Comments for Boundless Drama of Creation http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com Wondering where we are going as a Jewish community - one post at a time. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:53:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on A Moment in Time: Sunday Night at the GA by William Daroff http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/a-moment-in-time-sunday-night-at-the-ga/#comment-162 William Daroff Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:53:44 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=540#comment-162 I absolutely agree with Lisa's comment. Much more important for the first conversation was the conversants - rather than the actual conversations. Seth, you & your conspirators had probably a dozen federation executives, many of the top innovators in our Jewish communal world, many (if not all) of the leaders of under-40 crowd, and pretty much anyone who thinks big thoughts about the future of our people. It was very impressive - and I look forward to seeing the next step. Kol ha'Kavod. I absolutely agree with Lisa’s comment. Much more important for the first conversation was the conversants – rather than the actual conversations. Seth, you & your conspirators had probably a dozen federation executives, many of the top innovators in our Jewish communal world, many (if not all) of the leaders of under-40 crowd, and pretty much anyone who thinks big thoughts about the future of our people. It was very impressive – and I look forward to seeing the next step. Kol ha’Kavod.

]]> Comment on A Moment in Time: Sunday Night at the GA by Lisa http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/a-moment-in-time-sunday-night-at-the-ga/#comment-160 Lisa Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:57:37 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=540#comment-160 While I didn't find the conversation at the table so mind-boggling, others found it mind-bending -- just seeing how we come at this from different angles is in and of itself interesting. But simply being in a room with those phenomenal people for a couple hours was an honor, and the side conversations before and after spouted new ideas and connections that might have otherwise been missed in the halls of the GA. Thanks to the team that brought us all together! While I didn’t find the conversation at the table so mind-boggling, others found it mind-bending — just seeing how we come at this from different angles is in and of itself interesting. But simply being in a room with those phenomenal people for a couple hours was an honor, and the side conversations before and after spouted new ideas and connections that might have otherwise been missed in the halls of the GA. Thanks to the team that brought us all together!

]]> Comment on Good for the Jews?: A Few Thoughts on the Debate About Aliyah (Israel 2009 – Day 3) by Gidon http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/good-for-the-jews-a-few-thoughts-on-the-debate-about-aliyah-israel-trip-2009-%e2%80%93-day-3/#comment-154 Gidon Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:46:27 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=517#comment-154 This is the first time I am seeing your blog, and from this posting (especially the too-cursory, too-late-at-night reading of it) I am not sure what your opinion on Aliyah is. I will simply weigh in with an answer to your bottom line question: if Israel still truly depends on Jews (whoever and wherever they are), are thoroughly modern Jews good for Aliyah? The answer is yes definitely. Anyone who comes to Israel helps build it, some more so and some less so, and every perspective on Israel and Judaism (modern [whatever you mean by that] or otherwise) adds to the "cholent" which is Israel. You are coming here for yourself (if you so feel pulled), for Israel (as I wrote above) and especially imho for your children. Gidon Maale Adumim This is the first time I am seeing your blog, and from this posting (especially the too-cursory, too-late-at-night reading of it) I am not sure what your opinion on Aliyah is. I will simply weigh in with an answer to your bottom line question: if Israel still truly depends on Jews (whoever and wherever they are), are thoroughly modern Jews good for Aliyah?

The answer is yes definitely. Anyone who comes to Israel helps build it, some more so and some less so, and every perspective on Israel and Judaism (modern [whatever you mean by that] or otherwise) adds to the “cholent” which is Israel. You are coming here for yourself (if you so feel pulled), for Israel (as I wrote above) and especially imho for your children.

Gidon
Maale Adumim

]]> Comment on Israel 2009 Day 2: From Dina to Nina (The People Israel in the Land of Israel) by Dina http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/israel-2009-day-2-from-dina-to-nina-the-people-israel-in-the-land-of-israel/#comment-153 Dina Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:21:33 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=511#comment-153 You are absolutely correct. One of the most amazing things about Israel is the people. The energy that surrounds you from the moment you land at Ben Gurion generates from everyone around you. Perhaps too intense at times, but this is due to the state being very young!!!!! Much like a kid, taking its first steps, we are doomed to make mistakes and hopefully learn to correct them with time..... You are absolutely correct. One of the most amazing things about Israel is the people. The energy that surrounds you from the moment you land at Ben Gurion generates from everyone around you. Perhaps too intense at times, but this is due to the state being very young!!!!! Much like a kid, taking its first steps, we are doomed to make mistakes and hopefully learn to correct them with time…..

]]> Comment on Israel 2009 – Day 1: The Journey and the Flame by Israel 2009 Day 2: From Dina to Nina (The People Israel in the Land of Israel) « Boundless Drama of Creation http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/israel-2009-%e2%80%93-day-1-the-journey-and-the-flame/#comment-152 Israel 2009 Day 2: From Dina to Nina (The People Israel in the Land of Israel) « Boundless Drama of Creation Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:39:29 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=507#comment-152 [...] is dependent on a People called Israel. Of course the land is filled with the People (and as I wrote yesterday, in many ways the land fills the People), but nonetheless there is an important distinction to be [...] [...] is dependent on a People called Israel. Of course the land is filled with the People (and as I wrote yesterday, in many ways the land fills the People), but nonetheless there is an important distinction to be [...]

]]> Comment on Israel 2009 – Day 1: The Journey and the Flame by Edward Rosenblatt http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/israel-2009-%e2%80%93-day-1-the-journey-and-the-flame/#comment-151 Edward Rosenblatt Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:07:23 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=507#comment-151 Thanks for the beautiful depiction of your experience. Thanks for the beautiful depiction of your experience.

]]> Comment on Game Changers and Gunslingers: A Few Thoughts From Slingshot Day 2009 by Jonathan Woocher http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/game-changers-and-gunslingers-a-few-thoughts-from-slingshot-day-2009/#comment-150 Jonathan Woocher Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:31:56 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-150 Seth, I think you captured beautifully as well as thoughtfully the excitement of this day and what it represents, as well as the challenging path that still lies ahead if we are to capitalize fully on its potential. I confess to having grown tired of reading stories about the decline of American Jewry or the current "crisis" in Jewish organizational life. Perhaps I'm naive, but I see energy and creativity -- not only in the Louis L'Amour room (never read his stuff either), but in all sorts of places in this sprawling, messy enterprise we call the Jewish community. Perhaps more important, I also see all sorts of connections being formed and networks woven that carry the possibility at least of new ways of doing business in the future. Perhaps it's true that the Jewish communal infra-structure of the 21st century is being born in front of our eyes. What's most exciting to me -- and I thank you for continually bringing us back to this focus -- is the wide range of noble purposes to which all of this energy is being directed. As 21st century American Jews, we have been given a gift (may it last for a long time). We can bring our Jewish experience, relationships, and values to bear on every important and enriching dimension of human life. We can repair the world, nurture our bodies and spirits, celebrate our creativity, exercise our minds, care for our fellow humans and our planet, and do it all in a Jewish key and through a Jewish lens -- a lens that we can continue to refine and reshape. To me, that's what the people in Slingshot and at Slingshot Day represent. It's the breadth of the agendas and the boldness of the visions of possibility that the innovators and their supporters embody that energizes me. Now, the challenge is: can we sustain this? Can we collectively create the conditions that will enable this energy to continue to flow, grow, and gradually create a new community that blends the best of what we have been with the best of what is emerging? I think it's doable; in fact, I think it's being done. Seth, I think you captured beautifully as well as thoughtfully the excitement of this day and what it represents, as well as the challenging path that still lies ahead if we are to capitalize fully on its potential. I confess to having grown tired of reading stories about the decline of American Jewry or the current “crisis” in Jewish organizational life. Perhaps I’m naive, but I see energy and creativity — not only in the Louis L’Amour room (never read his stuff either), but in all sorts of places in this sprawling, messy enterprise we call the Jewish community. Perhaps more important, I also see all sorts of connections being formed and networks woven that carry the possibility at least of new ways of doing business in the future. Perhaps it’s true that the Jewish communal infra-structure of the 21st century is being born in front of our eyes. What’s most exciting to me — and I thank you for continually bringing us back to this focus — is the wide range of noble purposes to which all of this energy is being directed. As 21st century American Jews, we have been given a gift (may it last for a long time). We can bring our Jewish experience, relationships, and values to bear on every important and enriching dimension of human life. We can repair the world, nurture our bodies and spirits, celebrate our creativity, exercise our minds, care for our fellow humans and our planet, and do it all in a Jewish key and through a Jewish lens — a lens that we can continue to refine and reshape. To me, that’s what the people in Slingshot and at Slingshot Day represent. It’s the breadth of the agendas and the boldness of the visions of possibility that the innovators and their supporters embody that energizes me.

Now, the challenge is: can we sustain this? Can we collectively create the conditions that will enable this energy to continue to flow, grow, and gradually create a new community that blends the best of what we have been with the best of what is emerging? I think it’s doable; in fact, I think it’s being done.

]]> Comment on An Honor and a Blessing for the New Year by Lee Wunsch http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/an-honor-and-a-blessing-for-the-new-year/#comment-146 Lee Wunsch Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:25:48 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=481#comment-146 Seth -- a beautiful reflection which I just shared with my friends on Facebook. G'mar chatimah tova. Seth — a beautiful reflection which I just shared with my friends on Facebook. G’mar chatimah tova.

]]> Comment on An Honor and a Blessing for the New Year by Lynn http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/an-honor-and-a-blessing-for-the-new-year/#comment-145 Lynn Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:09:22 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=481#comment-145 Seth, A usual you share from your heart and cut to the chase. It is an honor and a blessing... Wishing you and your family a sweet new year. Don't forget to savor the honey. Seth,
A usual you share from your heart and cut to the chase. It is an honor and a blessing…
Wishing you and your family a sweet new year. Don’t forget to savor the honey.

]]> Comment on Posters Without End: The Art of ‘The Conversation’ by Daniel Reiser http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/posters-without-end-the-art-of-%e2%80%98the-conversation%e2%80%99/#comment-143 Daniel Reiser Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:18:11 +0000 http://boundlessdrama.wordpress.com/?p=473#comment-143 Very interesting. Part of our interns' charge is simply to engage in conversation--to use conversation as a valuable Jewish tool. I look forward to having you join us in 2 weeks. Very interesting. Part of our interns’ charge is simply to engage in conversation–to use conversation as a valuable Jewish tool. I look forward to having you join us in 2 weeks.

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