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| Volume 4 Number 72 | Thu Dec 8 23:55:07 1994 |
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 18:48:55 -0800 From: Full_Force_Films@mindlink.bc.ca (Matthew Subotnick) Subject: Intermarriage This is a brief response to the Sun, Dec 4 posting of Johnathan Mark with regards to intermarriage [original subject: "Children and G-d" -- Yr. Mod.]. When I was in the sixth grade at Hillel academy in Portland, Oregon, we had a serious discussion regarding intermarriage. Even though I wasn't even old enough to date, I was made fully aware of both the dire consequences intermarriage will have on the future of the Jewish people, and the absolute necessity to (pardon my lack of tact) propagate the tribe. Mr. Mark writes that "there are more Barry Goldwaters and Caspar Weinbergers than there are Dianne Feinsteins." He further adds that "I don't think they should be offended if I say that intermarriage harms the Jewish people in most cases. In particular, I do not see how a mother can "raise" her child to be a different religion than she is." He adds "I am a Jew because I feel an identification with Judaism and Jewish history. Jews most often get this sense of identification from their parents. I wish intermarried readers of MLJ success in raising their children to be Jews, but I think it is a lot harder to do so if only one parent is Jewish." While I truly appreciate Mr. Mark's intent to support those in intermarriages, I feel compelled to discuss some of my views on intermarriage, being married to a non-Jew. I have changed my opinion regarding intermarriage, and I actually am offended with Mr. Mark's statement. I truly believe one of the main problems with the world, one equally as detrimental as assimilation is the cultural desire to isolate itself from society. I have had more than one friend who was completely ostracized by his family for simply DATING a non-Jew. How can this help the Jewish people? I believe the argument for what in my opinion is "maintaining the purity of the gene pool" is bunk. Yes, to be Jewish a child must either be born to a Jewish mother, or be converted according to halacha, and yes a least the son should have a bar mitzvah, but that's the whole point, isn't it? My child can be a fully functioning Jew, probably a stronger force in the community than myself, without being born to a Jewish mother. It requires only the support of myself, my wife who does not have to know halacha, as long as she respects it, and MOST importantly (and I like to hear from and/or engage with a rabbi on this topic) the community. It is the study of the torah, the learning of the history, and the conscious desire to have a bar or bas mitzvah (combined with a desire to be a member of the Jewish community) that makes a person a Jew, and not blood. It could be simplified into the environment vs. genetics debate, but its totally different than that. I believe in these modern times it comes down to a question not of how can we fight intermarriage, but how can we embrace the children of intermarriage? How can we show these children in the time of computers, CD ROM, TV, etc. that there is magic in shabbat candles? No one is going to be a good Jew unless they want to. To include the discussion regarding the hebrew school, briefly, what impetus is there for us to learn hebrew? To study the tanach? (Not meaning to blaspheme) what should compell us to have such we and respect for words scrolled on parchment? I would think we all would agree that the beginning of the answers to these questions is in the home, but we are not only seeing a secularization of Judaism, but of most religion, as well as a decline in the two parent, 2.3 kids and a dog family. We have people working more, with not only less time for their families, but definitely less time for god. I do not have the time, not the knowledge to provide the solutions for these dilemmas, but I will say this: I strongly believe that we can not indoctrinate our children. I believe that we should embrace any person who should so choose to marry into our tribe. And that possibly our greatest strength as a people is not being utilized enough: We are a people of storytellers like no others in the world, and yet we are not captivating ourselves, or our children. We have thousands of years of stories to tell. I hope my blathering has not offended, and that it has sparked some ideas. I must say I'm proud to belong to a people who values debate as one of the highest forms of expression. Sincerely, Matthew Subotnick
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 11:41:27 -0800 From: David J. Meyer <djm@shore.net> Subject: Jewish Guide to Drivers Education Arthur Waskow writes: "... after bar/bat mitzvah, what is the next thing teenagers really care about? Outside NYC, it's getting driver's license. Do we think this is a Jewish event?... what about synagogue or havurah programs for 15-yr-olds that point toward driver's license?" In fact, I have recently completed work on a textbook, geared for Confirmation-age students, called "A Jewish Guide to Driver's Education." I have been teaching the material for a couple of years now in youth group, camp, and classroom settings. As Waskow requests, the material explores a wide range of ethical topics which are directly (and indirectly) related to matters around driving. The response from students (and parents in some cases as well) has been very enthusiastic, and I hope that my work helps to fill in the kinds of gaps that Waskow recognizes in our educational programs. For those who may be interested, the book itself should be available within the year, and I would be happy to chat with any rabbis, educators or families who may be interested in utilizing the material. (My address is djm@shore.net)
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 18:58:08 -0800 From: Howard M Sherman <HowardS408@aol.com> Subject: Jewish Life in Orlando FL We are moving to Orlando in six months, we are husband, wife, and boys 4 and 7. We are very active in temple life here in Bosotn, Board memebers, committee chairs, etc, loking for feedback on Temples in Orlando. We have gotton material from all the Reform and Conservateive shuls, but personal feedback would help a lot. Thanks, Howard M. Sherman
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 13:36:57 -0500 From: ken@lightstn.com (Kenneth Bob) Subject: Jews of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) Just a quick clarification on a comment from Mark Staitman. The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews did change its letterhead, and generally does use Union of Councils. The primary reason is that the word "Soviet" is a real negative in the FSU, and in North America it implies obsolescence. If there is any doubt about their ongoing mission, the sub-head under Union of Councils on the letterhead reads: The Voice of Emigration, Jewish Survival, and Human Rights in the Former Soviet Union Since 1970.
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 05:39:36 -0800 From: Mary M McLaughlin <m1mmm00@frb.gov> Subject: Liberal shuls in San Francisco area In response to Betsy McGuire's request, I highly recommend Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo. I've attended Shabbat services there twice when my travels took me out west and felt warmly welcomed on both occasions. People sitting near me recognized that I was a visitor and introduced themselves. The service was led by both rabbis and the cantor (with a warm voice that encourages congregants to sing too). In fact, on my second visit I happened to sit next to a couple I met the first time: she weaves tallitot and invited me to her home after Shabbat to show me some of her work and talk about her interest in the traditions associated with making and wearing them. I now proudly wear a gorgeous silver and grey tallit that she made for me. Mary
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 08:36:01 -0500 From: ken@lightstn.com (Kenneth Bob) Subject: Re: Liberal shuls in San Francisco area Betsy McGuire asked about liberal shuls in S.F. Area There is an active, mid-sized Conservative Shul in Palo Alto called Kol Emet. The rabbi is a lovely, frendly, learned man named Shelly Lewis. The congregation is knowledgable and fun. Ken Bob
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 09:23:00 -0800 From: MARVIN@applelink.apple.com (Marvin Zauderer) Subject: Re: Liberal shuls in San Francisco area Try the Aquarian Minyan in Berkeley -- a Jewish Renewal group with terrific energy. 510-848-1149. Cheers, Marvin
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 06:42:47 -0800 From: Jeff Cohen <JC924@finabus.fab.albany.edu> Subject: My Buddhist daughter My daughter is 17 years old and, like many teenagers, is expressing a real interest in Buddhism. I believe she is responding to the individualistic spiritualism in Buddhism and rejecting the emphasis on the authority of the group in Judaism. She is a very intelligent and serious girl and I believe that this is a serious quest and not a passing whim. We have a fairly observant, Reform Jewish home and are very active in our congregation. She attended religious school through confirmation in the 10th. grade, but has not wanted to have anything to do with Judaism since then. I respect her right to seek her own path, but I would like to be able to discuss with her how she can find the things she is seeking in Buddhism within Judaism. Does anyone have any experience with the relationship between Judaism and Buddhism? Can anyone recommend some materials I could read and share with my daughter? Jeffrey M. Cohen Voice: 518-442-3510 Office for Research (AD 218) Fax: 518-442-3560 The University at Albany E-mail: JC924@ALBANY.EDU State University of New York 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 10:15:00 -0800 From: bsberg@idss.nwa.com (Barry Berg) Subject: Netiquitte Reminder [In sending this message, Barry indicated that he didn't know if it should be private, or should be posted. He thought it was inocuous enough not to raise much controversy, but left it up to me to decide. I felt that it was appropriate, given the large number of new subscribers we've seen in the last year (almost 150, with a large number from AOL). -- Yr. Mod.] I have been reading the responses to Allen Zubatkin by Rabbi Artson, and Rabbi Webber. Rabbi Artson is an AOL $ubscriber, and Rabbi Webber is a Compu$erve $ubscriber. A lot of the people who have access to the net, especially from places like .gov, .com, .edu, .org before they get on the net get some articles on nettiquite. I think those coming in from subscriber sources do not. Important lessons on communication are given in those documents concerning the use of e-mail. First you have to realize that you are missing the two most important cues humans have in communication. Sight (observance of body language) and sound (tone of voice) which is why the graphics of :-) in its various forms was developed. Since most people are reacting spontaneosly (sp?) they don't re-write and refine their responses as well as if they were in a paper, book, or article. [To which I will add the following. A wise net sage once said that when you write something, wait a while before sending it off and reread it. Often you'll see tones and implications you didn't mean. I'm not trying to imply that such tones were in the articles that triggered this reminder; rather, it is something that *all* off us, net experienced and inexperienced, need to do. I'm not perfect, and do not catch everything that may be problematic. Further, it is often our role to stimulate ideas and make people uncomfortable. The problem is how to determine the boundry between uncomfortability and criticism. -- DPF] Since many mailers do not support a spell checker spelling flames are also ignored. BTW If you are really attacking something usually you have the courtesy to say something like <FLAME ON> ...... <FLAME OFF> so we all know you are doing that, and to what and whom. If you don't then we must all learn to read remarks with a certain tolerance. If something heats you up, it's fair to post (better using private e-mail) to ask did you really mean ....? Before you assume they did. [This is true. Note that I try and spell check articles, but it takes extra time for me, so I would prefer if you did it. I would also prefer if flames were taken to private mail FIRST. Note that if you CC me on the flame, I'm going to assume it is a submission for this list unless I am told otherwise. DPF ] The very intimacy and immediacy of this medium which makes it so popular, is the very things that can cause communication problems. My suggestion is that Daniel send out a "special issue" of m.l.j containing the referenced nettiquite documents, or better some edited version of them. (it used to be just one, but I have been told there are a couple now) so that we all have the same assumptions. [I would, but I do not have the time. I encourage all folks to take a look at the archives on rtfm.mit.edu, in the news.answers directory. -- Daniel] regards, barry
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 06:30:52 -0800 From: Dean Hughson of Braymer Mo <DHUGHSON@delphi.com> Subject: Re: Omsk Progressive Congregation Mark is wrong. The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews is very alive and has 5-6 offices throughout the former Soviet Union to help the people who are still trying to get out. As many of you probably realize the NCSJ and UCSJ are at different points of the political scale and probably philosophy of what to do in the former Soviet Union. Personally I think that the folks who remain there are in great risk but it is their choice. The other groups who are trying to work in the area are the World Union (Reform movement) who have placed a Rabbi in Moscow and also the Lub. movement who have Rabbi's all over the place. Who is doing the best job? None of them at this point because they have little money and unclear goals until they know which way the former Soviet Union is going to go. Dean Hughson Braymer Missouri
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 05:43:55 -0800 From: Mary M McLaughlin <m1mmm00@frb.gov> Subject: Program on American Jewish Identity I, too, missed the NBC broadcast and would appreciate borrowing a VCR tape of the "From Love Not Hate" program from someone who would be willing to mail me a copy. Does anyone know if the Baltimore NBC affiliate plans to air it? Mary
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