I'm glad to see this dialogue happening here; I'm always pleased when there's conversation about the nature(s) of Jewish Renewal. (Full disclosure: I'm a student in the ALEPH rabbinic program, studying toward Jewish Renewal ordination.)

Renewal is a transdenominational movement. It's multifaceted and it takes a variety of forms. For me, that's one of its strengths.

I'd like to respond to the portrayal of Renewal in the introduction to this dialogue. I've never met Rabbi Lerner, so I can't speak to what his speeches are like or what his public (or private) persona might be, but I would posit that there's a lot more to Jewish Renewal than individual rabbis and their charisma or style.

From where I sit, Renewal's greatest strengths lie in the Renewal approaches to prayer, the emphasis on spiritual experience and connection with God, and the creativity and vitality with which we aim to continue our unfolding of Jewish tradition and practice. I hope some of that will unfold in a visible way as this dialogue continues.

http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/ | http://www.zeek.net