The following are responses from Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz, Max Newman Family Chair in Rabbinics, of Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka to questions posed by the Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission regarding the Jewish faith:

Q: Tell us something about your faith tradition.
In contrast with people of many other faiths, the Jewish people are bound together by ethnic and social ties, as well as by faith. While all Jews trace our faith back to the biblical figures of Abraham and Sara, there have always been two tracks of Jewish identity, one consisting of religion and the other of national/ethnic identity. This creates the curious situation that a person may not be observant of Judaism and still identify powerfully as a Jew. The best definition of our faith that I can offer, quoting Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, is that “Judaism is an evolving religious civilization.” According to the ancient rabbis, who determined the course of the Jewish faith, our religion is based on the pillars of Torah (study of our tradition), Avodah (spiritual practice and prayer) and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of kindness).

Q: How and when where you drawn to it?
I was born a Jew. I am ordained a Conservative rabbi, one of several different modern Jewish movements. Conservative Judaism seeks to balance the responsibility of maintaining tradition while allowing for judicious change. I began my path to the rabbinate because of the meaning I found in serious Jewish study. My older sister, who is a rabbi and Jewish educator in Philadelphia, undoubtedly also had an influence on my choice.

Q: What are some misconceptions outsiders have about your faith tradition?
Some assume that Judaism is the faith of the Hebrew Bible. The term Torah refers to more than the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Writings, which make up the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Torah refers to both the written and oral tradition Jews have transmitted throughout our history. Even in its most Orthodox form, Judaism is not literalist in the way we read the Bible. Ancient verses have long been understood through the lens of rabbinic interpretation, which are said to have been given, like the written Torah, at Mount Sinai. Biblical verse that can be troubling, such as the demand of “an eye for an eye,” (Exodus 21:23) were understood even in ancient times to refer to monetary compensation. That means that a loss should be compensated for properly and furthermore all people should be treated equally by the law, regardless of social station.

Q: In what ways do you see your faith tradition interacting with other faith traditions?
Judaism has long taught that one does not have to be Jewish to be good. Like varied paths up a mountain, there are varied paths to God and to living a decent worthy life. The Bible already set out a basic standard for civilized behavior in what the rabbis called the Laws of Noah. Judaism teaches that all decent people have a place in the world to come. Our congregation works with congregations and people of various faiths for greater understanding and to improve our society, addressing shared concerns such as the growing need for affordable housing and to eradicate hunger.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
The number of Jewish people around the world is relatively small. We face outside threats and inner challenges. Even after the Holocaust, when six million Jews were killed, there are still some who openly seek to eliminate the Jewish people and Israel, the Jewish state. Internally we are threatened by assimilation in various forms. Our congregation works to maintain a vibrant Jewish community in covenant with God.
Thank you for this opportunity to address the community of Eden Prairie in the spirit of inter-faith thanksgiving. We are thankful that we live in a place where there is so much good will and the desire to increase mutual respect and understanding. May all of our efforts towards that goal be successful.

Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz is the Max Newman Family Chair in Rabbinics at Adath Jeshurun Congregation.

Tour of world religions
The Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission and Community Education are co-sponsoring three guided tours to congregations representing Eden Prairie’s religiously diverse community. Each of the tours will culminate with a hospitality time with a light beverage and snack including a time for questions. These faith leaders have been asked to answer questions about their faith traditions and the answers are being published in the Eden Prairie News.
The second Q&A is running this week with Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz, Max Newman Family Chair in Rabbinics, of Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka. These events will culminate with the All City Third Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service in November. The following are the upcoming tours:
* Hindu Temple of Minnesota
Visit the largest Hindu Temple in North America. Learn about Hindu faith, culture and traditions directly from Dr. Shashikant Sane, a Hindu scholar who came to Minneapolis to help create the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital in 1972. Offering is optional. Register by Oct. 2. Limit: 11. Cost is $5. Tour leaves the Education Center at 8040 Mitchell Road at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and returns at 12:45 p.m.
* Adath Jeshurun Congregation
Join a tour of Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka. Learn about beliefs, values, rituals and symbols of the Jewish people. Register by Oct. 9. Limit: 9. Cost is $5. Tour leaves the Education Center at 8040 Mitchell Road at 10:15 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and returns at 1:30 p.m.
* Abu-Khadrah Masjid
The Islamic Center of Minnesota welcomes you to its Masjid (Mosque.) During your visit at Abu-Khadrah you will be able to observe writings on the walls and observe a Muslim congressional prayer session. This visit will be led by Dr. Saoudy Saoudy, who is the president of the local American Muslim Community Center. Offering is optional. Register by Oct. 16. Limit: 9. Cost is $5. Tour leaves the Education Center at 8040 Mitchell Road at 12:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and returns at 4:45 p.m.
For more information on the tours, contact Community Education at 952-975-6940 or visit www.epcommunityed.org and register for the Oct. 11 tour to the Hindu Temple (No. 4940-01), for the Oct. 17 tour to Adath Jeshurun Congregation (No. 4941-01) and for the Oct. 24 tour to Abu-Khadrah Masjid (No. 4942-01).