The Bike Wheel Metaphor

Newsletter November 27, 2023 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

There is a phenomenon that scholar and Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion Professor Rabbi Larry Hoffman once explained as a bike wheel. He likened the spokes to delineating religious divisions, with each religious group’s members in their own wedge. But then he noticed that those in the part of their own wedge closest to the hub, were closer together in proximity to those also near the hub but in the next wedge, than they were to those in the same wedge but further out by the rim of the wheel. This explains the feeling we get when progressives across religions feel closer to one another than we do to extremists in our own tradition (on the outer part of our own wedge). 

This explains the way that progressive Israeli Jews and Arabs can feel closer to one another ideologically than to the extremists in either of their faith traditions. Many of these progressives working with one another to ensure peace and justice in the Holy Land. 

Yesterday, I joined with our KITS Community ideological partners at All Saints Church in Pasadena to serve on a panel with their rector, The Rev. Mike Kinman, and Salam Al-Marayati, founder of the national organization Muslim Public Affairs Council to discuss the events of October 7, and what came before it and what came after. Our gathering got some press which you can find HERE.   

During our discussion, Salam, whose name means peace, shared a beautiful vision of the world he (and we) are working for. A world that affirms the freedoms that create human security:

-Freedom of worship 

-Freedom of expression

-Freedom from fear

-Freedom from want

My contribution to the topic included reflections on peace makers in Israel, and various organizations that are working together across religious, ethnic, and national lines, but not getting much U.S. media attention.

For example, Standing Together is an organization based in Israel/Palestine that brings Muslims and Jews together to stand for a just and fair peaceful solution to the conflict. To spread their message, they have made posters sharing messages of peace from those directly affected by recent violence in the region. You may choose to print out and display them in your area (the organization has requested we post these outside of Israel only, please). See those HERE. 

People aligned for peace and truth and justice and compassion are joining together everywhere for goodness. 

The extremists of our groups often get the press, but there is good work being done by people keeping it sacred everywhere. May we know this and may it be the spark of our hope. 

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...