Rabbi Gordon's 'The Nature of Conversion' Offers Thorough Research Into Intermarriage Rabbi Albert I. Gordon,- whose two previous works, "Intermar- riage" and "Jews in Suburbia," remain major guides for the study of serious problems facing our people and country, has produced an unusually interesting additional work on mixed marriages, "Th Nature of Con- version." This study o 45 men and wom en who hay abandoned t h faiths into w they were born, published by Beacon Press. throws light on the attitudes those who con- vert, present their viewpoints and the back grounds of their live s, indicated Dr. Gordon t h e approaches to their needs by religious lead- ers they consulted. Tape-recordings of statements by the 45 converts from the three major faiths provide di- rect data for an understanding of the motives, the emotional aspects, the family influences and parental objections or inter- ferences. Of the 45 cases pre- sented here, 30 relate to Jews. The cases processed "speak only for themselves" and do not rep- resent samples of all conversions, Rabbi Gordon states, yet they serve as a guide to an under- standing of the intermarried and the problems they pose. Eminently fair in his approach to the issues involved, taking no sides, thoroughly objective, Dr. Gordon, already the leading stu- dent of the intermarriage prob- lem, adds immeasurably to an understanding of the issue. While he does not editorialize on the cases he deals with, pre- senting the 45 basic stories as re- lated to him, his introductory es- say is most significant. He ex- plains synagogue and church atti- tudes, points out that estimates based on surveys "suggest that those converts who formally iden- tify with Judaism are accepted by Reform or Conservative Juda- ism with only a handful entering the Orthodox group. Orthodox Judaism looks with disfavor upon accepting converts, particularly, when the reason for conversion is generally believed to be, in at least 90 per cent of the cases, the de- sire to marry a Jew?' Facts and figures regarding the extent of conversions among the major faiths, explanations of requirements for conversions "of persons whom they regard as 'sincere'" by Protestantism, Unitarian Universalist, Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catho- licism and Judaism, and a re- view of the Jewish (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Recon- structionist) regulations are pre- seated in the study. It is by analyzing the type of converts, by presenting the texts of the 18 interviews and synopses of 24 of the interviews that Dr. Gordon implements his work of research and introduces the living examples of conversions. Dr. Gordon offers practical sug- gestions and in the course of his observations asserts: "Discussions with the converts led me to believe that a greater purpose could be served if all can- didates for conversion would be required to attend the classes for conversion in the company of the intended spouse. At least 80 per cent of all conversions that pres- ently take place are undertaken for the purpose of meeting the formal requirement that both hus- band and wife be of the same faith. There is no guarantee that the most orthodox and beautiful of religious ceremonies performed by a clergyman will in itself assure the success of such a marriage." Thus, Dr. Gordon's work is valuable not only for an under- standing of the issues involved, not merely as a guide for con- verts, but also as a primer for clergymen who have much to learn from it. There is an interesting conclud- ing observation in which Rabbi Gordon states: "However zealous we may be for the preservation of the distinc- tive religious beliefs, values and practices we associate with our respective religions, we have the duty and obligation to give to the convert every opportunity to be- come authentic. But to make this possible requires not only time Rabin in Washington to Take Up New Post He declined to be drawn into discussion on the question of Israel's request for license to buy F-4 Phantom jet fighters here. He noted, as a military man, that there was "always something bet- ter" in the field of weaponry. Asked to comment on the an- nouncement last week that the United States would sell weapons and aircraft to Jordan and whether he was "disturbed" by the Ameri- The former chief of staff of the can decision, he replied: "Well, Israeli forces said that no par- nobody can be very happy about ticular significance should be at- it." tached in connection with his ap- The ambassador was greeted at pointment to the fact that he was the airport by a delegation repre- soldier. WASHINGTON (JTA — Israpl's new ambassador to the United States, Gen. Yitzhak Rabin, ar- rived here at Dulles International Airport Monday night to take up his new duties. To reporters who met him at the airfield, he said he was glad to have been appointed ambassador to this country and saw his new duties as "a heavy responsibility." a senting the staff of the Israel em- Almost every Israeli, he noted, bassy, headed by the charge had military experience. He said d'affaires, Ephraim Evron. Also it was not necessary to stress the present to greet him were leaders importance Israel attached to the of Jewish organizations. "warm and friendly relations which Rabin Tuesday paid his first call now exist" between it and this country and promised that he on Secretary of State Dean Rusk would seek in Washington to make and was welcomed by Rusk on be- Israel stronger, not only militarily, half of the United States govern- ment. but in all fields. The meeting was described as a He remarked that in his pre- vious assignment—as chief of staff courtesy call in keeping with dip- lomatic formalities. —his primary mission had been to prevent war, but when this could not be accomplished, his mission Technion Lab Ruined had been to win the war. He failed in the first, he said, but won in in $350,000 Blaze HAIFA (JTA) A fire swept the second. through the industrial testing lab- The envoy said that the state- oratory of the Haifa Technion Mon- ment by King Hussein on re- day morning causing an estimated straining terrorists using Jordan 1,000,000 pounds ($350,000) in as a base of operations against Israel suggested that "we damage. The laboratory which be- longs to the ministry of trade and achieved something In the mili- industry was wrecked. Its con- tary action last week that re- tents, however, are insured. suited from Arab terrorism." Friday, February 23, 1968-7 THE DETROIT _JEWISH NEWS N.Y. State U. to Hold Classes in Jerusalem but compassion and understanding by the clergy, the spouse, the par- ents and family of the convert as well as those of the spouse and by the religious community and society into which the convert en- ters. Even then, not all converts will rise to the authentic stage. My observations of these 45 con- verts lead me to conclude that the number of such converts can be increased and their quality im- proved if given the opportunity. The task is of course not simple, but the rewards are great." What about the success or fail- ure of the conversions? After re- viewing the "results" mingled with attitudes of converts of all faiths under discussion in this volume, NEW YORK (JTA) — The State operation with the department of University of New York announced education and culture of the Jew- that it will conduct a course this ish Agency. Included in the $950 tuition fee summer on ".Modern Israel" at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. are round trip jet air transporta- The course was arranged in co- tion, lodging, meals and tours. '68s IMMEDIATE DELIVERY See Larry prehensive work of research by a scholar who emerges as an author- ity on the subject he has dealt with. Harry Abram NO FALSE PROMISES — JUST GOOD DEALS "WE SELL BECAUSE OF OUR REPUTATION" JOE MAY CHEVROLET Dr, Gordon states: "An over-all evaluation of the success or failure of these 45 conversions cannot be made easily. The authentic converts should, of coarse, be recorded as successful inasmuch as the mo- tives that compelled them to seek conversion are purely in- trinsic. But what conclusions are to be drawn from the pro forma and marginal converts? If the formal and informal require- ments of Church and Synagogue are the basic criteria, then, I think that these converts leave much to be desired. If, as a con- sequence of conversion, beliefs, values, attitudes, practices and sense of identification have changed only in minor degree, if at all, there is reason to sug- gest that the conversion effort has, in fact, failed insofar as the Church and Synagogue are concerned." We have, therefore, in Dr. Gor- don's "The Nature of Conversion" a realistic approach, a thorough study, an objective view of conver- sions as they relate to all faiths. It is a highly meritorious and com- Nil" LARRY & HARRY 12555 GRAND RIVER near Meyers BR 2-2470 TE 4-4440 LI 8-4119 EASTER IS OILY 50 DAYS AWAY! 11 DAY DELUXE 10 DAY DELUXE ACAPULCO PUERTO RICO FIESTA FIESTA $469 11 Breakfasts 8 Dinners Welcome Cocktail Party Yacht Cruise APRIL 1 1th - 21st 1968 I I I I I ■ $469 10 Breakfasts 4 Dinner Shows Cocktail Party Rum Sissle Party Tips ••• APRIL 12th - 21st 1968 BOOK COUZE NS TRAVEL BR 2-2400 20441 James Commis Hwy. HURRY ! LAST FEW DAYS! . Big AFTER INVENTORY By Special Permission of the Manufacturer Selected Group of 585 Oillossi Suits Regularly $155 to $165 NOW '77" , '82" Also 726 suits that were $110 to $145 NOW $55 to $72.50 ENTIRE STOCK OF ITALIAN KNITS, SUEDE SWEATERS AND BULKY SWEATERS, 1/20FFI Cioth ■ ag Not All Flies Final! 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