Scholarship and integrity should prompt Amichai Lau-Lavie to note that his proposal for restoring the lapsed “resident alien” category for the 21st-century American Jewish community (Jewish Week, June 16) is not at all novel. In a series of articles published in CCAR Journal (Spring 1973), Reform clergy heatedly debated the issue of rabbis solemnizing an intermarriage. At that time, Adam D. Fisher suggested that to solve the problem, “The Ger Toshav — An Old Concept Renewed” be employed and proceeded to draft a text for a ger toshav ceremony.
But, on the other hand, perhaps Lau-Lavie should not be advised to attribute this proposal to its original proponent. Sadly, doing so in this instance is not mandated by the admonition of the sages, and assuredly will not serve to bring salvation to the world.
Letters to the editor
