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"The real problem [is] that
we have not yet formed a
set of beliefs, behaviors and
institutional structures that
define what it means to be
a Jew in the pluralistic
society that we ourselves
have helped to build."
Jolni Tanasyelitik Detroit Free Press
.January 8th. 1999
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— Gary Tobin
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summer camps — into compelling
Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian
and inspiring communities, he said.
Hebrew Congregation.
"If we have such places, Jews will
Although Tobin is not promoting
be there and others will be there," he
proselytization, the concept is not new
told the group of about 80 Jewish reli-
to Judaism.
gious and communal leaders, philan-
Jewish missionary work was effec-
thropists and social scientists gathered
tively banned by severe penalties lev-
in Manhattan at the Museum of
eled by the Holy Roman Empire, and
Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial
fear of Christian backlash still affects
to the Holocaust.
Jews' attitudes toward conversion,
Tobin's multibillion-dollar plan
Tobin and others say.
includes the creation of a National
In the 20th century, some rabbis
Center for Jewish Inclusion to develop
and other communal leaders returned
new ways to train rabbis and lay peo-
to the idea as a way to recover from
ple for outreach to would-be Jews.
the devastating losses of the Holocaust
But cost, Tobin said, should not
and to counter Jewish attrition in
pose an obstacle for the Jewish com-
America's open society.
munity, which "is sitting on top of
Perhaps the most notable propo-
tens of billion of dollars. The problem
nent of outreach is Rabbi Alexander
is connecting the money with the
Schindler, president emeritus of the
vision of community that excites and
Reform movement's Union of
motivates us.
American Hebrew Congregations,
Tobin, who runs the San Francisco-
who in 1978 suggested that Jews
based Institute for Jewish and
actively seek the conversion of non-
Community Research, was able to
Jewish spouses in mixed marriages.
convey his own enthusiasm to sever-
"There I found few objections,"
al funders who sponsored the New
Schindler said in a telephone inter- ---
York conference, including Michael
view. But his call for similar outreach
Steinhardt, a major Jewish philan-
to un-churched gentiles "was received
thropist.
essentially with derision."
In promoting outreach and conver-
Schindler said he "couldn't be more
sion, Tobin believes chat the "real way
delighted that someone else is taking
for Jews to ultimately integrate into
up the cudgels" for an idea that he
society" is for the community to be
first proposed 20 years ago.
composed of black, Asian and
Eventually, the Reform movement
Hispanic Jews."
developed a full-fledged outreach pro-
Apparently sharing that view, film-
gram, and there are signs that the idea
maker Steven Spielberg is funding a
is gaining broader acceptance.
study of black, Asian and Hispanic Jews.
Valley Beth Shalom, a large
The spiritual leader of an African-
Conservative synagogue in Encino,
American Jewish congregation in
Calif, runs an outreach program led by
Chicago said he hoped such discus-
rabbis from all Jewish denominations.
sions would encourage Jews to consid-
The weekly discussions attract regu-
er that "every face, even a non-Jewish
lar audiences of 400 "un-synagogued
looking person, can still be a Jew. We
Jews" and "un-churched Christians,"
have three generations of Jews in my
Rabbi Harold Schulweis said by tele-
congregation," Capers Funnye Jr. said
phone from his study.
at the conference, speaking of Beth
Jews have been so focused on inter-
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8/27
1999
Detroit Jewish News
97