Where Were the Jewish Unifiers

WHERE WERE THE JEWISH UNIFIERS? The pre-Siyum HaShas coverage in the Forward was by its standards rather benign. It even claimed that “no non-Orthodox organization claimed to be capable of staging an event on any theme religious or nonreligious that could draw Jews in anything approaching such numbers.”

And yet the article cites the events billing as a “once-in-seven-in-a-half-year Jewish unity opportunity” and then proceeds to wonder whether “despite the huge numbers the event will draw the 90% of American Jews who are neither Orthodox nor ultra-Orthodox may well ask themselves: a unity opportunity for whom? … The majority of affiliated American Jews who belong to more liberal streams of Judaism will be unrepresented not to mention unaffiliated. So too will leaders of mainstream Jewish organizations such as the Jewish Federations of North America.”

But I wonder: Was there something I’m unaware of holding back any Jew anywhere on the religious spectrum leaders and laity alike from seeing this as precisely a “Jewish unity opportunity” and attending? Why did virtually no secular or heterodox Jewish leader attend not in an official capacity but simply as Jews seeking to make a statement about the cherished ideal of Jewish unity of which they speak so often? True they wouldn’t have been invited onto the dais but is Jewish unity worth to them the minimal price of four hours of ego suppression? I don’t believe they would have been received with anything other than warmth and genuine goodwill by everyone in MetLife Stadium that evening.

And finally a question for the reporter: How is it that as a good journalist you didn’t think to ask any of these questions of any of these leaders? You saw fit to quote Reform’s president as saying “I think the Siyum HaShas gathering is terrific. I hope that it is richly rewarding for all who participate.” But where was the follow-up of “so where will you be sitting?”