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niably Orthodox, shun criticism of other groups.
Recent discussions of intermarriage on the unmoder-
"Much as we talk about what traditional Ha-
ated group soc.culture.jewish have ranged from the
lachah
says, we don't tell people what they
thoughtful and well-informed to the vitriolic. A Reform
ought
to
be doing," Rabbi Menken said. "We
youth-group leader solicits ideas for programming — and
have
endorsements
from many Orthodox rab-
a Messianic Jew hurls bitter accusations, arguing that he is
bis
—
but
we
also
have
Reform rabbis who are
as Jewish as anybody else, despite his Christian beliefs.
encouraging
their
congregants
to look at our
There are several running discussions of Yom Kippur
materials."
rituals and obligations, but also an acrimonious, long-run-
Eric Simon belongs to
ning argument about circumcision as
a Reform congregation
"genital mutilation."
outside Washington,
Some Jews respond with com-
D.C., although he shuns
passion and insight to a woman's
denominational labels.
plea for help in dealing with the
But he has become a de-
possible intermarriage of her
voted reader of the Gene-
daughter
sis lists.
"Be patient," one participant
"I'm excited about the
counsels, "but let her know what
learning that I am doing
your values are." Others respond
with (Genesis)," he said. "I
with a sectarian anger that de-
think Judaism sometimes
nies her Jewishness.
suffers too much from a 'hard-
An Orthodox Jew gently
ening of the categories,' so to
helps a Jewish seeker under-
speak. Sometimes we seem
stand the meaning of kashrut;
so segmented. These lists are
another, taking advantage of
run by knowledgeable Jews in
the unique platform provided
a totally nonjudgmental man-
by Internet, assails lax stan-
ner."
dards for observance even in
Even so, Reform and Conservative groups ad-
parts of the Orthodox community.
mit they need to do more to build an effective cy-
These exchanges reveal a darker side to the virtual
berspace presence.
shtetl than mere rudeness, one that ultimately threat-
"I'm concerned about the imbalance we see,"
ens to drive Jews farther apart: denominational warfare
said Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, director of the
and determined proselytization.
School of Education of the Reform Hebrew
There is a growing concern that so far, at least, Jewish
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in
cyberspace is dominated by a forceful Orthodox brand of
New York.
Judaism. And nobody is more dogged on the Internet than
"I have a deep respect for the thoroughness and
Chabad.
the
rapidity with which the traditional commu-
Chabad's aggressive outreach is a frequent topic of de-
nity
responds to contemporary challenges, espe-
bate on some forums, especially when the group's rep-
cially
with regard to technology," he said. "They
resentatives show up in areas for Reform and
have always been further ahead, and put
Conservative Jews.
more money in these areas, from videotape
New Jersey's Rabbi Weber, who has helped Reform
when that was the new technology, to e-mail. It
rabbis take their first tentative steps onto the informa-
presents a real challenge to us to address that im-
tion superhighway, said that the vaunted "openness" of
balance."
many Orthodox Internet services extends only to their
The non-Orthodox community is beginning to
have
to
say.
willingness to let people hear what they
do
just that, Rabbi Olitzky said. This fall, HUC
"My wife is a rabbi. What would happen if she posted
is
starting
a 15-week on-line course on "how to
something on their (Orthodox) lists?" Rabbi Weber said.
teach
Torah."
Eventually, he hopes to offer a mas-
"They wouldn't even answer, or they would denigrate her
ter's
degree
in
Jewish education — on-line.
as a rabbi. So I see much of what's happening on Inter-
In
the
end,
this
vision of universal scholarship
net as gravitating toward a kind of denominationalism.
may
prove
to
be
the
single most powerful source
It is a good tool for conversion, for them. We don't do that;
of Jewish strength in cyberspace.
we don't go chasing people through cyberspace to get them
"In a way, the Talmud was the Internet of its
to lay tefillin."
day,"
said Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom
Rabbi Kazen, of "Chabad-Lubavitch in Cyberspace,"
Center
in Philadelphia and a leading proponent of
disavows any sinister motives. Groups like his are sim-
progressive
Jewish renewal. "It crosses boundaries;
ply filling a void in Jewish information and education, he
it crosses generations.
said — a void that Reform leaders seem to acknowledge.
"(To be sure) there are aspects of the Internet
"Our objective is to provide an opportunity for any
that
make feuds worse," he noted. "Cut off
person to find out more about Judaism in general
from
body, maybe cut off from spirit, it's easy for
and the Chasidic philosophy in particular," said Rabbi
intellect
to become a weapon of war and bloodi-
Kazen, responding to a question about proselytization.
ness."
"Our objective is to show the beauty of Judaism to any-
But approached with openness and tolerance,
one."
Mr.
Waskow maintained, Jewish cyberspace has
And Rabbi Menken, the Project Genesis director, in-
the
potential
to "restore our ability to create a new
sisted that the services he provides are offered to all Jews,
Judaism." ❑
without conditions. Genesis mailing lists, while unde-

