Jewry's Role in
Human Advancement

NOTEBOOK

CROSSROADS from page 27

THE WORLD'S GREAT CONDUCTORS

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ing on to the commitment to
Halachah and to the values and teach-
ings of our sages, and yet to some
extent adapting to the times in which
we live.
Blu Greenberg, one of the foremost
leaders in the feminist Orthodox
movement, says, "Where there is a
will, there is a halachic way." Certainly,
there isn't room in Halachah for solu-
•
tions
to every issue or dilemma, but
surely there is room for movement
toward a different status quo. We are
now taking the first steps of the
process.
As part of this development, Ortho-
dox women must not only intensify
involvement in Jewish text study and
prayer, not only increase or enhance
personal ritual practice, but also take
on larger roles in Jewish communal
leadership. With the greater knowledge
that derives from the study of our
sources, heretofore available only to
men, comes greater power and, conse-
quently, increasing responsibility and
opportunity.
There is a painful rift among Jews.
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and
secular Jews seem to have become rigid
in their positions about one another.
Despite the inherent impossibility of
reconciling the different theological
positions, there should be the ability
and there must be the requirement to
treat one another respectfully, to over-
come judgment and disdain and to
develop the capacity for dialogue.
At the conference, there was a ses-
sion titled, "Our Jewish Sisters: What
Can We Learn from Each Other?"
How wonderful it was that the con-
ference also drew presenters from those
in the more "right wing" of Orthodoxy
and from those in the Conservative
and Reform movements.
In general, women are known to be
cooperative problem solvers, more
intent on finding a solution than try-
ing to triumph over one another.
Women are usually seen as peace keep-
ers. Jewish women have traditionally
been charged with keeping shalom
bayit, peace "in the home ... the fami-
ly."
We, as Orthodox Jewish women,
should take leadership responsibility
for developing shalom bayit in the
Jewish community, the Jewish people.
Together with women from all walks
of Jewish life, we can learn from one
another, modeling the teachings from
Pirkei Avot, eyzehu haham? ha-Lomed
mi-Kol adam. (Who is wise? She -who
learns from every person.) We can
develop dialogue, mutual respect and

opportunities for shared experiences
based on values common to all branch-
es of Judaism.
I propose the formation of a group
for all women interested in this
endeavor. Perhaps we can call the
group Shalom Beyneynu, Peace among
Ourselves, and work to reduce tensions
and promote what unites us, rather
than what divides us. Anyone interest-
ed, regardless of affiliation, is invited to
e-mail me at jsg@imjl.com , or call me.
Let's find one another and begin our
part of Tikkun Olam together. ❑

LETTERS

UNEQUAL on page 29

Orthodox denominations "serves" or
"represents" any non-Orthodox Jew in
our community.
Mr. Slatkin notes, "Of course, all
Jews who wish to use the mikvah for
non-conversion purposes will be wel-
come at the Oak Park facility." What I
want to know is why, despite the invi-
tation, I feel so unwelcome and so
unequal.
Laura A. Adderly
Birmingham

Learning
Is Prevalent

I read your editorial in the March 6
issue of The Jewish News ("Lunch And
Learn: A Satisfying Meal") with great
enjoyment.
I truly agree that the camaraderie
and benefits of learning together have
a tremendous impact not only on the
participants but on the community
around them as well.
Why. do I say this? Because Beth
Shalom's lunch and learn is in its 24th
year. We take Hillel's instructions seri-
ously: "Go forth and learn!"
Rabbi David A. Nelson
Oak Park

Handover
Vs. Security

I am having trouble understanding
how the Clinton administration can
demand a 13 percent handover of ter-
ritories now under Israeli control to
the Palestinian Authority (PA). Much
of this land acquired by Israel, in a
war initiated by Arabs, Israel needs for
defensive purposes.
The Oslo Accords stipulate that the

It is said that world-class musical organizations are made, not born--
bearing the stamp of demanding, often charismatic conductors under whom
they played. Such was true of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and its
founding music director, Russian-born Ossip Gabrilowitsch. His years on
the podium of the concert hall built for him by the city earned him the title
of Detroit's premier musician. On a personal note, he had married soprano
Clara Clemens, the daughter of Mark Twain. And he was but one of many
gifted Jewish European colleagues coming to our shores for the sake of
music.

SERGE KOUSSEVITZKY
(1874 1951) b. Vyshny-Volochyok, Russia A

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famous double-bass virtuoso while still in his
twenties, Koussevitzky had loftier ambitions after
forming his own orchestra in Moscow (1909).
Following the Russian Revolution he served as
music director of the State Symphony Orchestra
until resettling in the U.S. in 1920. Within four
years he began his generation-long relationship
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra which he totally remodeled. Few
major conductors of his day commissioned and premiered as many modern
works by emerging composers as did he. George Gershwin, Aaron
Copland, Maurice Ravel, Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Walter Piston were
among those he championed. Koussevitzky, whose orchestral "sound" was
rhapsodic and emotionally intense, also founded the famed Berkshire
Music Festivals and Music Center at Tanglewood, MA.

BRUNO WALTER

(1876-1962) b. Lodz, Berlin, Germany Like
most, if not all conductors, he received early
instrumental training--as a piano prodigy from the
time he was six, and by twelve as a soloist with
the Berlin Philharmonic. He took up the baton in
1894 at the Cologne Opera and within several
years befriended Gustav Mahler who became his
mentor. While spending a lifetime introducing
the towering symphonies of his master, Walter also rose in prominence as
a guest conductor throughout Europe and America. Long identified with
the New York Philharmonic after gaining residence in this country (1939),
he often performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Metropolitan
Opera. Walter was an articulate and prolific author of books about music
as well, and spent his final years recording the works of Beethoven,
Brahms and Bruckner.

OTTO KLEMPERER
(1885-1973) b. Breslau, Germany He was yet
another musician influenced during his fledgling
years by the brilliant and persuasive Gustav
Mahler. For more than two decades he
conducted at German opera houses whose doors
were sometimes opened for him by Mahler. His
fame spread rapidly during the Twenties (a
respected critic later named him "The Last of the
Titans"), when a falling accident caused a concussion from whose
symptoms he never fully recovered. But with immense courage, the
illness-plagued Klemperer also survived brain tumor surgery, intense
depression, severe accidental burns, yet persevered and succeeded.
Conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1933-39) and the Budapest
Opera (1947-50), he closed his career with the reputation of one of the
world's most respected conductors.
- Saul Stadtmauer

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Harold Berry & Irwin S. Field, Co-chairmen
Harriet F. Siden, Secretary

3/20
1998

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