E-Books on Shabbat?

The Atlantic published a very interesting article on the issue of e-books for shomer Shabbat readers. The Conservative perspective is well-represented by Rabbi Daniel Nevins, who comments that even if e-readers could technically be made halakhically Shabbat-compliant, they may still pose a problem spiritually for Shabbat. Most interestingly, Rabbi Nevins is portrayed as being as halakhically serious and rigorous, with an almost equivalent view as the one of the Orthodox rabbis featured (albeit a liberal one). It is refreshing to see the Conservative perspective featured as so matter-of-factly serious about Jewish law, as part of a spectrum of Jewish legal opinion that includes Conservative Judaism.

About This Blog

First, check out my story on the "About Me" post.  In addition to telling about my personal story and journey to Conservative Judaism, it touches on some of the themes I hope this blog will address.

Beyond that, to me, one of the deficits of Conservative Judaism is a lack of confidence to say, well, we’re right!  Whether that stems from a largely unengaged laity, a lack of education among Conservative congregants, or the mushy-wishy-washy nature of Conservative Judaism (all of which this blog will address), I don’t really know.  But to be a vibrant movement, Conservative Judaism must develop an educated, engaged laity, knowledgeable enough and willing enough to speak up for Conservative Judaism, and what it stands for.  We can’t just leave that role to our rabbis.  After all, look at the engaged, knowledgeable and outspoken Orthodoxy laity, and its wide variety of blogs.  And while in some ways I think Conservative Jews should be more deferential to its rabbinate (they’ll be plenty more on that on this blog), in other ways, we need to play more of a role, and that is what I hope to do in this blog.

Conservative Judaism is at a dangerous crossroads.  We’ve got real problems, and I only hope and pray that this blog can play even a miniscule in rebuilding the movement.  I have strong feelings about the direction it should go.  So this blog will not simply engage in Conservative “boosterism.”  Rather, it will strive to be honest and self-critical, while still boldly advancing Conservative Judaism’s vision as one (or even the most) authentic expression of modern Judaism available. 

To start the new Conservative revival, the first step is to be bold!