Newsweek kicks us in the pants

A Guest Post by Rafi G
(originally posted at LII)

Newsweek has published their now annual list of the 50 Top Influential Rabbis in America.

The list is diverse and interesting. What particularly struck me is how few Orthodox rabbis are on the list.

It definitely should be looked at as a kick in the pants. I think we sometimes get ahead of ourselves and think how important and influential we are, and how we are the leaders of Judaism with everybody else trying to catch up or somehow "hang" with us.

This list can, and perhaps should, be a reminder to us of our place in Judaism. Maybe it means we have to work harder to present religious/orthodox Judaism to the people in a more positive light. Maybe it means we have to work harder to be more influential and be more involved in the leadership of Judaism. Whatever the specific message might be, this list should somehow spur orthodox leadership to do more and better.


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