The values behind a name (change)

As a rabbi, I’ve always operated in Jewish settings and ideologically liberal environments. All of that seemingly changed recently as my place of employment just took out the words “Jewish” and “Liberal” from its name. 

In 2021, David Bernstein founded the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values to “counter social justice extremism inside and outside the Jewish community.” Though it is hardly “mission accomplished,” following October 7th many Jewish leaders have acknowledged outwardly or quietly that the oppressed-oppressor binary not only foments antisemitic but anti-Western and anti-American sentiment. 

Last week, the Institute changed its name to the North American Values Institute with a shift in focus. I have admittedly been nervous about our “name change.” Will people understand? What are North American values? What does it mean for me to work for an organization that set aside two fundamentally important concepts in my life? 

While the JILV was formed to combat social justice extremism both inside and outside the Jewish community, NAVI looks squarely at K-12 education and seeks “to empower, train, and support parents in their efforts to promote North American values in K-12 education while combating radical DEI and extreme social justice ideologies.” 

Our larger goals to include non-Jewish groups in our education work provided the rationale to remove the word ‘Jewish.’ And the widespread misunderstanding of what “Liberal” means necessitated removing that word.

In short, NAVI stands up for a distinct set of values that undergird our liberal democracy: “uphold high standards of scholarship and impart critical thinking; build a culture of free inquiry with varied perspectives; instill the value of each individual and an ethic of personal responsibility; provide equal access to everyone with support to overcome barriers; and live into our nation’s motto: e pluribus unum, out of many, one – fostering a culture that creates room for a plurality of voices and cultures that gather to support a common vision.”

Even before our name change, our organization had been empowering parents and students, assisting teachers and schools to combat the scourge of anti-American and anti-Western sentiments that endanger us all – regardless of color, creed, sex, or belief. 

Ever-looking for a Hebrew-spin, I saw another dimension of meaning for this acronym, “NAVI” – namely its Hebraic translation: “Prophet” and “We will bring.” NAVI means both of those things.

The ancient Israelite prophets were the voices of reason and the alarm bells of their day. Their teachings have been immortalized in our sacred texts. They “spoke truth to power” and were willing to call out when change of moral direction was underfoot and when justice was being perverted. 

It has been and will remain our role at NAVI to shine a light on and expose those who present as justice seekers or justice warriors despite promoting injustices, distorting truths, and advocating falsehoods. The use of the classroom, specifically, as a social justice center is infringing on American students and their access to meaningful learning and developing the skills and critical thinking methods to succeed. From literacy to numeracy, radical ideologies are offered in place of giving students the foundational knowledge and tools to excel personally and enable our nation to be its best. 

The rabbis of old taught that prophecy ended with the great prophets of biblical fame and indeed, our organization’s name change is hardly an indicator that we are somehow divine interpreters. We are not. The two words that remain from JILV are vital, however: Institute and Values. Being an Institute signifies that we are a center of thought leadership and application. And as residents and citizens of this North American continent, we uphold our nations’ values of equality, scientific progress, critical thinking, rule of law, excellence and high-minded aspirations. 

Now, those are concepts as a Jew and a liberal that I can get behind, support, and which our people need in America right now!