4
Friday, March 22, 1985
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
THE JEWISH NEWS
Serving Detroit's Metropolitan Jewish Community
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OP-ED
One Personal Dilemma
Over 'Who Is A Jew?'
BY FLORA L. CASTLEMAN
Special to The Jewish News
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Lc) 1985 by The Dettoit Jewish News (US PS 275-520)
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CANDLELIGHTING AT 6:27 P.M.
VOL. LXXXVII, NO. 4
A Sign Of Hope?
The thinking among Soviet Jewry advocates is, quite simply, that the
current shift in power in the USSR is a positive sign because the situation
couldn't have gotten much worse under Chernenko. He ruled for only 13
months, most of that time in poor health, but he will be remembered as being
in'power when Soviet Jewish emigration dipped drastically, and repression
and harrassment of Soviet Jews increased dramatically.
So Jewish officials are anxiously seeking to detect any gesture or signal
to indicate a softening of the Soviet hard line towards its Jewish citizens.
Jewish officials expressed caution but some were pleased by indications that
Mikhail Gorbachev will be seeking economic reforms and technological
improvements, which could lead to negotiations with the West. These
negotiations could give the U.S. the leverage needed to use human rights as a
bargaining chip. But all of that is wishful thinking for now.
Others say Gorbachev needs time, perhaps a year or more, to consolidate
his power base before initiating human rights reforms. He may present a
softened, more polished veneer but the true gauge will be to see if the doors of
emigration are allowed to open and if treatment of Soviet Jews improves.
If Gorbachev truly represents what is being called a new wave of
enlightened leadership in the USSR, he will seize the opportunity to ease the
suffering of an ancient people. It is all of our jobs to monitor his actions, keep
up the pressure and pray for progress.
Creche And The Nazis
No issues have hit closer to home in recent years than Christmas
Nativity displays on public property and publicity-seeking forays of the SS
Action Group. It is therefore ironic that our local Nazis were the catalyst for
this week's decision to ban all types of displays in front of the City-County
Building.
The decision by the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority, in the
wake of the Nazis' request to demonstrate at City Hall on Adolf Hitler's
birthday, leads to some interesting parallels. Will our school boards take
similar action when an "undesirable" religious group asks to take advantage
of "equal access" legislation? Are those undesirables cult groups, followers of
Rev. Moon, Catholics, or Jews?
We certainly do not advocate the Nazis' confrontational tactics, nor do we
applaud the adoption of similar attitudes by anti-Nazi groups who have
invaded Detroit City Council meetings in recent weeks. But it might serve
the public welfare to encourage those who oppose religious symbols to ask for
equal time in December in front of the Dearborn, Madison Heights,
Birmingham, Oak Park and Southfield city halls. Public displays of religion
might then return to individual homes and religious institutions — where
they belong.
The intrusion of religion into our government-sponsored institutions is a
highly-emotional issue. City hall Nativity scenes and prayer or religious
meetings in the public schools may seem beneficial to the Christian majority,
but are frightening to all religious minorities. Supporters of "religious
intrusion" should be asked: "Whose religion?"
As I read and reread recent arti-
cles in The Jewish News — "Shiksa,"
"Judenstat to Judenrat," and "Radio
Rabbi." — I became painfully aware of
the very essence of the Jewish . com-
munity. What is a shiksa? What is a
Jew? Who is a Jew and who is not?
Which Jew is more religious, the
Chasidic or the non-practicing Jew?
Who, what, and why? All that was
lacking in my thought process was
when and where. That I answered my-
self — America, Israel and Rabbi
Kahane.
How does all this tie in together?
Recently, I accompanied my husband
to his non-Jewish doctor. At the con-
clusion of the examination, the doctor
looked at me and said my husband was
a product of "in-breeding." His medical
problems were inherited because his
family has been "pure" Jews. I was
shocked. Right away I thought,
"Anti-Semite!" I was mad. But the doc-
tor was correct. So, what is a Jew? If he
is "pure," he carries not only the reli-
gion but the complete medical history
of the Jewish people, the good and the
bad genes.
Who is a Jew? Am I a Jew? It de-
pends on which rabbi one talks to. My
mother was a non-Jew. She passed
away when I was four years old. I was
raised as a Jew, with many years of
religious training (Temple Beth-El,
Adas Shalom and United Hebrew
School). I have married a Jewish man
and maintained a Jewish household
for 26 years. I was raised in my father's
faith. Yet I have not converted accord-
ing to the laws of the Torah. Our chil-
dren are not considered Jewish accord-
ing to these laws. Would Hitler have
decided I am a Jew or would he have
spared my life, considering me a non-
Jew? So who is a Jew? If a person
wants to be a Jew, the conversion must
be done according to Halachah. If it is
not, why bother. To be Jewish one
Flora Castleman is a Howell, Mich.
housewife.
must base his or her life on the Torah
for that is who a Jew is.
Why be a Jew? Why would a per-
son become a Jew? What is in it for
them to even consider it? Why would a
gentile marry a Jewish man? Look at
his genes! Look at the history of the
Jews! If she converts then she is giving
up what her parents have taught her.
She is compromising her beliefs. Her
children will now be Jews and not ac--
cepted by all the members-of her fam-
ily or her community.
If she doesn't give up her religion
but chooses to remain in the Jewish
community, her children are not ac-
Who is a Jew? AmI a Jew?
It depends on which rabbi
one talks to.
cepted by either side. There are prej-
udices in the Jewish community.
When should a Jew be a Jew? On
the High Holy Days? When an oppres-
sor comes along? When it is conven-
ient? It is not convenient when apply-
ing to predominantly Christian
schools or for jobs. When is a Jew a
Jew? How many Jews forget the Sab-
bath and are out eating pork on Friday
night? Yet, some of these very same
Jews will be the best dressed on the
High Holy Days. God sees the inner
man, not the outer man.
Where should a Jew be a Jew?
Rabbi Kahane believes there can only
be "pure" Jews in Israel. Those who
have converted according to the Torah
are "pure." Is he right? Many Jews in
the United States are compromising
their faith.
If a gentile wants to marry a
Jewish man and she converts, based on
the Torah, and raises her children in
the Jewish faith, then she is no longer
a non-Jew. She has given her children
a gift, a different set of genes, and she