State of the Shelanman

InsideWork is, at it's core, a collection of businessmen who are looking for a purpose... looking for a reason that business and work are not just about making money; a reason why "values" matter.

InsideWork is run by Christians -- though they don't identify with the word. They are Christian in that the bible they read is the Christian Bible -- Old Testament and New Testament combined. But InsideWork isn't a church; InsideWork isn't about church; and frankly, InsideWork's message doesn't much appeal to church insiders.

In their terminology, InsideWork is run by individuals with a "biblical worldview." But I don't speak that language -- that doesn't mean anything to me. Today it was unpacked and translated a bit; InsideWork is run by businessmen who have turned to the Christian Bible as a source of inspiration and lessons on how to run a better business, and why a better business is worth running. They are tired of the sleaze model of business; where one does what one can to make money. They are convinced that this is neither fulfilling, nor profitable in the long run.

So, the Founders of InsideWork have built the InsideWork website with the hope that it will become a place where businessmen who are tired of the dirty cut-throat short-term-profits-at-all-costs mentality that dominates the marketplace today can come to learn about (and share with others) how the Christian Bible can illustrate an alternate, better path that leads to a more fulfilling work life -- and better long-term profitability to boot!

InsideWork doesn't have the answers; but they have some very interesting thoughts. And they're looking for other people who have things to share.

Let me translate one of the examples I was given this afternoon into the Jewish equivalent -- because the phenomena are actually quite similar.

This Rosh Hashannah, I noticed a pattern... Rabbis gave their "high holiday sermon" -- their one chance to reach out to the "fringe" of Judaism (the "long tail" that we keep hearing about) -- those of us who don't really attend religious services, don't really identify with the synagogue, but might go once-or-twice a year for High Holiday services... but only because someone "drags" us along – or because we’d feel so guily if we didn’t

This year, and, in fact, for the last several years, rabbis have been talking about expanding the synagogue into more parts of Jewish life -- and presenting ways to be a Jew -- ways to identify with the synagogue and it's membership -- without attending weekly Shabbat services. Some within the community respond that this is a great idea, sure to drive up membership. Others respond that it's a "dumbing down" of the religion, and that the synagogue should be kept clean and pure.

But, for InsideWork -- or, in this case, InsideJewishWork? -- the distinction isn't important. The way to reach out to those of us Jews who don't respond to traditional synagogue life isn't by trying to alter the synagogue so that we fit in (and thus want to join), it's about finding a way to use the principles of Judaism -- the writings, the teachings, the Torah, the whole rich heritage and history -- and applying them to the lives we live. Trying to find a way to allow God's teaching and his message to aid us in the lives we're actually going to live.

So, in this case, how to better conduct our business and personal lives. The value in the teaching isn't that we have a synagogue to attend, and rituals to perform -- after all, if the ritual doesn't mean something to the participant, it is an empty gesture. (And surely God can tell! And even if he couldn't if it means nothing to you, how can it help you?)

But, while InsideWork is interesting to me now, I'm still not in it's "target audience." The Christian Bible is full of useful knowledge to be sure -- and even as a Jew I'd be hard pressed to read it and learn nothing. And InsideWork could even help me make the connections. But I'm not Christian, and the Christian Bible doesn't appeal to me in that way... to me, it's just a series of books. To again borrow from InsideWork's message, I don't speak the jargon. Just like the businessmen who InsideWork speaks to don't speak the jargon of the Church (but do speak the jargon of Christianity), I do not speak the jargon of Christianity. And I don't want to learn it.

As a group known for our business strategy and acumen, it surprises me that I've not yet encountered a similar organization (or even a similar dialogue) among Jews. Though, to be honest, I didn't understand why someone would want such a thing, until I learned of one -- InsideWork -- that pursues that line of thinking.

I mean, Judaism is about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach; Judaism is about Synagogue and Bar Mitzvahs; Judaism is about Rabbis, Cantors, Religious Services and Sermons. It's about separate dishes and kosher kitchens, about matzah balls and challah (and food in general). Or at least, that's what other Jews have always taught me. But the Founders of InsideWork (who, to my great embarrassment, know more about both the teachings and rituals of Judaism than I do!) try to tell me that I'm missing out on a "rich heritage." I thought they were talking about the traditions and rituals that mean not-that-much to me. They weren't, though. And now I think I begin to understand what they were getting at... not sure how I feel about it, but... it makes much more sense now.

With all that in mind, check out http://www.insidework.net -- and check back. Now that I know where we're going, I can help us get there. I don't promise it'll be "your thing," but I bet it'll be interesting.

-- The Shelanman