Clal Forms Program of Dialogue and Learning to Seek Unifying Solutions to Divisive Issues in Jewish

The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL) announced here Thursday the formation of a program of dialogue and learning to attempt to close what it believes is the widening gap of intolerance and animosity that threatens to split the Jewish people.

“Am Echad” (One People) will bring together in one CLAL division existing programs of local rabbinic dialogue, lay and rabbinic communal programs, touring symposia about unity and a watch group on unity issues.

These will be combined with new programs: advanced theological and halachic (Jewish legal) dialogue to seek unifying solutions to divisive issues; engaging modern Orthodox scholars in study, discussion and communal experience; and offering help and guidance to international groups.

At a press conference, CLAL co-founder Rabbi Irving Greenberg called Am Echad “the most extensive program of dialogue, learning, alliance-building and unity efforts in the history of American Jewry and I dare say in the history of modern Jewry.”

ONGOING ISSUE OF CONCERN FOR CLAL

Through the writings and programming of Greenberg, CLAL has been in the forefront of publicly urging and seeking the healing of intra-Jewish wounds.

In fact, Greenberg said the response to his 1985 essay, “Will there be one Jewish people in the year 2000?” and a CLAL-sponsored Jewish interdenominational conference in March partly inspired the formation of Am Echad.

He said he thought North American Jews were coming to recognize what for him are the pertinent issues: “a demographic time bomb–the sharp growth in Jews’ contested status consisting of converts, patrilineal children and children of second marriages where the mother’s first marriage did not end in a ‘get,’ or Jewish divorce.”

He said this “was creating a situation of Jews considering themselves Jews or recognized as Jews by some denied that status by others, compounding now two decades of increasing polarization.”

NOT GETTING ANY BETTER

This stratification he attributed to “power flowing to the polarizers or the people proposing the polarizing solutions.” For example, he considered the Reform movement’s decision to break with tradition and opt for patrilineal descent–to consider Jewish the child of either a Jewish father or mother–as “internally meaningful and important to Reform at the expense of the relationship with the Conservative and the Orthodox.”

This polarization has caused similar problems, he said, citing the rupture this year of the interdenominational JWB commission to overseas Jewish military chaplains and “the almost incomprehensible” conflict recently between elements of Israel’s secular and ultra-Orthodox communities, he said.

He gained hope for a solution from the March CLAL conference in which Jewish leaders exchanged views in prepared speeches. He said that demonstrated the possibility and desirability of dialogue and that issues could be delineated.

SEEKS ALL-OUT EFFORT

Due to these factors, Greenberg urged on Thursday the Jewish community to mount an effort for intra-Jewish unity akin to the successful Jewish-Christian rapprochement of the last 50 years. He said the Jewish-Christian dialogue receives $10 million in direct annual funds while intra-Jewish dialogue receives $100,000-$200,000.

He added an American twist to his effort–the acceptance of a plurality of views. “We must, in short, accept freedom of choice and manage it to yield pluralism and cooperation,” he said.

Solutions, too, can come from a variety of sources. “We call upon all groups in American Jewish life and world Jewry to devote time, attention and to review resource allocation and to devote more efforts for ‘k’lal Yisrael’ (Jewish unity),” he said, adding that CLAL will accept partners for any of these projects.

$1 MILLION CHALLENGE GRANT

Initial funding for Am Echad will be provided by a $1 million challenge grant from Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman of New York. Income from the anticipated $2 million fund will operate the program, according to Mr. Ziegelman. Jewish actor and activist Theodore Bikel will serve as a national chairman.

Greenberg, in response to a question, offered optimism, but no guarantee that Am Echad’s learning and dialogue will foster unity.

“It’s a gamble in a sense that learning will not lead to greater divisiveness,” he acknowledged, “although there’s a Talmudic assurance that those who learn together, even if they fight as swords, end up being at peace with each other.”

He said CLAL’s Chevra rabbinic fellowship and study groups” indicate that there’s significant growth and trust and does pave the way toward limited accomplishments toward reducing divisiveness.” He admitted, though, that groups of rabbis brought together by CLAL have been unable to agree how to pray together.

Chevra has involved 125 rabbis in eight cities. Through Am Echad, CLAL hopes to reach 500 rabbis in 25 cities, numbers sufficient “to change the denominational pattern,” he explained.

Am Echad also will hope to reach lay leaders through dialogue. “It’s a combination of ideas and practical levers that change the outcome,” Greenberg said.

The rabbi also was asked if his low public standing with the Orthodox community would lessen the effectiveness of Am Echad. He replied that the lack of public acceptance of his unity ideas belies a private acceptance and reflects an “atmosphere of intimidation.”

Moreover, he said Am Echad is not asking Jewish denominations to abandon their theological principles, but to learn about and come to accept principles held by other denominations.