My positive vision for Judaism in the age of multiple crises

Here is my long-held vision for Judaism in this time of multiple crises:

To be a Jew is to see the world through the eyes of God, to be unreconciled to the world as it is, to be discontented with the status quo and unafraid to challenge it.

To be a Jew is to be a co-worker with God in the task of perfecting the world, to know that the world remains unredeemed and that we must work with God to redeem it.

To be a Jew is to feel deeply the harms done to others, to speak out in the face of wrongdoing, and to prod the conscience of those who passively accept the status quo.

To be a Jew is to stand apart from the world, to be a non-conformist, to shout “NO” when others murmur “yes” to injustice, to actively help uplift those in need and try to correct injustices, even as others stand idly by.

To be a Jew is to be intoxicated with a dream of social justice, to have an abiding concern for others, to have compassion without condescension for people who are poor, weak, and suffering.

To be a Jew means to know that God’s name can be sanctified by our actions, and trying to live a life compatible with being created in God’s image by doing justly, acting kindly, and in all ways imitating God’s attributes.

To be a Jew means to believe in the unlimited potential of people in spite of the evil and injustice around us, recognizing that we have been chosen to serve as an example, to strive to be “a light unto the nations.”

To be a Jew means of course many specific practices concerning Shabbat, kashrut, and much more. It means study and worship, and most of all action and observance. It means all these things and far, far more. It is not always easy to be a Jew, but it is always a very significant and worthwhile endeavor.

(Excerpted from Who Stole My Religion? by Richard H. Schwartz)