That’s how I want to greet you as we meet on this streetcorner of our electronic shtetl. It’s a fine Yiddish “How do you do?” I am Avraham Yitshak (rendered by my assimilating parents into “Arthur Elliot”) Green. I am pretty universally known as Art. Thank you for stopping by at my corner.
What do I have to offer you in this shtetl market stall? I have been thinking, writing, and teaching about Jewish spiritual life, theology, and mysticism for the past half century. I have here a big pekl (“briefcase,” let’s call it) of writings, articles published here and there over more than forty years. They used to live in a filing cabinet, and I would send copies to people who asked or expressed interest in seeing them. By the miracle of electronic scanning, they now reside here. You are welcome to help yourself to as many as you like. I hope you find them of interest and learn something from them.
In posting an article here, I am asserting that I continue to stand by it as worthy of your time. But do note the dates on these pieces. My own thinking has evolved over these decades, and I would no longer say things exactly as I did in some of my earlier writings. You’ll also find a few bits of audio and video of lectures I’ve given. Take me along when you go for a ride. (Since I am a neo-Hasidic Jew, I even give you permission to play me on shabbos or yomtov, if that’s your thing.) As you read or listen, please argue with me. I love it.
Neo-Hasidism, as I understand it, means loving and learning from the great spiritual revival of Judaism that took place in Eastern Europe two hundred years ago. It is also a faith that some key elements of that revival can be re-tooled and universalized to create a Judaism that will be spiritually alive and attractive to seekers – both Jewish and not yet Jewish – in our day. For a fuller outline of my neo-Hasidic views, see the article “a Neo-Hasidic Life: Credo and Commentary.”
I have given much of my life to the training of future spiritual leadership for the Jewish community. Despite mounds of reasons not too, I still believe in a great future for our people. We are the humble bearers of one of the world’s most profound spiritual legacies. No, we do not have all the truth, or the only truth, but we have much to offer, teachings the world needs to hear, now more than ever. We need new generations of leaders who love our sources and know how to render them in forms that are accessible and attractive to each new generation.
That is my work. It is very rewarding. Want to join? Want to help? We need you! Contact me through Hebrew College. Meanwhile, thanks again for stopping by and have a look around. I hope something will catch your eye.