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From the pages of the Jewish News for
this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.

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ROBERT A. SKLAR
Editor

eform Jews shouldn't
feel defensive in apply-
ing modern experiences
to their view of
Judaism. But that doesn't mean
anything goes in the
Reform movement.
That was the gist of a
rabbinic discussion host-
ed by the movement's
local umbrella group last
erev Shabbat at Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park.
Setting the tone, host
Rabbi Joseph Klein said,
"Ours is a movement of
revolution. It began that
way, and it continues to challenge
us with radical transformation."
He added: "Our revolution has
affected the rite and ritual of both
the synagogue and the home. It has
changed what we teach and how
we teach. But what is behind this
revolution of ours? What is the
nature of this process that we call
Reform Judaism?"
The Metropolitan Detroit
Federation of Reform Synagogues
rotates the annual Isaac Mayer
Wise Shabbat during Passover
among nine member congrega-
tions. It's held in memory of the
founder of the Cincinnati-based
Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion, the move-
ment's teaching school.
One of the panelists, Rabbi
Joshua Bennett of Temple Israel in
West Bloomfield, reacted to the
Orthodox-fueled notion that the
Reform movement isn't really
Judaism because of its break from
Halacha (Jewish law). He said,
"Changing with modern society,
responding to the call of today's
Reform Jews — some say that by
doing so, we no longer act within
the traditions of Judaism. I believe
that way of thinking can't ever
become our Judaism.
"In fact, we have an obligation
to look to modern lives to find

R

Joseph Baras was honored for his
30 years of service to Congregation
Beth Achim.
Judy Rosenberg was selected to
receive the Emerging Leader Award
of the National Council of Jewish
Women.

Judaism for our children and our
children's children."
To move toward Orthodoxy, and
to reject the spiritual desires of
congregants or a community of
congregations, is to ignore the
principles that built the Reform
movement in Eastern Europe,

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taxa*. a.'
A "human time bomb" was pre-
vented from boarding an El Al jet
at the airport in Zurich,
Switzerland.
The Michigan Senate adopted a
resolution of tribute to Julius
Chajes, celebrating his 40th
anniversary as conductor of the
Center Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Lawrence M. Weiner was
named interim dean of the Wayne
State University School of
Medicine.

Rabbinic panel delves
into what propels the
Reform movement.

.

Rabbi Bennett said.
Rabbi Norman Roman of
Temple Kol Ami in West
Bloomfield also respectfully reject-
ed the notion that Reform Judaism
is on the fringe. "One of the most
important teachings that came to
me as a Reform Jew and as a
rabbi," he said, "is the strong state-
ment that Reform is really main-
stream Judaism — that the other
movements are the splinter
groups."
Elaborating, he said, "Judaism is
always reforming to be better, but
that does not mean we are better."
What it means, he said, is that the
Judaism he is most open to "is one in
which we see ourselves open to con-
stant reaffirmation, constant reforma-
tion and new avenues in defining
who is a Jew and what is holy."
Student Rabbi Jonathan Siger of
Beth Isaac Synagogue in Trenton
said the major thrust for a Reform
Jew is "to be a light to others —
and to ourselves. That's our highest
calling."
Despite a penchant for change,
the growing movement must have
an immovable baseline, the rabbis
said. For example, Torah must
always be the spiritual link. As
Rabbi Bennett put it: "It's what
binds us as K'lal Yisroel — as the
people of Israel. "El

A it•WA

•

"Ours is a
movement
of revolution."

— Rabbi Joseph Klein

Snilding

Identity

Asked by Temple Enaanu-EI
President Beth Applebaum to
cite one thing that Reform Jews
can do individually to strew
en Jewish identity, the Isaac
Mayer Wise Shabbat panelists
replied:
• Rabbi Joshua Bennett: "Find a
single new tradition, whether a
ritual or a celebration, to mark
at home."
• Rabbi Norman Roman:
"Make it a point to bring one
more committed Reform Jew to
this service."
• Student Rabbi Jonathan Siger:
"Make a connection by learning
one new verse of Torah."

fligt*RM M:tUatilitE,
Debra Fauman, Lauren Iden and
Mark Goldsmith were winners of
the League of Jewish Women's
Youth Awards.
Temple Israel Administrator
Frank Simons was honored on the
'occasion of his 10th anniversary
with the temple.

The Board of Deputies of British
Jews requested the Bonn govern-
ment in West Germany to grant
compensation to Romanian Jews
persecuted by the Nazis.
Congregation Shaare Tikvah in
Chicago suffered an arson attack
and desecration.
Michigan Governor G. Mennen
Williams promoted Judge Nathan
J. Kaufman to the Circuit Bench.

Some 220 Hungarian Jews, the first
permitted to migrate to Israel, left
for Italy enroute to Haifa.
Marshall Blondy received an
award for being the Jewish
Community Center's outstanding
varsity team member.

— Compiled by Sy Manello,
editorial assistant

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