The "Jewish Emergent" Paradigm

In our internal conversations, we often describe Moshav HaAm as an effort to build infrastructure to catch the rising groundswell (lest it flood, make a big mess, and evaporate), but obviously it is necessary to identify, as best we can, just what the supposed groundswell is. Shawn Landres has made a respectable stab at defining the Emerging Spiritual Paradigm in Sh'ma magazine:

Three broad streams of Jewish leaders and communities are emerging: independent minyanim, "parashuls" (analogous to parachurches), and congregational communities of practice. The independent minyanim tend to be organized around lay-led Shabbat worship, while the parashuls are led by charismatic entrepreneurs creating connections beyond traditional institutional boundaries; leaders of the third type, whether they admit to it or not, are reinventing or replacing the synagogue. [...]

Though its leaders exhibit a rich diversity of approaches and philosophies, they do share the values they practice and an emerging vision of Judaism as a relational conversation aimed at spirituality in intentional community.

This article makes a number of interesting claims, all of which bear significantly on the recently-erupted and B"H ongoing conversation between Shawn and Moshav HaAm, as well as upon the very emerging mandate of Moshav HaAm itself.

Discuss.


intentional community | Judaism | synagogue