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Where Should We invest in What Exists and Where Should We Build New, Religious Institutions? 

JL;DR SUMMARY Rachel Brustein reflects on the dilemma faced by progressive Jewish communities regarding engagement with Zionist institutions versus forming new, inclusive religious spaces. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

ZionismJewish InstitutionsProgressive JudaismAnti ZionismSynagogue DynamicsJewish DiversityReligious InclusivityCommunity BuildingIntergenerational CommunitiesIsrael/Palestine Debate

Places mentioned

Washington, Washington DC, United States
"Writing shortly after the massive March for Israel in Washington, DC, which drew people with ideologies from CUFI (Trumpist Christian Zionists) to Truah (liberal Zionist social justice-leaning Jews), Kurtzer was correct, Angel reflects, in saying that we need new Jewish institutions."
New York, United States
"More recently, the New York Times reported on the growing impetus to build such institutions, which do not center Zionism."
Chicago, Illinois, United States
"Bio: Rachel Brustein is on the coordinating team of a non-Zionist chavurah in Chicago, and is a member of IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace."

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Retrieved 2026-06-06 05:30:36 UTC
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