There is a famous slogan concerning the Jewish community that states, “We are one.” However, historically, we have never been just “one.” More often than not we have been “many” incompatible positions and contradictory beliefs, which served to disunite and disjoin our community over time. Rabbi Steven Bayar, rabbi emeritus of Congregation B’nai Israel in Millburn and interim rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, led an insightful three-part series, titled “That Which Unites Us, That Which Divides Us,” at 1 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 1, 8, and 15, via Zoom.
Rabbi Steven Bayar
Our Jewish World is coordinated by Ilene Dorf Manahan and Melanie Levitan. The series was free and open to the public.
Said Rabbi Bayar, “In these three sessions, we will explore the issues that have divided us and united us, issues that have brought us together as the community of Israel and the issues that continue to divide us. We will begin with the concept of ‘dina demalkhuta dina’ (the law of the land is the law), and follow it through a series of challenges: tikkun olam (What does it mean to ‘fix the world’?), medical ethics (including abortion), the #MeToo movement, Zionism, observance, kashrut and more.”