Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site whuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxm!mhuxn!mhuxj!houxm!whuxl!whuxi!ktw From: ktw@whuxi.UUCP (WOLMAN) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Heat and light over a menorah Message-ID: <203@whuxi.UUCP> Date: Mon, 17-Dec-84 08:40:10 EST Article-I.D.: whuxi.203 Posted: Mon Dec 17 08:40:10 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 18-Dec-84 02:25:10 EST References: <17829@lanl.ARPA>, <1015@aecom.UUCP> Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany, N.J. Lines: 32 I posted the gist of my response in private to the original poster, but because I find myself in essential agreement with Teitz, have chosen to post the response publicly as well. I thought "Jewish Self-Hatred" was something that was part of the entity known as "The Past." Obviously not: it is easy to forget that the past is something that happened a nanosecond ago. It is still somewhat amazing that major resistance to the overt signs of symbols of Judaism comes from within the Jewish community. "Hey, if we keep our heads down, no one'll know. . . ." This doesn't work. It didn't work in Germany in the 1930's, and it isn't working here, either. Does history teach us ANYTHING? How many times do we have to be hit over the head with a two-by-four before we get the point? If They are coming after us, They will do so menorah or not; the decision to announce one's presence is at least affirmative rather than self-deceptive and--dare it be said?--cowardly. A few years back, in Teaneck, New Jersey a related battle broke out in the Jewish community over the plans of a recently-arrived Orthodox group to construct a mikveh. Far too many secular or non-Orthodox Jews were horrified; there may even have been court battles; and there was certainly pressure on the Orthodox to "keep a low profile" for fear of appearing "too Jewish." Although I am sketchy on the terms of the settlement, the mikvah WAS built. But the battle--conducted inside the Jewish community, rather than between Jews and Gentiles--was another wedge in the increasing rift between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews, and served the interests of NO ONE. Ken Wolman Bell Communications Research whuxi!ktw (201) 740-4565