Art Green vs. Everett Gendler on Jewish Universalism
|
Full disclosure: I have had the privilege of counting Rabbi Everett Gendler as a friend and mentor for more than fifty years. I have always thought of him as one of my rebbes, and in recent years he has returned the compliment. We have in common a lifelong search for a Judaism of the heart, a love of God as expressed in a love of God’s creatures, human and otherwise, throughout the world, and deep appreciation for Midrash in the broadest sense, embracing all sorts of creative re-readings of our beloved ancient tradition. Everett and I share an attraction to what some see as the most “pagan” elements within Judaism, ranging from Kiddush Levanah (greeting the rising moon) rituals to studying the Zohar to the singing of An’im Zemirot, a hymn to the lovely locks of the invisible divine head.