THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, November 18, 1977 21
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
. .. and Me'
Editor-in-Chief
Emeritus, JTA
, (Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.)
.
CONVERSIONS TO JUDAISM: A number of Conserva-
tive rabbis from various cities, impressed by the fact that I
brought out in one of my last columns that some 1.4 million
Jews in this country are now involved in mixed marriages,
have asked me to clarify the stand of the Conservative rab-
binate with regard to such marriages. I have also' been
asked the same by the Rabbinical Assembly, the 1.000-
member organization of the Conservative rabbis.
Conservative rabbis do not perform mixed marriages;
however ; the majority of them are hospitable to, and par-
ticipate in conversion programs when the non-Jewish mem-
ber of the marrying couple is willing to be converted to
Judaism. They perform the conversion, generally after six
months of teaching Judaism to those who want to be con-
verted to the Jewish faith. A man must undergo circum-
cision and immersion and a woman must undergo the
mikva ritual. The couple must pledge to raise their children
as Jews. The converted non-Jew—known as "ger" in
ancient times—is then considered as a Jew accepted by the
Jewish community in every respect.
When a Conservative - rabbi officiates at a marriage cere-
mony of such a couple, he thus does not perform a mixed
marriage between a Jew and a non-Jew, but a marriage
between a Jew and one who became a Jew. This makes quite
a difference. The Jewish religion has always recognized a
proselyte as a "ger," although ancient Jewish traditions
made a difference between "ger tzedek"—proselytes of
righteousness—and "ger sheker," insincere proselytes. The
first were those who have asked to be admitted to Israel
because of a genuine desire to adopt Judaism. The second
group—also full converts- to Judaism—were not considered
"genuine"; outward circumstances rather than love of
Judaism have influenced them. Today this distinction no
longer exists:
INSTRUCTIONS TO RABBIS: Essentially, the leaders of
the Rabbinical Assembly prefer that there be ,no inter-
marriages, but they feel that if such marriages exist, Con-
servative rabbis should make every effort to make the mar-
ried couple Jewish so they may raise their children as
Jews.
The Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law
and Standards has ruled specifically that none of its 1,000
members—or of the Cantors Assembly—may officiate at
the marriage of a Jew to an un-converted non-Jew; also
that he may not co-officiate with any other clergyman. Also
that no Conservative synagogue may be used for such a
marriage.
President- of the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Stanley
Rabinowitz\ of Washington, D.C., urged that Conservative
rabbis should state their view against intermarriage and
should work to prevent such occurrences. However, when
in spite of all efforts, an intermarriage takes place, he con-
sidered it in the best interest of the community to win these
people over to Jewish life. He advocated that rabbis meet
with the couple regularly and persuade them to attend clas-
ses on Jewish laws and traditions, and services.
ANCIENT HISTORY: Intermarriage between Jews- and
converts to Judaism is not a new phenomenon in Jewish
history. It goes way back to the biblical time--to the time of
Moses, to the time of Ruth, to the time of King Solomon
who married an Egyptian princess and received Gezer as
dowry. Legend has it that King David was a descendant of
a Gentile woman who declared herself as joining the people
and God of Israel.
Weight Watchers
Holiday Recipes
The local Weight Watcher
organization offers recipes
to be enjoyed during
Hanuka or all year long.
Kosher cooks are advised to _
use caution in' preparing
some of the recipes, which
may require the use of
pareve ingredients to pre-
vent the recipes from
becoming treif.
RICE LATKES
3 medium eggs, separated
11/2 cups cooked enriched rice
3 ounces Cheddar cheese,
grated
1 /4 cup plus 2 tablespoons skim
mile
3 tbsps. flour
1 tbsps. dehydrated onion
flakes, reconstituted in 1 tbsps.
water
Salt and white pepper to taste
Parsley and radishes to garnish,
optional
1.
111;
...1111
Israeli dance instructor,
Uri Segal, will speak on
"The Development of the
Israeli Dance," at the next
meeting of Moadon Ivri
Hebrew club; 3 p.m. Sunday
at the 10 Mile Branch of the
Jewish Community Center.
The lecture will be accom-
panied with demonstrations.
Typewriters Selectric etc.
'400
Add Type
342.-7800 399-8333 342-1221
Ostomy-surgery
no ban to .a full social life
The person who has had a colostomy
or other ostomy operation can—and
should- -expect a normal business,
family, and social life. As professional
pharmacists who stock Hollister ostomy
products, we can help assure this per-
son's comfort, convenience, and peace
of mind.
Hollister has a one-piece, disposable
appliance for each of the ostomies-
including urinary diversion. All are
made with an odor-barrier film that ban-
ishes fear of offending.' All are available
with Hollister's exclusive Karaya Seal
Ring, a •natural gum cushion that sur-
rounds the stoma and guards underly-
ing skin against irritation. The Karaya
Seal also simplifies rehabilitation for
the person who has already suffered
skin damage.
We have a Hollister product for every
ostomy need:
SHERMAN SURGICAL
SUPPLY
Beat egg yolks in a medium
bowl; add rice, cheese, milk,
flour, onion flakes, salt and
pepper. Inseparate bowl, beat
egg whites until stiff but not
dry; ford into rice mixture. Drop
by spoonfuls onto a large pre-
heated non-stick skillet which
has been treated with a release
agent. Cook until bubbles
appear; turn and brown on
other side. Devide evenly. Gar-
nish platter with parsley and
radishes, if desired. Serve
immediately. Makes 3 servings.
Each serving is equivalent to: . .
1 egg, 1 serving chioce group, 1
once hard chees, Yia serving milk
and 3 serving; something extra.
13 South Main Street
Clawson, Mi. 48017
585-0555
Ask about our Medicare program
Hasp
Maxwell House
KASHA VARNISHKAS
2 cups water
2 ounces dry medium buck-
wheat groats (kasha)
2 ounces diced onion
2 packets instant chicken broth
and seasoning mix
1 cup cooked enriched bow-tie
noodles
2 tbsps. plus 2 tsps. margarine
(pareve) •
Salt and white pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400°F. In a
saucepan - combine water,
groats, onion and broth mix;
cook 10 minutei. Remove from
heat. Stir in remaining
ingredients; turn into 1-quart
casserole; cover and bake 15
minutes. Divide evenly. Makes 4
servings.. Each serving is equiva-
lent to: 1 serving choice group,
1 /4 ounce limited vegetable, 1/2
serving something extra and 2
servings fat.
Lo-Cal Chicken
By NORMA BARACH
(Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.)
Calorie watching is some-
thing most of us need to do.
This week's recipe is a low-
calorie way to prepare
chicken.
During the last centuries of the biblical period a large
number of non-Jews were attracted to the Jewish religion.
Beyond the biblical law that all males living in a Jewish
household must be circumcized, the Bible nowhere men- 8 whole chicken breasts, split in
tions a procedure of formal conversion. Pre-Christian Israel
half
1 lb. mushrooms; whole
endeavored tZi convert the heathen. and succeeded in a
large onion, cut in rings
large measure, but Jewish missionary activity had prac- 4 V tomatoes,
cut in eights
tically ceased in the early Christian centuries. In some 2 tbsps. low-cal pareve
margarine
countries, where Christianity became the official religion.
Oregano
Jews were forbidden to make proselytes.
Seasoning salt
Jewish history tells of important personalities in Jewish.
life who descended from families converted to Judaism.
, In a large Teflon skillet
Rabbi Akiba is reported to be one of them. The great Jew-
brown mushroorn-S and
ish teachers of the Talmudic Period, Shemaya and Abta-
onions in margarine. Place
lion. were descendants from proselyte families. Hillel was
chicken breasts, meaty side
one of their disciples. History knows also of aristocratic
Cown, and brown. Turn
non-Jews who converted to Judaism. One of them, Count _ over. Add- tomatoes and
Valentine Potocki, a Polish nobleman. changed to the Jew- spices and cook over low
ish religion in the 17th Century. He died as a martyr, heat 45 minutes or until
chicken is tender.
burned at the stake.
IM IX X V 1
IBM
Israeli Dancing Focus_ of Meeting
Hospitality is getting old iriends together fora social game.
Everyone laughs, talks, reminisces. Helping things along
are your good food and rich, mellow Maxwell House Coffee.
5 - Cup after cup, Maxwell House is always robust and
cheering. So put in a supply of Instant or Regular Maxwell House
Coffee and roll out the red carpet.
"Good TO The Last Dropre
1,
Glop,
49.
K
CERTIFIED
KOSHER
QMPAL MON
A living tradition in Jewish homes for over half a century
X IA
A! X MI r.r r
X WWWWWW ft X a* IV t.. .X
if A k AC
A' X S i i XIX
Vitt.' • XXXI"
"At