The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, February 18, 1966, Image 3

The Southern Israelite., February 18, 1966, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextFriday, February 18, 1966 TIEIIUIIIIM ISRAELITE OFF THE RECORD by Nathan Ziprin Comment on a Dialogue At a symposium on Jewish ec umenism held in New York City under the sponsorship of “Juda ism," scholarly quarterly pub lished by the American Jewish Congress, there was complete unanimity among the participants ‘•It's s* RiaM T# Saw** MM Roswell Ed., N.W. CE. S-4M1 Lovely Dress Fabrics All Patterns — Trim Complete Drapery Dept DRIBGER’S ALIGNMENT & TRANSMISSION SERVICE Include* Clutch, Seals, Fluid and Labor TRANSMISSION SPIX 1A1 — Reform, Orthodox and Con servative rabbis and scholars — on the need of religious unity in the American Jewish community but wide divergence of opinion on how to achieve it A Reform scholar, Professor Jakob J. Petuchhowski of the Hebrew Union College, projected the idea that religious unity could be attained if believers ac cepted God’s commandments but refrained from telling each other how tp carry them out. Similar views were aired by the Conservative spokes man, Rabbi Seymour Siegel of the Jewish Theological Seminary, who held that Jewish religious unity demanded not only a con sensus of basic principles but also the right to differ on how these beliefs should be interpret ed. In essence both were a plea for tolerance. Dr. Irving Greenberg, associate professor of history at Yeshiva University, presented the Orth odox position. He too welcomed a thaw in the positions of the three main branches of Jewish religious life. He warned, how ever, that rejection of Halachic authority by the Reform and Conservative branches of Juda ism, particularly with respect to the laws of marriage and divorce, was an insurmountable obstacle to such unity. He told the gather ing that there was “real danger that in a generation or two Jews who take Halacha seriously will be unable to marry with a signi- SfeeciaL... $24.95 Transmission Seal I IN REAR at 1782 CHESHIRE BRIDGE Ru 873-6444 Nights 938 451 6 or 876 3554 • ’ v , •' * : i uJL I ■ • ..... §& • . • « I » . u V ...,U Over 50 yp.us o» llustni s*. i t« unt* GHAS. N. WALKER ROOFING CO. The Best Greetings for the year ahead M. L. COLLIER CO *7* Baakhead Ave., N.I. ce. s un Save with Budget* Rent-A-Car a full 24 "" ’° u hour day a mile* The cars are the same! The price is the difference! (Same Irsurance Coverage) Businessmen and vacationers know the importance of keep- h,g expenses down. So does per 24-hr. da V> 5c per mil* Budget. Thats why our rates’ are less. You can save up ^°(~]ALL 525-4641 40% by calling Budget! Free Pick-Up and Delivery at All Hotels and Airports. Hudjfetw Rent-A-Car of Georgia Dinkier Plama Hotel, Riviera Motel, Atlanta ficant segment of Jews” who marry and divorce in civil law. My religious credentials ara kosher enough to justify com ment on such a dialogue, yet 1 will dare even though I may have my wings clipped. From this corner it seems that the gentlemen did not define their terms sharply enough. What Is meant by Jewish re ligious unity? Since it cannot possibly mean obliterating of existing differences between the various segments of Judaism, it is an anomaly to speak of religi ous unity. Where there are dif ferences there is bound to be disputation, dialogue, confronta tion and quest for dominance of views. And where there is strug gle for dominance there is bound to be friction, particularly when the issue is a religious and theo logical formulation. If by religious unity is meant elimination of unnecessary zeal the vying of each of the denom inations for position in the Amer ican Jewish community, the ob jective is wholly laudable. No one is against tolerance. Religious disputes in the past have pro- uced a bitterness for which the world today is still paying heav ily. It is about time that religious men bury their hatchets when they confront each other in theo logical disputation. No one can foretell the religi ous direction or orientation of American Jewry as it is headed for the new century that is thirty-four years away. The only thing certain is that its religi ous shape will be determined more by the emerging new values in the world than by rab binic pronouncements emanating either from Reform, Orthodox or Conservative pulpits. The problem then, it seems, is not religious unity or diversity, but creation of a climate that will be conducive to continued Jewish religious living apart from form. If I were a rabbi in these days of turmoil in Jewish life, I would be less concerned with influencing my congregation into accepting one or another concept of Judaism as with seek ing to create a climate conducive to the thriving of Jewish values. In such an enclave alone can Jewish religious life survive. Jews In Sports Some years ago I wrote a weekly column on Jews in sports, fancying myself as an authority in the field. Now that I have read the "Encyclopedia of Jews in Sports” by Bernard Postal and Jesse and Roy Silver, recent ly published by the Bloch Pub lishing Company of New York, I must confess my ignorance. The book is not only an excel lent contribution to a field of unabated Jewish curiosity but, as far as this writer knows, the first complete record of Jews in all sports and In all countries, be ginning with Biblical days up to the very times in which we are living. Contrary to general be lief, Jewish interest in sports is traceable to Biblical times. In part of the introduction dealing with sports in Talmudic litera ture, the authors relate that hunting had never been a Jewish sport but that, judging from response, it is evident Jews did like hunting. Horseriding too was an objectionable sport, but there seemed to be divided opinion among Jewish scholars on that sport, some saying yes and others no. The yes sayers predicated their opinions on the fact that horseback riding could be an to st rumen t in teaching the rider how to judge horses for purch asing purposes. There isn’t • sport In which Jews have not or are not participating, with bull fighting having the distinction of having one Jew. s®rrzeBianD house for BANQUETS limi limit! 20-535 ' Sales & Executive Business Meetings, Hospitality Recaptions, Parties □ 4 exciting new Banquet and Display rooms. 870 hicktrn Stmt III / if Utliiti Cibin III til / 874 3857 Did you know that a CADILLAC is the most economical car you can buy—new or used? 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