Labels are for Shirts.

A few weeks ago I had a ‘Wow’ moment (one of those times when you smile to yourself and say “this is great”) that really brought home a concept that I have been trying to appreciate myself and to teach it to others.

Here goes…

Being a Rabbi in the greater NY area, I receive many emails from various organizations asking me for my opinion about world affairs, the future of the Jewish community and other world altering issues ;). Some slip into the [spam], some ignite interest and others, I actually respond to (I guess it depends on who their PR/Marketing team is and/or the time on my hands). There was one email I got about the direction that the Jewish community is going. They wanted to know the demographics, my programs, the age, growth, and many other questions. At first I didn’t respond but they kept emailing me again and again that they need my opinion. So I went to the link (probably just to stop them from emailing me) and took this 15 minute survey. Towards the end, they had one question that made it all worth it.

Not just the survey was worth it but my whole education and  position as a Chabad Rabbi.

Here it is:

How would you describe your affiliation:
Orthodox
Conservative
Reform
Reconstruction
Chabad

I was soooo excited I did the Horah.

Why the excitement, you ask? Let me explain;

At first it bothered me, why did Chabad go last. If it went by the way the Rabbi led his own life – it belonged with the Orthodox. If it was about the way the congregation was ran – i.e. the Halachic standards – it still belonged with the Orthodox. If it went on the members of the congregation – it can fit into any of them (my community will define themselves very comfortably as “Reform” or “Conservative” Jews – some will even say unaffiliated). It can mean none of the above – but that won’t make sense – who is none of the above.

It must mean - all of the above! Chabad can’t be defined as a particular denomination – everyone feels a part of it. To say that our community is specific to a certain type of Jew would not be true.

Chabad ideology is based on the fact that there is no such thing as denomination. We are part of one people and there is something deeper that unites us all regardless of outward practice. The Rebbe repeated this so many times that our job is to touch every Jew regardless of their background or affiliation. Our Jewish soul is a part of G-d and just like He is unchangeable and always complete – so to is every Jewish soul. That (-the soul) is what makes us Jewish and it is that which has help us strong for 3000 years. Sometimes the external trappings might get in the way but why stress that – let us focus on the beautiful essence that ties us together as a family, forever.

To bring home this point, I googled “define: shirt” and got: a garment worn on the upper half of the body.

Now, every shirt has a label – Calvin Klien, Zegna, cotton, polyester, tumble dry, dry clean only, Seer Sucker, etc Yes, each one of these are trying to explain to the consumer why their needs will be solved with this specific garment. One is better for the summer, winter, Tux or golf. But they are all describing external attributes about a shirt. They are not describing the essence of what they are = a shirt is a garment that covers the upper part of your body.

Imagine a store that said “Shirt Cleaners – Golf Shirts Only”. They are missing the point of what a shirt cleaner is - - a place that is able to clean ALL shirts. If only CK is allowed in – you are not servicing shirts – you are servicing a specific external appearance.

A Jew is a Jew because He or She has a soul. That is regardless what they do with it (of course it would be nice (and more productive/holier/rewarding) if it was active). Which is why we don’t give labels to people – that would be loosing focus on the essence of who they are..

Labels do belong on shirts – but when it comes to people – lets try to be as inclusive as possible.