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Principles of Spiritual Activism by Rabbi Avi Weiss  For over thirty years, Rabbi Avi Weiss has engaged in activism around the world on behalf of the Jewish people. From the gates of Auschwitz to the streets of Crown Heights, Rabbi Weiss and his fellow spiritual activists have dedicated their lives to the very principles highlighted in this book. Rabbi Weiss has gathered these principles over the course of a lifetime advocating for the Jewish people. Principles of Spiritual Activism is a map intended to guide and inspire a new generation of spiritual activists. "The challenge to activists is to ignite the divine sparks present in the human spirit and thereby impel people to do good for others. The challenge is to become spiritual activists." - from the Introduction to Principles of Spiritual Activism
Principles of Spiritual Activism is the ideal book to rejuvenate active members of the Jewish community, inspire those not yet involved, and guide students in their budding activism. Order your copy today! Exerpts from 'Principles of Spiritual Activism' - #1 Speak Out Because It's Right, Not Because It's Popular Almost all people are prepared to join a campaign they know they are going to win. The true activist jumps in even when victory is uncertain. It is easy to be out there with everyone else. The question is whether one is prepared to be there first, even if that means standing with few allies. #2 Demand for Ourselves No Less Than We Demand for Others Speaking out for others carries relatively little risk and, moreover, brings the acclaim and approval of the larger community. But speaking out with equal intensity on behalf of our own interests touches upon our insecurities and heightened sensitivity to what others may think of us-insecurities and sensitivities that we, as Diaspora Jews, have acquired and absorbed over the years. #3 Racists Never Preach Racism Alone Racists never preach racism alone. They understand that people are fundamentally good and will not buy a purely bigoted message. In order to market their hate, racists consistently interlace their bigotry with positive programs. The truth is, as Professor Alan Dershowitz has argued, when bigots preach a positive agenda alongside general hatred, they become more dangerous. The good they espouse lends credibility to their racist messages. #4 Reject Collective Guilt We dare not allow the evil of one man, of one group, to turn us against an entire race. Rather, we must peacefully confront those individuals and only those individuals, those groups and only those groups, who are racist and anti-Semitic. #5 Go After the Big Guys When something goes awry, it's the big guy-the first man or woman-who must be called to account. Rather than tolerating a leader's tendency to transfer guilt to a subordinate, we must take a lesson from the Torah and demand of the leader-as God demanded of Adam-Ayeka (Where are you)! The readiness to speak truth to power is one of the basic principles of spiritual activism. There are far fewer consequences when dealing with lower officials who are much easier to pick off. Confronting the mighty is a far more difficult task. #6 Speak Out Not Only for the Living, But Also for the Dead Beyond the primary concern of the Jewish activist to keep the Jewish state, as well as all of the Jewish people around the world, alive and strong in body and soul, we also have an obligation to help ensure that our past is preserved intact. It follows, therefore, that activists have a responsibility to speak out for the dead, and the most vulnerable of the dead are the victims of the Holocaust, whose memory is in danger of being desecrated by Holocaust revisionists. #7 The Jewish Community Is a Symphony We view the Jewish community as a symphony orchestra in which there are drummers, flutists, violinists, and so on. We are drummers, peaceful drummers; our goal is not to drown out the flutists and violinists, but to beat steadily, relentlessly, never stopping, and yes, sometimes sounding the alarm loud and clear. When any one of the instruments is missing, there is no symphony. Each one has an important place in the orchestra. #8 Rabbis Should Play a Leading Role in Activism Asked what the function of a rabbi is, Rabbi Hayyim of Brisk replied: "To redress the grievances of those who are abandoned and alone, to protect the dignity of the poor, and to save the oppressed from the hands of his oppressor." For Rabbi Hayyim of Brisk, standing up for righteousness and speaking out for justice are the pillars of the rabbinate. It's an idea all rabbis should embrace. #9 Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews Should Work Together Speaking at the fortieth anniversary of the Synagogue Council of America in 1967, Dr. Samuel Belkin, the late president of Yeshiva University, said: "In the things which we fully agree upon and in which all of us are deeply concerned, we are the most united people in the world. If Russian Jewry is denied the religious liberty to bake matzos for Pesach . . . if the borders of the State of Israel are threatened . . . if an anti-Semitic movement generates in any part of the world, all Jews are united as one." In the past few years I've come to see that there are more opportunities for the movements to interact. Consciously or not, we have all learned from each other. #10 Youthful Brashness and Naiveté Can Have Great Impact Isaiah carefully describes the Messianic period. It will be a time when "a wolf will dwell with a lamb, and a leopard will lie with a kid." And then he adds the immortal words-"ve-na'ar katon noheg otam; a young lad will lead them." Isaiah understood that redemption requires those who are energized, those who are bold, those who dream-in short, our young people. That's the way it has been in recent years. The civil rights movement, the anti-war (Vietnam) movement, were all started by young people. And, so too, was the case in the Soviet and Ethiopian Jewry movements. It was the young-brash, naïve but strong who, in Isaiah's words, led the way. #11 Older Adults Play a Crucial Role in Spiritual Activism It should not be forgotten that during the Exodus from Egypt, perhaps the ultimate act of activism in the history of our people, Moses insisted that the young and old leave together. In fact, Moses was eighty years old when he led the Jews out of Egypt. Over the centuries too, many of the most distinguished statesmen and most indomitable activists have made their finest contributions in their later years. While older folks may not be as physically strong as the young, they can contribute in ways that the young cannot. In the end, activism is an intergenerational symphony in which people of all ages play an indispensable role in the making of the melody. #12 Non-Jews Can Play a Crucial Role In my earliest years as an activist, I was unable to imagine reaching out for support from people who were not Jewish. The teachings I had imbibed as a youth had left their mark on me. I believed that non-Jews simply could not be trusted. Fortunately, it didn't take me long to recognize how wrongheaded that outlook was. Early on in my career as an activist, and on numerous occasions in the years since then, I have met remarkable non-Jews who have contributed mightily to Jewish causes. Some of them have joined protest actions that I led and displayed in the process great courage in the face of arrest and physical violence. #13 There Must Be Ethics in Accepting Money for Activism Charities should be more selective about their financial sources. While donors perform a mitzvah (good deed) in giving, recipients play no less a role in the mitzvah by providing the opportunity to give. In Jewish tradition, it is an honor to give. Hence, recipients have the right and obligation to develop criteria for donors. #14 Never Trust Leaders Who Say "Trust Us" It is fatal to allow ourselves to be patronized and rendered passive by leaders who take refuge in the "If-you-only-knew-what-we-know" refrain. The activities of our leaders must never remain secret. They must be spelled out so that the community can hold them accountable. #15 Activism Is Spiritually Encountering Our Fellow Jews A more appropriate term than outreach would be "encounter," which describes a mutual interaction in which all parties benefit and acquire deep respect for the other. The term also evokes how each of us, souls ignited, becomes involved in a process of continuous religious striving and, in this sense, comes to encounter our inner spiritual selves. #16 Understand How Public Protest Works Public protest not only sends a message to the victimizers that the eyes of the world are watching, but it also inspires governments around the world to exert pressure in order to put an end to the outrage. Not to be underestimated is the effect public expressions of solidarity have on the beleaguered, who, as a result of such actions understand and feel that they are not alone. #17 Deal Honestly with the Media The media, notwithstanding its importance in getting the message across, should never be deceived even in ways that may appear relatively benign. . . . A critical test of activism is the readiness to be out there whether the cameras are present or not; whether the media believes our issue is important or not. It should always be remembered that media coverage is a tool of activism and not its goal. #18 Understate the Facts Caught up in a particular cause, advocates may be tempted to overstate their case. Those who do so are advised to remember that those who speak "loudest" are not necessarily heard best. One should be so careful to make sure one is honestly and fully putting forth the facts, that when in doubt about a particular point, one should speak in even more moderate and measured tones. Far from weakening one's position, the soft voice, the reasoned voice, the understated voice is the more believable voice. #19 Learn the Power of Tenacity Activism that yields quick results is relatively easy-exciting, stimulating, fulfilling. It is, however, most often the case, that change does not happen overnight. It comes, rather, in gradual, almost indiscernible increments. In fact, the Talmud talks about the short path that turns out to be long and the long path that ends up being short. Even when things progress slowly, results can come, and sometimes they are more lasting. #20 Be There on Time Often a cause is clearly right and quite simply cries out for support, and yet even the most well intentioned and highly motivated person may be prone to procrastination. "Yes," the activist thinks, "this issue is important but I am extremely busy with other pressing matters right now. I'll get involved tomorrow." The problem is, all too often, tomorrow never comes. Timing-including making sure that we get there on time-is every bit as important as the act of becoming involved. #21 Go Into the Lion's Den As a matter of principle, the further away you are from the scene of controversy, the less potent the protest. Conversely, the closer you are, the more dramatic the protest. And as centuries of theater attest, the best drama is powerful and demands attention. #22 Strident Action Should Be an Instrument of Last Resort An essential principle of activism is that strident demonstrations should not be the first steps taken when trying to combat a specific injustice. Rather, attention-getting civil disobedience ought to be the final step-one that should be taken only after quieter and less polarizing forms of protests have been exhausted, and only after careful consideration has been given to the possible consequences of stepping dramatically into the breach. #23 Reject Violence as a Means of Social Action Once indiv iduals assume the right to defend themselves with arms as a means of social action, they open the Pandora's box for other, more random acts of violence. The distance between legitimate and illegitimate acts of violence is a hair's breadth. #24 Understand How to Create a Spiritual Center Spirituality can be understood as reaching beyond the self to feel the presence of God. The reaching moves in three directions-upward, outward and inward. We strive to reach upward to the Lord above, outward to the "other" in whom the image of God resides, and inward to find our inner goodness, our inner godliness. #25 Never Forget the Human Factor Activists, consumed by a cause, often forget the human factor in their endeavor. This is particularly ironic because the activist is ultimately motivated by concerns for human well-being. A major objective of activism is to struggle against the "I-it" tendency by always keeping in mind activism's "I-thou" essence. #26 Everyone Can Make a Difference While no one is indispensable, no one is dispensable either. Moreover, not only is the human being unique, but every action can be similarly viewed as having unique power. Maimonides makes this point when he declares that one should look at the world as an evenly balanced scale. The next action we undertake or don't undertake has the potential to tip the scale one way or the other. #27 With Passion the Impossible Can Be Accomplished The principle that, with passion the impossible can be accomplished, is built into one of the most important concepts in Judaism-every human being is created in the image of God. As God is infinite, so too do we created in God's image, have the power to be godly, to reach beyond our grasp, to do that which we never believed we could do. The very term spiritual activism denotes how the spirit of God can work through people. #28 Learn to Cope with Fear What do we do when we're afraid? Do we become immobilized, unable go forward, or do we gather strength in an attempt to meet the challenges that lie ahead? Feelings may be involuntary, but actions can be controlled. Alternatively, the higher fear of God removes the lesser fears that invariably affect every human being. #29 Know How to Laugh For activists, laughter may be of particular importance. It's a reminder not to take oneself too seriously, especially in uneven situations involving direct confrontation with power. Laughter in such settings teaches humility, restores one's sense of proportion. Laughter must accompany us as we protest, as we cry out. It's our way of declaring that in the end, against all odds, Am Yisrael chai - we will prevail. #30 Leadership Sometimes Requires Quiet Strength There are different models of leadership. One is the "rah-rah" type of leader who raises a voice loudly and insistently on behalf of a cause. The other is the activist whose strength is transmitted through a calmness that speaks louder than words. #31 Tame the Ego Understanding that the world was created for each of us individually empowers us to believe that we each have the potential to change the world in our separate and unique ways. Yet the danger certainly exists that if the ego of an activist is not kept tightly in check, it can eventually overwhelm or subtly subvert the endeavor to which that activist is dedicated. #32 Don't Be Seduced by Access to Power It is too often the case that those who speak to the president temper their views, soften their language. Their primary goal is to ensure continued access. But integral to access is the burden of responsibility that must accompany it. A basic principle of activism is that access should never lead to a compromise in integrity. #33 The Welfare of Demonstrators Takes Precedence Over the Cause Itself A cornerstone of my activism is the principle that the cause, no matter how just, never outweighs a leader's primary responsibility to his or her supporters. Demonstrators have an absolute right to be made fully aware in advance of what is being planned. Moreover, if participants in a demonstration find themselves in danger, the leader of the group should immediately terminate the action. The safety of the participants must come first. #34 Respect the Other An essential principle of the activism that I've been struggling to promulgate is the recognition that no single person has the monopoly on the truth. Whereas most people associate activism with a rigid single-mindedness of purpose and even intolerance, it is my position that although the activist may be committed to a particular cause, he or she must be open and respectful of dissenting views. #35 Deal with Anger and Criticism while Operating from the Fringe Anger can energize people to act more passionately and more powerfully. But it must be remembered that anger consumes a great deal of energy-and all of us, even the youngest and most ardent among us, have limits to our energy. The energy we possess should be used constructively rather than expended destructively, in ineffective fury and rage. #36 Seek Consensus in Israel Toward the end of the Passover seder, we sing songs of redemption. One of these songs expresses a longing for the time when "a day will come that will be neither day nor night." I never understood what this line meant until now. Now I know that it expresses a yearning for twilight in Israel that will no longer be fleeting. In twilight we will find consensus, the roadway to peace. #37 Be Able to Criticize Oneself and One's Movement in Front of One's Own Constituents The central challenge today is to bring Jews together. Both right and left must stop the finger-pointing that has continued unabated since the assassination. If these recriminations continue, the catastrophe of Rabin's murder will pale next to the catastrophe ahead. Instead, each side should look inward and seek to put its own house in order. #38 Every Struggle Has Its Price As in everything, there is no absolute good. Every step forward always contains the possibility of unforeseen problems. The Swiss story is no different. In the process of focusing so mightily on monies, we must also be vigilant against the danger that this preoccupation might take precedence over, perhaps even eclipse, what must always remain the predominant memory-the murder of the Six Million. #39 Never Despair Yet even with the knife dangling over Jerusalem and our people, we have faith that ultimately it will be lifted and disaster will be averted. More than ever, Jerusalem reflects God's promise to remain with us. God's covenant with Abraham and with Jerusalem, no matter the obstacles, forever endures. The multifaceted richness of the city, its political, emotional, and spiritual faces reflecting the human complexity of its founder, the majestic King David, reminds us to never despair, never give up. #40 The False Messianism of Quick Fix Solutions It is a natural and understandable yearning by very good people on both sides to dispel the darkness of the Shoah with the fulfillment of the messianic dream of land or of peace. But true messianism is, in reality, a movement that is in constant process. The rabbis liken the messianic era to the rising of the sun; it happens in stages, gradually-in rabbinic terms, "kim 'ah, kim'ah." #41 After September 11: Love of America Does Not Preclude Love of Israel The magnitude of the September 11 events is so enormous that one hesitates to even bring up the concerns of one's own religious or ethnic group, yet I cannot help but feel that my government is placing a lesser value on the sufferings of people who are, like myself, both Americans and Jews. |
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