PLURALISM page 30

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while the Sephardim in the Mus-
lim world continued the practice
through the time of the estab-
lishment of the State of Israel.
Even the system of decentralized
authority of individual rabbis to
decide Halachah in their com-
munities seems to be an implicit
acceptance of pluralism. And, of
course, American Judaism over
the past 150 years has become
the quintessential example of a
pluralistic Jewish community.
So it's clear we Jews have no
problem creating many different
groups; even the Chasidim have
innumerable infighting sects. The
Satmar Rebbe was once asked,
'Which religion is closest to Ju-
daism?" His reply was "Lubav-
itcher." This kind of thinking
excludes from Judaism the vast
majority of Jews, including main-
stream Orthodoxy, and is ex-
tremely detrimental to the
survival of the Jewish people.
The real goal of pluralism
should not be merely the creation
or maintenance of many groups
which don't like each other. Real
pluralism is being able to honestly
say something like, "I'm a Hu-
manistic Jew because it's right
for me, the individual: It describes
what I believe and its services sat-
isfy my emotional needs. You're
a Reform (Conservative, Reon-
structionist, Orthodox, etc.) Jew
because it's right for you as an in-
dividual. And there's nothing
wrong with you not being what
I am.
In a real sense, real pluralism
is allowing other Jews to decide
for themselves which is the most
satisfying expression of their Jew-
ish identity. It may be easier for
rabbis and temple presidents to
say, "I am X because it is the
right/true Judaism," but the at-
titude of most lay Jews is much
closer to real pluralism. After all,
they have little problem pro-
claiming one or both of their opin-
ions; why should anyone else?

children was up to 80 percent.
How do these figures add up ac-
cording to Mr. Meyers? Does he
assume that all those going to day
schools were from more religious
homes?
Furthermore, I submit the fol-
lowing Almost all the immigrants
from the turn of the century on
had very religious parents or
grandparents at home. Why was
it that they almost entirely left the
ways of their parents for the Amer-
ican melting pot — and only a
handful remained?
What was the deciding factor?
In almost all the cases where Jew-
ish religion and strong identity re-
mained, there was intensive
Jewish learning — and day
schools.
The ba'al teshuvah movement
would not have worked its mira-
cles without yeshivahs for men
and women. In short, education is
what kept people Jewish and ed-
ucation is what brought people
back. The singular one-on-one
anecdotal inspiration, while im-
portant, could not have impacted
as efficiently had there not been a
place to send students.
In short, whatever the progno-
sis, Jewish education, on an age-
appropriate level, is the only
solution for the crisis of Jewish
identity. All of the wonderful trips
and gala bashes are not substi-
tutes for the study of Moshe, Avra-
ham, Yitzchak, Hillel, Rabbi
Akiva, Abbaye, Rava and the
Rambam.

N

Rabbi Chaim M. Bergstein
Farmington Hills

Pioneers:
A Misnomer?

As daughter to halutzim in Eretz
Israel of the 1920s, I can only
agree with Dr. Jacqueline Zeffs
letter ("True Pioneers Not Por-
trayed" July 25) regarding the
new pioneers in Israel, namely
Adam Chalom the settlers of the West Bank.
Indeed, they have little in
Rabbinic intern,
common
with my parents and
Birmingham Temple
their generation, Dor Ha N'fil-
im, Generation of Giants, as they
Jewish Education,
are nicknamed and justifiably
so.
Jewish Identity
Still, in all fairness, one should
Regarding Mr. Nechemia Meyers' remember that the times have
op-ed concerning the effect of Jew- changed and there is no longer
ish education on intermarriage the need to dry swamps and
("Jewish Education Doesn't Help" pave the sandy streets of little
Tel Aviv or plant an orchard
July 11):
He writes that education does grove or a vineyard in Rishon
not affect Jewish identity signifi- L'Zion; however, there are other
challenges.
cantly ...
Ten years ago, I visited the
We are experiencing a spiritu-
al Holocaust of unprecedented pro- moshav Neve Shalom (Oasis of
portions, and he essentially is Peace), the only moshav where
saying that besides "social clubs," Jews and Arabs live together in
harmony and where education-
nothing can be done?
According to the last Federation al programs are being held for
survey I received, the figures for both Jewish and Arab youth
intermarriage where a child re- with the goals of promoting mu-
ceived at least six years of school- tual respect and understanding.
Following this unforgettable
ing at a Jewish day school was 20
percent. The figures for all other visit, I wrote an article for the

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