There is an email letter being circulated among Jewish clergy inviting us to affirm a list of ten beliefs that reflect our understanding of what makes us uniquely Jewish and American. Given the considerable discord over some basic values in our country, I thought it would be meaningful to share this list with you. Not because I expect all to agree with them, but rather as a way of inviting reflection about your own core values and the extent to which certain Jewish principles might influence your own world view. I’ll share their values with you over the next several days as a reminder of some core beliefs that continue to guide a wide diversity of our Jewish spiritual leaders. I’ve grouped them under broad topics and included references that the authors believe inform these principles.

Securing the Next Generations

  • We believe in respecting and caring for our world, for tending the land and acting as dedicated stewards. (Gen 1:29-30 and Lev. 19:23 ff.)
  • We cherish the religious freedom in the United States and celebrate the diversity of beliefs and practices in our country. We deeply value the American Constitutional guarantees separating religion and state that have made possible the flourishing of all religions in our country.

As we concluded a recent Brit Milah, Cantor Emma sang L’dor Va’dor and all in attendance put their arms around each other’s shoulders, intrinsically recognizing the altruistic bonds that can connect the generations. The baby’s parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents looked lovingly into the unfocusing eyes of the eight-day old boy and all those in the room gazed at this beautiful scene of a family’s legacy and future.

The values for today truly reflect what I’ve come to call transgenerational vision—the understanding that our responsibilities extend far beyond our immediate needs, reaching across generations into the future. Each Shabbat, as we read from our Torah, we engage with a text written thousands of years ago by people whose foresight deeply shaped our present. Their words continue to guide and inspire us, enabling us to find God in our own lives.

As Jews, our reverence for a text that spans generations serves as a constant reminder of our obligation to craft a world that nurtures future generations, just as ours nurtures us. Recognizing this, we are called to make thoughtful decisions and invest deeply in protecting the planet’s health for those who will come after us. Similarly, recognizing what the United States has provided us—a nation envisioned and built by generations before us—compels us to protect its core values and strive to improve them for generations ahead.

Although not based on a traditional Jewish text, the recognition of America’s value to Jewish life as supported by the “text” of Jewish history serves as evidence that no country has been better for the Jews. Our transgenerational responsibility, then, includes preserving the best of what this country represents while working to make it even better for the future.

—Rabbi Ron Stern