Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 March 2000 — Page 19

March 8. 2000 NAT 15

He disputes Maimonides Reviewed by RABBI HAROLD L. GELFMAN

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Must a Jew Believe Anything?, by Menachem Kellner. The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, London, Portland, Oregon, 1999.152 pp. There we go again. Who is a Jew? (As if we and others don't know). Not who is a good Jew; that is too subjective. But is there a set of principles which a person must affirm to be considered a Jew? The author, an Orthodox Jew who is a professor of Jewish religious thought at the University of Haifa, asserts that dogmas based on theological beliefs are foreign to Judaism, in spite of rabbis, including Moses Maimonides (1135-1204), trying to reduce and make authoritative Jewish beliefs to a minimum. Kellner says it is the mitsvos, the commandments that God gave us, the Jewish people, to obey, and unhesitatingly they responded and said: We will do and listen, without thinking too much about it. In fact, Jewish philosophers like Maimonides and since his time only began to think about putting down principles of Judaism not because of a demand from the people themselves but when they were challenged by Muslim and Christian religions. Rabbis were more concerned about Halacha, the way of doing mitzvos, than reasons for performing them. Kellner says there are two forms of faith: to believe in something, duties of the Heart, and to affirm that something is true, beliefs arrived rationally through the intellect, Maimonides' position. Although Maimonides' 13 Principles, Ani Ma-Amin, the Sabbath hymn Yigdal inspired by them, and the prayer against heretics are in the traditional Siddur, most Jews, including the Orthodox, do not think much about the underlying principles when praying to God but seek the inspiration from Him to do His will, what is the right thing for a Jew to do rather

than the right belief to hold? The Jewish people are not a "Church of Believers" but a people in covenant with God through actions. This is Kellner's premise, and therefore he differs with Maimonides on Mishna Sanhedrin X:l: "all Israelites have a share in the world to come (except) he who says there is no resurrection, the Torah is not from heaven, and the Epikoros (or Denier of the essentials of the faith), Maimonides would even exclude such a Jew from the Household of Israel. For Kellner and other Jews these are strong words, and, what is more important, challenge his integrity as a legitimate Jew. Other rabbis, including Maimonides himself, were compelled to modify or mollify these assertions when they said these views were not so much heretical but expressed in ignorance or unintentionally or forced by others like "captive children" who live in an environment making them not responsible for their beliefs. Certainly this is a remarkable tour de force, an example of legal fiction which was used by the rabbis many times in their decisions. For Kellner this was justified on behalf of Jewish unity and peace in the Jewish community, to bring an end to name-calling and her-esy-hunting both in the land of Israel and in Diaspora. So, who is a Jew anyway? Kellner would use the methods of a posek who judges each case on its own merits or demerits, but legitimacy as a Jew must be challenged not denigrated, says Kellner. This is a very interesting and timely book and evokes a feeling of intellectual and spiritual honesty. I would hope that Kellner's is not "a voice in the wilderness," and that Jews like him may not be compelled continually to defend themselves either from their own people or from others.

Conservatives acting against assimilation Dear Editor, The leadership of Conservative Judaism at its national center, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, in the past few years has followed a consistent policy of rule or ruin, or, rather, rule and ruin. In three separate matters it has said, My way or no way. When the Los Angeles counterpart to JTSA, the University of Judaism, opened its Rabbinical School for educating Conservative Rabbis, the JTSA leadership erupted in language of fury and hostility. Now, the Jewish press reports, the United Synagogue central office has taken over its West Coast operation, even changing the locks on the office and resorting to legal action. And at the instruction of the JTSA chancellor, Camp Ramah announces that "non-Jews are not accepted as campers. That ruling applies, in particular, to the children of Jewish fathers and gentile mothers. In all three instances the way of wisdom would have counseled otherwise. First, in rabbinical education, as in all other areas of higher education, nothing so stimulates self-criticism and improvement as competition. Second, taking over local offices is no way to build a religious movement; we are not organized hierarchically, like the Roman Catholic Church, and Rabbi Schorsch and his colleagues are not the Pope and the College of Cardinals. But those who know Roman Catholic life tell me the exercise of naked, brute authority is rare and very costly. Unhappily, JTSA and the United Synagogue will have to learn that lesson. Finally, the better way in dealing with the Halakhic status of the children of mixed marriage (not to mention the gentile partners) is not to exclude but to win over, and no better medium of Judaization exists in the USA than Camp Ramah (and its counterparts) for introducing the living, compelling religion, Judaism. In all, Conservative Judaism should be opening doors.

not slamming them. The fish stinks from the head. Jacob Neusner Bard College Musical couple seeking places Dear editor, I am a cantorial soloist who has spent the past 10 years working to gain the knowledge I will need to act as a schliach tsibur for a Reform congregation. (People ask me when I will complete my training and my response is 'the day I die.") I have studied with Cantor Stephen Richards and Cantor Howard Tabaknek. I have a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Hawaii and have completed the 2-year Melton Adult Mini-School Program in Phoenix (currently working on an optional third year). 1 have taken numerous courses through the local Bureau of Jewish Education, and, as an active member of the Guild of Temple Musicians, have participated in workshops sponsored by the American Conference of Cantors and the Guild. 1 have led Shabbat and festival services for several small congregations in Arizona and have also served as cantor for High Holy days with several rabbis for other congregations

in Arizona and Canada. When I am on the bimah, I do not feel that I am "performing' in the sense of giving a concert but instead serve as a conduit of prayer to G-d. My primary goal at this time is to find a spiritually warm congregation where 1 can pray and sing and teach. My husband is a retired violinist who hopes to conduct a congregational choir while he writes and arranges music. Patricia S. Bruner 6236 West Oregon Ave. Glendale, AZ 85301-6632 e-mail: brunerservices@prodigy. net We, too, are Jews, says woman reader Dear Editor, How disappointed I was to read your February 9/3 Adar aleph editorial on "the recitation ... of a simple prayer" twice daily. I think the idea is a fine one; however, once again I, as a woman, have been made somehow into not quite a Jew. The editorial reads "as our readers know the Orthodox have a lengthy morning ritual, which includes wrapping oneself in tefillin...." Yes, that is the custom for Orthodox Jewish "men" (not women). I hope and presume that your intention was not to insinuate that Orthodox women are not Jewish (or, by extension, that women cannot be Jewish); however, I would appreciate it if you would use inclusive language in your writing (or, in this case, make it clear when you are only referring to male customs). Thank you!! Sherri Kasten Montpelier, Vermont

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New blood needed: several rabbis retiring A number of rabbis are retiring this year including Rabbi Hillel Cohn of Temple Emanuel, San Bernardino, Ca.; Rabbi Edward Goldfarb, Shaarei Beth El Congregation, Oakville, Ontario; Ronald Goldstein, New Reform Temple, Kansas City, and Rabbi Bernard Honan, Temple Emanu-El, Oakville, Ontario. Also Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Temple Beth El, Sudbury, Mass.; Rabbi Albert Lewis, Temple Emanuel, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Rabbi Alan Ponn, Temple Beth Israel, Jackson, Mich.; Rabbi Seymour Prystowsky, Temple Or Ami, Lafayette Hill, Pa. Also Rabbi Alan Ponn, Temple Beth Israel, Jackson, Mich.; Rabbi Rievan Slavkin, Temple Sinai, Bay Shore, N.Y.; Rabbi Seymour Prystowsky, Temple Or Ami, Lafayette Hill, Pa.; Rabbi Leivy Smolar, Temple Or Ami, Richmond, Va.; Rabbi Earl Starr, DeHirsch-Sinai Congregation, Seattle; Rabbi Chaim Stern, Temple Beth El, Chappaqua, N.Y.; Rabbi Harvey Tattelbaum, Shaaray Tefila Congregation, New York.