Judaism Without Tribalism: A Guide to Being a Blessing to All the Peoples of the Earth

by Rami M. Shapiro, Douglas Rushkoff (Introduction)

"Judaism Without Tribalism is a blessing, a much-needed challenge, and a deep well of wisdom and sanity." —Natalie Goldberg

This book investigates Judaism at its best—and sanest. It strips away outdated and harmful beliefs that have accrued over the centuries and returns to the essential truths that are too-often ignored in favor of tradition, tribal identity, or the claims of the powerful.

The result is a vibrant Judaism for the 21st century and beyond—a Judaism that draws deeply from history and scripture yet addresses the unmet needs of the present and the future. It is a Judaism that is open and accessible to everyone.

Judaism without tribalism is a call to be a light unto the nations, and a blessing to all the people of the earth. It is a Judaism free from legalism and tribalism—a Judaism that refuses to serve patriarchy and power.

Written by one of today's most respected—and most unconventional—Jewish thinkers, Judaism Without Tribalism is a manifesto, an invitation to completeness, and a call for inner and outer spiritual revolution. It is also a deeply practical guide to living authentically, breath by breath and day by day.

Genres: Nonfiction, Jewish, Spirituality, Theology, Religion

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2022

About the author

Rami Shapiro is one of the most innovative rabbis of the last thirty years. An award-winning author of two dozen books on religion and spirituality, he received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PhD from Union Graduate School. A congregational rabbi for twenty years, for the last fifteen he has been writing, leading retreats, co-directing One River Wisdom School, blogging at rabbirami.com, and writing a regular column for Spirituality and Health magazine called "Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler."

Reviews

[Dina London · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more truth teller rabbis like Rami Shapiro. Toeing the line is not helpful for the future of the Jewish community and Shapiro does the opposite. His fresh approach is honest, insightful, refreshing, and inspiring. This tome is book group discussion worthy.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rabbi Shapiro presents a mix of interesting and very sane ideas on the one hand, and absolutely laughable ones on the other. It was certainly interesting, enjoyable, and challenging to read. He takes a very intellectual, dry, emotionless approach to Judaism that doesn't sit right with me. He also seems blissfully unaware of the flaws in the 10 commandments. Meditating on the 10 commandments, when they make no provision to protect women or children from violence and are so clearly written by men and for men....it just gives me the ick. Also it is UNBELIEVABLE to me that in advocating Judaism without tribalism, he still thinks circumcision is ok and not tribal at all. That was a wiiiiild section to read. For someone who thinks we "transcend" the identities that "limit" us (which aim I also heartily disagree with...) he is still very obsessed with Jewish penises and how they should look, so idk....he's got some "transcending" to do. Not to mention his absolutely awful description of G?ddess as the "Happening happening as all happening. " As if G?ddexx is...merely motion? Merely time? I don't get it. The whole thing has a smarmy white cishet dude flavor that I can't stand, and that kind of sucks because I actually agree with him about a lot of things.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

What worked: he incorporates his reworking (by him and others) of the 13 attributes, the Decalogue, and other moral checklists. Rendering them fresher in contemporary terms. He advises on how to "turn" Torah as rabbis of old did, to flip meanings, and invent new ways to argue with and against and for the text, to keep it from getting stale. I liked his view on kosher as nudging us back towards the vegan diet of the pre-Noah epoch. And he stresses the iconoclastic nature of breaking up the "small-g-god" structures of inherited Jewish practice that've ossified, although going so far as he firmly concludes that "it's all made up" may not do much to convince today's doubters or skeptics to continue. These messages haven't been convincing as many as they did fifty years ago, as often of late, less stringent Jewish congregations and institutions tend to dwindle, merge, coast, or close.

And if one rejects the tribal, insider view, that one's G/god's on one's side when it comes to real estate tips, business acumen, or innate smarts, opting instead for a Oneness with the Dao, Allah, Jesus, the Baha'i, Gandhi, the Buddha et alia, then why cling to a way of life that's been so fraught with suffering, exile, destitution, persecution, and contempt? The universalist Eternal Presence in which the ineffable divine name is subsumed makes for elevating contemplation, I agree with fully.

Yet I can't shake the nagging rejoinder. Why go to the trouble of living out a Jewish life by shuffling parameters away from the Law? If one picks and chooses preferred pieces from the mosaic (small-m) to create a new design, what about the gaps left if one discards the old-fashioned, suspect, non-politically correct model? Can a makeshift composition withstand massed forces arrayed against the Jewish assemblages of frayed solidarity with its fragile, flawed S/state (an appendix looks at an acceptable Zionism, and at "Jew-hatred"), which as I type this lash out in a whirlwind to blast it?

For, while Shapiro's correct in that invigorating Jewish action rather than passive faith is key, and he offers sensible solutions to his fellow rabbis in an appendix, his acceptance of the post-modern "it's deep down only a human fabrication" and far from being "chosen," Jews aren't any different doesn't seem like much of a profound insight to inspire future generations to cherish their identity. Few in intermarriages nowadays bear children who themselves marry Jews, and the overwhelming pull of either the dominant religion, none or a blend of this-and-that becomes the inevitable norm.

For as he separates his Jewish system from belief, making it practice, he's following, yes, the Torah. But then he denies that the Torah itself has any "standing" apart from what the Jews invented to be it. Again, a common assertion, but as with his dismissal of concerns about those giving up as most do, Jewish observance, or intermarriage as something that'll work itself out for blending different approaches to the One, I doubt these concoctions will preserve a zest of Renewal-Reconstructionist progressive mix-and-match DIY recipes past mid-21st century, as this was concocted in the hippie era, and like, say, secular Yiddishkeit, its shelf life compared to Orthodox brands appears perishable.

Tellingly, he elides any anti-assimilationist context of Hanukkah, and he stints too on the openness of Jews to conversion despite the reputation for putting up barriers. He figures anyone labelling him or herself as a member of the (non-)tribe belongs, but this ignores those darn institutionally imposed snafus that impede many from moving from one affiliation to another as Jews by choice, adoption, stepfamilies, paternal descent. A bit of counsel on this, as increasingly, this audience will be part of the readership of appeals to liberal Jews and those who follow in their orbit, wake, or their partnerships, would have been welcome. A curious mix of summations, meditations, how-to's, and reflections from very open-minded perspectives, if probably best meant for those of like mind.

[John Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some good aspects to this work. There is an ironic aspect, Jews who are raised in a more conservative environment, can get the sense that either Judaism changes or it dies, and they move towards a humanistic and atheistic Judaism, only for their children to shed the identity altogether. The same thing has and is happening in Christianity. Put off by its tribalism--people move in a more liberal direction, but it is an in-between house to pure secularism.
It brings up an interesting question: are Judaism and Christianity a good that is worth preserving, even if tribalism is the only way? Liberal and "progressive" religion is kind of like the religious sects of old that practiced celibacy--they don't last. I don't know if there is a way to create a religion without tribalism that will be a lasting and formative force--instead, it is a hospice for those who grew up in conservative households but found their childlike faith to be in a critical condition.
Pragmatically speaking, those amongst us who have become quite unorthodox, yet remain within the tradition--trying to nudge it in less toxic and more wholesome directions--are likely furthering its demise. I say that, and yet it seems the tribal and conservative faith is a house of cards, and the winds are strong and the storms are likely. Formal religions in America are likely to go the way they did in Europe. It will be the hyper-conservative, charismatic, and very tribalistic religions in the developing world that will carry the torch in the upcoming generations.
If religion is at death's door, I suppose those in ministry ought to do their best to soften the harsh edges and make it more joyful, life-giving, kind, and accepting in its last days of life.

Anyhow, in the book itself, I liked how he draws from traditions of wrestling with God, iconoclasm, an empty holy of holies, the turning of torah, the disappearing God, and increased centeredness of humans in the ordering of the TaNak. Also, the problematizing of dogma and rigid tradition, gods with guns, the use of religion for power and control, and the acknowledgement that we all pick and choose and negotiate with the Torah--and we might as well do so more consciously and constructively

Shapiro takes the pantheistic approach of Spinoza, completely rejecting the personal deity presented in Torah. I guess I am not on fully on board with his understanding, maybe panentheism (in him, we live, move and have our being), but this whole, I am god, you are god, the rotting spinach in the trash can is god, the misqueto is god, the cancer is god, the ingrown toenail is god... just doesn't do anything for me. Ya ya, I am just a wave, soon to return to the ocean, a drop of water soon to be one with the sea. but no....
So, if nature is god, and god is nature, why call it god? We already have a word for it--nature, or matter. It just doesn't float my boat, though it clearly floats his boat. I suppose I am a little more okay with the language of Tillech, which Shaprio also uses; that God is not a being, but God is BEING. He does not reveal realities to us in scripture and religion, but he IS REALITY. That all religion is purely made up. I dunno. It does seem theistic concepts of God are deeply problematic in light of the problem of divine hiddenness, maybe some day some non-theistic understandings of God will become live options in my mind.

[Kathleen Moy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for books on tribalism and found this book fascinating, not only because he addressed tribalism but also the inside looks it grants into Judaism, or at least his adopted practice of Judaism. Seems to me that his adopted Judaism has its similarities to many New Age Religions, meaning that religion is more a pathway to spirituality than a defined set of beliefs meant to be shared with others that others adopt and convert to. The first step in his book is to return to "your true nature as tzelem elohim – manifestings of the divine," and the second is to repair "the world with justice and compassion by being a blessing to all the families of the earth, human and otherwise.”

As a Christian I disagree that religion is limited to providing pathways to living this temporal life to wholeness and being a blessing to others this world. However, I agree that both of those aspects are meant to be a key part of our faith journeys, and that those parts can far too often be overlooked.

[Rosa T Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this book was a real eye opener.

I consider myself spiritual but not religious. I have to admit this book helped me understand a lot!

I grew up in a catholic faith and I had a lot of questions most of my life but since I, like many of us, were programmed to believe what the religious “authority” said, we shouldn’t question anything…

The way the rabbi explained things, answered a lot of questions for me. Thank you!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was the perfect mix of educational and philosophical and grounded in practical ideas for making one's practice more meaningful. I will return to many of the ideas in this book for years to come. Also, the author's tone throughout this book was so funny -- unexpectedly so -- and that was a welcome change from a lot of the overly serious books about religion that I come across.

[Kyle (Mel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I don’t agree with every little thing in this book, I really enjoyed it and it really did invoke deep thought. I think everyone should give this book a chance.

[Anna Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Favorite part: "Religions are competing clubs with their own self-serving beliefs....Stop inagining your chosen club is true." Purpose: teshuvah and tikkun.

[David Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general, I think Shapiro's interpretation of Judaism is a good one — helpful for a more modern, secular, and humane understanding of its philosophies.