Remembering Everyone,
Even Our Neighbors

Letters

Experiencing
Christmas

The lesson to be learned: If you
Detroit, who don't get the attention or the pub-
are sure of your Jewish identity,
you shouldn't feel threatened by
munity response. The outpouring of support for licity their plights deserve. There aren't, he said,
Christmas. After all, if you want
massive
efforts
from
well-meaning
temples
to
Dani Brenner's family after her tragic auto ac-
to avoid it, only Israel is a place
Upon reading in your Dec. 16 is- for Jews where Christmas never
cident. Then the support from all over the state reach these Jews.
Our response should be to listen to this man's sue about the Bible Club offered
for Erik Morganmth and his search for a new
concerns.
Community efforts to help feed the in school as well as the objections comes.
heart.
Rachel Kapen
At the same time in a quiet way, several hungry and reach out to other groups should to a Chanukah presentation lest
West Bloomfield
groups were out there in the community work- continue. Many of the Jews who still live in De- the Jewish students be singled
out, I couldn't help recalling my
ing with the underprivileged. Congregation Beth troit or who are our closeted hurting neighbors own experience with the subject.
show
up
from
time
to
time
at
a
soup
kitchen
or
Shalom opened its doors to the homeless for the
It was about 12 years ago when
week, Congregation Shasrey Zedek delivered to receive free clothing. They aren't there to vol- we happened to be living for a
3,000 meals in conjunction with the Salvation unteer. They are there for help.
while in Wheeling, W. Va. My
Indeed, in our Close-Up this issue, attorney younger sons Udi and Avi at- I take exception with the position
Army, Federation's Business and Professional
Women's and Young Adult divisions sent over Robert Dickman of the Salvation Army's Booth tended local private schools when of the Jewish Community Coun-
Christmas approached, and both cil as cited by you on your Page
350 people out in the community to help the un- Legal Clinic has a Jewish client.
It's
important
that
Jewish
volunteers
and
or-
were
included in its celebration 1 story on Dec. 16. I don't see how
derprivileged.
If the community ever deserves a pat on the ganizations make note of the Jewish "clients" practically for the first time in they can justify their position
back for the way it responded to all of these they happen to meet. It's OK to ask a person if their lives. First, admittedly, I felt that in our democracy all groups
he or she is Jewish. It's OK to get a name, and extremely uneasy if not horrified have access to public school build-
needs, it certainly should be this week.
at the thought of my two very ings except religious groups.
We received a letter here at the Jewish News to forward it to a Jewish agency such as Jewish Jewish children participating in Their comment about religious
Family
Service
or
Yad
Ezra.
some time ago from an elderly man in Hunt-
Udi would also be read- groups being exclusionary may
This is a season of giving and remembering carolling.
ington Woods. He, too, thought the outreach and
ing in French from the New Tes- apply to Jews but certainly
support the community shows for those in need those in need. We need to remember that you tament the story of the birth of doesn't apply to Christians. The
was wonderful. He added, however, that he can be Jewish, but also be in need — be it for a Jesus and playing a Christmas Constitution doesn't endorse dis-
melody on his violin in the concert crimination against religion; it
knows dozens of poor Jews, many still living in heart transplant or a new coat for the winter.
of his all-boys high school. By al- only proscribes the establishment
lowing them to participate and of a state religion.
share with their Christian friends,
The fact is that we live in a
they not only didn't compromise predominantly Christian coun-
their own Jewish identity, but cre- try. We as Jews are better off
ated a great deal of warmth and when the majority population
goodwill.
knows and practices the morals
For instance, when Avi's third- of Christianity. Today we have
grade class arrived in front of our more to fear from the amorality
house to sing carols, with me to of secularism. The number of
welcome them was a group of Jews being lost to Christianity
neighbors who had already had pales beside the numbers lost to
a healthy helping of hot, delicious secularism and religious apathy.
Recently, the Anti-Defamation League and latkes replete with the unprece- I would rather have my children
Although Jan. 1 is not the start of the Jewish
new year, many Jews celebrate in some way, other Jewish groups met with a number of Chris- dented experience of witnessing taught by a religious Christian
taking a pulse of where their lives have been and tian organizations in Washington, D.C. At that my lighting the menorah. I said than by a secular Jew.
If we would live our lives as if
conference, which attracted the Rev. Jerry Fal- the blessings and translated
where they are going.
them
for
the
children,
and
then
our
heritage meant something to
well,
founder
of
the
Moral
Majority,
and
Ralph
For all Americans, 1995 is poised to be the
I told them the story of us, there would be little to fear
Reed,
director
of
the
Christian
Coalition,
the
year of religion. Unlike any other time in this
Chanukah. The teacher in- from the Christian influence on
century, religion has been injected consciously evangelical groups recognized that phrases like structed the carollers to deviate our children.
"the Christianization of America" are threaten- from the usual and wish us "a
into national- debates on a host of issues.
Joel K. Letvin
Prayer in school, tax vouchers for private ing to Jews.
happy Chanukah, too."
West Bloomfield
Explaining that they were only acknowledg-
schools and abortion are a few examples that
At Udi's concert, where I was
ing
Christian doctrine through evangelical ac- almost the only Jewish parent,
u) keep surfacing.
Religion and religious institutions are more tivities, they said they would be more conscious intertwined with the traditional
talked about than ever. That's something that of what their activities mean to all Americans. Christmas songs were a couple
we favor. Religion can play a powerful positive That's welcome news in an increasingly diverse of Chanukah songs which I felt
were done on my behalf.
and divided nation.
force, shaping the lives of youth and adults.
Afterward, I wrote an article In Phil Jacobs' Editor's Notebook
always
has
played
a
central
role
in
Religion
However, we have deep suspicions over the
for
the local newspaper relating of Dec. 2, he describes the sad-
:: misrepresentation of religion's role in the polit- American life, and we don't expect that to change. my first-time Christmas experi- ness of elderly people dying alone.
That's as simple as the "In God We Trust" on our ences, and the article generated What was described is indeed an
e; ical debate.
The fact is, religion is a personal matter. currency and the prayers that open the daily ses- an incredible amount of warmth unfortunate reality of death for
rn Speaking to God is a private choice that should sion of the U.S. Congress.
and goodwill in this very WASPY untold numbers of patients both
in hospitals as well as in nursing
America
is
a
country,
however,
founded
on
re-
community.
Lu not be forced on anyone — even under the guise
homes.
ligious
freedom.
Entering
religious
beliefs
into
Thus,
I
turned
a
seemingly
un-
I— of being "a moment of silence."
Numerous Jewish ill people of
We also need to be ever-vigilant to the need of public debates is precarious. We encourage those tenable situation into a mutual- all ages languish with their sick-
ly
enlightening
as
well
as
who
do
so
to
understand
the
diversity
of
Amer-
safeguarding America as a nation for those of all
DYING page 21
rewarding one.
ica, and the many traditions that it nurtures.
faiths.

It's difficult to remember such a week of com-

Little To Fear From
Christian Influence

Year Of Religion On Horizon
For U.S. Jewish Community

Dying Without A
Religious Sendoff

4

c