Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sfmag.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxm!sftig!sftri!sfmag!samet
From: samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Ethiopian Jews, Racist Ultra-Orthodox, and "Who is a Rabbi?"
Message-ID: <475@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Feb-85 18:29:34 EST
Article-I.D.: sfmag.475
Posted: Mon Feb  4 18:29:34 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Feb-85 05:14:17 EST
References: <3780002@csd2.UUCP> <307@mhuxm.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit, NJ
Lines: 66


When issues like  Who  is  a  [  Jew,Rabbi,etc]  degenerate  into
lengthy  attacks  on the "self-righteous, tyrannical, intolerant,
bigoted, politically-motivated, closed-minded, etc"  people  like
me  who    subscribe  to  the  "ultra-orthodox"  position,   it's
generally  futile to try to convince attacker that  we   are  not
that way.

Hopefully, however,  the  following  reflections  will  help  the
thinking  person   gain  a  more  tolerant attitude  towards  the 
Torah mentality which so irritates him.

American  democracy  arose  in  response  to  persecution.   That
persecution  was  largely  "in  the  name  of  religion"  and the
constitutional antidote engraved separation of church and State so
indelibly  in our society that it became "Holy" to many Americans
as  did  "Democracy".   To  some,  religion  evokes   images   of
divisiveness,  tyranny  etc.  The  deterrent  to  such  abuses is
"government  of   the  people  ..." rather   than   by   would-be
dictators pontificating in the name of Heaven.

A little thought will tell us that democracy  ain't  perfect.   A
Hitler  could  come  to  power  via  democratic  election. Still,
democracy seemed preferable to the earlier alternatives...

Given this perspective, it becomes easier to understand  Orthodox
Ultracynicism towards the values they are challenging.

First of all, it's unrealistic to expect a  Torah  non-illiterate
to place Democracy at the top of his value system. He starts with
a Torah  as  a  frame  of  reference  and  deals  with  the  host
environment    pragmatically.    (As   an   aside,   the   common
misconception that Torah commitment requires  blind  faith  stems
from guilt by association with other "religions".)

The Torah-based Jew   can  recognize  and  be  grateful  for  the
benefits of modern democracy while keeping in perspective that it
evolved to correct for problems in in  the   "other"  world  that
produced  crusades,  pogroms   and   inquisitions "in the name of
Heaven".  To keep Heaven out of politics,  democracy  substituted
the  voter  for  G-d  as  the arbiter of values and the source of
legitimate power.

If  the  Jew   drifted  from  Torah  values,  that   universalist
orientation  was by default, likely to permeate his value system.
But if he clinged to the Torah he saw democracy more as the local
rules of the game than the Holy of Holies.

Within  the  Jewish  family,  it's  another  matter.  Why  should
democracy   supercede  the Torah  and   rabbinic   authority? Why
give  up  the  moral, legislative,  and  judicial legacy that  we
sacrificed   our  lives  to  perpetuate  for  millenia?   Why  be
intimidated by name callers who rarely comprehend what  they  are
attacking?

If we are to  discuss and share in  shaping  the  future  of  our
people, then  please, before you attack me for imposing my values
on you, examine your own sacred cows, and their roots.


If you read up to here, then thanks for your understanding.

					sincerely,

					Yitzchok Samet
					201-522-6011