Community Views

Editorial Notebook

The Supreme Court:
Are We Neutering Jews?

Forget Class Struggle,
Everyone Can Help

LEONARD FEIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

PHIL JACOBS EDITOR

What exactly do 50 percent — as evidence of marriage statistic into a soaring
we mean by "di our failure to forge strong trajectory.
versity"?
Jewish identities. So we conclude
That is called "making it in
Such a question that we need better Jewish America." It increases our diffi-
brings to mind education and more trips to Is- culty in keeping Jews Jewish,
the curious state rael. But it's entirely possible but that's a healthier problem to
ment in the New that the state of our Jewish iden- confront.
York Times report tity is a minor element in the in-
But, back to the subject at
on President termarriage rate. Survey data hand, I wish for a different kind
Clinton's appoint- show a consistent increase in the of permanent outsiderness. Both
ment of Judge Stephen Breyer readiness of Christian Ameri- Justice Ginsburg and Judge
to the Supreme Court. In nomi- cans to contemplate marrying Breyer are "moderates." They ap-
nating Judge Breyer,
stated the paper,
"Mr. Clinton ... de-
cided against expand-
ing diversity on the
bench."
Judge Breyer, as
readers of this column
are certain to know, is
Jewish. But from the
early reports, it ap- •
pears that other
Americans may nev-
er know it, not be-
cause his background
is a secret of any kind,
but because, appar-
ently, it is irrelevant
to America.
My, how far we
have come since the
days of Justice Louis
Brandeis!
I suppose it is good
that we have reached
such a time, although
it should be noted
in passing that if
Jewishness is not
among the compo-
nents of diversity, we
no longer can right-
eously claim that
there's a "Jewish
seat" on the Court
that wants filling.
That's of course
irrelevant now, but,
in years to come,
when Judge Breyer
and Ruth Bader
Ginsburg have com-
pleted their service
on the Court, we might want to Jews. We no longer are perceived pear not to be cast in the mold of
keep it in mind.
as having horns, and the pro- the great Jewish justices of an
Still, it comes as something of portion of Christian Americans earlier time.
a shock to learn that for all prac- who would rend their garments
Has our Jewishness become
tical and cultural purposes, if their child announced being irrelevant to America as Ameri-
"Jew" doesn't count under "di- engaged to a Jew declines steadi- can Jewry's tradition of commit-
versity" anymore.
ly.
ment to social justice has become
This is a bit of an irony. Most
less relevant to us?
of us are probably pleased that
Or, is it good that Christians
we've reached such a state: that, If Jews no longer are no longer perceive Jews as sub-
so far as the "others" are con-
cerned, our Jewishness is irrel-
"subversive," they versive?
It may not be good that Jews
evant. At the same time, we
no
are "subversive" in
may not be about the longer
press for its increased relevance
best sense: undermining
to ourselves. We want Jews to
the status quo, pressing always
anything that
pay attention to their Jewish-
for justice. Not good for America
ness, while we want others to ig-
matters very much. and not good for the Jews, since
nore it. But it's hard to have it
if that is not what we are about,
both ways, as a brief digression
we may not be about anything
on intermarriage shows.
Given the number of Chris- that matters very much — and
By and large, we take the high tians versus the number of Jews, both America and the
rate of intermarriage — about one does not need a large in- New York Times may be right
crease in "their" readiness to not to include us when defining
Leonard Fein is an author living
marry "us" to launch the inter- "diversity." ❑
in Boston.

Outside of the brain trust isn't sitting behind
Jewish commu- a closed door, counting piles of
nity, one of the excess cash.
most common
Just the opposite. While I
compliments haven't always seen eye-to-eye
heard is the one with Hillel leadership on vari-
about how we ous issues, I'm not the one ly-
do such a good ing in bed at night staring at
job of taking the ceiling, wondering if the
care of each oth- teacher payroll will be met.
er. Even our enemies point to Every day-school president and
this as something that makes executive director in this area
the Jewish community a com- intimately understands the
munity. Sounds wonderful, feeling one gets in the pit of his
doesn't it? The truth is, it takes stomach come certain payroll
millions of dollars for such car- times.
ing to happen, with a great deal
There are the times we nev-
of those funds coming from a er hear about. The occasions —
small core of people.
many, I might add — when
This is true for many of our wealthy people write check af-
organizations, be they schools, ter check so that the payroll is
outreach groups or Federation met.
itself. With almost all the or-
A close friend and a leader of
ganizations that provide ser- an organization in this com-
vices to Jews, there are munity told me he had heard
complaints that these groups complaints from people who felt
are controlled by a minority, are they were being excluded be-
elitist, that the most important cause they weren't of a certain
decisions are made by the financial level. As soon as the
biggest givers.
ones complaining the most
The verdict on the Hillel Day were shown what they could do
School board elections is in. The in terms of hours alone, most
emergence of an alternative backed off
slate of officers and directors
There are wealthy people
wasn't necessarily such a bad who give to Federation, and
thing. But at the risk of sound- there are those who say it is an
ing self-righteous, I think some organization only for the elite.
issues need to be discussed and Yet when those complainers are
cleared up.
asked to give $18 or volunteer
The Hillel situation came on Super Sunday, go find them.
about because a group of par-
There are those who say that
ents felt it was being left out of school curriculum should be of
the decision making on issues the highest level with the best
ranging from small, day-to-day teachers, but then are ready to
operations at the school to ones slam doors and to stomp when
of extreme importance.
they see the price tag involved.
But let's bring the real stuff
The price tag, folks, is high.
out on the table. The people This community needs its
who have the means not only wealthy Jews to help. Period. If
- to pay Hillel's rising tuition but part of that wealth means ex-
also to give more money (in tra honors and more responsi-
some cases in the tens of thou- bility, so that more children can
sands) and more volunteer be educated, then the honors
hours probably have the are a small price.
power to control decisions at
On the flip side, the rich need
Hillel. And well it should be to be humble and work togeth-
that way.
er with others, be they middle
There are people who can't class, upper-middle class, fam-
afford the existing tuition struc- ilies in need, whatever. A vital
ture. There are those who can't part of being wealthy is reach-
donate the extra money for ing and grabbing the hand of
scholarships and other uses. the person not as rich and
These people are not any less pulling him up to your level of
than anyone else. Every parent, pride and participation. Maybe
we hope, is a caring parent.
the Hillel parents on this al-
But those who can give the ternative slate just wanted to
money should have an oppor- be asked about certain deci-
tunity to help decide how it is sions.
spent. Thank goodness some of
There is no reason why con-
these people step forward for sideration for others cannot be
Jewish organizations in a day encouraged to foster better co-
and age when it's becoming operation. But until there's
philanthropically fashionable more community money to go
to donate to the university foot- to Jewish educational institu-
ball team, the ballet, the food tions, and as long as we want
bank, the museum, AIDS pro- the best teachers, the finest
jects, heart funds and every oth- equipment and top facilities,
er charity that's out there.
then there's nothing wrong
I guarantee that the Hillel STRUGGLE page 8