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The Impact Of Intermarriage Reception in Honor of Harav Yeruehim Olshin, Shlita Rosh Yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha CT Monday, January 12, 2004 8:30 pm At the home of : Rabbi & Mrs. Joseph Nusbaum 15041 Burton, Oak Park, MI Mr. Gary Torgow Master of Ceremonies Correction Mr. Reuven Meer Chairman Sponsors' Committee Hosts: 1/ 2 2004 6 Rabbi DON" riage has been simple. Jews can join congregations. Non-Jews are to be wel- come in our congregations, but cannot join, serve on committees or be officers. All of a sudden, there is a cloud of Regarding the last Alefbet'cha Don't questions. "Outreach" is the big deal for Know (Dec. 26, page 10), it should be an organization that spends pitifully few pointed out that the reason the Scroll of dollars on educating its own members Antiochus is not read in the synagogue on the importance of mitzvot. on Chanukah is the critical difference It is the congregation's duty, and the between it and the Scroll of Esther. duty of congregants, to provide an The latter was adopted into the atmosphere that encourages the spouse canonical Tanakh, while the former, to convert or, if not, to convert the chil- sometimes called "The Book of the dren of the marriage. And if the spouse Hasmoneans," is a pseudepigraph, of does not convert, it is the congregation's uncertain but likely much later origin. duty to make him or her understand Despite that, during the 13th century that we respect them as a person and we it was publicly read on Chanukah in welcome them to be with us. Italian synagogues and is contained in But in the end, we must confront that one of the oldest Italian mahzorim we are different. At this time, when we (1568). Dr. Irving D. Goldfein recall our struggle for religious freedom Southfield and definition of how much of the secu- lar world we wanted to absorb into our beings, which sparked a decades-long civil war, this subject is all the more poignant. I respect people in intermarriages who Thanks to Alaine Waldshan, the volun- make the difficult choice to raise their teer coordinator, and the other profes- children according to the belief of one sional staffers at the Jewish Federation parent. I respect those who make the for its planning and implementation of very difficult choice of converting their Mitzvah Day on Dec. 25. children to Judaism, though the mother I know I say this for the hundreds of may have a strong belief in her religion. volunteers who fanned out across the Indeed, such women are righteous peo- Detroit area on that day to do good ple, in my opinion, and the children things for people, in a myriad of homes they give us are to be treasured. and institutions, who needed relief, help However, for the movement as a and cheer during their very special sea- whole to waffle on its position relative son. I've been fortunate to help before, this to intermarriage is wrong-headed. It is precisely the kind of thinking that time, and hopefully many more times. Ed Kohl leads to waffling on patrilineal descent West Bloomfield and the importance of conversion. I would prefer that the movement, its rabbis and its lay leaders focus on making better Jews of the Jews we have, and creating more Jews through active focus on conversion, than attempting to weaken the distinction between those who are Jews and those It is distressing to see comments such as who are not. those from Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of Leonard I. Wanetik Congregation Shaarey Zedek, and pro- West Bloomfield grams such as those from the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, on intermarriage ("Integrating Intermarrieds," Dec. 19, page 61). The United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism is not an organi- zation flush with cash or programming. In such a situation, I believe focusing on a few fundamental principles, coupled with following and promoting them clearly, is key. In "Shared History of Oppression" Intermarriage would not rank as a (Dec. 19, page 17), Avi Kidron of fundamental principle. Shabbat, kashrut West Bloomfield was mis-identified and Zionism would. as a rabbi. Up to now, the position on intermar- Antiochus' Scroll And Chanukah ATTENTION GM EMPLOYEES: P.E.P. VEHICLES NOW AVAILABLE! • • Headlamp Washers • Cold Weather Package • • Power Locks • Auto Sunroof • • CD Player • Leather Seats • Power Windows • Active Head Restraint System • re thliemritg,hdt to estenat , , „:„ t prefer,:lcuticrst .ths atBrLe-lar.ter to articlesicrn.dtheLJerish Niteruics. We,rtal is one letter per 4-6 week period, space permitting. Letters must contain the name, address and tide of the writer, and a daytime , telephone number. Original copies must be hand signed. Mail to the Jewish News ri at 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; • fax to (248) 304-8885: or e-mail to: rsldar@thcjewishnews.com Loketch, Rabbi Joseph Nusbaum, Mrs. Sol Nusbaum 0