by David Bryfman
Historically speaking there are many characteristics of a revolution. Archetypal revolutions involve transformation brought about by a major groundswell of people. Most revolutions have a central leader (or leaders), and almost all have a clear and articulated vision. The Jewish world has gone through several revolutions. Exemplars of Jewish revolutions include the establishment of Yavneh as a center of Jewish learning after the destruction of the Second Temple; the Haskalah (Enlightenment) and its various offshoot movements in 18th century Europe; and Zionism.
It is my contention that we are now in the midst of another major revolution in Jewish life. Unlike classic revolutions there is no single leader or even a few leading figures. It is however lead by masses of people, best categorized as Time Magazine’s 2006 person of the year – You! This particular revolution also lacks an articulated vision, because by its very nature it is fragmented. Nevertheless its impact is universal and it is leading to the greatest transformation in Jewish life in more than a century.
Although technological applications may be the instruments by which many of these changes are exemplified, they are not the change itself. As a researcher of Jewish teenagers who I believe represent the changing face of the Jewish people, what we are witnessing today is not merely a natural evolution of the Jewish people, but a revolution in what it means to be Jewish in the world today. In at least 5 fundamental domains, living a Jewish life today is fast becoming a very different proposition than it was even a decade ago. Cumulatively these 5 changes in Jewish life represent nothing less than a major transformation of the Jewish people – the revolution before our eyes.
Continue reading at http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-revolution-before-our-eyes/.
David, I could not agree with you more! Technology changes the way we view, reach, and access our world. Many teens today view technology as an extension of themselves and many teens would be lost without the technology. You bring up a good point, when you say “Although technological applications may be the instruments by which many of these changes are exemplified, they are not the change itself;” and raise an important question when you say “What does it means to be Jewish in the world today?” Where does Judaism fit into the teenage world and how can Judaism meet technology and how can technology meet Judaism? You are right the world is changing fast, technology changes fast and the Jewish educational world has a need to keep up with it and continually make those changes to adapt to the world today so that Judaism continues to be for some, and becomes for others, a more meaningful part in the Life of a Jewish teenager.
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