Story by Sharon Luckerman
Photos by Glenn Triest

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U.S., on the other hand, the vast majority of Jews
in Israel are secular and unaffiliated (see 'An
American/Israeli Perspective" on page 11).
A misconception is that unaffiliated Jews don't
think much about Judaism, the synagogue or their
heritage. According to a small sampling from the
community, that is -not necessarily true.
Al Fishman, 73, of Detroit, a political activist,
says: "After my bar mitzvah, I rejected Judaism. I
had no hatred or hostility. Just religion was not for
me. Not until I was in my 40s, and met Jews
involved in secular cultural Judaism, did I become
involved in Judaism through my-political interests."
Therapist Diane Kreger, 35, of Ann Arbor, who has
explored non-Jewish spiritual options, says: "Judaism
has given me a cultural identity that's been very
important. It's been important for me since child-
hood to find meaning and a sense of spirituality
before I even knew the meaning of the word."
Though unaffiliated following her divorce, Susan
Victor, 40, of Royal Oak found solo synagogue
membership too expensive. But she is now consid-
ering connecting more with the Jewish community
because of her relationship with "a wonderful
Jewish man," also unaffiliated.

JUST JEWISH

on page 10

Shiri Katz-Gershon:
"Only when

I came to the
United States...
did I feel what
it is to be a Jew
and not an
Israeli."

