The writer is a rabbi and the Israel representative of the Rabbinical Council of America.Sir, – I read with great surprise and joy what Adam Frank had to say about the Conservative Movement.It seems that Frank has been “reformed” (i.e., to Orthodoxy) and lists no fewer than 29 “I believe” statements. He appears to be more of a believer than Maimonides, who listed only 13, which are recited daily.Further, what Frank proposes brings Conservative Jewry to the same level of Judaism as traditional Orthodoxy. Wow! How wonderful that he has seen the light. Hopefully, more of this disappearing branch of Judaism will adhere to what Frank espouses.URI HIRSCH NetanyaSir, – I was fascinated by Rabbi Adam Frank’s article, which presents a long and interesting list of proposals for revitalizing the Conservative Movement.I would like to point out that there exists a stream in Judaism that subscribes to each and every one of these proposals. It is called Modern Orthodoxy.NATHAN AVIEZER Petah TikvaSir, – Perhaps I am wrong but it looks to me as though Adam Frank would be comfortable as an Orthodox rabbi! What he writes makes such sense one can only be surprised that it does not resonate with more non-Orthodox people, except, of course, for the reason that they do not want their children to be “encumbered” by rules and laws they consider outdated yet complain that their children do not listen to them anymore and constantly rebel against authority. What a surprise ! There are secular families sending their children to Orthodox schools in order to teach them about their heritage and what it means to be a Jew – which, unfortunately, immediately gets undone when they return home.EDITH OGNALL Netanya
Fixing the bucket Sir, – David Breakstone (“A tiny drop in the vast bucket,” Keep Dreaming, June 22) is “concerned with Jewish continuity,” supports “creating a Judaism that is compelling for those for whom Orthodoxy will never be the answer,” and criticizes “Orthodox hegemony” (“A tiny drop in a vast bucket,” Keep Dreaming, June 22).The reason I and millions of Jews are Orthodox is because we believe in and are committed to the Torah (both the written and the oral law) given by God to the Jewish people at Sinai. This is what has sustained the Jewish people over the millennia. The reason other religious movements have failed, be they Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist or cultural liberalism, is because of a lack of such commitment and sustainability.Surveys in New York City and bordering counties have shown, as noted by Breakstone, that Orthodox Jewish education and upbringing has been a flourishing success with regard to Jewish continuity. What has proven to be a colossal failure is the shrinking – toward extinction – of the non-Orthodox population as the result of an intermarriage rate of 50 percent.Success in the continuity of the Jewish people and faith both in America and Israel will be based upon what has succeeded over the millennia: Torah Judaism, not reinvented Judaism.IRA NOSENCHUK JerusalemSir, – The column by David Breakstone is one of the most important I have read in a long time and its contents must be taken very seriously by everyone.With his huge unprecedented majority in the Knesset, our prime minister need have no fear of any of the religious factions bringing down his government.He has a golden opportunity to go down in history as the leader who saved the Jewish people from oblivion because the vast majority was ostracized by ultrareligious dictators.Religion must be separated from politics, and Jews of all denominations must be fully recognized and treated equally.The Right of Return must apply to all Jews, whatever their denomination. All citizens must be given full and equal rights, but also be obligated to make their contribution to the economic and military well-being of the state. Only in this way can we be united and expect the Jewish Diaspora to accept Israel as being the heart of all Jews, and give us their full support in defeating the existential threats we face from our enemies.MIKE AYLAshkelonSir, – I recognize that Orthodoxy is unlikely to be the answer for most contemporary Jews (although I will never say never, as David Breakstone does). What, then, shall we do for the “middle ground”? My own proposals require elaboration.But in a few words: We must reconstruct our intercommunal relationships in such manner that the great centers of Torah learning can be recognized by all as the pulsating “core” of Jewish identity, with which all Jews, whether more or less observant, can identify and somehow connect.Now that the Torah tradition is no longer threatened with extinction, the Orthodox can and must allow themselves to develop a non-threatening, positive stance toward all Jews, which necessarily means reconsidering many lines of public policy. Nevertheless, attempts by other leaderships to invent new Judaisms, or to bolster these through Israeli courts and politics, merely place impenetrable barriers between “middle ground” Jews and their lifeline to the “core.”SHMUEL JAKOBOVITS Jerusalem
The writer is a rabbi, dean of the Harav Lord Jakobovits Torah Institute of Contemporary Issues, and author of Jewish Solidarity – Antidote to Assimilation.
Inevitable confrontation Sir, – Jonathan Rosenblum’s skillfully written column (“Advice for the Plesner Committee: Minimize confrontation,” Think Again, June 22) presents the case for “minimizing confrontation” between the haredi world and the rest of the population.The trouble is that while he is taking the long view, the rest of us are shouldering the burden of a large, unproductive community.Rosenblum says, “Full integration is impossible. Haredim cannot fully integrate into Israeli life without ceasing to be haredim.”Well, that may be so, but societies change. Where once only the haredim studied Torah and devotedly passed on their knowledge to the next generation, the revival of Hebrew has opened the way to it for many others.The haredim might not like to have their power – social and economic – stolen in this way, but it is happening. Nothing, but nothing, can stop a society from modifying itself.HELEN LEVENSTON JerusalemSir, – I would add that one ideal way to minimize confrontation is for the haredi community to join hands with their fellow Jews and protect the state by teaching Torah.As all teachers understand, one learns best when one teaches.Teaching Torah can be part of army service or National Service.I have always found that the questions posed by my secular friends are always the impetus that forces me to truly understand why I believe what I believe.So please, stop the kvetching.Go to the Plesner Committee and make your various suggestions; don’t wait for it to come to you. And for heaven’s sake, put teaching of Torah on the list of roles available to the haredi community.It will bring us as a people closer to Torah and love for our fellow Jews.LARRY BIGIO Zichron Ya’acov