Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 February 1977 — Page 14

11, 197

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Hallachah Takes No Position On Women In The Rabbinate

Editor. POST and OPINION: Rabbi Leonard Gevirtz has every right to be opposed to the ordination of women. However, he should not categorically state that “Halakhah is opposed to women’s ordination” and then cite a reference to the Talmud which would lead the inexpert reader to assume that the issue is cut-and-dried. The one talmudie reference he quotes is Sotah 20b. This tractate of the Talmud deals with the ordeal administered to a woman accused by her husband of adultery, the biblical source for which is Numbers chapter 5. In dealing with the subject the Talmud quotes two opinions of Mishnaic teachers: “On the basis of what has been said above. Ben Azzai says. ‘A man is required to teach Torah to his daughter (so that if she should ever have occasion to undergo the ordeal of the accused wife she would know if she has any merit it will create a suspension of punishment for her). Rabbi Eliezer says, “Whoever teaches his daughter the Torah is teaching her obscenity (because from the Torah she may learn how to circumvent the lad and hide her immorality).” That is all the passage says. Evidently. Rabbi Gevirtz wishes us to infer from Rabbi Eliezer's statement that since it is forbidden to teach Torah to a girl, she obviously cannot be ordained as a rabbi. This is, however, the opinion of one sage, contradicted in the very same passage by the view of another. W'hat is more. Rabbi Eliezer was one of the most conservative and strong-willed of the scholars who held highly individual views. Hence, the vast majority of his colleagues did not hesitate to overrule his judgement as in the famous case of the “Stove of Achnai" in Baba Metzia 59b. So too. while virtually all his col-

leagues interpreted the famous phrase “An eye for an eye” in Exodus 21:24 to mean that monetary compensation is to be given for an injury. Rabbi Eliezer interpreted the biblical phrase literally. Undoubtedly, in the Middle Ages, the restrictive opinion of Rabbi Eliezer regarding the education of women was preferred by some later authorities. However, 1 would be interested to learn whether Rabbi Gevirtz would operate on the theory that the teaching of Torah to women is prohibited in the case of his own daughters and whether he forbids girls to be enrolled in his Hebrew school. Undoubtedly, the ordination of women will encounter objections in some quarters and create new problems, but progress does not mean the solution of problems as much as the opportunity of facing new ones. The truth is that the traditional Halakhah does not oppose the ordination of women anymore than it favors it-it never comtemplated the possiblity. Some of us believe that iti a time of acute shortage of personnel in Jewish life coupled with a new and widespread quest of Jewish values it is shortsighted to exclude 50% or more of the Jewish people from service to Judaism on every level. There is room for a legitimate difference of opinion on the ordination of women and it is reflected within the faculty of The Jewish Theological Seminary and the membership of the Rabbinical Assembly. But, the question should be discussed on substantial, not on imaginary trumped-up grounds. ROBERT GORDIS Jewish Theological Seminary 3080 Broadway New York City 10027

Closing of Herzl'

METUCHEN, N.J.— The closing of the play. “Herzel" after only about three performances on Broadway was considered “good for the Jews” by Rabbi Gerald Zeliser here. THE SPIRITUAL LEADER of Temple Neve Shalom told his congregation that “the closing of a bad play is good for the Jews... because it demonstrates to those who are responsible for such things that, contrary to previous decades, we Jews are more sophisticated regarding the cultural case histories of ourselves that we are willing to patronize.” He used as an analogy the fact that “the political behavior of the Jews, their voting habits and their unpredictable. It is hard to tell how Jews will behave in any given election; even when their own class interests are involved.” HE THEN DREW the comparison.

“Perhaps our cultural participation too, now will seem as unpredictable. not automatically patronizing any bad production about a Jewish theme just because it is Jewish, and will teach a lesson to the industry of the arts about Jewish support.” He concluded: “So that in the long run, the closing of “Herzl” and production like it may be very good for the

Jews.”

10,000 Convert To Judaism, Claim WEST HARTFORD. Conn.— In announcing the course on “Introduction to Judaism.” which hA congregation and Temple Sinai of New ington conducts, Rabbi Joel E. Soffin stated that ‘‘Each year some 10,000 non-Jews convert to Judaism in the United States.”

Do you want a Pen Friend? If so. write to the Pen Club of the Jewish Post and Opinion, 611 N. Park Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Your letter—please make it short—will be printed as are those below, at no cost to you. I would like a pen pal from somewhere around the United States. My name is Michelle Kaplan and I am eight years old and in third grade. I live at 15 Ocean Park. Lynn, Mass. 01902

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My name is Debbi Miller. I'm nine years old. My hobbies are dancing and tennis. My address is 1203 Jackie Lane, Mayfield Heights, O. 44123. Dr. Berger Deserves Every Commendation Editor. POST and OPINION: It’s high time Dr. Graenum Berger was recognized for the tremendous role he has played in making World Jew ry aware of their responsibility to the Ethiopian Jews. Because as you so aptly pointed out. it was his devotion to the cause of the Falasha and his knocking on every Jewish door that awakened the Join Distribution Committee, ORT and the World Jewish Congress. SYLVIA AND LESTER GERSON 2334 Jefferson Ave.. New Orleans, La. 70115 Editor’s note: Dr. Berger deserves every recognition, but we erred in one aspect-he has been awarded an honorary degree by Yeshiva University. Reform Rabbi For School Aid BROOKLYN— A Reform rabbi has urged that federal aid be given to parochial day schools. Rabbi A. Allen Block said that the continued opposition expressed at the B'nai B’rith biennial convention to federal aid to parochial schools was an "unrealistic position in terms of the needs of the people today.” The spiritual leader of the Temple Emanu-El of Canarsie stated that the “cost of education in our society is enormous and religious schools train a substantial portion of American youth.” He asserted that federal contribution to the secular part of the training in parochial day schools does not constitute religious encroachment, but would enhance the quality of out total educational system.” Americans 71-6 Oppose Boycott NEW YORK— American business leaders practically all of whom have complied with Arab boycott provisions found themselves opposed by the American public as a Louis Harris poll showed hat by a 71 to six majority Americans disapprove of the boycott. To make matters worse for companies that participate in the boycott, the poll revealed that by a margin of 44 to 27, imposition of tax penalties were approved on American firms that comply with the boycott. By almost the same percentages 42-29, fine or imprisonment on companies guilty of complying with the boycott was approved.

Funds Desperately Needed By Artukovic Case Victim

Editor. ROST and OPINION: As I have heard that the readers of your newspaper are people with good will and open hearts and hands, 1 wonder how much they are willing to do in a case which has moved me very much, and which I consider needs urgently help from every decent and wellminded citizen . In one of the recent issues of The Jerusalem Post I read an article about two young men “Schwartz and Whitelaw,” who had tried unsuccessfully for a long time to call the attention of higher authorities to an individual with the name of Artuovic. This man had entered the U.S. under false papers. He had to flee his native Yugoslavia because between the years 1941-1945 he had participated in the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Yugoslavia. Now he lives here in the Los Angeles area in his brother’s house the life of an honorable citizen. The two young men above mentioned could not tolerate that nothing was done against that murderer.

They set fire to the ear of the brother of that man. but unfortunately both were caught. Bail was set for each of SiU.OOO for w hich amount a lien was levied on the house of Mrs. Whitelaw. the mother of one of the young men. Schw artz jumped the bail, and did not appear before the judge. Only David Whitelaw took his medicine like a man. He got six months in jail (a much too stiff sentence) and a fine of $4,500 for the damages of the car. Now the sad part of the story is, that as Schwartz jumped the bail, Mrs. Whitelaw might lose her house in foreclosure if the 10,000. plus the $4,500, are not raised as soon as possible. In a case like that, 1 feel that we ail have the responsibility to help a woman like Mrs. Whitelaw, who out of decency and noble feelings took the load on her shoulders. Any amount of money, big or small, would be appreciated. KATHY BUKOFZER 32 S. Laurel Ave. Los Angeles, Cal. 90048

Phila. Suburb Bans AAoonies

PHILADELPHIA (P-O)— The efforts of Rev. Sun Myung Moon to acquire two choice properties for his Moonies in affluent suburban Radnor Township in the exclusive Main Line section has run inot stiff opposition from township residents. Some 350 residents met at a township meeting to oppose the Unification Church taking root in their township. Meanwhile, rumor has it that the Moonies are now eyeing the centercity Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, which was the city’s leading hostelry until bad publicity because of

the Legionairresdisea.se during the Bicentennial year forced its closing. The protest in Radnor Tow nship is not prompted by any Jewish individuals or organizations. John Alden. president of the township’s Board of Commissioners, called the meeting. explaining that publicity might be the only way to keep out the Moonies. He added that the township would go to court if necessary to block the purchase by the church of a lb.2 tract owned by the Sisters of St. Francis, and the 5.2 acre Gage Manor, a former nursing home.

Margalit Weds Friedman Blames Without Rabbi Business Leaders

YOKNE’AM— Without the benefit of the rabbinate who had ruled she could not marry her lover because she had an adulterous relationship with him before her divorce in 1973, Marganit Levy was married to Simha Sharon in a private ceremony. Jewish law permits marriages when two witnesses are present and the act is consummated. The couple now plan to ask the rabbinate to register their marriage. Convent For Sale Ad In Chronicle LONDON— It was no hoax when an advertisement for the sale of a convent appeared in The Jewish Chronicle here. The advertisement offered “Convent for sale, large property with chapel, outbuildings, etc. The real estate agent whose name was appended to the ad said the convent could easily be adapted to the needs of a Jewish organization. ri_ J \i t ?

TEX AVIV— Israeli business and industrial leaders were blamed for her lack of success in the economic area by Milton Friedman, the Nobel Laureate, who was interviewed on Israel TV. When the University of Chicago professors noted that Jews had produced men of genius in all phases of commerce over the past hundred of years, he was asked, “what is the reason that in Israel particularly the Jewish business acemen has disappeared and most of the economic measures of its leaders are amateurish and border on astounding failures.” According to the Zionist Informattion Service, Friedman’s answer was that Israel also had excellent economists, some of his former pupils, but the economic system was not conducive to their demonstrating their abilities. The world’s leading economist applauded the fact that socialism and capitalism operate side by side even though he didn't have too much enthusiasm for the enterprise shown by her commerce and industry leaders.