Denominations will realign

Predicting what Jewish life will be like in 2355 presumes that the human race — and Judaism — will survive. So call me an optimist.

The first shipload of Jewish refugees that arrived at New Amsterdam in 1654 could not have foreseen the successes of American Jewry or the creation of the Jewish state.

The Jewish future is no clearer to us, though historical patterns provide some basis for prognosticating.

Despite the talk these days of post-denominational Judaism, Jews will cling to their comforting affiliations, though the denominations will realign based on new priorities regarding social action vs. spirituality vs. traditional practice.

Orthodox Judaism will remain faithful to Torah and age-old customs, but the movement will tackle new halachic (Jewish legal) issues. Don’t be surprised to see future rabbis discussing acceptable conditions for human cloning, how to determine the kashrut of edible creatures from other planets and whether one may teleport (you know, beam) on Shabbat.

Still, Orthodoxy and liberal Judaism will further stratify because of growing differences over the role of women and on integrating the unfolding scientific and fixed Torah understandings of the universe.

Jewish life will change for the rest of our descendants and those of the thousands of others who will convert to Judaism. They’ll find a religion/people/culture/nation/civilization — Jews still won’t have agreed on what Judaism is — that adapts its practices to the changing world, yet maintains certain core values.

As advocates of tikkun olam (repair of the world), Jews will be active in environmental issues that increasingly will be key to the planet’s survival.

Jews also will work with organizations that seek to eliminate the continuing scourge of hunger and work to cure fatal illnesses brought about by new strains of germs.

Tzedakah (the obligation to give of our resources) will remain a key value, though the causes will change. Jews will support new Jewish communities in Asia (and probably on the moon) and donate used clothing and computers to the developing world and to developing worlds.

Liberal Jewish liturgy will become more universalist — figuratively and literally.
Congregational life will continue to be paramount for American Jews. Though Jews will be able to hold virtual or holographic services, Jews will attend synagogue in search of authentic human contact.

Israel will comprise the largest Jewish community and shower Jewish culture upon a grateful world. The Jewish state also will serve as a role model of growth and development for the Arabs, whose influence and irascibility will fade as the world converts from fossil fuel.

Finally, because improved health care will lengthen the human life span, some Jews will name their children after the ultra-elderly forefathers from the early pages of Genesis.

Indulge me, then, as I send greetings to my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Methusaleh Muchin. May he find something in this article to kvell about.

Andrew Muchin is a freelance journalist and director of the Wisconsin Small Communities History Project, a program of the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning, Inc.