About this blog
36 Voices is a new blog I've created to write about issues relating to
the Jewish community, Israel, the Middle East, international
relations, human rights and civil society around the world. The name for the blog comes from Jewish
legend, which says that at any given time there are 36 righteous
individuals in the world, who, through their actions, justify the
continued existence of humanity. I've always liked this idea, because it
highlights the notion that what we do, how we act, how we treat other
people, has an impact not only on ourselves and our immediate circle,
but on the world as a whole. There is something important about the fact
that tradition says there are 36 of these individuals walking around -
not one, not two, but thirty six - setting aside any temptation to go
off the path here into a discussion of gematria (Jewish numerology) and
the significance of the number thirty-six itself, I really like the
idea that there is no one way to be a righteous person, no one perfect,
ideal path to follow. Presumably, each of these thirty-six special
people relates to the world in their own way, which is , of course,
another valuable lesson: that people of good conscience can (and most
certainly will) have differing opinions and argue from time to time.
With so many challenges facing leaders today in the Jewish world and
beyond I would suggest that it is crucial that we keep the lesson of the
36 in mind, that we realize that people of good conscience and good
will can disagree when it comes to difficult issues and decisions, and
that rather than letting these disagreements serve as stumbling blocks
we see them as intersections of opportunity. This is an idea I try to
hold close in my daily life and work, and the guiding vision for this
new blog.
The ideas, opinions and views expressed her are entirely my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of any past or present employers.
About me
I have been writing for publication for 24 years, and from 2007-2012 was the
founder and publisher of the New Vilna Review, a journal of modern Jewish
thought and culture. I was educated at the University of Massachusetts
at Amherst and Harvard University where I was also a Literary Fellow at
Dudley House, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and
non-resident tutor in creative writing at Eliot House, Harvard College. I
previously served as Assistant Regional Director for the AJC Boston
office and as Director of Public Affairs at the Consulate General of
Israel to New England.
I can be reached by email at: Daniel_Levenson@post.harvard.edu
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