Emma Goldman was an anarchist political activist in the late 19th and early 20th century in the United States. Fleeing oppression in Russia she came to the US with the idea the it was "the free country, the asylum for the oppressed of all lands." She quickly realized that oppression of the working class went on in our country as well and she slowly began to become more radical, especially after the Haymarket Square tragedy in Chicago in May of 1886 where a bomb exploded at a rally against police suppression of a strike. In the aftermath many labor activists were charged and convicted of the violence that would take the lives of several rally goers and police officers. She realized that she needed to speak out against the working conditions and the brutal actions of what she saw as the ruling class. But not only did she focus on freeing the body from the oppression she felt as a factory worker and as a woman, but to free the mind of the oppression that she saw was forced on people. One was that of religion. While she saw the world through Jewish eyes drawing on the values of emphasizing justice for all, she was a atheist who had no place for Jewish law that was controlling. She often spoke on Jewish topics, used Yiddish to reach Jewish audiences and found Judaism as a culture to be light to the world. But when it came to religious practice she found it confining and thus did not create an environment of freedom. Her open rejection of religious practice led her to promote and participate in a Yom Kippur Picnic in 1907. A day seen by many as the holiest of the year when Jews fast for 26 hours. She was encouraging people to gather to eat, in public, in face of religious Jewish authorities that would publicly attack Jews for eating on that day. It was a challenge that opened eyes of people. Goldman was a radical that truly made people question the status quo in politics and religion. Her vision may have been ahead of her time and her legacy is seen in activists today who argue for the rights of many who are oppressed because of who they are. But Goldman's vision of Judaism not as a strict religion, but as an ethical guide has helped many find a home in Judaism when disagreeing with some of the more traditional views of what it means to be Jewish. But outrage over something like a Yom Kippur picnic will always exist in the Jewish world, as noted this year.
We know that there are many who do not fast on Yom Kippur for important personal, health, and religious reasons. This is something that should be celebrated because Jewish tradition acknowledges that fasting is just one of several valid ways to observe the holiday. This year, we’re experimenting with organizing a lunch meetup for those who would find it meaningful to gather with other people who also do not fast and even engage in a Jewish ritual to honor the act of intentional eating on this special day. GatherDC will pick a central meeting point on the SW Waterfront following our Alt YK morning experience, where you’ll have time to meet others and Rabbi Ilana for schmoozing and intention-setting before embarking on a self-led lunch excursion on the beautiful waterfront. We’ll be in touch separately with those who sign up. You also do not need to join our morning experience to participate.
Now the idea of eating on Yom Kippur is one of those lines that a lot of Jews feels shouldn't be crossed. Even Jews who have no connection to other prohibitions in Jewish law. But when I look at this I see a different kind of energy. There are those who, by Jewish law, must eat on Yom Kippur, if not eating may put your health in danger for example. There are those who find to concept of fasting meaningless to them and choose not to fast even if they acknowledge the themes of the holiday. Rabbi Zeitman is trying to find a way to make a space for those people to engage the holiday without feeling like they are on the outside looking in. She is not Emma Goldman.
Emma Goldman was a direct attempt to take down religion and religious leadership that she saw imposing rules and restrictions on free thinking people. Goldman was like an invader in the ancient world that would destroy local temples and use the stones to rebuild a temple to their own gods. Goldman wanted to use the foundation to build something new while erasing what she saw as oppressive. She maintained some of the visions of Judaism based on justice, but the religion of Judaism she wanted to end. Rabbi Zietman isn't trying to tear down the proverbial temple. She is building an approach ramp and creating a new door way in. Too often there are Jewish people who find it hard to fit into a community and the age group that GatherDC (20s and 30s) find it harder to find a home in many place. To me it looks like GatherDC and Rabbi Zietman are trying to provide an opportunity for a meaningful Yom Kippur experience, while not judging those who don't follow all the rules.
There are many who are critical of GatherDC, calling out Rabbi Zietman, even suggesting she is not a real rabbi. Many who don't appear to have problems violating the Shabbat as many of the posts appeared on a Saturday. I would encourage them to meet with those who view Yom Kippur and other holidays differently. On Passover we hear of the 4 children, each approaching the narrative of freedom differently. One has been called Wicked because that child doesn't see the story as meaningful, but that child is there to hear the story. There are many who think of a 5th child, one who isn't even at the table. One who can't hear the story, one who cannot even reject what is meaningful because they will never find a way in. GatherDC is looking for a way to add a chair at the table for that child.
While I will fast on Yom Kippur but will not judge those that don't. I find meaning in the fast, and that is what our tradition and frankly all traditions should be about, meaning. In the end, Rabbi Zeitman may find a way to make meaning for Jews who had not place to do that, and help with self-reflection. Isn't that what this time of year is about.
