Description

Please join us for an insightful and provocative discussion on the state of progressive Judaism in North America with Rabbi Joshua Stanton and Rabbi Benjamin Spratt. The two are co-authors of Awakenings, a book that looks at the history of the Diaspora and takes a clear-eyed, tough-minded yet optimistic view of the current situation for religious organizations and how to transform them into powerful, new communities of belonging and meaning.

In an era of disruption, disconnection and continuing threats of decline, Rabbis Spratt and Stanton have seen for themselves how Jewish identity, wisdom, ritual, and power are being remixed and reimagined. Technology, the weakening of the centralized authority of legacy institutions, and a freedom from myths of the past, are creating opportunities to renew American Judaism, widening access to Jewish wisdom and ritual, and transforming Jewish consumers into Jewish co-creators building new networks of Jewish belonging.

Rabbis Stanton and Spratt know what it takes to remain relevant in today's world and are ready for your questions. They will share how you can help lead a thriving renewal of Jewish life in your community. You are welcome to acquire your own copy of Awakenings ahead of the session, or you are encouraged to read three short chapters from the book which will serve as the primary focus of this session’s discussion.

Click here to read the chapters

Rabbi Joshua Stanton joined East End Temple in New York City in 2017, after serving as associate rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, New Jersey. He serves as Director for Leadership at CLAL – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and is on the Board of Trustees of the Interfaith America, and on the Board of Governors of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations.

Rabbi Stanton was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2013, where his academic accomplishments were recognized with three major institutional prizes.

Prior to pursuing rabbinic education, he studied history, economics, and Spanish at Amherst College, and has been associate director of the Center for Global Judaism at Hebrew College, and director of communications for the Coexist Foundation.

Rabbi Stanton has been a longtime creative partner with Rabbi Spratt. They co-founded Tribe, a New York-based initiative that has empowered thousands of young professionals to develop vibrant Jewish community.

Rabbi Benjamin Spratt joined Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City, in 2008 as Senior Associate Rabbi, before assuming the role of Senior Rabbi there in 2021. He is a 2001 graduate of the University of Oregon, where he studied religion and psychology, and then entered the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2002, where, in 2008, he earned a masters degree in Judaic Studies as well as ordination as a rabbi.

He grew up in Salt Lake City, spending time with the Mormon half of his family, then later connecting with the Jewish half and living in Israel. There he pursued Orthodox learning and practice before exploring Reconstructionist and Renewal movements, finally settling in with a Reform congregation.

He is a 2023 graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Columbia University Business School. He and Rabbi Stanton are co-authors of Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging.

Click here to watch a video with Rabbi Spratt and Rabbi Stanton discussing their book with interviewer Abigail Pogrebin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aaZ0M_VkEE

Click here for a link to purchase: Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging

This is a joint opportunity provided by NATA and NAASE.