Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 May 1991 — Page 9

20,000 Falasha marranos also in Ethiopia

JERUSALEM — In addition to the 17,000 Falasha that the U.S. is seeking to free from Ethiopia so they can join their families and friends in Israel there are another 20,000 Ethiopian marranos who converted to Christianity under pressure but having retained their Jewish identity, wish to return to Judaism and make aliya. Speaking at the annual meeting here of the European Conference of Rabbis, Religious Affairs Ministry deputy directorgeneral Meir Azrad and Rabbi Yosef Hadane, the first ordained Ethiopian rabbi responsible for the community on behalf of the Chief Rabbinate, outlined the problem. The Chief Rabbis have indicated that if the marranos are Jews, it was the duty of the Jewish people to bring them to Israel. The plan now is to send a group of scholars to Ethiopia to make a determination and issue a report. Azrad noted that there is always the fear that non-Jewish Ethiopians might want to escape the poverty and unrest in their country and claim to be Jewish. Rabbi Hadane, on the other hand.

explained that Jews had converted under pressure at various times. Those who converted a century ago were lost to the Jewish people, he said, but there were others who had converted 30 years ago. The converts have been refused acceptance both by Jews and non-Jews and have formed their own society, known as falas mura, or Faiashas of the goyim. Many of them have brothers, uncles and even children now living in Israel. Jewish Agency spokesman Yehuda Weinraub said that the Agency was working with the kesim, the religious leaders of the Ethiopian Jews, who believe that first it is best to save those who are recognized as Jews. Meanwhile the U.S. State Department has ordered all non-essential personnel to leave Ethiopia as rebel forces converge on Addis Ababa. U.S. citizens were urged to defer travel to Ethiopia. There is no word from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee which has a contingent of workers serving the 17,000 Falasha in

Addis.

Rabbis told to look at patrilineality stance

LAKE KIAMESHA, N.Y. — The Conservative movement was urged to join with Reform to "to seriously study and weight the consequences of patrilineality" by Steven Bayme, national director of the American Jewish Committee’s Jewish Affairs Department. Speaking at the annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly, the organization of Conservative rabbis, he urged a joint initiative of the Conservative and Reform rabbinates to seriously study and weigh the consequences of patrilineality for our efforts to secure conversion for the non-Jewish

spouse. He said that "an unclear question is whether...the acceptance of patrilineal descent....acts as an impediment to efforts to promote conversion." He made the point that "We can no longer argue that intermarriage doesn't work." Stating that "There is not a family that has not been touched" by intermarriage, therefore Jewish lay leaders are pressuring the rabbis to change the stance from confrontation to consolation, looking for "a statement from the rabbinate that the time has come to view intermarriage in positive rather than negative terms."

The Glatt Yacht may be clocked

Campers string bows for arrows, cantatas

NEW YORK — The Glatt Yachi which transports those who appreciate kosher dining on the water while the vessel circles Manhattan may be docked as the agency which certifies its kashrut took excep-

tion as mixed dancing was introduced. The agency KofK did not look kindly on the attempt of the boat owners to satisfy everybody. Dancing was permitted on the lower deck, while not on the upper deck.

Brandeis finds itself president

BOSTON — The long search for a successor to Dr. Evelyn Handler as president of Brandeis University ended with selection of Samuel O. Thier, 53, president of the Institute of

Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. He is a former professor at Harvard Medical School and the Yale School of Medicine.

Sermon of the week Well, What is a sermon, after all? — Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen, Congregation Beth Emeth, Albany, N.Y.

DJ ift.. i rv-'i rtf | ' ■ * 1 & CQ cn

Jf? very week you may have delivered to your mail box the newspaper many consider among the best in America. JTn addition to expanded coverage of domestic and international news, The Post and Opinion presents feature articles not available anywhere else. In fact everything in The P-0 is exclusive with us, including our columnists who write only for our readers. Yes! Send the Jewish Post and Opinion! □ One year, $36 □ Two years, $63 □ Three years, $91 Name

Address City/State/Zip_ Phone

□ Payment enclosed □ Bill me P.0. Box 449097, Indianapolis, IN 46202

KIBBUTZ-EILON, Israel — Some Neolithic archer discovered millenia ago that the bow he used in hunting could fling music into the air as well as arrows. Now Israeli string players are rediscovering the music/archery connection. At Kibbutz-Eilon in the Western Galilee, 12 talented young violinists ages 15 to 25 gathered for Mastercourse, a musical camp — and found themselves with teachers not only of music, but with Amnon Weinstein, who is a violin maker and an archery enthusiast. Weinstein suggested to his colleagues and to Kibbutz Eilon's Gilad Sheba, the Mas-

tercourse coordinator that archery be incorporated into the two-week camp. Eight of the dozen students were new immigrants from the Soviet Union who discovered that one of their teachers was a countryman who had transferred his talents to his new homeland, and he was no musician. He was Alexander Lachter, who had coached championship archery in the Soviet Union and after immigrating to Israel quickly became head coach of Israel's team. Weinstein persuaded Lachter to teach the young musicians archery. As Weinstein expected, they took to it

Obituaries

Rabbi Albert Lewis dies In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — Rabbi Albert M. Lewis, who is described as the builder of Temple Isaiah, the large Reform congregation here, died at the age of 77. After retiring from its pulpit he joined the regional office of

Dr. Selwyn Cohen killed by patient

the Union of American Hebrew Congregations here. He led Temple Adath Israel in Lexington, Ky., before coming to Los Angeles. He served as a chaplain in

World War II.

SEATTLE — The Jewish community is mourning the death of Dr. Selwyn Cohen, 41, who was shot to death by a patient reportedly upset from pain from a face lift surgery. Dr. Cohen was an active member of HerzlNer Tamid Congregation,

JEWISH INTRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL A local, innovative and personalized Jewish introduction service. Ages 21101. Let us find that special someone. Call 1-800-442-9050 102 Cities in the U.S. & Canada

attending Shabbat services regularly with his wife, children and father. Some 500 people attended funeral services at the Congregation. Jerzy Koslnkl, noted author NEW YORK — A shocked Jewish community learned of the suicide of Jerzy Kosinki, noted author whose book, "The Painted Bird,” paved the way for the books on the Holocaust and was a firsthand account of his own travail, although he denied it was autobiographical. He was 57 years old.

well. He says violin playing and archery both use the muscles of the upper back and use the same type of hand-eye coordination. He had invited virtuoso Shomo Mintz to the target range last spring and discovered the violinist was able to learn in a day as much archery as the usual beginner learns in a week. Weinstein was elated and successfully persuaded Sheba to fit archery into the schedule of activities at the two-week music camp last summer. Along with the violinists, the kibbutziniks were invited one day to come and shoot "and we discovered that those who play an instrument hit the target best/'Weinstein said. The archery-music combination has proved synergistic, he said. "The students themselves told us that succeeding at archery gave them confidence and improved their stance" he Continued on page 15 Death Notice Rabbi Hayyim Kieval We are profoundly grieved by the death of our beloved colleague, exemplary Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel, Albany, New York, revered and dedicated servant of the community and the Jewish people, gallant Chaplain during World War II, beloved teacher and exemplar to all, devoted member of the Rabbinical Assembly Prayerbook Committee for more than three decades and respected liturgical authority, an inspiration to his colleagues and to all who were blessed by his service and his ministry. We extend our condolences to his loving wife and children, to his family, and to all whose lives were touched by him. His memory is a blessing, for his life was a blessing. The Rabbinical Assembly Rabbi Irwin Groner, Pres. Rabbi Joel H. Meyers, Exec. Dir.

May 8,1991 Page National 4