I just came back from Inspired Too and I highly recommend it. This film is focused more on those doing Kiruv, with helpful ideas on doing Kiruv. It is also filled with a number of great and inspiring stories from the Baalei Teshuva themselves.
There are 5 million non- observant Jews in America. The bottom line message is that we can and should be involved in bringing them closer to Hashem at some level. One of the speakers made the point that the focus should just be to help each person take the next step on their personal ladder, for their bechira point (see Strive for Truth – Vol 1).
One of the speakers, Eliyahu Bernstein told a moshel that you’re obviously frum and on a plane looking all over the peanut bag for the kashrus symbol. The person next to you says there’s an OU over there. What the person is really saying is that I’m a Jew also, I’m in the same ballpark as you, although I probably don’t look for the kosher symbol as often as you do. You have a choice to say, thank you, eat the peanuts and go back to sleep or start a conversation with the person. Where are you from? How do you know about kashrus? Did you go to Hebrew School? And you can make mention of some classes or some Rabbi in the person’s hometown if you know about it. Rav Bernstein says that this encounter will result in the person taking the next step, one out of six times, so why not take the first step.
Aish uses the neumonic INSPIRE to suggest 7 avenues of Outreach.
Internet – Give them one great Jewish Website.
Nurture a friendship. Ask about their lives. Care.
Shabbos – Invite them to a Shabbos Dinner.
Publication – Give them an Inspring Book
Israel – Encourage them to go learn or tour.
Relationships. Share one Torah tip about love.
Excite Them. Explain why you love being observant.
Please go to Project Inspire to learn more and to participate in the current Purim project of sending a card or a Shaloch Manos to somebody you know.
And visit kiruv.com to find out when Inspired Too is playing at a location near you.
PS Bob Miller should write a post with his suggestions. I think they are fantastic, esp #7.
You have a choice to say, thank you, eat the peanuts and go back to sleep or start a conversation with the person. Where are you from? How do you know about kashrus? Did you go to Hebrew School? And you can make mention of some classes or some Rabbi in the person’s hometown if you know about it.
Sounds like an interesting movie, but a note of caution: I wouldn’t ask “how do you know about kashrus?” There are a number of people who are observant of one or all of the “big three” that don’t look outwardly observant or even wear the uniform, but not the same uniform and can be pushed away by treating them as ignorant.
In fact nearly every year when I hit the grocery stores in the days before Rosh Hashana people who I didn’t even realize were Jewish, much less highly observant of kashrut (and even shomer Shabbat) strike up conversations with me about what I am making for Rosh Hashana, etc. To ask how they know about kashrut would be downright insulting.
That said, I’m not trying to criticize, but I know way too many people (myself included) who have had people try to mekarev them despite the fact that they are in a kippah (or skirt) and are standing in line at a kosher store.
I saw the film this past Motzoie Shabbos, and would recommend it as well. As far as “taking the next step”(based on R. Dessler’s “point of free-will”), in this regard, kiruv is no different than life in general.
I found noteworthy Rabbi Bernstein’s mentioning that he just had an ordinary background(grew up in Boro Park), and if he can be successful, so can others. I think the filmakers were trying to emphasize that point.
How about discussing the facts that Judaism requires one to experience certain days as a means of connecting the past, present and future and depends on each generation being able to impart the basic texts and moral lessons to the following generation via study and understanding of its most fundamental texts that have immortal meaning?
Just don’t make unrealistic promises.
A general question: If you were designing a Kiruv Training Seminar, what would it look like?
I’ll turn that around and comment on what I’d like to see as an attendee:
[no particular order!]
1. Compare and contrast the western civilization outlook with the Jewish outlook.
2. What is the unique mission of the Jewish people? How have we accomplished that in practice? Where have we fallen short and why?
3. Compare and contrast the ways we learn about HaShem’s management of the world, such as observation and revelation, and detail the value of each.
4. Explain Judaism as a total life package.
5. Explain what tefilla is for and the modes of tefilla. What brings us to love HaShem and how do we express that? Explain and demonstrate the nuts and bolts of tefilla and negina. Explain how to get over mental obstacles to tefilla. Musical accompaniment is very good for this segment.
6. Tell true instructive stories of Tzaddikim and by Tzaddikim.
7. Use only instructors who know the material, but will not respond hastily to questions that need research, and who are exemplars of the virtues taught. This means that a crash course will not equip someone to instruct. Better to use someone with accomplishments.
8. Tell us how to view Jews who might need our help in a way that makes us respect them and not use them as objects or means to our ends.
Bob, I agree with you that it strongly depends on the personality and life circumstances of both the person reaching out and the person being approached.
A general question: If you were designing a Kiruv Training Seminar, what would it look like?
Nobody has a panacea. Different groups and people give it their best shot, and, over time, the results tell us what “worked”. Still, there is no getting around the individuality of each Jew.
On peanuts:
I was once flying (on Southwest, I think) and we got OU-certified peanuts that also had a warning on the bag that the contents were made in a plant that processed peanuts. Duh!
It is truly amazing how one little thing or word can bring someone closer to H’ (I can say from experience), things we take for granted (like the peanut scenario.) We’re all walking Sfrei Torah, these neshemos are starving for the emes, and I think we should all see INSPIRE to get inspired to help nurse them back to their creator :)
Brocha
Once the planters peanuts preacher in P613 is done with his little inspirational presentation on symbols, and full disclosuring facilitating I think he should contemplate the actual dynamics of inspiration.
Inspiration is a fickle state of being even with Aishes lovely advice and opportunities for purchasing long term acute inspirational materials for all !
Yes you can find inspiration everywhere from Christmas lights to T shirts and shot glass slogans.I’m not sure the core issue is finding stuff to inspire ones self or others. I think its more an issue of what will keep the inspiration and convert it from a fickle classification to something a little more long term.
How long does the inspiration really last.
I’m guessing not that long really.
Obviously end results do vary but the question still remains how is inspiration maintained once we are done dishing it out in large doses.