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Fertilizing The Grassroots

T

he 5,000-plus delegates
from rank-and-file Jews made it diffi-
o ral 4.
and volunteers gathered
cult to appreciate how much the
in Atlanta this week for
annual General Assembly con-
the annual gathering of
tributed to setting national priorities
community leaders are testing a cru-
at the same time that the meeting
lbw
41 1
cial proposition: that large-scale
exposed delegates to new ideas
communal consensus can still be an
about communal life.
effective way to sustain and improve
The UJC has a difficult challenge,
Jewish identity in 21st century America.
particularly if the national economic boom
This year's General Assembly is the first
and the generous giving that that has
under the rubric of the United Jewish Commu-
unleashed should fade. If money gets tight,
nities, the newly formed entity that will channel
should the UJC sustain the support that has
always been given to Israel and to Jews else-
philanthropy up from local federations into a
national pool. UJC will send part of the funds
where around the world or cut back on that to
maintain the underwriting of its American pri-
raised abroad and redirect the remainder to pro-
orities, particularly in education?
grams, such as education or teen trips to Israel,
This General Assembly can help set the tone
that have gained a national backing. The crucial
for UJC. We know that the delegates will be
difference between the UJC and its predecessors
eager to learn more about the new leadership,
— the Council of Jewish Federations, United
particularly Charles Bronfman, the UJC chair-
Jewish Appeal and United Israel Appeal — is a
man; Joel Tauber of Detroit, the chair of the
structural effort to give local federation officials
a much greater role in deciding which programs
executive committee; and Stephen Solender, the
get help and which don't.
president. We hope that they will also be outspo-
ken in insisting that the UJC pay close attention
That is a welcome shift from earlier years in
to the grassroots that is its only sustainable base.
which the national decision-making process
We need a national organization seeking
seemed a remote game, played by people with
constantly to reinvigorate its programs and
a lot of money and experience and little inter-
policies. Creation of the UJC was a solid first
est in the innovations that sprang up at local
step. This GA can show it the direction for its
levels. The predecessor agencies did a solid job,
next steps. ❑
of course. But the impression of being distant

How Pius Was He?

E

ugenio Pacelli is not a name that
inspires the loyalty or animosity of
many. But his legacy as Pope Pius XII
does just that. In the fragile universe
of Catholic-Jewish relations, the good name of
the Catholic Church's World War II leader is the
burning issue in many important conversations
taking place in Detroit between Cardinal Adam
Maida and the Jewish community.
The controversy boils down to a simple ques-
tion with enormously complicated responses:
What did Pius do to help Jews and others during
Europe's horror? Compounding matters is Pope
John Paul II's adamant desire to make Pius a
saint. It is not the business of Jews to tell
Catholics how to run their church, but we are
correct in expressing how their actions impact
interfaith dialogue. John Paul's efforts puzzle Jew-
ish veterans in the field, angering others, particu-
larly Holocaust survivors and their children. John
Paul II can stem the criticism by slowing down
the effort. This would enable well-meaning
Catholics and Jews to further explore the matter.
Indeed, there is some progress. The recent and
long-delayed Vatican approval for Catholic and
Jewish scholars to explore Vatican archives about
these matters is a good start. But that, too, will
take time.
If not carefully monitored, this controversy

has the potential to tinge and even destroy efforts
to take the Catholic and Jewish dialogue from
the level of theologians and academics into the
mainstream, to the people who sit in Jewish and
Catholic congregations each weekend. It is all
hugely important for Jews. In the dusk of the
generation of Holocaust survivors, we are strug-
gling to impress upon the world the Shoah's
moral lessons. Part of that effort must be greater
moral responsibility — that leads to action — on
behalf of religious leaders.
At the core of such efforts must be the
understanding that relations between
Catholics and Jews are important for both
groups. Catholics must wrestle with their roots
and explore centuries of, at varying times,
encouraging, tolerating or showing indiffer-
ence toward Jewish persecution. And Jews, on
behalf of themselves and all minorities, must
ensure that the Holocaust's lessons are branded
into the world's moral conscience. They also
need to learn about rabbinical Judaism's ori-
gins, which mutual study brings.
By this effort, both groups will retain their
uniqueness, gain a better grasp of their own
religion and no longer see "the other" as alien
and dangerous. The controversy over Pius has
a potential to block that, which is why it must
be publicly dealt with on all levels. Li

IN FOCUS

.Bridging The Generations

Robert Aronson was honored Oct. 26 for his 10 years of ser-
vice as chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Met-
ropolitan Detroit at a board of governors meeting held jointly
with the United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit
board. Shown with Aronson, left, is Max Fisher, a long-time
pillar of the Detroit Jewish community and a key mentor to
Aronson.

LITTERS

A Great Man
Is Remembered

planting a forest in his memo-
ry. What better way to
remember a great man. Rev.
Lyons' family received a lovely
I attended a very
plaque. Son David
unusual dinner a t
and
Mrs. Christine
Congregation
Lyons
spoke in
Shaarey Zedek.
appreciation.
It was
The Jewish
very
moving.
National Fund
Before the pre-
hosts were honor-
sentation,
we saw a
ing posthumous) yr
slide
showing
of
the Rev. Dr.
the
Rev.
Lyons
in
James R. Lyons
Israel
on
his
speak-
("A Good Name,'
ing tour.
Nov. 12) — a
A good crowd
good Christian
attended the
and a very good
memorial dinner.
friend to we Jews. Rev. James Lyons
Rabbis and other
Rev. Lyons
clergy were well
gave up his lead-
represented. I'm proud the
ership as a pastor to devote
JNF did something that will
his time for Jewish-Christian
be for the future of our young
studies. He traveled to Israel
Israel and in honor of right-
and loved and learned all to
eous Christians. Shalom, Rev.
absorb the life in this young
Lyons.
country.
Sonia Pittman
As a member of JNF half
Oak Park
of my life, I now know more
where the money goes. We are
LETTERS ON PAGE 35

11/1
1999