OPINION

Election

Continued from Page 7

evidence that demonstrates
that the expression of anti-
Semitism, discrimination in
the home, workplace, and
schools has decreased. But
polls that demonstrate a
marked decrease in anti-
Semitic attitudes may be
reflecting the impact of what
people think is acceptable.

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There is a lesson for Jews in
the Dinkins election,
especially for Jewish
organizations and agencies
that monitor and fight anti-
Semitism. The Anti-
Defamation League, the
American Jewish Congress,
the American Jewish Corn-

mitt/13e. and Jewish Communi-
ty Relations Councils, as well
as other Jewish organizations
and agencies should pay
careful attention to the
Dinkins election polls. The
traditional methods of
measuring anti-Semitism
may not work. It is time, if we
are going to develop effective
mechanisms to combat anti-
Semitism in the 1990s, to con-
duct proper research about
anti-Semitism and explore at-
titudes in more creative ways.
The polls may be telling us
what we want to hear, but
they may not be telling us the
truth about the way non-Jews
really feel about Jews. 0

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14

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1990

raised an observant Reform
Jew. Going to temple on
Shabbat and the High
Holidays was the extent of
our observance. My belief in
God was firm and proud. My
Reform status was a source of
pride for me for I was continu-
ing the traditions of our
forefathers in a way I felt was
adapted to our way of living
and guaranteed that my
children and their children
would be able to enjoy a
Jewry with all the pride I
had.
Now, allow me to clear up
some common misconcep-
tions. The term "Orthodox" is
truly erroneous. The correct
label, if such things are need-
ed, would be "Torah obser-
vant Jew," nothing more,
nothing less. This opens up
the debate to another ques-
tion. Either you believe this
event actually happened or
you don't. If you do, you try to
live life as close as humanly
possible to the laws of Torah.
To be observant of these laws
is to be a Torah observant
Jew.
If, on the other hand, you
don't believe Moses received
the Ibrah on Mt. Sinai, and in
not doing so don't follow the
613 commandments in the
manner proscribed, you aren't
a Ibrah observant Jew. A Jew,
yes. An observant Jew, regret-
tably then, the answer must
be no.
You may be observant to the
tenets of Reform, Conser-
vative, Humanistic or
Reconstructionist Judaism
and that in itself means that
you are observant. But equal-
ly so with those who keep all
of God's commandments? No.
The other point I feel com-
pelled to address is that in no
way, shape, or form does the
frum community "advocate
divisiveness inside of the

Jewish community?' The tru-
ly observant fervently hope
for and work toward the goal
of all Jews being reunited in-
to the one people they are
purported to be: the one peo-
ple the world was to look to
for an example, the one peo-
ple united in their belief of
the one God.
As far as "unity rather than
separation," I hasten to re-
d you who separated from
whom. Until about 200 years
ago, all Jews were observant.
So in summation, Mr.
Kaplan, you most probably
are one fine, proud Jew I don't
question your Jewishness or
your right to worship in any
fashion you feel is right. But
what are secular Jews obser-
vant of?
If you are a "keeper of the
commandments" you are cer-
tainly observant; if not, you
may be observant, but cer-
tainly not "equally so."

Shelby Koss

Oak Park

Yad Ezra Photo
Was Offensive

I was surprised and sadden-
ed to see a photograph of a
Yad Ezra Food Bank customer
in the Ma. 16 issue of The
Jewish News. Suffering
hunger is bad enough
without being subjected to
publicity which can readily
result in embarrassment or
humiliation.
While Yad Ezra's activities
certainly deserve a high pro-
file in the community, this
does not wan-ant disclosing
the identity of food bank reci-
pients. It has always been
standard Jewish practice to
safeguard the dignity and
privacy of the beneficiaries of
communal assistance.

Hilary Drucker

Southfield