Living in a Time of Shattered Faith
We’re living through the disintegration of American Jewish civil religion as we have known it.
We’re living through the disintegration of American Jewish civil religion as we have known it.
It is said that caring for the dead in this way — an opportunity to perform what our tradition rightly calls hesed shel emet, an act of true lovingkindness — is the ultimate act of selfless devotion, for we do it knowing that it can never be reciprocated.
Many Jewish texts, ancient and modern, encourage us to forgive those who injure us, even when they themselves have not acknowledged the injury or asked for forgiveness. When we forgive, we let go of our injury and can proceed with compassion.
Professor Louis Newman helps to launch us into the spirit of the month of Elul and the High Holy Days that follow.