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HAGAHELETA Publication of The Union For Traditional JudaismVolume 7, Number 1 Adar 5754/Spring 1994 Copyright 1994-2001 by the Union for Traditional Judaism |
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Shalom and welcome to the new Hagahelet. Starting with this issue, many exciting changes will be occurring. We have a new co- editor and a new "newsletter" within Hagahelet. Our new co-editor is Andrea Herrera, from Austin, Texas. She will be working with Rabbi J. Leonard Romm to bring you interesting and informative issues of Hagahelet on a regular basis.
Our newest addition to Hagahelet is the "Kosher Nexus". It is a newsletter prepared by Rabbi Jeffrey Rappoport of Staten Island, NY and Andrea Herrera, to keep you abreast of all the latest news in the world of Kashruth.
We welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas on either Hagahelet or The Kosher Nexus. Please refer to the box on page two, for computer and mail addresses.
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The U.T.J. has gone High Tech!! Hagahelet and Kosher Nexus are now available to you via the Internet and your computer! The Union For Traditional Judaism is sponsoring two electronic mail lists for computer enthusiasts. The first mail list is for the distribution of Hagahelet and Kosher Nexus. You can now read both online or print out a copy. The second mail list is a "discussion forum" which allows subscribers to discuss in an open forum, any issues relating to Traditional Judaism. Look on Page 2 for details on how to become a subscriber to both mail lists. The moderator for the lists is Alex Herrera of Austin, Texas. Get on-line today, and be a part of this exciting venture!
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During the past ten years the Union has grown and matured. We have demonstrated our commitment to creative programs that draw Jews toward observant lifestyles in the modern world. Our constituency has expanded to include many Orthodox rabbis, cantors, educators and lay people. Regardless of affiliation, our membership has long included many personally observant, Jewishly educated women who want to know what leadership roles are available to them within the frame- work of traditional Halakhah. These are people who often epitomize the commitment to Halakhah which the U.T.J. and I.T.J. were created to enhance.
There is no other institutional address within the Halakhic community that takes these needs seriously and is equipped to deal with them in the context of strict adherence to Jewish Law combined with intellectual honesty. It was for this very reason that in 1986 the Union's Panel of Halakhic Inquiry was the first body to issue an in- depth teshuvah on the question of Women's Prayer Groups (Tomeikh kaHalakhah vol. 1).
Continuing the tradition of responding to modern questions in a creative yet thoroughly Halakhic manner, our Institute of Traditional Judaism, the Metivta, is now sponsoring a think- tank on the matter of Halakhicly acceptable leadership roles for women. Participants have been selected based on a combination of personal Halakhic commitment and open-minded creative thinking. The chair is Dr. Adena Berkowitz, Director of Dor Hemshech Leadership Development for the World Zionist Organization and member of our Board. The steering committee includes Dr. Sylvia Barack Fishman of Brandeis University, (Continued on Page 2) Halakhic Women's Leadership - Con't Dr. Steven Bayme of the American Jewish Committee and Rabbi Ronald Price. The participants come from different affiliations within the Halakhic community. They will carry back the results of these discussions to their various communities for consideration. The Reish Metivta, of the Institute, Rav Halivni, will participate in all aspects of the discussion he deems appropriate.
The goal of the think-tank is to see if it is possible to reach a consensus in the modern Halakhic community on the types of roles available to women and roles that might be created for them, without breaching Jewish tradition and law.
Our Metivta already trains and certifies women in the area of tohorat hamishpahah (family purity/niddah) to counsel other women in this delicate arena. It is possible that there are other such areas for which women can be formally trained, that have heretofore been overlooked.
We look forward to the ongoing work of the think-tank and hope to report to you here on the discussions. We are proud that our Metivta will serve as the facilitator for this challenging approach to such an important issue for the Halakhic Jewish community.
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By Rabbi Ronald Price
Since I first took up my position with the Union in June of 1985, the broader world as well as our Jewish microcosm have changed. On the International scene old impregnable political barriers have crumbled. The initial euphoria has been followed by the realization that while the barriers were bad, the discipline they invoked must now be recaptured. The independence of the former Soviet Republics has led to new tensions with bloody results. Out of the chaos we hope that new alliances will form which will be better for the world.
Israel now speaks to the P.L.O. Again, the euphoria engendered by exciting rhetoric and sound bites has been followed with realization that things don't change just because we say we want them to. Terrorism remains a real threat and Israel remains a long way away from real peace with her Arab neighbors.
With all of this, there is great reason to be optimistic. Just because the Messiah has not arrived, does not mean that things cannot get better. None of us would prefer to return to the days of the cold war. With all of the uncertainty of the present, and the failures that will inevitably continue to occur on the diplomatic front as a different world order emerges, the uncertainty itself is reason for optimism. There are still great good things that can happen for our world.
The Mashiah certainly has not arrived for our Jewish community. Population surveys, while giving some reason for hope regarding intermarriage rates in the New York area, show a much steeper rise in intermarriage in the broader community. The challenge of the secular world to Halakhic Judaism is stronger than ever.
Are the challenges so great that Jewish continuity is threatened, or are the challenges not only manageable but useful?
I do not believe that physical Jewish continuity is threatened, even by the high rate of intermarriage today. Many institutions continue to exist long after they have ceased to have a purpose, so long as the original endowment is large enough. Jews too, can continue to reproduce for many generations. While our numbers are surely small, they are large enough to insure that some remnant of the Jewish community would continue to exist well after us, even if we took no positive action today.
While physical Jewish existence is not really threatened, and surely at least a remnant will continue, we must ask to what end would that remnant exist?
If the purpose of Judaism is nothing more than to "be", then there is no need to be Jewish and certainly no need for Jewish continuity. Continued existence of any group simply because of nostalgia, because our parents were part of this group, or because it makes us feel good, is not enough reason for an outsider to invest spiritually or financially to keep that group in existence. Why should the unaffiliated Jew invest time or money simply to satisfy our nostalgic sense of Judaism which he or she does not share?
No, continuity must mean more than mere existence, even if based in positive emotional nostalgia. The source of our yearning for Judaism's continued existence must be much deeper.
I believe that the source of our desire for continuity is our relationship with God. Jewish continuity is a religious and spiritual issue. It is not a matter of history, sociology or politics. While it can be viewed in any of those contexts, none of them provides an impetus for continuity, only a description of it. The impetus for perpetuation of Judaism and Jews, comes from our belief that God expects this of us, has commanded us to do this, and that the survival of Judaism means the survival of a special connection to the sacred, which we want to bequeath to our children.
None of us is the perfect Jew. Most of us lead secular lifestyles. Those of us who attempt to be meticulous in the fulfillment of the mitzvot often fail. The ideal Jew is constantly trying to find his or her way closer to God through the increased fulfillment of the mitzvot which God gave us, starting with the Revelation at Sinai.
Jewish continuity depends on the ability of our leaders to convince our communities to want to be ideal Jews. There are no shortcuts to this end. Jewish continuity depends on our investment of resources in Federations, synagogues and schools, to teach traditional Judaism, not just to our children, but to ourselves as well. The love of Jews, God, humanity and the world that stems from Torah and traditional Judaism will capture the hearts and souls of our youth and adults if we will only give it the opportunity. Jewish continuity depends on our ability to successfully communicate this message to all segments of the Jewish community.
Our Union for Traditional Judaism continues to stand ready to provide programming on open-minded Halakhic Judaism for Federations, synagogues and the broader Jewish community. We urge you to ask your Federations to take advantage of our speakers and programming.
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Volunteers, many of them Rabbis, will be available to answer all your Passover questions.
Everything you want and need to know about Pesah, from permissible foods, kosher products and the Seder to how to connect with your Jewish community.
Call Toll Free: 1-800-843-8825
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After a five year hiatus, the Union's annual conference returned to Toronto, Ontario, Oct. 31 - Nov. 3, 1993. Conference '93 was well attended by 100 hazzanim, 75 rabbis and over 100 laypersons from the Toronto community. Also represented was Vancouver, B.C., Atlanta, Georgia, Montreal, Que., Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as areas around the East Coast.
The program included magnificent limud sessions by the faculty of the Institute of Traditional Judaism (the Metivta). Keynote addresses were given by the Reish Metivta, Rabbi David Halivni , Dr. Sylvia Barack Fishman of Brandeis University, Rabbi Ozer Glickman of the Metivta, and Rabbi Dr. David Novak of the University of Virginia and the Metivta. Rabbi Glickman spoke at the gala dinner attended by 300 U.T.J. supporters, honoring five Toronto area rabbis.
This conference marked the first time Union members had gathered together since the founding of the new rabbinic body MORASHAH, the Rabbinic Fellowship of the U.T.J. Rabbi Mark Kunis, Co-Chair of MORASHAH, delivered the first annual report before the plenum.
Cantors belonging to the International Federation of Traditional Hazzanim also participated in joint sessions. The cantors treated the assembled to a superb concert.
Conference '93 also represented the first foray of the U.T.J. into the world of multi-day conferences. In the past our national conferences have lasted only one or two days. This four day program marked an important milestone for us from which we have learned much. Yishar Koah to the conference co-chairs, Rabbi Wayne Allen and Hazzan Eli Kirshblum.
Although the conference was an exciting success, we were disappointed that more laypersons from outside Toronto were not able to attend. Because all of the yamim noraim fell on weekdays, many laypeople who would otherwise attend our conference, simply could not take the time off from work. For this reason the Conference '94 planning committee is considering a Friday through Monday program for the coming Fall. Watch for a "Hold the Date" card coming soon!
Laypersons, rabbis, cantors and educators came together to learn Torah from our teachers at Conference '93. Being together helped to energize participants to make 5754 an even stronger year for our Union and the Institute.
Video and audio tapes of some of the presentations are now available and listed below:
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"Towards a Traditional Jewish Feminism" By: Dr. Sylvia Barack Fishman Video
$20 Print $10
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"The Ideal Traditional Jew" By: Rabbi Professor David Halivni Audio $10
| "Tinokh Shenishbah - How and Why the Traditional Community Must Reach Out
to the Unaffiliated" By: Rabbi Ozer Glickman - Audio $10 Print $10
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The following persons have made generous donations to the Union for Traditional Judaism. We gratefully acknowledge your support.
Mr & Mrs Leonard Price in honor of their 50th Anniversary
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From: Mr & Mrs Sidney Benjamin
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Mr & Mrs Burton Greenblatt
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Dr & Mrs Alan Kantor
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Ms Ida Saposnekoo
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Ms Florence Savetsky
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Mrs Ruth Snyder
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Rabbi & Mrs Leonard Levy in honor of the birth of a daughter
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From: Dr & Mrs Richard Rosen
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Mr & Mrs Burton Greenblatt
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In Honor of Burton & Anne Greenblatt
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From: Mr & Mrs Ronald Greenblatt
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The Zaklin Family
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In Honor of Rabbi & Mrs Ozer Glickman on the birth of a son
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From: Rabbi & Mrs Seth Gordon
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Mr & Mrs Burton Greenblatt
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Rabbi & Mrs Robert Pilavin
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In Memory of Thelma Jacobson
| From: Rabbi & Mrs. Bruce Ginsburg |
In Memory of Sherwin Ginsburg
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From: Rabbi & Mrs Seth Gordon
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Mr & Mrs Burton Greenblatt
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Rabbi & Mrs Robert Pilavin
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Dr & Mrs Richard Rosen
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Drs Saul & Miriam Shapiro
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For the Yahrzeit of Henrietta Klein
| From: Drs Saul & Miriam Shapiro |
In Memory of Robin Kirscheblatt
| From: Rabbi Zev Goldfischer |
In Memory of the mother of Stanley Galler
| From: Rabbi Zev Goldfischer |
In Memory of Jessie Korngut
| From: Rabbi Zev Goldfischer |
Tributes & Contributions In Memory of Charles Rosner
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From: Rabbi & Mrs Bruce Ginsburg
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Dr & Mrs Richard Rosen
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The following persons have made a generous donation to the Institute of Traditional Judaism. We gratefully acknowledge your support.
In Honor of Mr & Mrs Leonard Price on their 50th Anniversary
| From: Ms Helen Benjamin |
In Honor of Rabbi & Mrs Brad Hirschfield on the birth of a daughter
| From: Mr & Mrs Burton Greenblatt |
In Memory of Sherwin Ginsburg
| From: Mr & Mrs Dane Sidi |
Tributes and Contributions in Honor or Memory may be made directly to the Union office.
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The fourth annual evening of study with our Reish Metivta, Rav David Weiss Halivni, took place on December 15, 1993. This annual social and educational event was held on the last night of Hanukkah, exclusively for Tomkhei Torah members, the supporters of the Metivta. Those who attended were treated to a delicious Hanukkah dinner, and more importantly, to the illumination of the Torah through the eyes of the scholarly leader of our Rabbinical school. If you are not already a Tomeikh Torah, please become one now. For more information, call or write to the U.T.J. office.
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By now virtually all of our members are aware of the major conference on Jewish Law held last February sponsored by our Metivta . Other sponsors included Dor Hemshech of the World Zionist Organization, as well as a number of other major academic institutions including Bar Ilan University, Hebrew University Law School, and the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists/ American Section.
The next full conference on Mishpat Ivri will be held in February, 1995. In the meantime, interim events are taking place. One such event took place on November 21, 1993. Rabbi Dr. Emanuel Rackman, Chancellor of Bar Ilan University delivered a special lecture entitled "The Use of Meta-Halakhah in the Process of Halakhic Decision Making". Over one hundred scholars and laypersons joined with us at Dor Hemshech in New York for the event. Future interim programs will be announced in Hagahelet.
To all Current and Members-To-Be, if you have not paid your dues for 5754, please do so today! You are our only source of support.
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Individual --- $36.00
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Family --- 50.00
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Friend --- 100.00
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Donor --- 250.00
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Sponsor --- 500.00
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Patron --- 1,000.00 +
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Please mail your check to:
Union For Traditional Judaism, 241 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, New Jersy 07666.Return to Table of Contents
We deeply mourn the passing of Rabbi Leonard J. Aronson, who was the first coordinator of the Counseling Program at the Institute of Traditional Judaism.
We pray that his wife Carol Poll will know strength and consolation in the days that lie ahead. We thank her for having shared Len with us.
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For those who will be joining us on the UTJ (computer) mail list, you will find parts of the welcome message re-printed below. For those of you who are new in receiving Hagahelet and hopefully joining us at the U.T.J. this welcome letter will share with you who we are and what we stand for.
Welcome Message:
Berukhim Habaim, welcome to the mail-list of the Union for Traditional Judaism. The U.T.J. is an independent outreach organization made up of hundreds of rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators, and thousands of laypeople around North America and the world. Its goal is to "bring Jewish tradition home" to the broadest possible segment of the Jewish community. The U.T.J.'s constituency includes modern Orthodox Jews, traditional Conservative Jews, and in general open-minded observant members of the Halakhic community, as well as those who are on their way to becoming Halakhic Jews.
The goal of the computer bulletin board is to promote discussion, take questions, disseminate information and to do our best to help people live more observant Jewish lifestyles. This list is for the novice and for the fully observant Jew. Each of us, regardless of how far up the ladder of Jewish learning and living we have climbed, still has another rung we can reach. So let's help one another.
Subjects may range from the simple to the sophisticated. No subject is too elementary to be discussed and debated. As with most forums of this nature, the possibility of heated discussion is always present. Our challenge is to communicate ideas without ridicule or rancor in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Editor's Note: It is our hope that all who have access to a computer and the Internet will join us on the U.T.J. mail list, as well as becoming dues paying members of the U.T.J. In joining the list and participating, you will not only be afforded the opportunity in sharing your thoughts and opinions, but you will be helping educate others along the way.
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