lOpinion

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Editorial

Feeling Good But Unfulfilled

U.S. congresswoman
from Florida, Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, has
successfully spbnsored a resolu-
tion that would designate every
January as Jewish History
Month. The vote was 423-0, and
it is awaiting the signature of
President George W. Bush. His
aides say the proposal is being
studied.
It's a feel-good sort of thing
with no legal force. It would be
up to individual school districts
to decide whether they wanted to
adopt such a course of study or
not. But several questions
inevitably arise.
First of all, are the public
schools the proper venue for
teaching about the accomplish-
ments of a particular religious
group?
That is, of course, the core of
an age-old conundrum. Should
Jews be defined as a religious
group or a culture? Separating
the secular achievements of indi-
vidual Jews from any religious
context, however, can be a tricky
business.
Without any reference to the

A

background that may have
shaped their childhood and fam-
ily environment, one is left with
a list of prominent personalities
who are simply floating around,
unattached to anything and
believing in nothing in particu-
lar. If that's the case, why bother
studying them at all as a distinct
group?
There is also the question of
complaints by Christian organi-
zations. They may very well
argue that if classroom material
were introduced on the roots of
Christianity in America's sense
of self-identity, for example, it
1,vould be met by constitutional
challenges. It would be hard to
answer that.
Obviously, the model here is
Black History Month. And there
has been a Jewish Heritage Week
proclaimed by the president in
every year since 2001. Congress
decided in 1995, however, to stop
designating specific parts of the
calendar to recognize interest
groups because it was being
overwhelmed by these requests.

are so diluted by demands of
such groups to have their own
special achievements recognized
that the major currents of
American history and thought
are compressed and obscured.
This country is composed of a
beautiful mosaic. It should be
recognized that the Jewish peo-
ple are an integral part of that
and have contributed much to
American life.
There should also be ongoing
programs to educate others. But
our first priority must be to edu-
cate our own children about
Jewish history and the notable
figures in our past.
Rep. Schultz's idea is well
intentioned. But here's what is
really needed: Political leaders
who are willing to confront anti-
Semitism wherever it is found
and embrace the values of plu-

Dry Bones

A TALE OP
TWO PEOPLES

IN SPITE OF

THE TERRORISTS

FOR THE

TERRORISTS.

ralism. That would be a -true
advance for Jewish history. ❑

E-mail letters to the editor of no

more than 150 words to:

letters®thejewishnews.com .

That was a good idea. History
classes in most pUblic schools

www. bryBonesBlog. Blogspot . corn

Reality Check

The Cooking Lesson

H

ello, Mrs. Teitelbaum,
this is the principal
over at the grade school
calling. I understand from your
granddaughter that you'd like to
prepare something for our annu-
al potluck dinner.
"What's that? A fish dish.
That's very nice. I know that one
of the ladies is making salmon
patties and someone else will be

bringing creamed tuna. What is

it you have in mind?
"Uh-huh. Could you say that
again, a little bit slower. That's
gefilte fish. Am I saying that
right? Well, to tell you the truth
Mrs. Teitelbaum I pride myself
on my knowledge of fish. But I
don't think I know that one. Is it
ocean or fresh water?
"You say it all depends. Oh, I
see. It's a mixture of fish. You
wouldn't actually go down to the
aquarium and see a gefilte swim-

ming around there. Gotcha. So
it's something like a paella.
Paella. No, I'm not saying it's a
pie. It's more like a fish stew. It's
Spanish.
"Yes, well, I agree that eating
dinner at midnight can't be good
for the digestive system; but I
don't think I'd call the Spanish

people crazy.
"But tell me more about this
gefilte fish you want to make. You
start with whitefish, OK. And

then some pickerel, good. And

Maybe there

is something

else that

you'd care to

make instead?

eating the stuff. No, I'm
really curious about
what
property it has.
you can leave that
"Well,
that's a rather
part out. All right, if
personal
question, Mrs.
it's essential, but
Teitelbaum,
but I usually
maybe we just won't
take
a
little
Kaopectate.
let it be known that
George C antor You say if I stuck to
it's in there.
matzah I would never
Colum nist
"All right. You've
have
to bother with that.
got your whitefish
I
get
the
idea.
No,
no,
and your pickerel and your ...
"So
you've
got
all this chopped
carp. And then what do you do?
fish
and
then
what.
You add car-
You grind them up. That's a good
rots
and
onions
and
some eggs.
one, Mrs. Teitelbaum. You had
good.
And
That
sounds
pretty
me going there. No, seriously.
then
you
bake
it
at
325
degrees
What do you do with these fish?
until it's brown around the rim.
You say you are being serious?

then ... did you say
carp? Well, maybe

"So you grind the fish up and

you put them all in a chopping
bowl. And you add sugar and salt
and pepper and ... what's that
last one? Matzah meal. What is
that for? You say I wouldn't have
to ask that question if I ever
went through an entire Passover

OK. That's good.
"Then you do what? You
refrigerate it? Now Mrs.
Teitelbaum, you're telling me that

you intend to serve this gefilte
thing cold?
"Is this a gag? Come on. This is
one of the boys down in mainte-

nance having a little fun, right?
"No, I'm sorry. Mrs.

Teitelbaum, I apologize. No you
won't have to call the Anti-

Defamation League. I sincerely
apologize. It's just that well, I
don't know how this will go over.
"You say it's a big hit on every
holiday. Well, that's just it. Maybe
you have to be in a really festive
mood to get into the gefilte
thing, and as you know this is
just a potluck dinner.
"Maybe there is something
else that you'd care to make.
instead?
"What's that? Stuffed kishke.
No, I have no idea how you'd pre-
pare that. Could you describe it

to me?"

George Cantor's e-mail address

is gcantor614@aol.com .

January 5 Q 2006

39