Champion Of Reform Judaism

first Torah commentary written from
a
Reform perspective.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Although known for embracing
dramatic changes, Rabbi Schindler
New York
also embraced tradition, as evidenced
abbi Alexander Schindler,
by the speech he gave shortly before
the longtime leader of the
he stepped down from leading the
Reform movement best
UAHC.
known for hiS support of
"I feared, and still do, that we
outreach to intermarried couples and
Reform
Jews are entirely too lax in
recognition of patrilineal descent, has
our
observances,"
he said. "Having
died at age 75.
asserted our autonomy, insisting on
Rabbi Schindler died from heart
our right to choose, too many among
failure in the early morning of Nov.
us choose nothing at all, or, choosing
15, at his home in Westport, Conn.
something, we observe it only hap-
As president of Reform Judaism's
hazardly."
Union of American Hebrew
Rabbi Schindler was
Congregations from
also
a key Jewish leader
1973-1996, Rabbi
outside
the Reform
Schindler — who
movement.
From 1976-
viewed Judaism as a
78, he served as chair-
dynamic faith —
man of the Conference
championed a number
of Presidents of Major
of dramatic changes.
American Jewish
Rabbi Schindler
Organizations.
devised a controversial
His tenure coincided
outreach" program
with
the ascendancy of
challenging Jews to
Israeli
Prime Minister
become "champions of
Menachem Begin.
Judaism," reversing the
Begin's victory, which
tradition of discourag-
ended the decades-long
ing proselytizing.
control of the Israeli
He also called on
government by the
the Jewish community
Labor Party, initially
to welcome intermar-
Rabbi Alexander Schindler alarmed many American
ried couples into syna-
Jews, who viewed him as
gogue life and support-
an ideologue.
ed patrilineal descent,
Although Rabbi
the controversial
Schindler differed politically with
notion that a child with a Jewish
Begin, he promptly visited the prime
father and gentile mother can be
minister. After the visit, Rabbi
considered Jewish if the child is
Schindler told American Jews he
raised Jewish.
found Begin to be a man of "peace
Under Rabbi Schindler's tenure,
and integrity, with a profound devo-
the Reform movement officially
tion to the Jewish people and their
embraced patrilineal descent in the
security," as he later wrote in an arti-
mid-I980s, something more tradi-
cle on highlights of his chairmanship.
tional Jews have sharply criticized,
The two became good friends.
saying it was a major blow to
At the time of his death, Rabbi
Jewish unity.
Schindler was serving' as` president of
Interviewed by the Jewish
the Memorial Foundation for Jewish
Telegraphic Agency earlier this year,
Culture and vice president of the
Rabbi Schindler said he had no
World Jewish Congress. A Jewish
regrets about the decision and said
National Fund forest of 500,000
it was "just not true" that patrilineal
trees bears his name.
descent had caused tensions
Born in Germany in 1925, the
between Reform and other streams
future rabbi fled the Nazis with his
of Judaism.
family, arriving in the United States at
"When the decision was made,
age 12. He was ordained in 1953, at
Orthodox rabbis said by the year
the Reform movement's Cincinnati
2000 we'd be two Jewish people," he
seminary, the Hebrew Union College.
said. "It hasn't happened."
Rabbi Schindler is survived by his
Rabbi Schindler championed
wife, Rhea, and five children. His
equality for women in Judaism as well
funeral is scheduled for Friday, Nov.
as acceptance of gay and lesbian Jews.
17, at Temple Israel in Westport. ❑
He also oversaw publication of the

JULIE WIENER

R

,

"He wanted his family to be part of it.
"They are a giving, understand-
ing, warm family," the rabbi added.
"They would literally give you the
shirts off their backs."
A poster of Melissa is mounted in
a hallway at Scotch Elementary, said
Principal Brian Kaplan. He remem-
bers her as someone with a lot of
friends and a lot of hobbies. Among
those hobbies was a fascination with
rocks.
"After her death, her friends went
out and found the neatest-looking
rocks they could and put them on
her desk," Kaplan said.
The second-graders want them to
go to Melissa's parents as their spe-
cial memorial.
Melissa Genez is survived by her

parents, Edward and Valinda
Williams; brothers and sisters, Keith
and Karen Williams, Kenneth and
Traci Williams, Sherry and Alvin
Fortier, Stephanie Jones, Edward
and Jean Patrick, Carol Williams,
Zanita Williams, LaToya Williams,
Christina Williams, Zachary
Williams, Elizabeth, Corey Cruz,
Carissa Tyler, Christopher Conner;
grandmothers Nina Lester and
Sherry Tyler, and other loving rela-
tives, teachers and friends.
Interment was at Beth El
Memorial Park. Contributions may
be directed to the Melissa Genez
Memorial Fund at Temple Shir
Shalom, 3999 Walnut Lake Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48323. ❑

"

11/17
2000

148

Taking Precautions

T

he West Bloomfield School
District held a public forum
on meningitis Nov. 8, said
schools spokesman Steve Wasko.
Dr. Carolyn Bird, chief of
medical services for Oakland
County's health department,
spoke to about 550 parents about
the symptoms of meningitis.
The following day, a third-
grader at Scotch Elementary
School was confirmed as having
viral meningitis, a different and
less virulent disease. The district
started a phone bank and called
about 1,000 parents at Scotch
and Gretchko schools, which
serve the same neighborhoods.
That child has now recovered,
Wasko said, and the incubation
period has passed.
Both bacterial and viral menin-
gitis are defined as a-sWelling of
the membranes around the spinal
cord or brain.
Bacterial meningitis is usually
spread by direct contact with the
nose or throat discharges of an
infected person, which can be
picked up by kissing, sharing
utensils or drinking glasses, and
the like.
Although the disease may be
contracted at any age, it is most

frequently seen in infants, chil-
dren and young adults, and
seniors weakened by illness, med-
icine or old age.
The onset of meningitis is hard
to distinguish from the flu.
According to the Oakland
County Health Department,
symptoms of meningitis can
include fever, severe headache,
stiffness of the neck and back,
vomiting/nausea, confusion,
extreme weakness, bulging soft
spots in a baby's head and coma.
If any of these symptoms are
present, see a doctor immediately.
It is imperative that prompt
antibiotic treatment be given in
all cases and also to close contacts
of those who may have meningi-
tis.
Viral, or aseptic meningitis, is
also a swelling of the membranes
around the spinal cord and brain.
Symptoms, similar to those of
bacterial meningitis, may be mild
to kvet-. Viral meningitis is not
fatal usually.
For more information, contact

the Oakland County Health
Department at (248) 424 7000;
(800) 848-5533, or on the inter-
net at www.co.oakla.nd.mi.us

-

❑

