Great post, Leora. Thanks for deconstructing Michaelson's arguments. Really interesting analysis.
I'm curious about what he means when he says "bothers to make the effort." I agree that services could be more meaningful if everyone was more engaged, but what kind of engagement are we talking about here? I'm not doing a very good job of articulating what it is I mean to say... I guess I'm just thinking about the implications of a more *exclusive* space. If it's inclusion ("if everybody's in, nobody's in") that's keeping services from being more meaningful, whose exclusion are we after here? Who should egalitarian services no longer cater to? Those who aren't totally familiar with Jewish practice or religious life? Those who have issues engaging with texts due to language? Etc., etc., etc. Is it the inclusion and accommodation of these folks and others that's keeping things slow and less meaningful...? Just some thoughts.
Great post, Leora. Thanks for deconstructing Michaelson's arguments. Really interesting analysis.
I'm curious about what he means when he says "bothers to make the effort." I agree that services could be more meaningful if everyone was more engaged, but what kind of engagement are we talking about here? I'm not doing a very good job of articulating what it is I mean to say... I guess I'm just thinking about the implications of a more *exclusive* space. If it's inclusion ("if everybody's in, nobody's in") that's keeping services from being more meaningful, whose exclusion are we after here? Who should egalitarian services no longer cater to? Those who aren't totally familiar with Jewish practice or religious life? Those who have issues engaging with texts due to language? Etc., etc., etc. Is it the inclusion and accommodation of these folks and others that's keeping things slow and less meaningful...? Just some thoughts.