Rabbi's Blog

Dear Haverim,

Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once wrote: “Religion makes good people better and bad people worse.”  Theoretical physicist Steven Weinberg’s “drash” on Niebuhr was: “With or without religion, good people can behave well, and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil – that takes religion.”

Oy! 

I’ve tried to devote myself over the last half century and more to rational, life-affirming, inclusive and ethical religion, while being fully aware of how more traditional forms of belief – within every religion – can often be destructive, intolerant, self-righteous and unconcerned with reality and truth.

Religion, like certain chemicals and radioactivity, can heal or harm.  It needs to be harnessed by reason and devoted to universal goodness.  Religion has to examine and re-examine itself in every age and in response to new discoveries in science, philosophy, politics, economics and so much more in order to be truer and more beneficial to humanity.

To have “blind faith” or to be a “believer” is no virtue.  What’s called for is to be a “seeker” and a “questioner.”  Not “I’ve found it,” but “I’m always looking for it” and the “it” is truth and goodness!

Fifty years ago, I knew that becoming a rabbi wouldn’t be an easy life, but I hoped that it would be a fulfilling one, and it has certainly been that.

Teaching from a Reconstructionist point of view has helped me with my skepticism and doubts and has allowed me to hear and affirm yours.  Making Judaism relevant and humane have always been my goals, for I want Judaism, Jews, and all who wish to share in contemporary Jewish life to feel empowered by Jewish wisdom, celebration and peoplehood.

While it’s true that “pessimists” will never be disappointed, I’m an optimist.  I hope that, eventually, regressive, irrational and hateful religious ideologies will give way to more constructive, peaceful and reasonable ideas. Even if that doesn’t happen, I’ll know that all of us, as Reconstructionists, tried to bring greater freedom, love, self-awareness, and “tikkun”/repair to the world.  As the Talmud reminds us in “Pirke Avot”: “It’s not up to us to complete the task, but neither may we refrain from working hard to accomplish it.”

So, please join us for Shabbat services this Friday evening at 7:00 p.m., when I’ll share how Jews and Judaism have impacted my life and shaped my rabbinate.  The topic will be “Getting Arrested For Soviet Jewry and Other Tales Of A Half Century As A Rabbi.”   I’ll share a number of stories from my five decades as a rabbi – some humorous, some life-changing – which trace the way Judaism has transformed me.

I'll recall stories from when I decided to become a rabbi, my rabbinical school experiences, my approach to interpreting and reinterpreting Judaism in a humanistic and universalistic way, and my desire to “open up” Judaism to be inclusive, creative, experimental, rational and exciting!

I’ll share stories of studying with Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, my White House Fellows year working on Middle East peace in the White House and State Department, and my formative experiences visiting Jewish communities – large and small – around the world. 

Please be with us to share some of my memories of the journey of my rabbinic life. (Click here to RSVP for our in-person services. If you want to watch on Livestream, there’s no need to RSVP – just click the link on our homepage at the time of the service or anytime thereafter.)  I hope to see you this Friday evening.

Shavua Tov/Have a memorable week,

Rabbi Arnie Rachlis