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| Volume 1 Number 9 | Tue Aug 13 7:05:27 1991 |
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 91 From: faigin@aerospace.aero.org (Your Moderator) Subject: Administrivia Just a short note: Since things seem to be running smoothly, I am pulling us out of beta-test mode, and changing the volume number to 1. Please remember, to keep this list alive we need submissions and responses to previous issues. If anyone wants a copy of a back issue, just let me know. To submit something, mail it to me with a relevant subject line (and a note, if you wish, indicating it is for the list). I look forward to hearing from you. Daniel
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 91 17:17:22 EDT From: RABBI CHARLES ARIAN <CARIAN@auvm.american.edu> Subject: Outreach to College Students (was: Intermarriage Statistics) re: Mark Novick's comments on intermarriage in Vol. 5: I am not so sure that Chabad does "a good job of gaining the attention of college students" as you assert. They have a presence on only a handful of campuses and I suspect their attraction is the lure of the exotic. I'm surprised that there is no mention of Hillel. Most Hillel staff are knowledgeable liberal Jews; roughly half of the rabbis in Hillel are graduates of HUC-JIR (myself included.)Hillel has a presence on virtually every campus where there are significant numbers of Jews. Your suggestion that local families invite college students for Shabbat is a good one. In many cases this is already done. Unfortunately, relations between Hillel and the various denominational movements (in particular the UAHC) are not what they should be. Some of this is unfortunately inevitable because the denominations are interested in seeing that their young people stay in that particular movement while we in Hillel have more of an "ecumenical" or "trans-denominational" approach. But we are always looking for ways to cooperate with local congregations and families regardless of movement affiliation. I could go on at great length about what a shame it is that the Jewish community devotes so few resources to campus programming, but I don't want to belabor the subject. I'll simply say that nothing bothers Hillel staffers (especially rabbis) more than being ignored or treated as if they didn't exist. Congregational youth programs are great. Just remember to implement them in consultation with the local Hillel!
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 91 10:39:37 PDT From: mdcsc!ah@uunet.UU.NET (Alexander Herrera) Subject: Reprinting permission for Dennis Prager article A number of people have expressed concern that my reprinting of the Dennis Prager article, "Judaism Seeks Converts" Part II of "Jews Must Seek Converts or Become Irrelevant" might be improper. I am reprinting his article with permission. Here is a quote from his journal, Ultimate Issues (Volume 7 Number 1, Jan-Mar 1991, pp 9-10): All articles that appear in Ultimate Issues are copyrighted. However, they may always be reprinted provided we are notified in advance, proper identification is given (i.e., author and journal), and the address of UI is listed for people to write for subscription information. I had sent notification to Ultimate Issues prior to distributing the article. I have since called Ultimate Issues on the phone (just to be sure) and I was told that there is no problem with reprinting the article, but that I must also send them a copy of the reprinted article. I hadn't been aware of this additional condition, so I've corrected the situation. I don't anticipate any problem since I reprinted the article in it's entirety. Upon reflection, I think I should have included a line in my offer that said "permission pending", but there it is. Alexander Herrera uunet!mdcsc!ah
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1991 16:17-EDT From: Scott.Safier@isl1.ri.cmu.edu Subject: Synagogue in search of identity Background: Pittsburgh's Gay and Lesbian Synagogue, Bet Tikvah, is undergoing reorganization. In the past, we have had both social events and religious services. After three years, we have noticed that attendance at our events has dropped. Some of the causes are: 1) people found non-Jewish partners who felt left out at our events 2) attrition: people moved away 3) people preferred social rather than religious events (or vice versa), and would only come to those that interested them 4) the members wanted different forms of spirituality, some preferring a more traditional liturgy, while others wanting a more reformed one. Later this month, Bet Tikvah will have a pot-luck picnic to discuss these issues amounst its members. There are those of us that feel it is important that there is a place in Pittsburgh where Gay and Lesbian Jews can express their culture and spirituality. It is hoped that after this picnic, Bet Tikvah will take a direction that its members are more comfortable with. Question: Does anyone on this group belong to a synagogue [Gay/Lesbian/Feminist/etc] which has had similar problems? What types of religious/social/other activities does it sponsor that interests its members? I am hoping to use the ideas of other synagogues/groups to brainstorm ideas at our pot-luck. ___/\___ __ \ / / \ \pink/ \__ -+--+- Scott Safier (scotts@ri.cmu.edu) /_\ /_\ \ _ __ | | Center for Integrated Manufacturing \/ \__/ (__/\_)_/|_/|_/ Decision Systems Carnegie Mellon
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 91 13:30:58 EDT From: RABBI CHARLES ARIAN <CARIAN@auvm.american.edu> Subject: Thoughts on Funding Synagogues Some thoughts on funding synagogues (&other Jewish organizations): 1. It seems to me that singles should pay less than couples. Each person is an individual and we need to emphasize that. Additionally, singles (such as myself) often feel left out by Jewish organizations that seem to assume that all people are married. A dues structure that charges families and individuals the same serves as a further disincen- tive for singles to join and/or participate. 2. The idea that an intermarried couple should pay less because they also pay church dues is outrageous! But it does bring up a question: what should the membership policy be? Most Conservative and many Reform congregations (and the UAHC model synagogue constitution) require that only Jews are full voting members of the congregation. I am troubled by the thought that a non-Jew could be a voting (i.e. policy-setting) member of a JEWISH congregation. 3. Most members have no idea what the organizational budget is and why funds are necessary. They need to be reminded that the utility company charges the synagogue the same rates it charges everyone else. Of course religion should be free; but the necessities of life aren't. I have found that the more you can educate people as to what the budget is and why the money is needed the more willing (or less begrudging) they are to give.
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 91 10:44 PDT From: Daniel P. Faigin <faigin@aerospace.aero.org> Subject: Re: Thoughts on Funding Synagogues On Thu, 08 Aug 91 13:30:58 EDT, RABBI CHARLES ARIAN <CARIAN@auvm.american.edu> said: > Some thoughts on funding synagogues (&other Jewish organizations): > 1. It seems to me that singles should pay less than couples. I would tend to agree with this. We also need to be more accepting. I have a sister-in-law with two children, one of which has Cerebral Palsy. Raising a handicapped child costs boku-bucks. They would like to affiliate with a synagogue, but the dues are outragious.. [to give you an idea: the synagogue we belong to charges around $700 for couples under 35, and $1400 for older couples, with kid charges even more]... When they talk to the various membership chairs about dues reduction, they're asked for a copy of their tax returns. This is none of the temple's business. If people can not afford to pay the standard dues, they should be asked to pay what they can afford without question. After all, we are a compassionate people, not penny-pinching. Shouldn't overall service to the community come first? > 2. The idea that an intermarried couple should pay less because they also > pay church dues is outrageous! But it does bring up a question: what should > the membership policy be? If we restrict voting membership to the Jewish member, what is the benefit to the non-Jew in paying dues and joining the congregation? > 3. Most members have no idea what the organizational budget is and why > funds are necessary. They need to be reminded that the utility company > charges the synagogue the same rates it charges everyone else. How many people actually attend the annual meeting of their synagogue boards where the budgets are discussed? Ours has trouble getting a quorum. Instead, people complain that the money isn't there. We need people to participate in ALL aspects of synagogue life. Getting them to do it is hard. Daniel
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