4

Au.

440:

experiencing the reality that to be a
Jew in America on the eve of Rosh
Hashanah 5759 — in the stark face of
Jewish illiteracy and intermarriage —
is the ly7._st. thing that's happened since
sliced challah.

by AP/Karin Cooper

T

hat's the good news. But in
strictly numerical terms, the
number of musicians
peaked years ago. It's
unlikely that any time soon we will
again be 3 percent of the population
or the number 6 million, which some
still tout. On a good day, 5.5 million
of us are considered Jews. When talk-
ing about those actively participating
in the symphony of Jewish life, cut the
number in half.
Our core is vibrant and growing;
our periphery is shrinking. And what
for decades have been the towering
twin pillars of modern Jewish life —
remembering the Holocaust and
defending Israel — are going through
a radical change.
In the past year the now-permanent
and chilling shadow cast upon the
20th century could not recede.
Switzerland — and quickly Europe
and the world — was forced by the
World Jewish Congress and others to
agonize over its role in subtly helping
the Nazi horde slaughter 6 million
Jews and millions of others.
In doing so, the question of what
to do about the billions of dollars in
unpaid life insurance, property and
treasured art claims became para-
mount. The inquiry is
no longer "How could
it happen?" Rather, it is,
"What will be tht moral
legacy of the 20th cen-
tury's irremovable
stain?" Meanwhile,
some Jews are privately
worried that the last
soundbite of the 20th
century will be this dis-
turbing one: The Jews
want their money back.
Also this past year,
like a beautiful violin,
Israel's 50th anniversary
captured our hearts and
souls. The country's
jubilee celebration
brought pause to the constant emo-
tional rollercoaster of loving the
Jewish state. Israel, for a shining
moment, was again seen for what it
really is — the incomparable epic

MIDEAST DISPUTE: Israeli demonstra-
tors argue over giving back land for peace.

SWISS PRESSURE:
Senator Alfonse D'Amato
(R-NK) holds the photo
of a Holocaust victim and
documents that show he
had an account in a Swiss
bank.

JUBILEE JOY: Israeli dancers rehearsed for
Israel's 50th birthday celebration.

CLINTON TEMPEST
Monica Lewinski's grand
jury testimony scarred Bill
Clinton's presidency.

9/18
1998

Detroit Jewish News

55

