JN, you raised some very interesting ideas. I know very little about Jewitchery and JewÌ¢âÂã¢Uism, but I imagine that they are often criticized for not being aligned closely enough with traditional Jewish principles and for not being G-d-centered. Perhaps one of the best ways to avoid this criticism is to have an ongoing dialogue and exchange of information between these Ì¢âÂÒalternativeÌ¢âÂå Jewish communities and the more traditional communities. Furthermore, I think it is important for people who donÌ¢âÂã¢t identify with traditional Jewish principles, or come from a multi-faith background, to be aware of the existence of these newer communities and their unique approaches to Judaism.
I donÌ¢âÂã¢t think I would call the Jew-U and Jewitch communities a Ì¢âÂÒsocio-cultural-spiritual phenomenonÌ¢âÂå, a phrase that in my mind makes them sound like a trend or movement that at some point will go out of style. IÌ¢âÂã¢d like to think (and hope) that these new communities are permanent Ì¢âÂÒadditionsÌ¢âÂå to the big Jewish umbrella, and are contributing to the breadth of Judaism. Moreover, these communities are a reflection of the diverse ways in which individuals appreciate their religious and spiritual experiences and connect to Judaism in ways that make sense to them.
JN, you raised some very interesting ideas. I know very little about Jewitchery and JewÌ¢âÂã¢Uism, but I imagine that they are often criticized for not being aligned closely enough with traditional Jewish principles and for not being G-d-centered. Perhaps one of the best ways to avoid this criticism is to have an ongoing dialogue and exchange of information between these Ì¢âÂÒalternativeÌ¢âÂå Jewish communities and the more traditional communities. Furthermore, I think it is important for people who donÌ¢âÂã¢t identify with traditional Jewish principles, or come from a multi-faith background, to be aware of the existence of these newer communities and their unique approaches to Judaism.
I donÌ¢âÂã¢t think I would call the Jew-U and Jewitch communities a Ì¢âÂÒsocio-cultural-spiritual phenomenonÌ¢âÂå, a phrase that in my mind makes them sound like a trend or movement that at some point will go out of style. IÌ¢âÂã¢d like to think (and hope) that these new communities are permanent Ì¢âÂÒadditionsÌ¢âÂå to the big Jewish umbrella, and are contributing to the breadth of Judaism. Moreover, these communities are a reflection of the diverse ways in which individuals appreciate their religious and spiritual experiences and connect to Judaism in ways that make sense to them.