MILLENNIAL OUTREACH By Rabbi Jen Gubitz The narrow alleyways of Yafo are just wide enough for two camels to pass one another in either direction and just narrow enough for American tourists to continually stumble over stairs, feet, and one another. The wide enough but narrow alleyways soon come to an open courtyard where, suspended in mid air, floats an orange tree. Viewing this tree, an art installation by Israeli artist Ran Morin, immediately begs the questions: Where are its roots!? How is this tree alive? How could it be simultaneously rooted yet uprooted? And does it still bear fruit? This was the ultimate question of the Honeymoon Israel trip I staffed in early March—a journey to Israel for 21 recently wed couples of various backgrounds and Jewish connection. Most had a partner where one was born Jewish and one was born into another faith tradition though no longer engaged in its theology or practice; some had a partner where one was born Jewish and one became Jewish by choice; some had a partner where one was born Jewish and one was actively and intentionally pursuing their Christian faith. Only a few were couples where each partner was of Jewish heritage and even those couples had upbringings distinct from each other. What they all shared in common was that each couple was trying to figure it out: How do we this thing called Judaism or building a Jewish home? How do we raise Jewish children? Do we even want children? How do we deal with these societal, familial and religious pressures? This group was a strong representation of their demographic - including those who walk in the door of Jewish life through the Riverway Project and those whose engagement we still hope to capture; they are smart, interesting and creative people who are deeply engaged with figuring out Judaism’s role and relevance in their lives. Many of these couples live on the fringes of organized Jewish community but aren’t opposed to it either; so when half of them showed up to Riverway’s
Soul Food Friday a few days after returning from Israel, the importance of both proximity and relational engagement became even clearer. Truly, if they know you and trust you, they will come. The Riverway Project’s work, now more than ever, is focused on expanding our reach—through continued relational engagement, proximity and strategic partnerships. Already, Riverway attendees have joined with TI Cares to prepare Mishloach Manot Purim care packages for TI members; they are active participants in TI’s social justice campaigns; a recent partnership with the New Israel Fund brought in a cadre of folks new to Riverway to hear the powerful story of Mutasim Ali, a Darfurian asylum seeker who fought and won refugee status in Israel; and we continually strengthen partnerships with the JCRC’s Reach Out community service program, Ganei Beantown, Moishe House Brookline, and the MEM Project’s arts based learning. We are intentionally crossing the river to Cambridge and Somerville to get proximal and to bridge the proverbial gap that still prevents some from connecting with the Riverway Project by hosting jam sessions, neighborhood Shabbat and Havdalah in members’ homes. Like that tree in Yafo, we often ask about the Riverway Project: Where are its roots!? How could it be simultaneously rooted yet uprooted? And does it still bear fruit? The Riverway Project’s roots are nourished in Temple Israel’s fertile soil; and its roots are in Cambridge, Brookline and JP, too. In fact, Riverway is simultaneously rooted and uprooted by design. And its fruit—though we may not see or taste of it immediately—it bears fruit that is so, so sweet. Thank you to TI for your continual support and nourishment of the Riverway Project.
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