THE JEWISH NEWS

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c 1986 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275-520)

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CANDLELIGHTING AT 8:53 P.M.

VOL. LXXXIX, NO. 19

Stamp Of Disapproval

The Torah and Jewish law do not distinguish between one who is born a
Jew and one who has converted to Judaism, but if Israeli Interior Minister
Yitzhak Peretz has his way, Israeli law will make just such a distinction.

Peretz's decision to stamp the identity card of Shoshana Miller, who was
converted to Judaism by a Reform rabbi in America, as "Jewish (Cohverted)"
set off yet another battle in the religious war among Jews this week.

After failing to show cause why Miss Miller should not be granted
automatic citizenship under Israel's Law of Return, Peretz decided that the
Interior Ministry would identify her and others as converts on their identity
papers so that if and when they tried to get married in Israel, the rabbinic
authorities would make sure their conversion was authentic.

The outcry from the Reform and Conservative movements in the U.S.
was swift and sharp. Rabbi Alexander Schindler, president of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, the congregational organization of Reform
Jews, charged that "now the Orthodox establishment in Israel wants to stamp
the equivalent of the yellow star on the identity cards of immigrants to Israel
who have been converted to Judaism." A statement adopted by the executive
council of the Rabbinical Assembly, the association of Conservative rabbis,
called on Prime Minister Peres to immediately rescind this unconscionable
• ruling."
There was also opposition from Orthodox leadership, Rabbi Milton Polin,
the president of the Rabbinical Council of America, an association of
Orthodox rabbis, said his group did not approve of Peretz's action, adding
though that "this does not mean that we recognize conversions done by
Conservative and Reform rabbis." He said the issue of the validity of a
conversion should be investigated if and when the convert applies for
marriage. The former Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Shlomo Goren, was
sharply critical of the new procedure, asserting that the ruling was totally
contrary to Halacha, which forbids placing any stigma on a convert. He said
the new regulation did injustice to most converts since they observe Judaism
more strictly than secular Jews, and he stressed that converts are equal to
other Jews and that "it is a mitzvah to love the convert."

This sad episode is yet another indication of the rift among Jews over
basic religious issues. We find Peretz's action a mischievous attempt to sneak
through a major change in legislation, and his requirement should be
stamped "unacceptable." At the same time we would caution Rabbi Schindler
to put an end to his continuing comparison of Orthodox views to Nazi-like
tactics. Such inflamed rhetoric only diminishes sympathy for his views.

Once more we reject the policy, or non-policy, of shrill accusations and
refusal to listen evidenced on both sides of the religious dispute. We join those
wIlo seek to enhance Jewish unity through the tradition of tolerance, mutual
understanding and respect.

4

Friday, July 4, 1986

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

OP-ED

Moscow To Southfield:
Assimilating The Freedom

MAXINE COLE HILLMAN

Special to The Jewish News

I

t's a long way from Moscow in the
Soviet Union to the elegant shops
on Northwestern Highway in
Southfield, Michigan. But the trip was
worth every step of the way. Nestled
among the wine shops and art gal-
leries is a manicure and pedicure es-
tablishment that caters to the ladies of
the gilded cage.
If you think that spending two
hours to have your nails and toes
polished during the most productive
work hours of the day is a little deca-
dent you're probably right. However,
one person's vanity is another person's
livelihood and the ladies who own this
shop are recently arrived immigrants
from Russia.
When I say recent they may have
been living in this country for the past
ten years. But unlike immigrants of
earlier generations they seem to be
able to assimilate into our society a lot
faster. Like previous newcomers
everywhere they have learned that in
order to make it as quickly into the
society as they possibly can they have
to learn two very important things:
One is the language of the new country
they " are living in and, secondly, the
societal and business rules of the
game. Once they have mastered these
two things they can do just about any-
thing in a capitalistic setting.
The stereotype that Russian
women aren't beautiful is just that, a
stereotype. Each one of the ladies who
owns this shop is more glamorous than
the next, with glowing skin, thick
hair, expertly made up faces and
dangling earrings. Many of the ladies
(although not all) tend to be on the
heavy side which may be attributed to
early diets laden with carbohydrates.

Dr. Hillman is a specialist in training and
development, and is a resident of
Birmingham.

However, as they sit in their shop
they practice and learn how to be
Americans. As each new customer is
attended to a lengthy conversation
will occur about everyday things,
about whether or not or even where to
buy the best sour cream. On one par-
ticular morning the discussion focused
on fashion. A much-sought-after skirt
had just arrived from a store in
Chicago. The skirt had been tracked
from a variety of stores in various
states until just the right size, color
and style was found.
Another part of the conversation
focused on the purchase of a new party

As they sit in their shop
they practice and learn
how to be Americans.

dress. As the description of the dress
progressed a lengthy debate occurred
as to the proper word to describe the
"cuf' — or is it "calf"? — of the dress.
One of the owners of the shop,
with only a hint of an accent — an
accent so faint that one would really be
hard pressed to determine if she had
been born in a foreign country or just
another part of the United States —
started to tell me about her young
daughters. She expressed her concern
in flawless English about the peer
pressure they experienced. As if peer
pressure or whether or not to buy a car
for a 16-year-old were everyday con-
cerns of all Russian parents, and not at
all a new idea.
Each day these ladies work very
hard to understand their new lan-
guage and make a living for their
families. Pretty soon, a for sale sign
will go up in front of one of the fabulous
homes in an adjoining neighborhood
and one of these hardworking
entrepreneurs will purchase it and
move right in. That's the way it's sup-
posed to be, isn't it?!

c_

