Taking Fandom Seriously
Both at Temple Israel and beyond, there is one connection point that seems stronger than most others: Fan Culture.
Whether you love The Big Bang Theory (like a recent Bat Mitzvah) or the Star Wars Universe (like the Bar Mitzvah preceding that one) or you know which phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in theatres (like Rebbetzir Chung-Mau), fandom unites us today. I believe fandom provides normative language and cultural expectations more than religion or any other cultural force.
Some kids want their parents to be original in their speeches and not mention a theme that was previously mentioned. Personally, I’d be happy to remind y’all every week that “This is The Way” of Mandalorians is the same expectation as Halakhah in Judaism.
Why are these imaginative universes so appealing? I think there’s a simple answer: we allow ourselves to be free within them. We accept childlike wonder and delight. We suspend our disbelief. We accept that fiction can have meaning even if it isn’t explaining The World As It Is. Didactic story lines – whether in after-school specials or a TV show that’s been on for too many seasons – bore us. We want to hear the authentic words of characters living their lives on screen.
As much as I can nestle into an imaginary world on a screen, I hold that same sense of wonder for Jewish texts. Neither the Bible nor the breadth of Jewish writings needs to have happened Exactly That Way for me to take it seriously and pull meaning from it.
The Infinity Gauntlet, which is activated when six stones are placed in it containing the essence of Power, Space, Time, Mind, Soul, and Reality creates Ultimate Control in the MCU. Similarly, the Sefirot, the emanations of the Divine, refract how the Ground of Being holds space for reality. The Seven Lower Sefirot is what I'm writing about daily on my blog during the counting of the Omer. Hopefully, this provides a clearer explanation of why the language of Kabbalah appeals to me.
While everything, everywhere, all at once is true, I have a simple goal: to walk with you in the choices we make in this life. With community, growth is possible. Love is possible. Flourishing is possible.
May the Fourth be With You.
Originally published as my message in the TI Times, the weekly newsletter of Temple Israel of Alameda
"May the fourth be with you. #starwarsday #starwars #yoda" by koka_sexton is licensed under CC BY 2.0.