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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 28, 1986 Page 13 HUC official critical of Israeli Orthodoxy by Richard Bono TSI stall writer On a recent visit to Atlanta, an official with the world’s primary educational center for Reform Jewry criticized the often acri monious conflicts that have char acterized the relationship between Israel’s official Orthodox policy and the country’s growing Reform Movement. That on-going battle was re cently brought to a head when violence erupted between the two groups at the Baka District Reform synagogue in Jerusalem. Although the parties involved in that Simhat Torah altercation are said to have reached an ac cord, tensions appear to be far from over. “The population in Israel is in general highly disapproving of the violence that the official rab binate has been sponsoring,” said Richard Scheuer, chairman of the board of governors of Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion. “Actual violence, however, is going to be less of a problem,” he said, “because they’re getting enormous public disap proval and they cannot continue in that direction.” Scheuer sits at the helm of the 55-member national board of governors, which oversees HUC— JIR’s four campuses—at Cincin nati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem. Founded in 1875, He brew Union College, as it exists today, is considered the intellec tual and educational center for the growing Reform Movement worldwide. The rabbis and cantors edu cated and ordained at Hebrew Union College work in more than 750 synagogues and temples throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and elsewhere. Scheuer visited Atlanta re cently as a board member of Jer usalem’s Albright Institute of Archeological Research, which is under the umbrella of the Schools of Oriental Research. That group’s annual conference at the Marriott Marquis this month brought Scheuer to At lanta. Scheuer is critical of what he considers the official rabbinate’s intolerance of religious pluralism. “The Orthodox say that unless you believe that every pronounce ment in the Torah is the word of God, you’re not an authentic Jew,” he said. “We believe that religion necessarily has to evolve over the centuries and we try to structure a philosophy and liturgy that people can live with.” Leaders of the Reform Move ment say that they will force the Knesset’s hand in the near future in an effort to get rights, cur rently afforded only Orthodox rabbis, to perform marriages, grant divorces and sanction con versions, among others. “Most Jews in Israel feel there f-Outspoken refusnik arrested NEW YORK (JTA)—Leningrad activist Albert (Chaim) Burstein was arrested Monday as he spoke by phone from a local post office to Long Island Committee for Soviet Jewry director Lynn Singer. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail for “resisting arrest,” the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry reported. According to the SSSJ, Burstein, 21, is one of Leningrad’s most daring refusniks and has been a target of beatings, threats and harassment by the KGB. On Nov. 5 he was forcibly pre vented from flying to Vilnius in Lithuania to join activists there commemorating the Holocaust. The next day KGB agents beat him again and threatened to kill hirn. Willett Toyota 2650 N. Decatur Rd. Decatur, GA 30033 299-0551 Danny Tourial #1 Selling Small Truck in America. Fleet cars and trucks Leasing all makes and models bm> m .,,1, ,1 l-jr t Truck is a need for other patterns of religious practice rather than just the official Orthodoxy,” Scheuer said. He commented that at the groundbreaking for HUC— JIR’s two new buildings on the Jerusa lem campus earlier this month, Israeli President Chaim Herzog said to him, “‘We need you to show us a middle way (between secularism and the official Ortho doxy). We need somebody to show us how to be Jewish with out fanaticism, how to be Jewish and still live in the 20th century.’” Hebrew Union College’s open ing of two new buildings on the Jerusalem campus was marked by an official “Week of Dedica tion,” which drew several top Israeli government officials. The Jerusalem School of Hebrew Union College provides a mandatory first year of study in Israel for HUC rabbinic, cantor ial and religious education stu dents. “We find it is a much more effective way to teach Hebrew,” Scheuer said. “If the students are in Jerusalem, they read Hebrew newspapers, hear it on the street and on television. It’s much more natural.” * Scheuer said that learning a language in its native country has the quality of an adventure. He added that the contact HUC stu dents have with the Israeli popu lace also has benefits in exposing them to a multitude of cultures, ideas and lifestyles. I ftolin 'UIYN Richard Scheuer participates in dedication ceremonies for the new additions to the Jerusalem School of Hebrew Union College— Jewish Institute of Religion. 6 American Heart Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE I wish to express my deep appreciation to all my good friends whose cards, donations, phone calls and flowers, along with their sincere concern,helped speed my recovery from recent surgery. Kenneth Yoss MISSION TO ISRAEL We’ve reserved a place for YOU... Discover Your Heritage on the Atlanta Jewish Federation’s January “Heritage” Mission to Israel January 8 -16, 1987 Martin & Harriet Isenberg, Bernie & Sandy Palay Co-chairmen Cost: $850 for $1500+ contributors to the 1987 Federation Campaign Call Marilyn Shubin - 873-1661 for reservations & details TODAY!.: