A
Unique Approach to Wellness
• Oxygen Massage &i Customized Treatments
• Aesthetic Laser Treatment
• Natural &' Holistic Care
r
1st Session with Dr. Levine for
Acupuncture or Weight Loss
$150.00
So what is it that the Jewish
community is looking for
from interfaith families?
What is Jewish enough?
Is it enough to simply feel
Jewish? If so, then that's
been achieved. Or is it that
these adult children should
go to temple? If that's the
case, then I'm more Jewish
than some of my friends
who grew up in a family
with two Jewish parents.
"It's a numbers game," says Rabbi
Levy. "It's how many we . can officially
label as Jews. Even though we've been
hearing it for over a hundred years,
there's a big fear that our numbers our
dwindling and we will disappear."
Based on this reasoning, I can
respect the fact that there are many
who are against interfaith marriages.
According to the Jewish population
survey, 50 percent of Jews who take
the plunge are diving into an inter-
faith marriage. You do the math.
However, can we really expect to force
disincentives on all of them so they
will marry other Jews? Rabbi Levy
doesn't think
so. That's why he
performs interfaith mar-
riages. In his words,
"Does it guarantee
that, after a few years,
the couple will decide
to drift away from Judaism? No.
But at least they've been given a
chance.to start."
If there are no guarantees, how do
you keep the numbers up? "You drop
the barriers," he said simply. "And, it's
not enough for the rabbi to be wel-
coming — the whole temple needs to
be." Currently, Temple Beth Emeth is
faced with a different problem. The
membership has grown so consider-
ably, there may not be enough room .
to hold everyone during the High
Holidays — even while conducting
multiple services.
"When you stop playing the num-
bers game, you win," the rabbi said.
My wife and I are fortunate to have
had the chance to develop our daugh-
ters' Judaism — from the Washtenaw
JCC where our children went to pre-
school, to the temple where they
attend religious school. I wonder
where we would have ended up with-
out such an open community. There
are many others just like us, who have
not had the benefit of outreach pro-
grams or lowered barriers. Turn on
the runway lights. Give them a place
to land. fl
Robert C. Levine, M.D.
Natural and Holistic Medicine
248 646 8600
1157 S. Adams • Birmingham, Michigan
www.ellemedicalspa.com
f
WE WILL "1 11
BEAT ANY WRITTEN
ESTIMATE PERIOD! 441
So WIT; Not Get The Best 0.uakivi
"'4
& Scx4itr;e7
Each Job
Fully &
Impeccably
Cleaned Up
EE
MLS...YOURTR
HIRE
CARE PROFESSIOrIAL
ti
EACH JOB
COMPLETELY OWNER
SUPERVISED
I
MLS
TREE
SERVICE
Cali JEFF (owner)
734-5644260
41 I -800-299-2214
20%
OFF
Icr) e
CORSO
Jim Keen is author of the book "Inside
Intermarriage: A Christian Partner's
Perspective on Raising a Jewish Family"
(URJ Press, forthcoming) and a contrib-
utor to the book "The Guide to the
. Jewish Interfaith Family Life: an
InterfaithFamily. com Handbook"
(Jewish Lights publishing). He is a
columnist for InterfaithFamilycom. His
e-mail address is jckeen@umich.edu .
r
& Insured
Offering
Immediate Service For All Your
Tree & Shrub Care Needs!
Family Owned and Operated
for 3 Generations
Highest Quality and Value
forYour Investment
Ask For
Please Ask For References
1018290
I
I
I
with ad
1.
Additional Savings
For Seniors
ITN
SERVING THE NORTH
1 & WEST SUBURBS
I.
UI
9/ 1
2005
23