KOLEINU - Our Voice

We look forward to remaining in touch with many of you and are confident that your wonderful community will continue to grow from strength to strength!

Shalom uv’racha,

   Rabbi Linda and Rabbi Jonathan

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear friends,

I would like to share with you the events celebrated in the past few months, as well as those to come in the near future.

As you may recall, B’nei Israel belongs to the U.J.C.L., Union of Jewish Congregations from Latin America and the Caribbean, which was born in February 1998 in Costa Rica. Each year a conference is held in one of the member countries. At this point, the Union includes El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Curaçao, Jamaica, Cuba, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and recently Bahamas. We are hoping that in the near future, the liberal communities of Mexico and Colombia will also join us.

This organization endeavors to preserve Judaism in the region, and to form a link between the liberal communities of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The fifth conference was held in Jamaica. The main topics that were discussed were: education, Jewish knowledge, congregation budgets, revitalization of communities through education, continuity, etc. All these subjects are of constant interest to strengthen our communities. Apart from the workshops and the presentations, which by the way were excellent, I have the obligation to highlight that which, in my point of view, is the most important outcome of the seminar: the friendship that has developed within the whole group. The borders have extended, the distance has become smaller, the family has met again.

The youth encounter of twenty young men and women has been the absolute trigger of the success of this fifth conference. They made us understand their values, and their need to assume immediate responsibilities, provided that we supply the space and the tools.

We have found a common denominator, which I’m sure will make the regional fortification and the continuity of our communities possible. An interesting fact is that all of us together amount to somewhere around four hundred families. However, what matters is not the number, but the interest that everyone has shown.

On a different subject, also of great importance: having a full time Rabbi. As a starting point for this, we have the upcoming visit of Rabbi Michael G. Holzman, who will be with us for a week, starting on March 25. He and his wife will share with us the first Passover Seder, that week’s Shabbat, as well as other activities where we will be able to get to know him better and have him know us better too. We are sure that his presence, present and future, will be very significant to our community.

Hasta Pronto

    Eduardo Keibel

Translated by Tamara Baum

LETTERS TO THE CONGREGATION

Dear Friends,

I will take advantage of this opportunity to inform you all that the job with the FDA in Queens came through and I begin work on February 25. I plan to leave Costa Rica with the dog on February 20. Maria and Nina have their last interview for immigrant visas at the consulate on March 1 and hope to follow on March 2.

Being members of B’nei Israel has been a wonderful experience for our whole family and made our Costa Rican experience much richer. We made many wonderful friends in B’nei Israel whom we will miss deeply. Many of our life events (most notably the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs of Jeremy and Nina) took place at B’nei Israel, so it will always have a significant place for our family.

Leaving will be very difficult but there are many reasons that this is better for us. My mother will be 89 on February 17 and lost her remaining sister last month so it is probably best for us to be with her.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful opportunities and experiences B’nei Israel gave us.

Sincerely,

    Donald, Maria, Jeremy and Nina Kass

*********************

Dear Mr. Fischer,

My husband and I would like to thank you for having been there for us in our greatest need. It amazed us how you were able to gather together so many of your congregants to the cemetery.

Please extend our gratitude to each and everyone who came. It meant a great deal to us. We also would like to thank the Rabbi for having been so efficient, nice, and compassionate.

We are enclosing a check to your Temple or Cemetery for one hundred dollars ($100) in appreciation for what you have done for us.

Sincerely yours,

    Susan and Leslie Niederman

   

REPORT ON TRIP TO CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN :
JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 13, 2002

   Rabbi Joel Oseran
   Director of International Development and Program
   WUPJ - Israel

INTRODUCTION

I had the distinct privilege to represent our World Union at the 5th Annual Conference of Congregations in the Caribbean and Central American region of the World Union, which took place from January 31-February 1, 2002 in Kingston, Jamaica. Since I had never been to this WUPJ region I took advantage of the opportunity to visit 3 additional major congregations in the area after the Conference concluded: Puerto Rico, Panama, and Curacao.

Even though the total number of Jews in the Caribbean/Central American region is small with only a few thousand family units in our liberal congregations, there are, nevertheless, 10 countries in the area in which there are Progressive congregations and that is a fact which assumes importance to our overall international effort.

Admittedly, I knew far too little about these congregations before my visit. Even though several of the congregations have a long and most distinguished history as Jewish centers (Curacao celebrated its 350th anniversary this past April; Jamaica and Panama are also congregations with literally hundreds of years of history) few have become actively involved in the workings of the World Union. And likewise, the World Union has rarely played an active role in the development of most of these congregations. As you will read in this report, I hope this is about to change.

UNION OF CONGREGATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA (UJCL) CONFERENCE

January 31-February 3, 2002; Kingston, Jamaica

The UJCL was established 4 years ago to serve the growing needs of Progressive/Liberal congregations throughout the region. Living in isolation from major Jewish population centers in general, and Progressive Jewish congregations in particular, the coming together of the Caribbean/Central American Progressive communities was a concrete step taken to strengthen each group's resolve and effectiveness. The annual conference has been (and for the most part still is) the major activity of the UJCL. The conference, similar to other such gatherings in WUPJ regions, serves as an important social and educational happening, enabling friends and associates to meet, celebrate Shabbat, study, and discuss mutual problems and plans for further joint activities.

This year's conference in Jamaica (previous conferences have been held in Costa Rica and Panama) was a first on two counts. It was the first conference ever held in the Caribbean and it was the first conference to have included a special youth contingent who participated in a parallel youth conference.

The youth conference was one of the highlights of the entire conference. Nearly 20 youth attended from all over the region and succeeded in establishing the beginnings of a youth division of the UJCL with 4 of the youth having been selected to serve as a steering committee to guide further activities. Even the selection of the 4 young adults to serve on the steering committee was a joy to see, since 10 actually wanted to be involved and the youth, themselves, worked out a democratic process to ensure fair representation from around the region.

The World Union played a key role in helping to launch the youth conference by providing a modest grant to help subsidize youth travel and registration fees. Believe me, it was so very much appreciated by everyone and, in truth, it was exactly the kind of support we should be doing - it made a difference!

The youth conference was such a "hit" as well because the adults saw the next generation taking an active role in Jewish life which spelled one thing - there will be a future. It was an amazing sight to watch adult faces as the youth stood up to report on their conference achievements. It was a look of hope and encouragement! The youth are currently working on a regional camp gathering sometime within the next 6 months and an eventual trip to Israel which would be coordinated together with Netzer Olami. I spent considerable time with the youth and adults promoting the Israel experience and answering questions about the "situation" in Israel today. It was reassuring to hear such enthusiastic responses by the youth and adults alike to the Israel trip.

The overall adult conference theme was on Jewish Education and its particular challenges in the Caribbean/Central American region. I addressed this theme in my opening key-note presentation and in subsequent workshops on the topic. Members shared experiences in their local congregations and we all discussed the invaluable role of the internet in supporting congregational needs in this area and many others. I encourage you to visit the UJCL web site at (www.ujcl.org) under the enthusiastic leadership of Martha Lichtenstein from the Aruba congregation. I informed the group that we are currently studying more ways to effectively utilize our new WUPJ web site (www.wupj.org), to better support and provide services for our constituent members worldwide. Without question, the utilization of the internet will become a major programmatic activity of our World Union in the years to come.

The UJCL is indeed fortunate to have a fine group of volunteer leaders headed by Jean Claude Kahn Salomon from El Salvador who is President. The UJCL also has a part-time Executive Director, Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik who is completing three years in El Salvador and will begin in March, 2002 as Rabbi for Congregation Kol Shearit Israel in Panama. Rabbi Kraselnik is a graduate of the Buenos Aires Rabbinical Seminary and is eager to find ways to coordinate his work with us in the World Union.

In my closing session with the UJCL Board I affirmed our World Union commitment to be a more active partner in strengthening the development of Progressive Judaism in this part of the world. It is clear to all concerned that the World Union's primary areas of concern and financial support have been and will continue to be Israel and the Former Soviet Union - regions in which over half the world's Jewish population resides. Nevertheless, there is much that we can and should be doing for our Caribbean/Central American Progressive Movement membership - support which need not involve large sums of funding.

First, we need to simply be available to these isolated congregations and lend them our institutional aegis and networking support. Merely being in Jamaica - teaching, meeting informally with a host of congregational leaders and reporting on World Union activities around the world was a meaningful act of support. I met with three congregations, in particular, regarding the subject of rabbinical placement and how the World Union can assist them in their search for a rabbi. I discussed the subject of educational resource material, curricula for children and adults and other ways we can assist the region in networking with the UAHC and its Department of Education. The World Union can also be helpful in coordinating visits by rabbis and other teachers to come to the region to conduct adult educational experiences. We also have an important role in assisting the region to develop Israel experience trips and missions - such as the youth mission to Israel mentioned previously. Our World Union web site will provide important services in information sharing and long distance learning which can prove to be invaluable resources for the region. And when necessary, our World Union will be there to provide the institutional and political backing to our groups who encounter discrimination and face other local opposition - often from the Orthodox community (sound familiar?). In these and in many more ways, the World Union can play a critical role in advancing the efforts of Progressive Judaism in the region. And yes, at times, we will need to help support certain specific projects with modest financial resources (as in the youth conference subsidy) to demonstrate that we are there in deed as well as in words!

The Board of the UJCL has tentatively decided to conduct the next annual conference in Panama City, Panama sometime in the winter of 2003. (The Jamaican Progressive community should be congratulated for organizing a truly memorable conference. We all felt most welcome and Shabbat services in the historical 19th century synagogue was a special experience for all of us. Thank you Jamaica!) One of my goals is to organize a delegation of ARZA/WUNA leaders (and WUPJ leaders from abroad as well) to attend the conference. Our World Union leaders would not only find the conference to be a wonderfully enriching experience but have much to share with our colleagues in the region regarding synagogue operation, educational and cultural programming, and more.

Such a visit would do much to reinforce our World Union message that Reform Jews must take seriously their responsibility to Klal Yisrael and Jewish Peoplehood throughout the world. The Caribbean/Central American region is also a fascinating cultural and historical legacy of our Jewish People which would be an exciting and rewarding visit. So, mark your calendars now and keep watch for updates regarding the Panama conference in 2003.

CONCLUSION

Without question this was one of the most fascinating and Jewishly enriching visits I have made on behalf of the World Union. I am indeed privileged to have the opportunity to meet our Jewish People in such unique parts of the world. And in a very real sense this is the meaning of the World Union. We are here to extend an outstretched hand of help and hope to Jews who must work very hard to remain Jewish. We are here to support and encourage the thousands upon thousands of Jews who seek a liberal, egalitarian, and more humanistic expression of Jewish life and were it not for us would be disenfranchised from any Jewish communal involvement. We are here to connect Jews with Jews across the globe, to teach the value and necessity of Klal Yisrael, and to ensure that our People's heart and soul, Israel, will always remain a vibrant Home for us all.

The World Union does all this and more. We have much to give, but even more to receive as we go out, meet, and are touched by Jewish souls whose commitment to Jewish life is extraordinary even as it is as natural as their next breath. Dear reader, make a promise to get out and experience for yourself the reward of meeting your People Israel - whether in a small village in Russia where the World Union is renewing Jewish life after decades of oppression, or in Panama next year at the annual UJCL conference, or in Hameln, Germany where our Progressive congregation is about to embark on a building project to erect the first Reform Movement synagogue in post Holocaust Germany, or of course, in Jerusalem, where we will be gathering in February, 2003 for our International Convention. The World Union means being a part of the Jewish People; appreciating its noble history, and ensuring its vital future. All this is yours to do. Enjoy!

   Rabbi Joel Oseran
   13 King David Street
   Jerusalem, 94101, Israel
   Telephone: 972-2--6203447
   FAX: 972-2-6203446
    www.wupj.org

   

SISTERHOOD CORNER

Dear Congregation,

First, I would like to share with you the wonderful experience we had in Jamaica, at the Conference of the Union of Jewish Liberal Congregations of Central America and the Caribbean. It was simply extraordinary.

We had the pleasure of attending very interesting lectures delivered by leaders from the region and from Israel. The workshop topics were wisely chosen, for they dealt precisely with finding a solution to the planning problems we small communities all have to face.

It is very important that more members from our community attend these seminars, since this kind of experiences enrich us, not just as a congregation but as individuals, as well. It is so stimulating to participate and learn, while at the same time, we are all forging friendships with people from other countries with similar situations to our own. This is why I look forward to the conference on January 2003, when I will meet again with people of whom I am very fond of.

I wish many of you have the opportunity to share in this joy, which is why I am counting on you to join us in Panama for the next conference.

Something else I wanted to mention was that for the first time, we had the participation of a delegation of young men and women from each country at this Conference, and how successful it was. We had three delegates from Costa Rica: Jason Marín, Tamara Baum, and Erika Keibel. Our youth, together with the young delegates from other countries, created their own Union and Board of Directors, of which Tamara is a member.

Our hosts in Jamaica surpassed our expectations. To them we will always be very grateful.

   

***********************

On a second note, I would like to call on all the members of the congregation to participate more actively in our committees. Above all, the Sisterhood is at present a very small group of women who work very hard to achieve great things for the community. I know that in this congregation we have many valuable women, rich in ideas to keep our community not only alive, but growing. Therefore, I urge you to participate in the Sisterhood’s activities.

Every member is important to the continuity of our synagogue. Love, work, and ideas are the engine that keep our community alive. We need the energy of all of you to function. We should be thankful for all the people who with responsibility assume this role to give us always what this community has to offer.

The Sisterhood meetings will be held the first Monday of every month at 10:30, at our synagogue. Women who work and cannot attend on Mondays, please contact Rosalía Koss at 224-1857, to discuss the possibility of organizing another meeting, complementary to the first one.

I trust that the small participation is due to a lack of communication and not of enthusiasm. I hope to see you all at our next meeting. Please take note of the following dates:

   

• Monday, March 4 - 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, April 8 - 10:30 a.m. Subject: Cachivache Sale.
• Monday, May 6 - 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, June 3 - 10:30 a.m.

”The congregation is not an electrical appliance which you can turn on and off.
It functions with human energy. Let us provide this energy.”

Thank you! Love always,

    Flor Keibel

Important note:

The person or family in charge of the Oneg, must serve the table, pour the wine, and place the challot on the bimah. Thanks again.

(Translated by Tamara Baum)

   

TAMARA'S CORNER

Tamara Baum

Jamaica, a natural paradise where besides drinking Ting all day long and eating chicken as if it were the last animal on Earth, the fifth conference of the Union of Jewish Congregations of Latin America and the Caribbean was held. A very special synagogue exists in this Caribbean island, which for over a hundred years has managed to survive natural disasters, differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim, as well as the emigration of many of its members to the United States. It is one of the three synagogues in the world whose floor is just sand, as a symbol of the Marranos during the Inquisition who had to hide the sound of their footsteps whenever they went to pray. Also, this congregation has the joy of having thirteen Torot in their arc, which is truly extraordinary.

This year, a young people committee was formed. Perhaps because it was the first time this was done, the goals of creating such a group weren’t defined, so the twenty youths who participated had a lot of freedom as to deciding which direction the new organization would take. Our meetings were mainly about sharing the situation of each country. One by one, we presented the reality of the youth groups in our synagogues. This is how we realized that even though some countries have very well organized and functional youth groups, others do not. Also, we found out that we all have the problem of how to keep the kids interested after they do their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Moreover, in the discussions we had, we discovered another common point of concern. We were all worried about the lack of interest many people (kids and adults alike) show for the activities in our communities. For instance, in Costa Rica, I take as a recent example, the holiday of Purim. Each year less people attend this party. How are we supposed to make it more fun if you don’t even give us the opportunity by not showing up? It is a celebration not just for kids, but for people of all ages. This year, we weren’t even able to organize games with the kids, because they were too few. We all know that this is a small community, and that is precisely why we need the cooperation of all its members to move forward. The congregation can’t grow if its existing members, brush it aside.

Definitely, it was necessary, to ensure the continuity of Judaism, to have young people participate in the planning of the Union’s future. Thus, the Youth Union was devised, an independent group derived from the UJCL, with the purpose of maintaining communication between the young Jews of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The conference in Jamaica was just the beginning for a group of young men and women, whom I consider really exceptional, for they all have the vision and the will to guarantee the continuity of our faith in the present times. The next step will be a conference just for young people here in Costa Rica this upcoming July. The idea is to bring more than just the twenty original kids that went to Jamaica. Many of us are still in touch through the Internet, and I can assure you all that there is plenty of interest among us to make the Youth Union work.

Last but not least, I would like to thank the people of Jamaica, who with all their dedication made the conference so special. Really, they made our stay in their island a memorable experience.

   

NEWS FROM ISRAEL:

WUPJnews - 20 February 2002/8 Adar 5762

SPECIAL ISSUE:
ISRAEL'S HIGH COURT ORDERS STATE TO RECOGNIZE ALL REFORM AND CONSERVATIVE CONVERSIONS

In a landmark decision, Israel's High Court of Justice today ruled that persons who have undergone Reform or Conservative conversions must be listed as being Jewish on their state-issued identity card. This extends the Court 's previous recognition of non-Orthodox conversions performed abroad to those performed in Israel.

The High Court had previously ruled that the monopoly on conversions in Israel by the country's religious hierarchy was illegal; however, it issued no clear cut order regarding non-Orthodox conversions. In 1998, a lower court ruled that the state must recognize non-Orthodox conversions performed in Israel, calling it "absurd" that non-Orthodox conversions performed abroad are considered valid, but not those performed locally.

Today's 9-2 decision concerns 24 petitioners, including adopted children, who had converted either in Israel or abroad. However, it has the potential of paving the way for tens - and perhaps hundreds - of thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union who, according to halakha, are not Jewish. What's more, it will have far-reaching political implications, especially for the ultra-Orthodox parties belonging to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unity government - which is already quite fragile due to the current security situation.

Rabbi Uri Regev, newly appointed Executive Director of the World Union and the longtime director of the Israel Religious Action Center, which handled the petitions, called the ruling "historic," saying it "strengthens Jewish pluralism in Israel and completely rejects the stand of the Orthodox establishment, which claims that Reform and Conservative conversions are unworthy of recognition." Regev said the "gates of Judaism have now swung open to adoptive parents and to immigrants from Russia," adding that many had already contacted the Center seeking information.

Philip Meltzer, president of ARZA/WORLD UNION, North America, was also present for the morning ruling, along with ARZA/WUna Executive Director Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. "At such a difficult time in Israel, this is a paramount statement about worldwide Jewish unity," Meltzer said. "The Supreme Court has affirmed that all of us - Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and secular - are of the same people, no matter how we got here."

Supreme Court President Aharon Barak emphasized that in today's ruling, he and his fellow justices steered clear of the issue of whether Reform and Conservative conversions are valid under halakha, saying they focused instead on a precedent declaring that the Interior Ministry's population registry must list personal details as provided by citizens, without question. On the surface, this appeared to satisfy Israel's Chief Rabbinate. However, members of Israel's ultra-Orthodox political parties greeted the ruling by threatening to enact legislation that would circumvent the High Court. Interior Minister Eli Yishai, of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, was particularly defiant. The man in charge of issuing Israel's ID cards says he plans to list non-Orthodox converts as "Reform Jew" or "Conservative Jew" on their ID cards, and not merely as "Jewish."

   

THE FESTIVAL OF PESACH:

THE SEDER TEACHES US A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT LESSONS

by Rabbi Solomon Schiff - Article taken from The Miami Herald, April 2000

The festival of Pesach is the most beautiful and meaningful of all the Jewish holidays. Perhaps that is the reason why the one ritual that is observed more than any other is the Pesach seder. There are many important lessons that this holiday teaches us. The following are but a few:

HOPE

The story of the Exodus teaches the importance of hope. Serving as slaves for hundreds of years, with generations born and dying in slavery, it would have been easy to abandon all dreams of a Jewish future. However, by keeping hope alive, the Jews maintained their Jewish identity and were available to have Moses lead them out of Egypt. A Hassidic rebbe once compared the Jewish people to the hands of a clock. Sometimes they are down, but soon they are up on high.

It is not by coincidence that those yearning for a rebirth of Jewish identity and pride through modern Zionism and the establishment of a modern state of Israel, chose as its national anthem, Hatikvah, hope.

This more than any other, reflects the characteristic of the Jewish people that enabled us to survive.

SACRIFICE

The Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, put some of its blood on the doorposts of their homes and eat the Pascal sacrifice at their “seder” as they prepared to leave Egypt that night. “When I see the blood, I will pass over you and there shall be no plague upon you.” (Exodus 12:13)

It took a great deal of courage to take the lamb, regarded as a god to the Egyptians, and sacrifice it. We might also ask, did G-d need our I.D. card to know which was a Jewish home? The answer is that G-d who is the “bochen levovot” - who knows the thoughts of the heart - didn’t need our I.D. card. However, He wanted to see if the Jews would stand up and be counted.

There were many Jews who wanted to sit on the fence, not knowing who would win the struggle between G-d and the Pharaoh. They wanted to play it safe. By not putting the blood on their doorposts, they would not be exposed as revolutionaries, and would identify themselves only if G-d was the victor. To them G-d said, if you don’t put the blood on the doorposts, you will not be spared in the plague of the slaying of the first born sons.

As they were preparing to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, it was vital to know who will stand up and be counted, and who can be counted upon.

TZEDAKAH

More than any other holiday, Pesach teaches care and concern for others. There is an old and very meaningful tradition that is practiced even today, called “maot chitin” - money for wheat. These are special funds used to enable the poor to celebrate Pesach. This is in keeping with one of the early pronouncements in the Haggadah. We proclaim, loud and clear “let all those who are hungry, enter and eat, and all who are in distress, come and celebrate Passover.”

The Torah reading during Pesach includes the mitzvot which deal with the leaving of gleanings and other crops of the field for the poor, the stranger, the orphan and the widow.

EDUCATION

We are told in the Haggadah, “One does not fulfill his obligation to tell the story of the Exodus unless there is the matzoh and maror (bitter herbs) before you.” This means that we cannot “tell” the story as a bedtime story but rather at the seder table with the ritual foods before us. The child has to experience the bitterness of maror, the discomfort of the salt water and the blandness of the matzoh in order to identify with the pain and suffering of slavery, and the joy of freedom. This is the oldest example of the modern concept of “hands-on”.

Let us hope that these lessons will continue to inspire us, as we forge new generations of the unbroken chain of Jewish commitment to the sacred ideals of G-dliness and human compassion.

We will thus continue our intimate partnership with our Creator for “tikkun olam” - to make the world a better place where all in the family of mankind will enjoy a life of dignity, justice, and peace.

Chag Kasher V’sameich.

   

THE BIBLE NEVER HAPPENED

Column by Gil Mann
America Online - Judaism Today: Where Do I Fit? (www.jewish.com/news/gilemail.shtml)

Dear Gil:

Last spring, the front page of the L. A. times, carried a story titled "Doubting the Story of Exodus." The article reports about Rabbi David Wolpe, of Sinai Temple, Westwood, California who said, "The truth is that virtually every modern archeologist who has investigated the story of Exodus, agrees that the way the Bible describes the Exodus is not the way it happened, if it happened at all."

He goes on to say that he wants his religion to be free of myth and physically dubious events like the Red Sea parting and water gushing from a rock. His viewpoint is so radical it seems to make the Rabbi's religious role invalid. If he's right, the synagogue ought to be closed!

Is his a generally held belief? Does Judaism condone such rejection of its foundation? One would have to conclude that if Exodus didn't happen, the Passover didn't either and the whole scenario falls apart.

    D

*****************

Dear D:

With Passover around the corner, I have chosen your email because the subject would make a good discussion piece around Seder tables... I hope people will clip this.

The hoopla surrounding Rabbi Wolpe's comments surprised me because his thoughts are not new or unique. In fact, not long ago Time Magazine did a cover story that asked if Moses even existed and essentially said what Wolpe said: no archeological proof has been found that can prove the Exodus story happened.

Ah, but that is Time Magazine...and Wolpe is a rabbi! How dare he utter such a thing. This very fact motivated Moment Magazine to devote articles in 2 issues taking him to task. He's certainly not the first rabbi to make such a statement. Is this a generally held belief you ask? Depends what you mean by "generally held." Within the Orthodox world, most would probably reject Rabbi Wolpe's comments. On the other hand, if you were to do a poll "on the street" of Jews, I suspect you would find many Jews who agree with Rabbi Wolpe. I have heard from many Jews over the years (via email and in person) who find the Bible unbelievable.

If one has trouble accepting the Bible's narrative, does not the entire foundation of Judaism fall apart, you also ask? I don't think so. The Jewish way of life is based on the values that our people have derived from the narrative over thousands of years. These values have not only stood the test of time for us, they have been adopted by much of the planet... regardless of whether or not we can prove the Exodus story.

I am talking about values that spring from the core Jewish value that there is one God and that all humans are children of that one God. Therefore, we have values that every person is precious and deserves dignity, justice, and compassion. I could add many other values. My point being: we have adopted these values, that are directly linked to the Exodus story. Even if one asserts that the "myth" never happened, these values now have a worthy life of their own.

You could draw something of a parallel to the narrative of the US Revolution. The story includes the myths of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree and the midnight ride of Paul Revere. Did they happen? At this point, it does not matter because from these stories Americans have learned that honesty, bravery, and freedom are honored values.

Yehuda Bauer, perhaps the leading Holocaust scholar in the world and an atheist, was recently quoted as saying that though he does not believe in God, "I do believe in Jews who believe in God." I interpret his comment to mean that even though he does not embrace the Exodus narrative, he does have faith in the Jewish set of values that were inspired by belief in God.

Personally, I think that dismissing the narrative of the Bible is a mistake because every word in the Torah adds context that help us understand our values. At the same time, I think believing every word literally in the Bible is also a mistake as we cannot understand what is meant by many things said in the Bible.

And this is why we are told to study the Torah all our lives... a fundamental value that I am confident Rabbi Wolpe endorses. If the Bible is to help us to become better people, then we will need to continue to dissect the words and the narrative -- helped by commentaries from ancient and modern readers.

This requires thoughtful and honest critique. With this in mind, I respect Wolpe's questioning... just as I respect your questions of him and to me.

Thanks for writing!         Gil

Gil Mann is the Author of: How to Get More Out of Being Jewish Even If: A. You are not sure you believe in God, You think going to synagogue is a waste of time, C. You think keeping kosher is stupid, D. You hated Hebrew School, or E. All of the above! He makes no money from book sales, his work on America Online or this column. He welcomes your E-Mail comments and questions about this column or any subject. Write to DearGil@aol.com or send your letters to this paper. To order the book call: 800-304-9925.

   

LITERARY CORNER

The Call at Midnight

by Christie Craig - Taken from Chicken Soup

We all know what it's like to get that phone call in the middle of the night. This night's call was no different. Jerking up to the ringing summons, I focused on the red illuminated numbers of my clock. Midnight. Panicky thoughts filled my sleep-dazed mind as I grabbed the receiver.

"Hello?"

My heart pounded, I gripped the phone tighter and eyed my husband, who was now turning to face my side of the bed.

"Mama?" I could hardly hear the whisper over the static. But my thoughts immediately went to my daughter. When the desperate sound of a young crying voice became clearer on the line, I grabbed for my husband and squeezed his wrist.

"Mama, I know it's late. But don't... don't say anything, until I finish. And before you ask, yes, I've been drinking. I nearly ran off the road a few miles back and..."

I drew in a sharp shallow breath, released my husband and pressed my hand against my forehead. Sleep still fogged my mind, and I attempted to fight back the panic. Something wasn't right.

"And I got so scared. All I could think about was how it would hurt you if a policeman came to your door and said I'd been killed. I want... to come home. I know running away was wrong. I know you've been worried sick. I should have called you days ago, but I was afraid... afraid..."

Sobs of deep-felt emotion flowed from the receiver and poured into my heart. Immediately I pictured my daughter's face in my mind and my fogged senses seemed to clear. "I think -"

"No! Please let me finish! Please!" She pleaded, not so much in anger, but in desperation.

I paused and tried to think what to say. Before I could go on, she continued. "I'm pregnant, Mama. I know I shouldn't be drinking now... especially now, but I'm scared, Mama. So scared!"

The voice broke again, and I bit into my lip, feeling my own eyes fill with moisture. I looked at my husband who sat silently mouthing, "Who is it?"

I shook my head and when I didn't answer, he jumped up and left the room, returning seconds later with the portable phone held to his ear.

She must have heard the click on the line because she continued, "Are you still there? Please don't hang up on me! I need you. I feel so alone."

I clutched the phone and stared at my husband, seeking guidance. "I'm here, I wouldn't hang up," I said.

"I should have told you, Mama. I know I should have told you. But when we talk, you just keep telling me what I should do. You read all those pamphlets on how to talk about sex and all, but all you do is talk. You don't listen to me. You never let me tell you how I feel. It is as if my feelings aren't important. Because you're my mother you think you have all the answers. But sometimes I don't need answers. I just want someone to listen."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and stared at the how-to-talk-to-your-kids pamphlets scattered on my nightstand. "I'm listening," I whispered.

"You know, back there on the road, after I got the car under control, I started thinking about the baby and taking care of it. Then I saw this phone booth, and it was as if I could hear you preaching about how people shouldn't drink and drive. So I called a taxi. I want to come home."

"That's good, Honey," I said, relief filling my chest. My husband came closer, sat down beside me and laced his fingers through mine. I knew from his touch that he thought I was doing and saying the right thing.

"But you know, I think I can drive now."

"No!" I snapped. My muscles stiffened, and I tightened the clasp on my husband's hand. "Please, wait for the taxi. Don't hang up on me until the taxi gets there."

"I just want to come home, Mama."

"I know. But do this for your mama. Wait for the taxi, please."

I listened to the silence in fear. When I didn't hear her answer, I bit into my lip and closed my eyes. Somehow I had to stop her from driving.

"There's the taxi, now."

Only when I heard someone in the background asking about a Yellow Cab did I feel my tension easing.

"I'm coming home, Mama." There was a click, and the phone went silent.

Moving from the bed, tears forming in my eyes, I walked out into the hall and went to stand in my sixteen-year-old daughter's room. The dark silence hung thick. My husband came from behind, wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "We have to learn to listen," I said to him.

He pulled me around to face him. "We'll learn. You'll see." Then he took me into his arms, and I buried my head in his shoulder.

I let him hold me for several moments, then I pulled back and stared back at the bed. He studied me for a second, then asked, "Do you think she'll ever know she dialed the wrong number?"

I looked at our sleeping daughter, then back at him. "Maybe it wasn't such a wrong number."

"Mom, Dad, what are you doing?" The muffled young voice came from under the covers.

I walked over to my daughter, who now sat up staring into darkness. "We're practicing," I answered.

"Practicing what?" she mumbled and laid back on the mattress, her eyes already closed in slumber.

"Listening," I whispered and brushed a hand over her cheek.

   

CONDOLENCES

• The members of B’nei Israel Community wish to extend their heartfelt condolences to our friends Samuel and Beatriz Viroslav, on the death of their daughter Andrea. To them, to their son, and to all their family, our most profound condolences.

   

• Also, we extend our condolences to our dear Jody and to her husband Carlos Bonilla, on the death of his mother, Badhía Ayub vda. de Bonilla.

   

   

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KOLEINU Newsletter
March 2002
Editor: Inés Baum