CLAL Rabbinic Community On Line

How can you best utilize the CLAL Millennium resource? CLAL’s scholars have "test-run" the card with numerous groups across the country. In synagogues, board meetings, and adult education classes, the card has been used to spark a dynamic conversation on the millennium. Here scholars will share their ideas on using this resource:

For the Synagogue:

In your services that take place either before or on Millennium night, you may want to begin by taking a look around the main sanctuary of the synagogue and asking --"What do we see here that is new to the synagogue in the last millennium? There are the obvious ones—the Israeli and American flags, the electric lights… what has each of these meant to the Jewish people? But then there are the less obvious signs—prayer books that come off of a printing press, Yahrzeit and memorial lights, folding chairs, all these are new as well. Two thousand years ago the prayer books were not written, and the Synagogue was not primarily a house of prayer, but a place for Torah reading, study, and for out of town guests to lay their heads.

And then there are the things that have been constant for millennia-- The Torah, the mezuzah on the door, the language of Hebrew on the lips of Jews.

For the Home:

Since the millennium night falls on Shabbat, you may want to encourage people to incorporate some of the resource cards questions into their home celebrations.

Ask them to imagine how has Jewish life changed in the last thousand years. Imagine where your family would be living and what you would be doing. Imagine who your neighbors would be and how you would relate to the wider world. Imagine what languages you would speak and what would your dreams and hopes for the future might be.

Now ask people to look ahead a thousand years. Where will we our descendants be living? How will they be living? What languages will they speak?

For Adult Education:

Ask people to write out toasts to the millennium following the card’s suggestions. Have them bring these toasts to the Shabbat table and read them to their friends and family before the kiddush.

 

Spark a discussion group with the question "How should Jews celebrate the millennium?"

The philosophy behind our millennium suggestions is a response to the claim made by contemporary social analysts that religion is a force that stymies innovation in our society. As the millennium approaches, a good deal of contemporary historical analysis has emphasized the idea that in each era profound forces propel vast shifts in society’s world-view. These forces driving social change are pitted against forces of traditional practice, such as religious life, which generally fall into the category of "anti-progress" since they aim to preserve past practices. The reality is that religious life, especially Jewish life, is both progressive and preserving. When we are able to embrace the reality that religious life needs both change and consistency, then we can better understand the religious communities that attempt to balance these values. The exercise of thinking about how Judaism has developed and imagining future scenarios of how it will develop, demonstrates how Judaism can be a part of progressive social change while still preserving its deepest and most sacred values.

As part of our continuing effort to fine tune our holiday guides and teaching materials, we would be most appreciative of your feedback. In particular, we would like to know how you used the holiday cards in your congregations and how useful you found the electronic teaching guide.  Any other feedback would also be appreciated.

Send your feedback to Dr. Robert Rabinowitz at rrabinowitz@clal.org.