EDITOR'S WATCH
Sense Of Continuity Helps
Invigorate Us As A People
ian institution of higher learning out-
ewish continuity from one gen-
side
of Israel, believes Brandeis Presi-
eration to the next, a key to our
dent
Jehuda Reinharz.
survival as a people, punctuates
"If
we believe our research, it shows
many. Jewish Telegraphic
time and time again that Jewish educa-
Agency (JTA) stories.
tion is critical for Jewish continuity and
That's hardly surprising, given the
Jewish
survival," Reinharz told The Jew-
importance Jewish identity
ish Advocate in Boston.
and Jewish unity play in our
"Clearly,
we have to do some-
collective spiritual lives, no
thing
about
it."
matter how observant we are
The
Mandel
chair, named
individually.
for
its
benefactors,
will elevate
Jewish continuity — it dri-
Jewish
education
throughout
ves discussion about the Jew-
North America, Reinharz
ish Federation of Metropoli-
said.
tan Detroit's planned $50-
Three foundations sup-
million Millennium Fund to
ported
by Mandel family
improve and endow the Jew-
members
will fund the
ish Community Center of
ROBE RT A.
endowment.
"I see Jewish
Metropolitan Detroit and to
S KL AR
education
as
one of the major
inspire and expand Jewish life
Edi for
ways
to
strengthen
Jewish
opportunities.
life,"
said
Morton
Mandel,
a
Jewish continuity — it
self-described
friend
and
supporter
of
spices debate about the value of youth
Brandeis University, named for the great
groups, day and congregational schools,
American
jurist Louis Brandeis.
travel to Israel, even the new Jewish
The
university
will launch a world-
high school (the Jewish Academy of
wide
search
to
fill
the position by the
Metropolitan Detroit), which is still in
1999-2000
academic
year. But the
the formative stages.
search
for
a
seasoned
professor
of Jewish
In scanning this week's offerings
education
won't
be
easy.
Synagogues
from the JTA, the Jewish news service, I
and Jewish agencies in Detroit can
spotted two stories that directly explore
attest to the critical national shortage of
the notion of Jewish continuity:
top-level Jewish educators.
• Does Jewish education promote
• The Jewish family is as much a
Jewish continuity? Studies seem to say
part
of Jewish continuity as Jewish
yes. That's why a philanthropic Cleve-
education.
land family has endowed Brandeis Uni-
At a Chicago forum of rabbis,
versity with $2.5 million to start a uni-
researchers,
educators and lay leaders,
versity chair in Jewish education.
Brandeis
Professor
Lawrence Sternberg
It's the first such chair at a nonsectar-
told the Chicago Jewish News:
IT
collection on the Holocaust (Roth
always includes at least one of his own
essays) is as difficult as writing a schol-
arly monograph.
No one accomplishes that task bet-
ter than John Roth, who has written
and edited with the finest scholars of
the Holocaust. How much work Mr.
Klein has read and digested I, of
course, cannot say.
Sidney Bolkosky
Professor of history, honors program
director
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Main Point
Overlooked
-
In the midst of the continuing skir-
mishes that have followed John Roth's
-decision not to accept the directorship
of the Center for Advanced Holocaust
Studies at the U.S. Holocaust Muse-
urn, it is important to keep track of
the central point.
Professor Roth had the overwhelm-
ing backing of scholars, professionals
involved in Holocaust education and
memorial projects, and others for
whom remembrance of the Shoah has
been a lifelong commitment. Indeed,
in a field that is often intensely parti-
san, it is virtually impossible to imag-
ine another candidate who would have
drawn as wide and enthusiastic sup-
port as did John Roth.
In the final days of his nomination,
the executive committee of the United
States Holocaust Memorial Council
passed by near unanimity the follow-
ing two resolutions:
1. "This committee repudiates and
condemns the character assassination
"Strengthening the family meant re-
Divorce, "said Judaism offers a signifi-
thinking the role of every Jewish orga-
cant, undervalued refuge from the stress
nization."
of working life: Shabbat. She says it's
Forum co-sponsors were the Ameri-
our secret weapon and we need to
can Jewish Committee and Brandeis
make it less secret."
University.
Detroit's Jewish Federation offers the
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform
"Rekindling Shabbat" experience, but
, and secular Jews set aside their differ-
its success varies from synagogue to syn-
ences for the moment to compare out-
agogue.
reach to the intermarried and unaffiliat-
Stoking the fires of discontent, Rut-
ed with inreach to the firmly commit-
gers Professor Chaim Waxman argued
ted.
at the forum that "religion is 'in' in
One central
American soci-
Photo by David Joseph
point of agree-
ety, but our reli-
ment: the value
gious leaders
of living Jewishly
don't seem to
must rise if
realize it. Syna-
Judaism is to
gogues have
compete with the
become ethnic
lures of Western
and social ser-
culture — afflu-
vice institutions,
ence, mobility,
but have lost
stature, even ease
their religious
of divorce.
character."
How we
Certainly,
During Detroit's 1998 Teen Mission 2 Israel, that's true at
spend and what
which helped participants focus on the issue
we articulate
some syna-
"make statements of Jewish continuity, Mike Hoffman of Tem-
gogues. Ideally, a
about who we are ple Shir Shalom looks through letters and
synagogue not
journals of soldiers who died in the 1967
and what we
only should be a
battle for Jerusalem.
value," said Dr. .
place to gather
and socialize but
Jonathan
Woocher, executive vice president of the
also to study and pray — and connect
Jewish Education Service of North
to your neshama, your Jewish soul. ❑
America. "Putting our values into prac-
tice is the way we create a Jewish corn-
To leave a message for Robert
munity. You can't underestimate the
symbolic power of communal support."
Sklar, please call (248) 354-6060,
ext. 258 .
Francine Klagsbrun, author of 'Mar-
ried People: Staying Together in the Age of
"
waged against John Roth."
2."This committee reaffirms in the
strongest possible terms its search
committee's selection of John Roth as
director of the Center for Advanced
Holocaust Studies."
The rest, indeed, is commentary.
Henry Greenspan
University of Michigan
ors
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8/14
1998
Detroit Jewish News
23