EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
Voting For Judaism
• We affirm the unique qualities of
sraelis had a suspenseful few days
living
in Eretz Yisrael.
before this week's national elec-
tions, but American Reform rab-
Bubbe, this ain't the Reform of yes-
bis preparing for a Monday bal-
terday.
lot — whose outcome is virtually
The previous three official Reform
assured — are about to pen a new
platforms — Pittsburgh
chapter in the chronicles of
(1885), Columbus, Ohio
American Jewish history.
(1937) and San Francisco
When they convene in
(1976) — have gone from
Pittsburgh for the Central
"prophetic Judaism" to
Conference of American
creeping toward the new
Rabbis convention, the rabbis
version. But make no mis-
will take a historic vote to
take, the new text is revolu-
affirm such things as God,
tionary in Reform theologi-
Zionism, mitzvot and Torah.
cal terms. Some cry that this
Now it doesn't sound so rev-
will alienate those who
RUBIN
NEIL
olutionary, but it is the final
believe differently. It won't.
Editor
Senior
chapter in a furiously debat-
That's
because the mainstay
ed year or so of formalizing
Reform
positions of out-
loose Jewish beliefs in a
reach to the intermarried and gays,
movement that was founded on the
egalitarianism, and respecting multiple
non-binding nature of Jewish practice.
beliefs are present.
This platform, embraced by most
Sadly, the Conservative and Ortho-
Reform rabbinica' students of the past
dox
movements are unlikely to offer
few decades, includes wording seem-
much
positive comment, being far too
ingly more common in a Conservative
wrapped
up in internal doings than to
or Orthodox paradigm. The full text is
understand
Jewish unity's command-
on the Web site:
ment of cultivating and being cultivat-
ccarnet.org/platforms/tenpri6.html
ed by all Jews.
That said, the real issue, as with all
Here are a few highlights:
movements,
is that Jews who bother
• We respond to God daily through
to
go
to
synagogue
are more interested
public and private prayer, through
in
the
spirit
of
their
rabbi's words and
study and through the performance of
actions
than
in
specific
beliefs. So the
other mitzvot.
real
test
will
be
the
ability
of Reform
• We cherish the truths revealed in
rabbis over the next 25 years to slowly
the Torah, God's ongoing revelation to
and calculatingly, impress such under-
our people and the record of our peo-
standings on their congregants.
ple's ongoing relationship with God.
I
Jews built large synagogues that were
rarely attended as they helped build
secular Jewish institutions. Interesting-
ly, Reform today is basically where
Orthodoxy was 40 years ago, vis-a-vis
congregants' practice vs. rabbis' beliefs.
But now that's changing: Syna-
gogues are again the critical link in
nurturing lasting Jewish identity.
There is focus on expressive, accessi-
ble, Jewish practice. Reform rabbis —
as should everyone — recognize that
the goal is to create informed Jews.
And that only comes with creative
education and "God-wrestling."
An interesting offshoot eventually
might be a community stocked with
educated, non-religious Jews. That is
The Orthodox understood this
much healthier than today's plethora
challenge decades ago as they strug-
of uneducated, secular Jews, which
gled to send their children to the
leads to assimilation and detachment.
then-rare Jewish day schools. The
Indeed, this could help formalize here
Conservatives in the past 10 years or
the Israeli understanding of "tradition-
so are doing likewise with a vigorous
al Jews," ones who dabble in ritual,
emphasis on day schools and adult
but don't feel rigorously bound by it.
education. And now enter the Reform.
Or it could revive a secular Jewish cul-
What few people see is that this is
ture, which basically is dead.
not a new Reform Judaism. Rather, it
Creating options means more ways
is an up-to-date return to the origins
to
be
Jewish. That's critical because
of "informed choice." Way back in the
the
Jewish
world today must not be
1820s, the German founders of
about having one flavor of Judaism,
Reform Judaism were brilliant scholars
but getting more people to do some-
whose knowledge of Jewish history
thing, anything, Jewish.
and philosophy could run rapid
Indeed, I believe Monday's vote by
hakafot (circles with the Torah) around
the Reform Movement rabbis will give a
virtually any Jew today of any flavor.
formal license to that effort. What a
But on these shores, Jews of all fla-
shame that Orthodox and Conservative
vors lost this emphasis as they struggled
groups won't applaud — even if from
with the need to become Americans.
different sides of the synagogue.
In general terms, non-Orthodox
Reform Judaism,
thank God, is
returning to its
origins of
"informed
choice."
LETTERS
ish people not only about Israel, but
also about the role of Jewish Ameri-
cans. This was truly what AZM was
about.
Roz Bressler
administrative assistant
American Zionist Movement/
Michigan Region
Labor Zionists
Are Not Gone
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of
the demise of the Labor Zionists are
greatly exaggerated ("Friends At The
End" May 14).
I suppose it could be considered an
honor for the Jewish News to confuse
the Labor Zionists with the American
5/21
1999
Zionist Movement (AZM). One could
say that we have been the driving
force behind the AZM, but some
would probably take exception. Cer-
tainly; our members were central to
the functioning of the AZM, serving
as officers, on committees and sup-
porting its functions. However, your
readers should be made aware that the
AZM is an umbrella organization
while Labor Zionists are very vibrant
membership organizations.
The Labor Zionist organizations in
the Detroit area include the Labor
Zionist Alliance (LZA), the Labor
Zionist Institute (LZI), the Habonim-
Dror Zionist Youth movement and
Na'amat USA, formerly Pioneer
Women. Each of these groups has reg-
ular meetings and organizes a variety
of innovative community events.
We work to build the State of
Israel as a progressive, egalitarian,
cooperative society at peace with its
neighbors and as the physical and
spiritual center of the Jewish people.
We support a full-time shlicha, Bat-
Ami Abas, who brings a personal
connection to Israel for the Habon-
im-Dror members in Detroit and
throughout the midwest. We run
Camp Tavor, a summer camp at
which more than 200 children will
experience a kibbutz-like atmosphere
without leaving Michigan.
In March, Judy Loebl of Hunting-
ton Woods co-chaired our Young
Leadership Conference in Washing-
ton, D.C. We also raise funds to subsi-
dize educational, social and economic
development programs in Israel.
The demise of the AZM Michigan
chapter is a loss of an important
forum for local Zionists. However, the
work of the Labor Zionists is not
nearly finished and we expect to con-
tinue for many years to come. We
most definitely have not met for the
last time.
Jeremy Salinger, president
Labor Zionist Alliance
of Metropolitan Detroit
AZM Stays
Viable Resource
I wish to clarify my remarks about the
closing of the local American Zionist
Movement office, which appeared in
last week's Jewish News ("Friends At
The End" May 14).