As our synagogue celebrates its tenth anniversary and contemplates the growth and direction we need for our next ten years, I want to share a series of articles that I have written for the Young Israel community over these last years entitled "Issues in Ideology and Identity."

I wrote the first of these articles, "A Letter to a Friend about Modern Orthodoxy," in the first year of the Young Israel's existence as a statement of philosophy for a modern Orthodox community in Atlanta, as I saw it.

The second article, "Prayer for the State of Israel: Why Do We Say It and What Does It Mean?" discusses the need for a prayer for the State of Israel, and why I think we all ought to have such a prayer.

Originally written as a letter to Rabbi Meltzer, of blessed memory, the third article, "The Parameters of the Mechitza in the Young Israel of Toco Hills," reviews the issue of mechitza. In the concluding paragraphs, I begin to discuss women's issues in the synagogue more generally. That topic needs a great deal more analysis by our community, something I hope we will do this year.

The fourth article, "A Statement on the Peace Process in Israel," addresses the role of American Jewry in Israeli political matters.

The final article, "'He Leaves and Cries; They Leave and Cry': Schisms and Hatred in Judaism and How to Prevent Them," is a discussion of the problems of building a united community in which not everyone is observant nor even wishes to be.

Although I cannot assure that each of these pieces is correct, each still represents my view on the topic. I welcome your feedback and can be reached at 404-727-7546 or at mbroyde@emory.edu - please feel free to comment on them all, if you wish.


Michael Broyde
Rabbi