be better served by connecting to the original “big ideas” of our heritage: Torah, avodah, and gemilut hasadim,

They want to learn Hebrew, but there are not enough high-quality Hebrew classes. They are interested in basic Jewish knowledge but are unable to connect to synagogues. The Jewish community does not have the teachers and the leaders who can step forward to meet this need.

There is simply no coordinated effort to educate the Jewish people in a way that empowers them.

in the twenty-first century—a Judaism that has been undersold and watered down. It is a Judaism where those who know its beauty are often unable or unwilling to connect to the larger Jewish community, and those on the front lines of the welcome wagon to Judaism have little skill or facility with Jewish texts to elucidate their beauty to others.

what would it take to build the ideal learning community—one that fostered Empowered Jews in an environment where they didn’t need to compromise a core part of their identity? Fortunately,

“Why are we preserving this institution in the first place? What is so essential about it, and are there new institutions that could do a better job at the same goal?”