Jonathan Zasloff: But are we really so pessimistic about Jewish civilization and spirituality that we believe outsiders would reject it?
Certainly American Jews have little interest in exploring the answer to the question. They are socially tolerant and uncomfortable in what they think of as institutionalized religion, but have strong values and are looking for meaning – "nones."
The Jewish community’s outreach to them is scattered and tentative at best. There are fine individual programs, but there is no concerted effort to find the "nones" and show them what Jewish spirituality and the Jewish people have to offer. They are seeking – running to us – and we are ignoring them.
Isaiah, after all, does not say that the nation will run to Israel’s clergy, but to Israel itself.
And for non-professional Jews, the situation is even worse. Consider this: if someone came to you and mentioned something about wanting to be Jewish, would you have any idea what to say to them? Could you present an honest, loving, and passionate account of the meaning of Jewish experience?
The Jewish community has become so focused on its own victimhood that we do not recognize when non-Jews are trying to join
