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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 7, 1986 Page 7 Cutting Edge Continued from page 6 refused to let us sit on the re gional scouting board, and when we showed up for meetings, they said we couldn’t enter the room.” Shortly thereafter, the Reform Scouts were evicted from the community center they had been working in for over a year. Even in death, the Reform find themselves isolated. When one Orthodox group discovered a Reform rabbi buried in a Jerusa lem cemetery, they constructed a wall around his grave to isolate him from other Jews. Unwilling to accept the situa tion, Regev, an attorney, filed a lawsuit four years ago against the Rabbinate seeking to overturn its prohibition on Reform mar riage ceremonies and other Re form practices. But that contro versial litigation, still in Israeli courts, has a tortuous future before any denouement. Regardless of any civil ruling, however, the ultra-Orthodox community here will never accept Reform Judaism. Rabbi Zalman Quittner, personal assistant to Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Avraham Shapira, expressed the Orthodox view. “It isn’t that we don’t rec ognize Reform Jews as Jews, that is people born Jewish who later joined the Reform move ment,” explains Rabbi Quittner. “We just don’t recognize their rabbis, nor their halachic actions. How can they be rabbis when they don’t believe in the Ten Commandments, when they drive to schul on shabbas, when they eat hazer (port). If they want to start a new religion, and not call themselves Jews, they can do it. Fine. But in that case, a new reli gion needs no recognition from us anyway.” When verbalized, Orthodox in tolerance can often seem repug nant. But from the Orthodox view, the Jewish people spent centuries striving to maintain and adhere to Judaic beliefs. To do so required perseverance over dispersion, occupation, assimila tion, and extermination. The price was not cheap, and is measured in blood among the generations. Now the faithful have come to the wellspring, to Israel. If it is indeed a Jewish State—even nominally, in their view—it is a disavowal of Jewish history to recast Judaism as a mere shadow of its former sense, which is what critics assert Reform Judaism seeks to do. In a more contemporary con text, Israel’s Orthodox see Reform Judaism as “false adver tising,” as one Mea Shearim store- owner called it. “If I said that ‘pork is kosher,’ this would be false advertising and should be stopped. To say that this new form of religion is Judaism is also false. It is something, yes, but it is not Judaism.” After all, Reform Judaism, only emerged about a century ago as compromise between Ger man Jews drifting into Lutheran ism, and those hoping to retain the salient aspects of their Mos aic heritage. Since then, Reform Judaism has become a major alternative for American Jewry, struggling to maintain their iden tity in a society that breeds assi- miliation like a disease. “This movement is well-established in America,” concedes Rabbi Quitt ner. “In Israel, however, it is new. All these questions will take time.” But Reform Jewry is tired of waiting. And Orthodoxy believes never is too soon. Consequently, the Baka incident set the stage for a long awaited confrontation, just as did the Petah Tikva cine mas operating on Friday and the sabbath drivers on the road to Ramot. ® 1986, International Features Continued next week. Conservative delegates desired at 31st World Zionist Congress AJCC GALA NOV. 15 875-7881 MERCAZ, the United States Zionist organization for the Conservative movement, has an nounced the launching of a mem bership drive to sign up as many Conservative Jews as possible. The goal is to increase the number of Conservative delegates to the 31st World Zionist Congress (WZC) to be held in Jerusalem in 1987. All members who have enrolled in MERCAZ by Feb. 1, 1987, will receive a ballot enti tling them to vote for delegates. Representation at the WZC will enable the Conservative Movement to bring about the recognition of Conservative/ Masorti Judaism in Israel, according to Simon Schwartz, MERCAZ president. “The strength of MERCAZ will assure an equitable allocation of funds for synagogues and institutions in Israel,” he said. The Conservative movement in Israel, known as Masorti, has a major center in Jerusalem, a kibbutz, a moshav, educational institutions and over 40 congregations. — Chagall film honored again ' TORONTO (JTA)—Harry Rasky’s 10-year-old documentary film on the late artist Marc Chagall has won an International Emmy, the Canadian Jewish News reports. “Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love” won following its television release in the United States. Last spring, the film received the Best Director’s Award from the Director’s Guild of America. Ct S.A.L.T.” Talks 3 3 (Study a Little Torah) Chabad of Georgia Adult Education Series 5065 Highpoint Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30342. The following courses will be available from Monday, November 17, through Thursday, December 18. No Hebrew background necessary for any of the classes. The instructor will be Rabbi Yossi New. MONDAYS: Chassidic Philosophy. Time: 8:00 p.m. We will study a “Mamor", a deep and often mystical dis course which will highlight and analyze a broad range of issues such as manifestation of G-dilness, good and evil, free choice, prayer, commandents, the Jew’s role. etc. TUESDAYS: Portion of the Week. Time: 10:30 a.m. (Women only) We will chooose a parsha (section) of the weekly sidra. Study it verse by verse discovering the rich and thought-provoking insights of the classical and contemporary commentators on the Chumash. THURSDAYS: Around the Year. Time: 8:00 p.m. This class will discuss the historical and contemporary sig nificance of Hanuka, with emphasis on the laws and customs of the festival. The Talmud and Code of Jewish law will be the texts used. Classes open to everyone. Call 843-2464 for further information. Chabad of Georgia is offering a Teens N Torah study program for high schoolers. The class meets every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. The class studies classical Jewish texts as well as open discussion on contemporary issues such as cults, drugs, Israel, etc. Call 843-2464. Rabbi Benjamin Z. Kreitman, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of America, the congregational arm of Con servative Judaism, said, “The United Synagogue is privileged to undertake the administration of MERCAZ. The rabbis of our affiliated congregations are sup porting this effort and seek to enroll a major portion of their membership for MERCAZ.” MERCAZ is endorsed by the major arms of the Conservative movement — the Rabbinical Assembly, the Jewish Theologi cal Seminary, the Women’s League for Conservative Juda ism, the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, the World Council of Synagogues and the United Synagogue of America. weekly specials Fresh Empire Fryers whole or cut .... 1.49 lb. Empire Turkey or Chicken Franks 1.29 lb. Filet Chuck Steak 2.29 lb. Ground Veal 2.29 lb. 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