Dear
Readers,
These columns began on my area of America Online, called: Judaism
Today: Where Do I Fit? People anonymously
sent me E-Mail, and I began to choose one for a public response
in my Jewish E-Mail of the Week column. The column has become
quite popular and is now syndicated internationally in many
Jewish papers and websites. I hope you find they help you
as you think about the Ethics, Spirituality and Peoplehood
components of the Jewish way of Life. I welcome your
comments... see the end of the column.
Gil
PS
Teachers and others, feel free to copy my columns and forward
them or use them as you see fit. Please see the friendly
copyright notice at the end. |
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As
I sat down this week to select an
E-Mail of the week and signed on to
America Online, the front screen
screamed the news that 5 people had
been shot at the JCC in L.A. While it
is not yet clear if this is a hate
crime, still, I read the news stunned
and mortified and with no desire to
write a column this week.
In
that mood I slowly brought myself to
scan some of the E-Mail I had set
aside for possible future columns.
When I came across the following
E-Mail from a non-Jew, I knew what I
needed to write. The content and tone
of this letter is typical of the many
E-Mails I receive from non-Jews. While
the events of late are horrifying,
some comfort can be found in E-Mails
like this...
Dear
Gil:
Hello!
I came to your area of AOL even though
I am not Jewish. I was raised
Catholic, am now married to a man who
was born Muslim and we are trying to
be Methodist. My best friends are all
Jewish, and my children's Godparents
are Jewish. I wish I could say I want
to convert, but the truth is, I don't
think I could. I absolutely love
Judaism and revere it as I do my own
religion and my father.
I
am writing because I just thought I
had something to say to the Jewish
community. I want them to know that
they should always, always hold their
heads up high.
My
friend expressed the memory of being a
bit embarrassed when she was a child
during Christmas. I cannot imagine the
difficulties that a Jewish child may
go through during the holidays, but I
do know what I tell my children.
Without the love of the Jews in this
world, there would be no Christians,
no Muslims, no Jehovah's Witnesses, no
nothing.
Somehow,
with all the terrible things people
have done to the Jewish people, the
Jewish people were loving enough to
allow the Christians and everyone else
have their religions. They are the
fathers of all of us. Even though we
chose a different path from our
fathers does not mean that we do not
love them and respect them.
Please
give my best to your congregation.
L
Dear
L:
With
the terrible shooting at the Jewish
Community Center in Los Angeles,
recent shootings in Chicago and the
synagogue arsons in Sacramento as a
backdrop, I have selected your letter
for the Jewish E-Mail of the week.
I
am not a rabbi nor do I not have a
congregation but I have more readers
than I could count and I wanted them
to see your respectful and warm letter
especially in light of the violence
perpetrated against Jews as of late.
My
readers may be surprised to learn how
regularly (a number of times per week)
I hear from non-Jews even though my
area of America Online is called
"Judaism Today: Where Do I
Fit?" Almost 100% of these
E-Mails that I receive are a pleasure
to read. Most seek understanding of
Judaism with sincere and serious
questions.
Some
have asked for my advice on how to
respond appropriately to a Jewish
friend or acquaintance in some
situation of life. Still others write
from time to time with compassionate
sentiments similar to those expressed
in your letter.
I
share this information now because
attacks against us are frightening and
make us feel alone. Lately, they have
been especially shocking and frequent.
But letters such as yours make me feel
less alone and I think others will
also find some consolation in reading
your words and knowing about the many
non-Jews who routinely write to me.
Anti-Semitism
today definitely exists. Only a fool
would assert otherwise. But as opposed
to the past, when anti-Semitism in the
US was virtually built into many of
the institutions of society
(government, business, churches,
etc.), today, individuals are the main
threat. And these individuals now must
contend with those same institutions
of society who today actively fight
against anti-Semitism and other forms
of hatred and bigotry toward
minorities.
In
sharp sharp contrast are the many
individuals such as yourself who write
to me. You give me hope and some
degree of comfort when headlines
remind me that Jews remain vulnerable
just because we are Jewish.
I
often end by saying thank you for
writing. In this case, I thank you on
behalf of my "congregation"
of readers as well.
Gil
A FRIENDLY COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© Copyright Gil Mann
These columns can be found at www.beingjewish.org. Not
only do I give you permissions to copy these Jewish Email
columns...I HOPE YOU WILL and that you share them with others!
All I ask is that you never charge anyone for them and that you
also include this little copyright notice. Thank You!
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