Mail.Liberal-Judaism

• Jayne Pearl <JPearl54@aol.com>

• Ilya Grinberg <ig29@chem.columbia.edu>

• Rabbi Arthur Waskow <Awaskow@aol.com>

• Jonathan Mark <JMARK@fcc.gov>

• yagobian@u.arizona.edu (Sara Yagobian)

• Peretz Rodman <msrita@pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il>

• iedgk@agt.gmeds.com (David Kenyon)

• Gregory Davis <gdavis@bgsm.edu>

• Deborah P. Brodie <dbrodie@CapAccess.org>

• Ilya Grinberg <ig29@chem.columbia.edu>

• rebecca@vt.edu (Rebecca Scheckler)
• Julian Yudelson <YUDELSON.JE@a1.rit.edu>

• hoffmanl@neb.com (Linda Hoffman)

• Barry Levine <Barry_Levine@cc.chiron.com>

From: Jayne Pearl <JPearl54@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 00:00:54 -0500
Subject: Interfaith weddings

An acquaince mentioned to me today that his daughter is about to become
engaged to a Catholic man.  This father is not thrilled, but accepts his
daughter's fiance and their intended marriage. Although the boyfriend has
agreed that their children will be raised Jewish, the father is concerned
that neither of them has considered or discussed all the issues they are
bound to confront after they marry.

I was wondering if anyone can recommend books or other resources that may
help guide this couple through the issues and problems they may encounter in
their lives together.  Feel free to respond through this mailing list or
personally through e-mail.

Thanks!

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From: Ilya Grinberg <ig29@chem.columbia.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 11:19:54 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Israel and Cuba

> I am aware [Israel] is a Jewish issue and [Cuba] is not, but we really
> should have some principle on which to base our actions. I would have a lot
> more sympathy with the official Jewish position on Israel if we had a
> similar position on Cuba.

Cuban government is a communist one.  Anybody who lived under communism as i
did would understand why the Cuban-Americans act the way they do and would
also understand that the only way for Cuba to be free is for Castro to fall
which won't happen without American pressure.  Besides, this has nothing to do
with non-O's in Israel.  The two issues have no relation to each other.

Ilya Grinberg

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From: Rabbi Arthur Waskow <Awaskow@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 05:26:59 -0800
Subject: Israel: Glimmer of hope

Dear Chevra, I thought the glimmer of hope in this announcement might both
warm us and help us think our own way forward. The Christian Peacemaker Team
is described in the release below. Since it has until now been involved in
nonviolent efforts on behalf of Palestinians, it is an important step for it
to take nonviolent action intended to protect Israeli lives. --- Shalom,
Arthur.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 1996
                                         contact: Bob Naiman/ Kathy Kern CPT
Hebron 050-397-506

CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAM IN HEBRON VOWS TO RIDE BUS #18 IN JERUSALEM NEXT
SUNDAY

       In faithfulness to its mission to deter violence and to oppose  the
cycle of retaliation and collective punishment in Hebron,  the Christian
Peacemaker Team in Hebron has resolved to ride bus # 18 in Jerusalem for
several hours Sunday morning, March 10, starting at 6 AM.
       Bus #18 has been the target of bombing attacks two weeks in a row,
both times early Sunday morning. Therefore we publically resolve to ride bus
#18 next Sunday morning to call attention to the futility of using violence
to address the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.
       In preparation for this action, CPT member Kathleen Kern has
undertaken a week-long fast in mourning for the Israeli and Palestinian
victims of the recent bombings. She began her fast on Sunday, March 3, on
hearing in church of the most recent bus bombing, and will end her fast by
taking communion next Sunday morning, following the bus rides.
        CPT has been in Hebron since June, 1995. We have worked to deter
violence here by intervening between soldiers, settlers and Palestinians,
accompanying Palestinian children who have been the target of settler
attacks, demonstrating a non-violent response to the Israeli occupation, and
reporting our experiences in Hebron to people in North America, Israel and
around the world. 
      Unlike many of the somewhat predictable acts of violence to which we
have responded in Hebron, such as house demolitions by the Israeli army and
harassment of Palestinians by Israeli settlers, acts of violence by the
Islamic Resistance Movement have generally been unannounced, making it
difficult for CPT Hebron to try to prevent them.  In this instance, however,
we feel that the repeated attacks on bus #18 constitute an implied threat for
next Sunday morning. Therefore we feel called to respond to this threat by
stating publicly that if bus #18 is attacked next Sunday CPT Hebron will be
on it.
       The loss of life as a direct result of these bombings has been painful
and tragic. Moreover, the cycle of retaliation following each bombing has
threatened the fragile process of peace and reconciliation between Israelis
and Palestinians. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city of Hebron,
where the first bombing was followed by a wave of house demolitions. It was
in the course of these demolitions that 2 members of CPT were arrested and
threatened with deportation. At this writing the whole city of Hebron is
tense.  Yesterday, two yeshiva students were stabbed, Israeli settlers
rampaged through the Hebron market, and the Palestinians were placed under
curfew. Today part of the market remains closed. Many Palestinians are
staying away from the city center for fear of further Israeli reprisals.
Moreover, the Israeli government has announced that the already limited
"redeployment" of the Israeli army in Hebron, scheduled for March 27, is
being "reconsidered". 
       Copies of this release are being sent to the Israeli police and to all
Palestinian political movements. We invite Palestinians and Israelis of
conscience to to take a strong, public, and principled stand against all
violence and to support this action by participation, statements of support,
and prayer.  

CPT HEBRON

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From: Jonathan Mark <JMARK@fcc.gov>
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 1996 11:31:08 -0500
Subject: Israel: Terrorism on a Bus

Dan discourages political postings, and that is fine, because my opinion
about the string of bombings in Israel is not of a political nature.

Steve is there.  He describes seeing the carnage.  I can look away if I want.
For a few days I avoided reading newspapers because I did not want to be
upset.

I wonder what an appropriate reaction would be?  Feeling sad does not help
Israel.  Ignoring it and going on with my life as if nothing happened seems
sort of immoral.

Intercessory or petitionary prayer is not something which I usually believe
in.

Giving some money to an Israeli charity might be the best bet.

                                          Jonathan Mark

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From: yagobian@u.arizona.edu (Sara Yagobian)
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 15:23:52 +0100
Subject: Jerome Rothenberg

If anyone has read "Poland/1931", I'd like to talk to you about it (I need
all the help I can get). I need to write on how his work relates to reform
judaism. Thanks.

Sara Yagobian
yagobian@u.arizona.edu
phone=520-695-0290
fax=414-355-3510

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From: Peretz Rodman <msrita@pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 16:01:54 -0800
Subject: Jewish high school learning in the "boonies"

As a lifelong big city Jew (Boston, Washington, now Yerushalayim) who has
never faced the issues of maintaining Jewish identity or raising Jewish
children in a community with very limited Jewish resources, I am fascinating
by the exchange in mlj on this topic and particularly about the prospect of
using the Net to connect isolated individuals and communities.

The most difficult challenge, I assume, is providing Jewish education and
Jewish socialization for teenagers, whose identities are shaped so much by
their peer groups. Does anyone know of initiatives in providing a Jewish
education for high school students by distance learning? Is there any national
institution -- movement- affiliated, perhaps -- ready to take up this
challenge?

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From: iedgk@agt.gmeds.com (David Kenyon)
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 96 08:14:17 EST
Subject: Jewish Meditation Groups

A while ago, I read a book called __Jewish_Meditation__ by A. Kaplan.  I was
wondering if anyone on this list has heard of a Jewish meditation group or has
been involved with a group.  If so please contact me via email
(iedgk@agt.gmeds.com).  I would be interested in hearing about the format for
the group sessions, the chants/mantras used, any experiences about organizing
such a group, etc.

shalom,

David Kenyon

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From: Gregory Davis <gdavis@bgsm.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 10:07:40 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Jewish vegetarianism

This subject may have been discussed previously on the list, but if so, I
missed it. If anyone has resources on and/or information about the vegetarian
movement in Judaism, including references in our texts, would you be so kind
as to supply me with them?

Todah u'b'shalom, Greg

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From: Deborah P. Brodie <dbrodie@CapAccess.org>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 19:55:41 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Looking for Software to Learn Hebrew

[Moderator's Note: This seemed the closest subject to which this was
responding. The original posts on this subject are in v4n42:v4n44 -- DPF]

When Jay and I started working on interactive software less than 2 years ago,
we did it for the intent of helping one of my students with multiple special
needs how to read the alefbet.

What we have found out through trying to market our products is that there is
a vibrant and growing number of adults (as well as kids, of course) who are
thirsty to learn how to read Hebrew, brachot, etc.  Folks in small communities
are purchasing our software and related products for all the right reasons and
we are proud of providing a service!

Deborah & Jay
Dor L'Dor
Interactive Judaic Software
  and Related Products

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From: Ilya Grinberg <ig29@chem.columbia.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 11:19:54 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Making Sense of Purim

> And may we honor with the fast of Esther this year, during the hours before
> Purim, the bravery that stands up against ALL murder that claims the mantle of
> God or the nation, whether it is carried out by people in our own communities
> or people in other communities.

In response to Rabbi Waskow's call for continuation of the peace process and
purification of every community of the Amalekite spirit.  In case you forgot,
the Megillah mentions very specifically what the Jews did in response to
Haman's intended persecution.  They did not try to dialogue with him or his
followers.  Instead the Jews took arms and went to war against them, killing
75,000 of their enemies.  This is the Torah's way of dealing with Amalek, as
evidenced also by the commandment to blot out Amalekites down to the last one.
This is the spirit of Purim, not the offering of peace to the people who won't
accept it. God loves peace but as it says in Koheles, there is a time for
peace and a time for war, a time for love and a time for hate.  Unfortunately,
some people forget that pasuk in Koheles.  Turning a cheek to your enemy is a
Christian ideal, killing your enemy before he kills you is the Jewish one.

And as for Arafat's condemnation, this is the same man who said that Yihye
Ayash was a martyr and a hero.

Ilya Grinberg

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From: rebecca@vt.edu (Rebecca Scheckler)
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 08:43:01 -0500
Subject: Roll Your Own Judaism (Small-Town Judaism)

I represent another samll town situation that has not yet been discussed.  The
Blacksburg Jewish Community Center in Blacksburg, VA is a small (35
families),unafilliated, egalitarian congregation in rural SouthWest Virginia.
We are relatively recent having just celebrated 15 years in our building
(which is paid off).  There are two small (100-200 families) affilliated
synagogues in Roanoke, VA, a 45 minute or so drive for most of us.  The BJCC
was formed as the local state university, Virginia Tech, began hiring Jewish
faculty.  Our relgious school has become so popular that we have had to go to
double sessions to accomodate all the classes in our building (sanctuary and
social hall).  Young families seem to be moving in in droves as Jewish health
professionals join the ranks of the Jewish academics.

What may differentiate us from many other small congregations is that we have
1000 Jewish students at Virginia Tech and another state university down the
road.  Our members have served as volunteer Hillel leaders.  We have provided
our building for the use of the students and we have recently raised money to
hire a half time professional Hillel leader.  The Roanoke Jewish Community
Center, a fund raising branch of the the two Roanoke synagoues, has very
generously contributed to this Hillel position.  Since most of the local
students come from northern VA and eastern VA, we have asked the Jewish
federations from those two areas for contributions as well.  The Greater
Washington Federation will not even consider our requests for money, the
eastern federtations have given token donations.

The outcome, we have 35 families trying to sustain 1000 students.  The parents
of these students should thank their lucky stars that we exist in the
boondocks far from the large cities or there would be no Jewish life for their
children.  Maybe some day the large Jewish federations in Virginia will wake
up to the fact that this, the college years, is where young minds and souls
are won or lost.  Maybe then they will serously consider our requests for
funding Hillel staff positions.

  Rebecca Scheckler                        rebecca@vt.edu
  Information Systems and Insect Studies   phone: 540-231-7216
  Virginia Tech                            fax: 540-231-9131
  202 Price Hall
  Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319               http://www.isis.vt.edu/~rebecca/

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From: Julian Yudelson <YUDELSON.JE@a1.rit.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 11:49:00 -0800
Subject: Re: Roll Your Own Judaism (Small-Town Judaism)

To Marvin Kiminsky: Bimidbar is not a wasteland.  It is the name of the area
where the Jews spent 40 years raising a generation that had daily contact with
the Devine from the daily ration of Manna and the visibile presence of the
Tabernacle.  Whlie the Israelites in the "wilderness" were separated from the
Land, they were undergoing a process that brought them much closer to the G-d
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

With regard to the Negev, David Ben Gurion was not alone in seeing the Negev
as the future of the State of Israel.  It may lack the holiness that is
ascribed to Jerusalem but it is vital to the State.

My use of the Negev is also an oblique reference to the smaller communites in
the American South that Ed Miron refers to.  Those are my landzmen in Dalton
and Rome, Ga.

To Dan Yurman: I never used the word "wasteland" and I never meant to imply
that you live a barren Jewish existance.  Dan, I neither reject you nor seek
to patronize you.  You are absolutely correct that there is a warmth and
closeness in many, probably most small Jewish communites that is extremly rare
in the larger communities.  Too often there is no congregation in a large city
that is prepared to greet the newcomer as a welcome addition to the community
if the newcomer is not a clone of the existing membership.

I do respectfully disagree with you in terms of the long term prospects, but I
agreed with Adrian Dunster that our children will have to collect the bets on
that one.  The increased commitment of those who choose to be Jewish outside
of the metropolitan mainstream may cause my caution to be seen as foolish in
years to come.

As it says, in Pirke Avot, Everything is forseen, except the fear of G-D.
Dan, you are closer to the scene than I and if you think the fear (actually
"awe" is a better translation) of G-d is there to build up those smaller
communities, then your forecast will be better than mine.

TO Ed Miron: You are absolutly right about the merits of the north Georgia
communities.  All of the Sauls in Dalton are my cousins, tell them that Julian
Yudelson, Sol's son from Atlanta say's hello.  You can give the same message
to all of the Heymans in Rome, but be sure to mention that BJ also sends her
love.

Kol Israel Chaverim.........PERIOD
Julian Yudelson  

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From: hoffmanl@neb.com (Linda Hoffman)
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 10:03:56 -0500
Subject: Singles Dilemma

Jo Pitesky wrote:
>Ted Marcus writes that, with few exceptions, synagogues in his area (the
>"South Bay" area of Los Angeles) are there to mostly serve as social centers
>for families with children, making only limited efforts to include single
>adults.  I think the problem can cover even a wider area than single adults.
>Sometimes, it can be difficult for an *adult*, married or single, with or
>without children, to find a niche in a synagogue.

I belong to a Temple that has a variety of events for adults, and a variety of
events for families/children.  What I wish we had more of (there are at least
three sides to every question, you know :-) ) is events for everyone.

I think those sorts of events, if they are real, Jewish, events (rather than
watered down children's affairs) can allow singles, or others who may feel
excluded from "family" events, to become a part of the congregational family,
and more involved in the life of the Temple.  And I think children learn a lot
more about being Jewish from actually participating with other Jews, including
adults other than their parents, in the day-to-day life of Judiasm, than they
do in religious school, or staged "children's" experiences.

We attended the Purim celebration of the congregation of some friends of ours
which was a good example of what I am talking about.  It was a regular party,
with music and dancing, and everyone (young, old, married, single) came, in
costume, and had a good time.  Along with a magician, there was plenty of
drinking and singing of "adult" songs, and none of the adults looked like they
were suffering through a "kids" party.  Sometimes everyone would dance
together, and sometimes the children would run off by themselves. The adults
had time to talk to each other, and to meet other adults. (I've never been
introduced to so many people in my life!)

I think that regularly (though not of course exclusively) having events which
integrate all members of a congregation is a very good idea for all concerned,
and that even occasions centered on study or prayer can be made to be more
inclusive.  I imagine something like a Passover seder, where people of
different ages and life situations take turns reading and sharing their ideas
and experiences about what is being studied, as the children move in and out
of the center of study, participating when appropriate, and being taught,
simply by the active presence of all these different people, that learning
about Judiasm is an important part of life.

                                                Linda Hoffman

___________________________________________

Linda Lepnis Hoffman
New England Biolabs
32 Tozer Road
Beverly, MA 01915
<hoffmanl@neb.com>
The NEB WWW Server is at http://www.neb.com

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From: Barry Levine <Barry_Levine@cc.chiron.com>
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 96 16:58:35 PST
Subject: Re: Speeches during Torah portions

Lawerence D. Schweitz writes:

>  ...During our sermon, our future president decided to take this opportunity
> to give a speech on our future home.  I felt that this was not the
> appropriate time to do this....

 Presuming that the future president meant a new, physical synagogue, rather
than an escatological "future home", I have to join Lawerence in this.  It is
the job of a congregations board and president to administer the business
affairs necessary for the functioning of the congregation.  These matters,
however, *are not* the purpose of the congregation, and *must not* be allowed
to intrude on the religious mission, nor on the Shabbat.  Such a speech would
be appropriate before candle-lighting, or after havdalah, but would only be
appropriate during Shabbat services if it illumined the Parasha Shevuah.

b'Shalom
Barry Levine 

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"It is not our task as liberal Jews to complain about the Orthodox attitude or to be bullied by it, but rather to choose our legitimate path according to the inner logic and development of liberal Judaism" (Rabbi Walter Jacob)

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