The Jewish Question

The phrase the Jewish question originated in the writings of Karl Marx. It referred to the issue of Jewish integration into European culture. It was not in itself a derogatory phrase but rather a question concerned with assimilation and integration. The Nazis more famously bastardized the phrase to mean, what should be done about the Jews? History tells us the "final solution" was the Nazi's answer to that question. Today though, it might be wise to invest interest in a new Jewish question because our spiritual survival might depend on it. Today, the Jewish question might aptly be asked by the Jew who wonders whether a synagogue service in any language bears any relevance to his or her daily life. Many synagogues today are suffering because they are failing to provide a meaningful answer to the Jewish question. They are relying on the power of obligation, guilt or some undetermined predilection to ensure that Jews remain Jewish and engaged in the process of inquiery. Perhaps on this, the penultimate night of Chanukah, or dedication, as it translates, we can dedicate time to our Jewish question(s) and to seeking satisfactory answers.