"This promotes assimilation more Above:
in Bloomfield Township and are mem-
than anything else," Ms. Stein said. "All Rabbi Arnie
bers of Shir Tikvah. As part of the con-
and the
these relationships with blacks and Sleutelberg
gregational exchange, the Katzes
Rev. Nicholas Hood
churches, what are we getting from planted a peace tree. invited Plymouth Church members
this?"
Frances Clemmons, Shirley Scott and
Ms. Stein doesn't claim any exper- Below right:
Gregory and Eugene Whiting for Shab-
Early:
tise in the matter. But she is open in Kevin
bat dinner. They exchanged phone
Oakland University
speaking about her skepticism regard- professor and
numbers and are working to find time
ing black-Jewish relations — a less- Plymouth Church
in their busy schedules to form strictly
than-popular view in the politically congregant.
social plans.
correct 1990s.
Mr. Katz views the churches and syn-
Ms. Stein believes messages like the Rev. Far-
agogues as most appropriate places to strength-
rakhan's tear apart communities, but she con-
en relations between groups which weakened,
cedes that not all blacks share the minister's
in his opinion, following the
sentiment. However, she feels Jews need to fo-
death of the Rev. Martin
cus more on their own issues rather than pur-
Luther King Jr.
suing other groups for improved relations.
"Following Dr. King's assas-
"We keep hearing about continuity. How do
sination, some concluded that
you teach continuity to your children when you
the civil rights movement need-
go into churches and pray with Christians and
ed to take on a separatist di-
then call yourself a Jew? We cannot do for every-
rection. Some believe this was
body and we do not think enough of ourselves
a healthy departure, but I don't
(as Jews).
believe we have the depth of re-
"I'm not saying not to be cordial or do business
lationships any longer," Mr.
with others. But socializing and mixing of reli-
Katz said. "Dr. King reached
gion will lead to assimilation," Ms. Stein said.
out to people of faith. He forced
people of good will to deal with
altimore native Joe Katz grew up on the
the dichotomy of religion and
outskirts of a mostly black neighborhood.
inequality within its structures.
He was active in the civil rights move-
"We cannot simply count on
ment in the 1960s. He and his family live
leaders anymore though. We
B
need folks who need each other to communicate
on a human level."
The religious structure should act as a spring-
board, Mr. Katz said, so then "people can just
get together and watch the fights or go to the
ballgame. That's the level we really want to get
to — just doing what people do."
When speaking of the Shabbat exchange, Mr.
Katz recalls children playing together, beef ten-
derloin with a bearnaise sauce, his wife's famous
dried-cherry dressing and lingering conversa-
tion which almost made the group late for ser-
vices.