Panel: NARRATION AS RELIGIOUS CONSTANT IN CONTEXT OF SOCIO-CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION? INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES



562.4 - STORIES THAT CONNECT: HOW THE TEACHINGS OF REB ZALMAN ADAPT TO THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT AND SHAPE EMERGING JEWISH COMMUNITIES

AUTHORS:
Beerová K. (Masaryk University ~ Brno ~ Czech Republic)
Text:
This paper explores the teachings of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and their influence on the development of new Jewish communities in Europe. In the 1970s, Rabbi Zalman was among the first to respond to the needs of the post-war generation of Jewish children, many of whom were becoming disconnected from Judaism and their communities. His efforts led to the formation of the Jewish Renewal movement, which is now overseen by ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Drawing inspiration from a variety of spiritual traditions, Rabbi Zalman incorporated meditation, spontaneous dance, and Hasidic storytelling into Jewish practice, cultivating a joyful and deeply personal religious experience. His emphasis on diversity encouraged individuals to integrate their personal narratives and values into their Jewish identity. Although Jewish Renewal spread rapidly in the United States, it did not reach Europe until after 2000, when European rabbis ordained in the U.S. began to bring its teachings across the Atlantic. This paper examines these rabbis, their interpretations of Rabbi Zalman's teachings, the ways in which they adapt them to European contexts, and their role in shaping emerging Jewish communities. Additionally, this study considers the broader impact of Jewish Renewal on European Judaism beyond these communities. It explores how Rabbi Zalman's ideas have evolved within a cultural environment distinct from that in which they originated, and how Jewish Renewal is being adapted to the historical and cultural realities of European Jewish life. This topic opens a broader discussion about the movement's contribution to contemporary Jewish identity and practice in Europe.