THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, December 18, 1981 5
Joy of 'Choosing Judaism,' Told by Inspired Convert
--4.
Appended to an inspired
expanation of the joy ac-
quired in "Choosing
Judaism" are these mes-
sages entitled "What Lydia
Kukoff's Audiences Have
Said About Her":
"For 90 minutes I sat and
listened, sensing Lydia's
secure assurance in the
Jewish faith. In my opinion,
this is the level of inner
peace that all converts
should try to achieve with
Judaism. Because anyone
who can possess such a true
thorough sense of
shness, regardless of
wlic:ther it comes from birth
or choice, is in every sense of
the word a Jew."
"Hearing Lydia was
exhilarating, essential, and
made me smile. It reaf-
firmed how happy I am that
I'm becoming a Jew."
"Hearing Lydia Kukoff
. speak made me realize
that all the thoughts and
fears which I was keep-
ing to myself are not re-
ally that unusual. In fact,
they were the very same
thoughts everyone else
had. Lydia made me feel a
part of the Jewish
people."
poi ty7-Psoip,0
Sympathy .
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KEREN KAYEN1ETH LEISRAEL
•
These comments are de-
scriptive of the impressions
inevitably gained from
reading "Choosing
Judaism" (Union of Ameri-
can Hebrew Congregations
Press). It gives an indica-
tion of the enthusiasm gen-
erated by a convert, her in-
spiration which will un-
doubtedly inspire her read-
ers who become her admir-
ers.
She was born a Baptist
from Italian parents. She
began her attachment. to
Judaism while in high
school. Then she began to
attend services in
synagogues, to study, to
gain an attachment which
made her a convert out of
conviction.
Lydia Kukoff, now hap-
pily married to and sharing
her husband's Jewish devo-
tions, had gone to a Conser-
vative rabbi to be taught the
Jewish tenets. In accor-
dance with established
tradition he attempted to
dissuade her, indicating the
difficulties encountered in
Judaism. She went through
the prescribed courses, was
admitted to the Jewish fold
in a mikva and with all pre-
scribed ceremonials. Now
she is the advocate of devo-
tion and adherence to the
adopted faith.
Her _
"Choosing
Judaism," published by
the Reform Union of
American Hebrew Con-
gregations, takes the
reader through all the de-
tails of linkage with Jews
and Judaism, obser-
vance of all the holidays,
acceptance of all the
duties.
The contrasts with non-
Jewish observances and the
devotion to the adopted are
of immense interest and
Lydia Kukoff's story will
serve as an inspiration for
all who seek comfort as
adoptees of the Jewish faith.
Of special interest is the
author's accumulated list of
eminent people who have
adopted the Jewish faith.
There is the story of Aime
Palliere, the French scholar
who adopted the Jewish
faith. Some may remember
his appearance here at
Temple Beth El, more than-
50 years ago, when he de-
scribed his devotion to his
adopted faith in an address
in French in the Temple
Beth El sanctuary on
Woodward Avenue.
"Aime Palliere (1875-
1928) French writer and
theologian. He was born
into a devout Catholic
family. After a chance
visit to the Lyons
Synagogue on Yom Kip-
pur, he was drawn to
Judaism and wanted to
become a Jew. However,
his adviser, the Italian
liberal, Rabbi E. Be-
namozegh, convinced
him to live as a Jew with-
out full conversion to
Judaism.
"He became a spiritual
guide to the Paris Liberal
Synagogue and the French
Reform movement. For
some time, he was president
of the World Union of
Jewish Youth."
WARDER CRESSON
Then there is the interest-
ing historic anecdote about
Warder Cresson:
"Cresson (1798-1860) was
the earliest known United
States proselyte. Though
born into a Philadelphia
Quaker family, Cresson was
profoundly affected by his
relationship with the early
Reform Jewish leader, Isaac
Leeser. In 1844, he decided
to visit' what is now Israel
and, prior to his departure,
was named honorary U.S.
consul to Jerusalem.
"Though the title was
withdrawn before he
reached Jerusalem (cer-
tain U.S. government of-
ficials considered Cres-
son a maniac), Cresson
converted to Judaism in
Jerusalem in 1848.
"Returning to Philadel-
phia to settle his affairs, he
was declared insane by a
court at the instigation of
his wife and son. He ap-
pealed the case and won.
"He moved to Palestine in
1852 as Michael Boaz Is-
rael, wrote extensively for
the balance of his life, be-
came a prominent member
of the Sephardic commun-
ity, and was buried on the
Mount of Olives."
The list of the famous
Christian converts listed in
"Choosing Judaism" is an
important account of non-
Jews who became Jewish
out of conviction. The list is
worth recording: Abraham,
Ruth, Aquila and Onkelos,
Flavius Clemens, Kahina,
King Bulan of Khazaria,
Bodo - Eleazar, Obadiah,
Catharine Weigel, Lord
George Gordon, Setsuzo
Kotsuji and Nahida Ruth
Lazarus.
"Choosing Judaism" is
more than a personal
story. It is an inspired
tale. It attains great value
as a guide for those seek-
ing admission to Jewish
ranks.
In her "A Closing Word,"
Mrs. Kukoff has a marvel-
ous message of enthusiasm
for herself and those who
enroll in Jewishness. This is
how she acclaims her role:
"When all is said and
done, this book is about
`owning' Judaism. If read-
ing it has made you feel that
a little larger piece of
Judaism belongs to you,
then I am happy.
"If you have come to
Judaism as an adult, or are
in the process of making
that decision, I hope that
you have found words with
which to express some of
your feelings. Also, I hope
you've come to realize that
hundreds, thousands, of
others have had those exact
feelings. You are not alone.
"The Jewish people needs
you. With time, commit-
ment, and learning, you will
take your place in the
Jewish community.
"If you are the Jewish
friend, spouse, fiance, or
parent-in-law of one who
has come to Judaism, I
am deeply grateful to you
for caring enough to read
this book. I hope that I
have sensitized you to
what ig in the hearts of
many men and women
who choose to cast their
lot with that of the Jewish
people, who freely elect
to share our destiny and
our heritage.
"Your loved ones need
your support and your
Jewish literacy. Please
don't let them down.
"We have an opportunity
to forge a rare and magnifi-
cent alliance today. Jewish
tradition tells us: 'The con-
verts of a generation are the
witnesses of, and to, the
generation.' Those who
choose Judaism are witnes-
ses to the beauty and value
of Jewish tradition. They
can see born-Jews as we
cannot see ourselves. And
they can give that vision of
ourselves back to us.
"Born-Jews have the sec-
urity of having been born-
in, but often do not have the
new eyes to see what they
were born into. We can help
each other. We convert
non-Jews to Judaism, but
we must also convert born-
Jews to Judaism — the joy-
ous, positive, celebratory
enrichment of life that
Judaism embodies.
"We must create a
community of Jewish
learners, stressing the es-
sentials, the doing, the
spiritual fulfillment of
living a Jewish life.
DETROIT OLDS DEALERS
"In the final analysis, you
see, we are all Jews by
choice. All those who choose
to live a Jewish life are Jews
by choice. It's just that some
of us were born to Jewish
parents.
"Together, then, let us
make that lifelong com-
mitment to live and learn as
Jews, to know the richness
of our Jewish birthright.
"Let the time come speed-
ily, and may we together,
bring it to be, when all Jews
can say, understand fully,
and mean:
How fortunate are we,
How good is our portion.
In this fashion a convert
becomes a teacher, an in-
spirer, one who lends glory
to a faith adopted out of con-
viction. Thus the would-be
converts and those inaugu-
rated into Jewish ranks at-
tain the dignity of their
choosing.
"Choosing Judaism" is
part of the series of UAHC
books edited by former De-
troiter Rabbi Daniel Syme.
—P.S.
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