Rabbi Andrew Sacks http://www.jta.org/user/profile/16462 en-us zsilberman@washingtonjewishweek.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Kudos to Rabbi Wernick. Senator Barry Goldwater famously said "You don’t have to be straight in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight. " The military should be a place that values diversity, fairness, and equality. The current position does not make sense financially and it does not make sense morally. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 While there is certainly some Jewish awakening in Poland, in particular in Warsaw, this is a story that has been both over reported and exaggerated. In Krakow, for example, we have the Alef Restaurant, the Zion Restaurant, Mama's Bagels, The Shalom hostel, etc. There are Klezmer performances galore and Jewish festivals. One can visit several synagogues, the Jewish cometary, and the former Jewish ghetto.. But, barring visiting groups, there may not be enough locals for even one Minyan. There have been, on average, one Jewish wedding/year. None of these so-called Jewish restaurants, although they serve Matzah ball soup, is Kosher. Habad does not offer meals (except at a VERY high cost at a local hotel). The "Jewish schools" (e.g. Warclaw) are filled with students who are not Jewish. Many of those who are part of this revival have only a tangential connection, at best, to Judaism. Maybe a distant relative or the rumor of one. But there is much money to be made on Jewish tourism (although most of the guides are not Jewish) and on the return of Holocaust confiscated properties. This is, to some degree, at the heart of this so-called revival. I would urge that we reach out to those who are rediscovering their roots in Eastern and Central Europe. Every Jew, or potential Jew, is precious. But Poland is still a country that with so very few Jews, still nurses a strong tradition of Antisemitism. Let us not exaggerate this revival phenomenon. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Should converts be made to wait nine moths before being allowed to keep Kashrut or Shabbat? Yeshuv HaAretz is a Mitzvah. Once a person becomes a Jew-they are obligated to the Mitzvot. Does the 350 hours have any basis in law-Torah or Israeli? It does not. What we have here is a group of small minded bureaucrats, and a power hungry Chief Rabbinate, setting rules in violation of the High Court decisions. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Rabbi Jacobs helps us keep our eyes on issues far too easy to ignore. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Please read my detailed response at: http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/conservative/entry/saying_kaddish_for_conservative_judaism Saying Kaddish for Conservative Judaism? n his recent remarks to The Jerusalem Post, Rabbi Norman Lamm, the esteemed chancellor of Yeshiva University, pronounced the time near to say Kaddish [the prayer for the dead] for the Conservative and the Reform Movements. I shall leave it to the leaders of the Reform Movement to react to his criticism of their stream - I shall react to his criticism of Conservative/Masorti Judaism. Rabbi Lamm states, "The Conservatives are in a mood of despondency and pessimism." Related * Non-Orthodox Judaism disappearing * Orthodox Opinions: Rabbi Lamm's fight for tolerance must be recognized I am not certain upon what he bases this assertion. I, for one, am optimistic and foresee a firm future for Judaism and for the Masorti Movement. I would take no solace in knowing that the numbers of any Movement were in decline, for each Movement has a valuable contribution to make to our people. But the Conservative Movement is well served by new dynamic leadership in almost all of its branches. Its Day Schools, summer camps, and Rabbinical Schools are at full capacity. The number of teens who visit and study in Israel is a source of pride. I am not comparing numbers with the Orthodox Movement or with the Reform Movement. Sociological circumstances impact on these statistics. Numbers can be misleading and Rabbi Lamm has fallen into the numbers trap.It is the dynamic nature of Masorti/Conservative Judaism that will ensure a bright tomorrow not only for its affiliated members, but for all Jews. Rabbi Lamm suggest that in time we may be ready for women to serve as rabbis. Why wait? It is the very openness of the non-Orthodox Movements to greater inclusion that will force the Orthodox to move in such a direction. Regarding women rabbis he states, "Women have just come into their own from an educational perspective. I would prefer not to have this innovation right now." I am not sure in which reality Rabbi Lamm lives. Women have had equal access to Jewish learning in the non-Orthodox world for decades. Even in the Modern Orthodox world women have been studying at the highest level for quite a while. So I would ask Rabbi Lamm, "If not now-when?" The Jerusalem Post reported: "Regarding homosexuality among Orthodox Jewish men, Lamm said he drew a distinction between those who 'kept it to themselves' and those who 'proselytized'." Again I ask about Rabbi Lamm's reality. Exactly where are these proselytizing Orthodox homosexuals about whom he speaks? I appreciate his effort to be respectful. I say that in full sincerity. But it is difficult to read an enlightened Rav speak in such archaic language. The Orthodox religious establishment is making itself increasingly irrelevant. Please take note that I am not suggesting that Orthodox Judaism is becoming irrelevant. But many of its institutions are. The brouhaha over the sale of lands during the Shmita year, the refusal of the Israeli Rabbinate to accept converts form most mainstream American Orthodox rabbis, the ugly reception given to the Pope during his visit to Israel by some leading rabbinic figures, the corruption in the area of Kashrut, the discrimination against Sephardi children in Haredi schools in Israel, the continuing plight of Agunot [refers to a woman whose husband disappeared while travelling or at war, or is physically unable to write her a binding get (i.e. he is in a coma or has a mental illness), but cannot be proven deceased", Mavoi Satum definition; literally 'chained' or 'anchored'], the refusal of the Orthodox establishment to accept rabbis who study at more progressive Yeshivot all bode poorly for drawing unaffiliated Jews close to the Orthodox world. I take no pleasure in the failings mentioned above. Rabbi Lamm, and others of his stature, have the power to ameliorate much of this, if only they could act boldly. But the much of the Orthodox world seems to defy the laws of physics. The harder they are pushed from the right - the more they move to the right. Of course there are shining exceptions. Here in Israel we have the rabbis of Tzohar who have riled the official Orthodox rabbinic establishment. So too Neemanei Torah V'Avoda. In North America the work of Rabbis Avi Weiss and Marc Angel provide a breath of fresh air. Rabbi Lamm says, "Change has to come to religion when feasible, but it should not be rushed." On this we agree. But I see progress today as something quite feasible and even necessary. It was Mark Twain that said, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." This is why I do not see Masorti Judaism as even vaguely close to the time when Kaddish will be recited. Instead, I believe it shall continue "from strength to strength." 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 The only reason to oppose same sex unions (and certainly same sex marriage) is religion. The USA stands, in theory, for a separation of church and state. If any religious group opposes same sex unions - let them refrain from performing them. But there is no reason for these groups, based upon their religious understanding of biblical verses, to seek to impose their positions on the public. Can someone tell me how this would be any different from these Orthodox groups opposing the sale of Pork in America? And do we really wish to support legislation that decreases individual rights? Who's rights come next? 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Please see my blog on this subject of the Pope and the Western Wall at: http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/conservative/entry/the_rabbi_the_pope_and 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 See the excellent piece: The Rabbi, The Pope and the Western Wall http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/conservative/entry/the_rabbi_the_pope_and 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Kudos to the Masorti Movement. The Orthodox rabbinate makes itself more irrelevant with each passing day. With regard to the comment by Tamar: Perhaps she wishes to stifle the free market place of ideas and live in an Iranian style theocracy? 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00