Forum
FORUM Moment in the White House I want to thank moment for giving me the opportunity to share with your readers my views on Israel, the peace process and important domestic concerns ("Vote for Me"...
...RELOCATING...
...With The Anti-Defamation League's Informative New Monthly Subscribe to ADL on the Frontline For a one-year subscription, send $12 check to ADL on the Frontline, 823 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 'Anti-Defamation League® FEBRUARY 1993 • MOMENT 15...
...Take Prager's favorite analogy— Krislallnachl...
...We need to share more of the organically grown heart-wisdom of our tradition that would once again—as it has in every other previous paradigm—unfold further the ancient writ into down-home gifts of personal aliveness for where we are today...
...The articles highlight the tenaciousness of Palestinian violence, on the one hand, the search by Israel for effective response and control, on the other—and the ultimate futility of both...
...I have found moment to be on the cutting edge of issues affecting America and American Jews, and am impressed by moment's chutzpah, independence, depth and hard-hitting coverage...
...It is on nearly every street, on nearly every freeway off-ramp...
...The Policy of Repression Has Been a Failure The two articles on human rights violations in Gaza in your October issue ("Ruthless In Gaza" by Riva Silverman and "Truthless in Gaza" by Ahaz Ben-Ari and Richard Neustadter) make dramatically clear the urgent necessity to end Israel's occupation of the occupied territories...
...But studying the economic and political history of Germany in that period helps explain the atmosphere that bred Nazis...
...And who would want to be confused with a half-loaf of rye...
...Creative ideas can effortlessly be passed back and forth...
...riots Senator Bradley spoke strongly from the senate floor against violence in the African-American community...
...Even a broken clock is right twice a day...
...Part of the problem is one of language: In English, we use the word "depressed" to refer to feeling sad and blue, something most of us feel at times, as well as to a symptom of a specific illness, major depression...
...That is strong stuff—does it bear any relation to reality...
...Please join us in Jerusalem, March 15-21...
...What liberals wish to see America burned...
...Equally disturbing is Prager's use of Krislallnachl as an analogy to the L.A...
...Dore Gold, who contributed to the December 1992 issue of moment, is director of the U.S...
...Issues related to spirituality and one's relationship to God are common topics in psychiatric journals and meetings...
...Intermarriage is not the culprit that is carting Judaism off to the museum...
...The World Union for Progressive Judaism helps Jews throughtout the world develop strong Jewish identities, raise Jewish self-confidence, and build self-sufficient Jewish communities...
...ways to remedy the wrongs that gave rise to both rages...
...Let us put our hearts into finding you one...
...Those who oppose intermarriage hardly comprise the majority of Jews today, and all those synagogue boards and rabbinic organizational umbrellas trying to repel the acid rain of the statistics represent the sentiments of few Jews outside their own dwindling memberships...
...Major General (res...
...Thomas R. Smerlmg, executive director Project Nishma Washington, D.C...
...Tzedek tzedek lirdof," 'Justice, justice you shall pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20...
...Can't we expect higher standards from print journalism...
...Communal rage, then, is an explanation, but not an excuse...
...We are committed to your service...
...Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota FORUM continues on page 79 Reconstructionists Perform Few Interfaith Marriages I write to correct what appears like a misleading fact in your otherwise excellent October 1992 issue...
...How did I miss it...
...In the end, who was the better friend...
...Modern technology will enhance even the most ancient of traditions...
...your caption read: '"How did the checkout woman know?' asks Michael Perry of Edison, New Jersey...
...it is important...
...If we had truly seen what was happening in our cities, the words of Isaiah would not ring so true: "Look...that you may see...
...Prager used the events as an opportunity to attack white liberals rather than an opportunity to look to Jewish sources for understanding and guidance (October 1992...
...And now-President Clinton spoke out explicitly on this matter in re Sister Souljah...
...I would not want to be a black man in the Los Angeles of Daryl Gates or in the America of the Rehnquist court...
...Modern psychiatry recognizes the importance of spirituality in the entire human being...
...If we hide in the shelter of tribalism, we will end up in the footnotes of messianic history...
...The options are open now for High Holiday and Shabbat prayer books, haggadot, etc...
...Steven I. Altchuler, Ph.D., M.D...
...Prager feels that the explanation of the Los Angeles riots was an outburst of criminal activity brought on by opportunity...
...I doubt very much that many people engaging in criminal acts during those terrible days made such calculations...
...Ignorance is...
...This explanation, however, does not justify such criminal acts as looting, arson and violent assault...
...The recipe for Irwin L. Lebov/s Rosemary Challah, (December 1992) should include one cup of whole wheat flour, to be added along with the seven cups of bread flour...
...So long as racial injustice continues there will be urban riots...
...Jonathan D. Sarna makes the case for Judaism to go "tribal" (Guest Column, October 1992), and sees it as a must if we are to salvage 'Judaism as we know it...
...the Middle East peace process was not among them...
...Like Jimmy Carter, Bush clashed with a Likud prime minister, and this regrettably grew into personal rancor...
...But maybe we ought to ask whether 'Judaism as we know it" is worth saving...
...They have become a prey, with none to rescue them...
...What took place in Los Angeles in 1992 was unplanned, and the arson and looting were committed by members of a minority that represents about 15 percent of the American population...
...Regarding Prager's main complaint—that poverty and rage do not justify violence—who could fail to agree...
...police officers who beat Rodney King by reason of rage was intended to be ironic...
...Rabbi Robert J. Gluck, executive director Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Wyncote, Pennsylvania Whole, Not Half While I appreciate your using my clipping for October's "Spice Box," I was taken aback by the caption your editor attributed to me...
...The fact that thousands of young Israelis in army service in the occupied territories have been forced into morally ambiguous situations, sometimes required to use physical force against women and children and old people, is surely going to have dire psychological consequences for individuals and the nation as a whole...
...Our younger generation is coming out of the seminaries with a computer literacy that will have a dramatic impact on our future: not only wedding ceremonies and other life cycle events, but even the prayer book...
...I not only live for being Jewish, I live off it...
...Computers will enable us to be more creative, which in turn will enable us to reach out to more Jews...
...As a rabbi whose work is predominantly with Jews alienated by 'Judaism as we know it," I can attest that most Jews could give a good damn about whether there will be a Judaism tomorrow...
...I need not travel up river in the Amazon, nor need I pursue the study of some exotic tribe of Indians in the Pacific Northwest from whom to learn the essence of culture...
...As the Talmud teaches (Pirkei Avol 5:11), 'The sword comes into the world because of justice delayed...
...Yet that too is not all there is for me in being Jewish...
...The policy of repression has been a failure—surely a factor in the support among Israelis for peace talks...
...Dennis Prager's rage is understandable, but so is the rage of the African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans of Los Angeles...
...In our tradition prayer books were always subject to change and modifications...
...Doubling this tragedy is that modern treatments for major depression are effective and the illness can be treated...
...That is an indulgence we really can't afford...
...What took place in Germany in 1938 was an attack on a scapegoated minority that represented less than one percent of the national population, sanctioned and planned by the government...
...I would not like readers to have the impression that a high percentage of the rabbis nationally who conduct interfaith weddings is Reconstructionist...
...There simply is no good way to control a hostile and violent population while being a model practitioner of human rights...
...It is not a question of liberalism or conservatism we must all hearken...
...and with the Israeli regime whose tunnel vision blinds it to the way in which harsh measures seem only to breed greater hatred and violence...
...My plea to Rabbi Blank and to other clergy is to continue addressing an individual's relationship to God...
...Nothing justifies the Nazis or exonerates their behavior...
...It would be lovely if such a piece could be reproduced in a pamphlet form and distributed to every rabbi...
...Why does Prager write like a talk-show host...
...The vast majority of our members do not officiate at interfaith marriages...
...Shalom Home, Inc has chosen the finest REALTORS* for our National Network One call and our professionals can help you find the ideal setting in the right community as well as help you sell your present home...
...Aharon Yariv is the director of the Jaffee Center...
...Add to this the fundamentally compelling moral case for justice and it becomes clear that the only solution to this situation is to get out of it, to terminate the roles of oppressor and oppressed, and to let Jews and Palestinians go about building better lives for both peoples, separately if necessary, together where that proves feasible...
...Though I wince to write this, I suspect that if Israel's tactics had proved effective in producing a docile Palestinian population, some of us would consider swallowing our moral revulsion out of simple gratitude for peace and security...
...It will only further the tumor of interdenominational conflict already tearing us apart and continue the alienation of the disaffected Jews who are still hanging on by their bungy shoes...
...The possibilities stagger the imagination...
...In fact, our members represent a small percentage of these numbers...
...But in both cases the long-term benefits for Israel of successful mediation far outweigh the transitory discord...
...Marc Sinnsky Los Angeles, California Judaism As We Know It: Is It Worth Saving...
...We ought to be looking for...
...For example, one couple met in an Alcoholics Anonymous group...
...It is my normal practice to use a computer for couples of all ages...
...While I am flattered that the name of our movement was listed first, it is important to note that the entire membership of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association is 170 rabbis...
...a far too common result of untreated depression is suicide...
...Rabbi Morns A. Kipper Coral Gables, Florida He Likes Moment, Too...
...A grocery receipt for a half-loaf of rye bread was identified as "halfjewish...
...As a social anthropologist, I have found that being Jewish offers me a fertile field to plow...
...Ruth Seldtn Scarborough, New York Using Computers to Create New Traditions Ceil Skydell's article on ketubot (October 1992) was inspiring and beautifully displayed...
...And with each new study, I discover some new facet of Jewish existence that excites my imagination and informs my understanding...
...Would that it were simply a matter of refuting conflicting claims...
...For more information, contact: World Union for Progressive Judaism 838 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10021 phone: 212-249-0100 fax: 212-517-3940 Jerusalem International Offices London Moscow New York Keep Yourself ON THE FRONTLINE...
...The idea of different standards for non-white minorities is a legitimate issue, but it seems to have little or nothing to do with the causes of the Los Angeles riots...
...Foreign and Defense Policy Project of the Jaffee Center in Tel Aviv...
...The Talmud Yerushalmi (tractate Peah) says it in another way: "Shutting one's eyes to tzedahah (righteous deeds) is like worshiping idols...
...It is also not our job to complete the task, but it is incumbent upon us to do our part...
...October 1992...
...If we want to save Judaism, we need to let go of the "as we know it" stuff that is blocking the arteries of spiritual practice and experience for so many of our people...
...His words: "For 30 years liberals have taught that white America is racist, in effect that America is so pernicious that it deserves to be burned" (emphasis his...
...Hillary and I look forward to continuing to read moment in the White House...
...FORUM Moment in the White House I want to thank moment for giving me the opportunity to share with your readers my views on Israel, the peace process and important domestic concerns ("Vote for Me" October 1992...
...Major depression is now well demonstrated to be a biologic illness, and while its effects have spiritual implications, attributing the cause to such makes as much sense as attributing appendicitis to a spiritual shortcoming...
...This allows for changes with ease...
...The author of that letter is Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl, who from 1984 to 1990 was editor of the Journal of Reform Judaism, now called the CCAR Journal: A Reform Jewish Quarterly, published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis...
...I am its editor, and I like Moment, too...
...CALL TOLL FREE: 1-800-8-SHALOM World Union for Progressive Judaism 26th International Convention Celebrating Jewish Pluralism & Diversity in Israel & Around the World The World Union for Progressive Judaism, with its center in Jerusalem and affiliated congregations in over thirty countries, is the international family of Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism...
...Daniel S. Nevms New York, New York Afflictions of Poverty In Los Angeles Both Mr...
...Michael Perry Edison, New Jersey COR RECT IONS The following paragraph was omitted from Samuel Heilman's "Why Be Jewish" essay, (December 1992...
...With a simple stroke, "wine" was replaced with "fruit of the vine...
...I am not "halfjewish...
...In the Talmud (tractate Nedarim) it states, "the afflictions (of poverty) are so severe that the poor man is considered a dead man...
...We will assist you in obtaining information regarding financing, schools, congregations, Kosher merchants, and community centers— all at no cost to you...
...Having the use of a sophisticated computer makes it possible and easy to produce creative and individual wedding ceremonies...
...So long as we blame riots on such things as "outside agitators" and "liberalism" we will not heed the warnings and we will allow racial injustice to continue...
...Both situations were sparked by single events, but in Germany it was an attack by a member of the persecuted minority against the regime that was persecuting his people, while in Los Angeles it was an outrage by the government against a member of the minority...
...The Jews have been the subjects of all my books...
...However, learn to recognize when one's sadness may represent a symptom of the illness major depression, and then refer them for proper help...
...The deep, grinding poverty of our urban centers is a crisis that destabilizes American society...
...Few in our community, so furious at Bush, have been willing to acknowledge Shanks's point that without presidential "high priority, a persistence, a personal involvement—and pressure on all parties—it [the talks] never would have happened...
...I trust Prager's "defense" of the L.A...
...The danger is that depression can be fatal...
...Inspection of many psychiatric units will reveal that they are staffed not only by psychiatrists, other physicians and nurses, but by chaplains who are active and full members of the treatment teams...
...Your heart is in your home...
...Poverty does not justify the violence of L.A., but it does help us understand why we need to find solutions for the shattered lives of so many Americans...
...I don't have to go far in Los Angeles to see the afflictions of poverty...
...Dennis Prager would prefer to strut about in his indignant anger...
...Bill Clinton, presidentelect Little Rock, Arkansas Did Liberalism Result in The Los Angeles Riots...
...I find such an explanation to be either racist or extremely reactionary...
...I have learned more from my disciplined study of Jewish life about the mysteries of civilization than I could have conceived when, as a sociology graduate student, I began with my study of synagogue life over 20 years ago...
...If there is any analogy with Nazi Germany, it is in the racist injustices that continue to occur in our society often with official sanction...
...Rabbi Gershon Winkler Mouth of Seneca, West Virginia The Long-Term Benefits of Discord Kol hakavod to Hershel Shanks for having the courage and honesty to give the Bush administration credit where due: getting the peace process moving ("How Bad Has Bush Been for Israel...
...One of the important lessons of the Los Angeles riots seems to be how to lehachayol mayteem, return the dead to life (from the Amidah...
...Tribal theology will not save the remnants of our people...
...What this reader is left with is a sense of annoyance with both sides: with the human-rights purists for showing not a drop of compassion for Israel's unique plight, its need to protect its citizens not from mere "political -dissidents" but from knife-wielding fanatics...
...Who among you will hearken...
...Even if Prager's quoted source is correct in saying that racial minorities have more civil liberties here than in any other country (which may or may not be true), it is plain that racism is still a reality in American life and the cause of communal rage by minority groups...
...But when did they say such a thing...
...Here are people, ensnared in hovels, ahd hid in slums...
...That is, I make my living from exploring the secrets and explaining the character of the Jews...
...Then we could share it with prospective couples to encourage such lovely artwork...
...On the contrary, I recall that prior to the L.A...
...Such study is essential for preventive planning, especially for us Jews who seek to avoid persecution in the future...
...Keep up the good work...
...Strange how computers will change the nature of Jewish living...
...It is easy to understand the rage that would make Dennis Prager write such a truly ill-conceived column (October 1992, "American liberalism played an instrumental role in the Los Angeles riots...
...There were many good reasons to vote against George Bush...
...In your "moment's Book of Numbers" column, it is noted that "the number of Reconstructionist and Reform rabbis who will conduct interfaith marriages" is 217...
...Prager and I, along with many others, are profoundly disturbed and concerned about what took place in Los Angeles more than six months ago, yet I am sorry that Mr...
...The solution, then, is not to save 'Judaism as we know it" but to explore better ways of knowing Judaism...
...In the October Forum, you captioned a letter "ReformJudaism Likes Us...
...but it is hard to excuse his having submitted it for publication...
...Obviously, it isn't working for increasing numbers of Jewish women and men who aren't the least concerned about whether they marry a Jewish partner or not...
...Of more concern is the concept that the illness depression can be cured by spiritual growth...
...Rabbi Philip J. Bentey Huntington Station, New York Prager Writes Like A Talk-Show Host I object to the content and tone of Dennis Prager's broadside against American liberalism (October 1992...
...Violence is seldom justified, but most reasonable people think it worthwhile to try to understand the circumstances of violence, if only to prevent its recurrence...
...Please try to be more careful in the future...
...I was also pleased to receive Alan Dershowitz's endorsement in your pages ("Why Jews Should Vote for Clinton" October 1992...
...The magazine Reform Judaism is published by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and has a circulation of 290,000 households affiliated with Reform congregations...
...The rage of a community that daily suffers injustices and indignities seems to me a much more realistic explanation...
...Contrast this with Reagan's chummy "benign neglect" of the peace pre-cess, which yielded nothing but the intifada...
...He cites Andrew Hacker (who fails to make the point) and implies that this is also the message of Bill Clinton and Bill Bradley...
...What happened in Los Angeles is part of a continuing pattern in American cities that began long before the 1960s...
...riots...
...Aron Hirt-Manheimer, editor Reform Judaism New York, New York When Depressed, See A Psychiatrist As well meaning as Rabbi Blank's opinions on depression may be ("When Depressed, Talk to God, Not a Psychiatrist" Forum, October 1992, page 8), they reveal a lack of knowledge of the current state both of psychiatry and of depression...
Vol. 18 • February 1993 • No. 1
