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PAGE 26 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE October 24, 1986 Marriage to converts is troubling to in-laws Happy family Elie Wiesel’s son, Sholomo-Elisha (left), and wife Marion share a tender moment after the announcement that Wiesel had been awarded the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize. Wiesel, 58, said the award would allow him to “speak louder” and “reach more people” for the causes to which he has dedicated his life. by Ben Gallob JTA A Jewish parent cannot fully understand the challenges pre sented by his or her child marry ing a Jew-by-choice until it hap pens. Esme Gotz, an educator long active in ORT, was speaking from experience when she described the challenges to the Business and Professional Women’s Group of Toronto’s ORT chapter, ac cording to the Canadian Jewish News. She was joined on a panel by two Jew-by-choice and Law rence Troster, assistant rabbi of Toronto’s Beth Tzedeck congre gation. Gotz said there were neither easy questions nor easy answers in coping effectively with such a marriage. She said the initial source of concern stems from marriage pro posals extended without a demand or expectation of conversion. Gotz said that she considered that proper on grounds that “a I Mew Home Sites B iATTLE CREEK Subdivision on Northland Drive Located Va mile south of The New Hebrew Academy call 351-7620 Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We Are Pleased to announce the arrival of Armond McMahan to our staff (formerly of Macy’s Northlake and G.H.C.A. and F.C.A. State Champion) Specializing in Color f{EQQjE'S • Hair Stylist Toco Hills Shopping Center*2205 La Vista Rd., Suite 0633-3832 Hours: Mondsy-Fiidsy 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. WEEKLY QUOTE FROM LESTER S BOOK “It takes a lifetime to develop a good habit and only a minute to pick up a bad one." Lester Pazol 21 YEARS HENNESSY Xiackt&ic JAGUAR CALL FOR A TEST DRIVE 261-5700 every Jewish child deserves STARTER KIT {Parents Handbook, Cassette Tape, Full-color Picture Book) Delivered as soon as the child is enrolled HANUKKAH PACKAGE Delivered in \ovember SHABBAT PACKAGE Delivered in January PURIM PACKAGE Delivered in February PASSOVER PACKAGE Delivered in March A year-long ) celebration of Jewishness (ages 4-6) Just before each holiday, a special package arrives at your house with your child’s name on it. SHAVUOT PACKAGE Delivered in May FALL HOLIDAYS PACKAGE Delivered in August All seven mailings for only *20. 00 (plus $3.00 postage and handlingl For a brochure and order lorn contact: ATLANTA BUREAU OF JEWISH EDUCATION, INC. 873-1248 marriage proposal cannot be a conditional proposal.” After her son proposed mar riage, the prospective daughter- in-law entered a course of study for conversion under Orthodox auspices, despite the Reform position of her fiance’s family. Kathleen Crook, who isn’t Gotz’s daughter-in-law, came to Judaism through the Reform movement last year. Her upbring ing had included frequent con tacts with Jews and familiarity with the Jewish community. She told the meeting that while her commitment to Judaism was unequivocal, she still detects dis comfort on the part of the family of her fiance, a young man she has known for many years. She indicated amusement in telling the meeting that “they sometimes still say things like, ‘But couldn’t he have found ‘a real Jewish girl!’” She reported that the greatest challenge she faced in the con version study was that of coming to grips seriously, almost for the first time in her life, with one idea of God. She said that the obstacle “was deciding if I was going to be reli gious.” Later she told the Cana dian Jewish News that many born Jews remain wary and uneasy about converts, especially when a convert appears to be a likely addition to a Jewish family’s membership. Troster said he could under stand such negative feelings, but he contended that Jews who can not divorce their concept of Ju daism and Jewish peoplehood from that of racial origins have a faulty understanding of J udaism. He also said that, in some areas, Jew-by-choice are leading “a spiritual revival” within Juda ism because they have accepted J udaism “for the sake of the God of Israel.” He also quoted a rab binical authority as declaring that all born Jews “should approach Judaism as if we were Jew-by- choice.” He urged the Jewish commun ity to do everything possible to welcome converts and to make it as easy as it could for the convert to assimilate those elements of ethnicity and the ethnic feeling which he declared “are still im portant to being Jewish.” Serge Tittley, the other pan elist, said his journey to Judaism started at least 13 years ago but culminated in a conversion only last year, under Reform auspices. A free-lance writer, Tittley said he had been brought to Judaism by a consciousness of Jewish his tory, particularly the Holocaust, and a growing sensitivity to spirit uality. e 1986, Jewish Telegraphic Agency Inc. n=PENS • PENS • PENS: 25% OFF 2556 OFF • MONT BLANC • DUPONT •PARKER • SHEAFFER • DUNHILL • WATERMAN • LAMY • COL1BR1, etc. 1/3 OFF ALL CROSS PENS ITALIC - PENS - PENCILS LARGEST SELECTION OF WRITING INSTRUMENTS AND REFILLS ^HQQl 875-7271 1851 PIEDMONT ROAD, NE HHIf