yiri@ucf-cs.UUCP (Yirmiyahu BenDavid) (09/28/84)
>I am somewhat disturbed--and at the same time somewhat sympathetic-- >to Yiri BenDavid's views expressed in his "Christian naion" article. >Yiri, while it is true that some parts of Christianity can be >viewed as paganistic according to Jewish teachng, I feel it is >very unfair to make the statement that Christianity--which in a >sense Judaized the *real* pagan world--is worse than materialism. >It seems to me that such a statement is at best, inappropriate, >and at worst, antagonistic. Bill, Christianity did not Judaize the pagan world in any sense. Rather, Christianity paganized (Roman-ized) the teachings of a Jewish sect known as the N'tzarim and spread the corrupted teachings to the world. Christianity is not Jewish in any sense and cannot therefore, Judaize. Secondly, materialism was never the primary motivating factor in the persecutions under Constantine, the Crusaders, the Spanish Inquisition, nor Hitler. It may have been important to a few of the leaders, but the persecutions were fueled by Christian concerns more than materialism. The persecutions would never have caught on due to materialism alone, but the converse does not hold. Therefore, I conclude that Christianity is FAR worse than materialism. >Perhaps the real reason for your concern is the fact that you resent >being Jewish in a predominantly Christian nation. Instead of confronting >the fact, and perhaps moving to Brooklyn or Netanya, you are under the >illusion that the dominant religion in this nation should cloak itself >in secular garb, and not show its face to you. I think the real reason for my concern has been stated and your inference does not merit a response. I do think that your suggestion that religious Jews should be able to pick up stakes and move to Brooklyn betrays a rather callous lack of understanding for other less fortunate Jews, and this is the kind of cavalier attitude which has alienated so many from our community. Furthermore, the principles of this country are that neither Jews nor any other religion should be confined to certain areas in order to get jobs or practice their religion in freedom. For the record, these are not MY problems we are discussing, so applying psychoanalysis to MY motivations aren't going to solve them. Neither are suggestions that 'I' do something or other. It is not me that needs the help and/or solutions. I had thought that was obvious. As to which of us are under illusions, I'm content to leave that for the reader to decide. >Most religious Jews probably do not have these conflicts because >they do not care if a school district in Montgomerey County, Alabama >prays to a Jewish carpenter. In fact, this is just what they want: >non-religious Jews would then be confronted with their >Jewishness (like that Jewish mother who found her kid singing So-and-so >Loves Me). The problem of separating the holy from the profane (hamavdil >ben kodesh l'chol) then becomes a lot easier, doesn't it? Bill, I really don't think you speak for 'most' religious Jews. Certainly you are presumptuous in trying to speak for this one. And I jolly well DO care about Jews in Montgomery County being oppressed by Christianity. I'm saddened that you do not, and panicked that 'most religious Jews' may not. I pray you are wrong that 'this is just what [religious Jews] want'. On behalf of that Jewish mother I'm deeply offended and grieved by your callous and cavalier 'holier-than-thou' attitude. She may be ashamed to confront you but someone needs to point out the effect of such attitudes and the consequences. It is this attitude which has alienated so many who were brought up in religious homes and who once attended synagogue themself. You seem to think there is something wrong with them. I feel there is something wrong with the way we are doing things - and this is one. As for separating the holy from the profane, I contend that there is little more profane than such disregard for the plight of less-fortunate fellow Jews. >My advice: send your kids to day school, teach them Jewish ways, and >let them be a light unto the nations: Don't worry about small political >issues, and don't get bitter at other religious beliefs. Has it not occurred to you that there might exist Jews who cannot afford to send their kids to day school? Your idea of Judaism seems to be a rich man's religion. I agree that one should not be bitter - for one thing, it is counter-productive. On the other hand, to not worry about these issues is symptomatic of what I call the 'Ostrich Syndrome'. It has been most injurious to us in the past. I hope you will be more empathetic to the less- fortunate Jews and to those we have worked so hard to alienate in many instances. Work on some compassionate solutions for them. A final thought, if we don't demand religious freedom while we still have the freedom to do so, how will we help ourselves when we no longer have that freedom? Have we learned nothing? Gemar Hatimah Tovah to all. Yirmiyahu Ben-David