Jay Michaelson: Judaism Unbound Episode 197 - Religious Heresy
Jay Michaelson, who works as a columnist for The Daily Beast and as an editor for Ten Percent Happier, joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg about spirituality, heresy, and the prefix “un,” all through the lens of his new book, Enlightenment by Trial and Error. [1]
(0:01 - 14:00): To begin the episode, Michaelson gives an overview of Enlightenment by Trial and Error, along with the decade of his life that it seeks to encapsulate. He explains why, in choosing the essays for this book, he stuck more to those that ask questions than those that provide answers. [2] He also speaks to the importance of blending the intellectual and the spiritual, two realms that are often (problematically) treated as entirely independent of one another. Michaelson then calls back to his first appearance on Judaism Unbound, bringing back his analogy that contemporary religion is more comparable to a food court than a restaurant. [2] He also cracks open a conversation thread about the nature of heresy. [3]
(14:01 - 31:24): The three sections of Michaelson’s newest book are entitled “Uncoiling,” “Unraveling,” and “Unknowing.” Michaelson explores the value of framing his book through these “Un” verbs, and he applies it to the context of Judaism Unbound as well. [4] He looks back at the Jewish innovation sphere of the 2000s and early 2010s (in which he was deeply immersed, professionally and personally), and explores both its important role and, in retrospect, some of its shortcomings. [5] He offers up a framework of progressive Judaism reaching its “Yavneh moment,” [6] and proposes — maybe a bit controversially — that some models of institutional Judaism today might be comparable to a “sinking ship” (no need to fear: he also argues that there are ways in which it isn’t sinking!). Michaelson then contrasts his conception of “authenticity” with other common usages of the term in some corners of Jewish life.
(31:25 - 48:44): Michaelson asks whether today’s mainstream Jewish institutions are adequately addressing some of the key crises of our time, among them white supremacy and climate change. He notes ways in which, for him and many others, the strength to fight on these political issues comes as a result of spiritual practices. Shifting gears, he explores a variety of understandings of the word “religious,” and the extent to which they do (and do not) apply to him. In doing so, he revisits earlier threads around what it means to practice heresy. To close the episode, Michaelson reflects on the beauty inherent to many Jewish practices, calling for a greater emphasis on spirituality in Jewish education. [7] [8]
[1] Learn more about Jay Michaelson by visiting JayMichaelson.net. Purchase Enlightenment by Trial and Error, from Ben Yehuda Press, here.
[2] Michaelson introduced us to his analogy of a restaurant vs a food court in his first appearance on Judaism Unbound. Listen into that episode here: Episode 38: Evolving Dharma - Jay Michaelson.
[3] In discussing heresy, Michaelson mentions Jacob Frank, the “great heretic.” Learn more about Frank by taking a look at Michaelson’s essay about him, entitled “Conceptualizing Jewish Antinomianism in The Teachings of Jacob Frank.”
[4] Michaelson mentions the idea of “second naivete,” from Paul Ricoeur. For a quick overview of that idea, click here.
[5] In looking back at this Jewish innovation ecosystem, Michaelson particularly reflects on Zeek: A Jewish Journal of Thought & Culture, which he served as its Founding Editor. Check out a 2011 piece in Zeek, entitled “Jewish Education for a Time of Wandering,” that our very own Dan Libenson wrote, here.
[6] Check out Michaelson’s article on this “Yavneh moment,” entitled “Progressive Judaism Won’t Win in My Lifetime. And That’s OK,” by clicking here.
[7] Towards the end of this conversation, Michaelson refers back to our Judaism Unbound episode that featured Sarah Hurwitz, and looked in-depth at her book Here All Along. Listen into that episode here: Episode 185: An Army of Translators - Sarah Hurwitz
[8] We encourage you to read Michaelson’s other books, a few of which he alluded to at various points in this episode. Two that we would especially recommend are Evolving Dharma and Everything is God.