| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
" torresD" |
| Date: |
23 Dec 2005 01:42:42 AM |
| Object: |
Christian Dilemma of the Jews - Avi - HAARETZ |
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerGuest.jhtml?itemNo=659810
For many American Jews the
"December dilemma" was used to
describe the identity tension for
a Jew in a predominantly Christian
society.
But this tension is no longer
just a matter of choice between
the menorah and the Christmas tree
but also,
on the more philosophical level,
deals with the delicate relations
between state and religion in the
United States.
The religious right in America
argues that liberal groups,
among them a significant number of Jews,
have stripped the holiday of its religious
content leaving behind it only the commercial
content.
The Jewish reaction in recent years
shows that it is not only America
that has changed and moved to the right,
but that also a remarkable change has
taken place within the Jewish community.
It is not just the growing
numbers in orthodoxy Judaism
but it is also the assimilation
among the more liberals which makes
the religious and traditional Jews
a more dominant and visible force
in the community.
Jewish leaders must take into consideration
the voice of the Jewish right which does not
see an imminent danger in the Christianization
of America.
There is nothing new in the
Christian Dilemma of the Jews.
Since the days of the founding of America
devoted Christians such as John Adams,
the second president of the U.S.,
presented the problematic duality
of deep Biblical beliefs and
admiration of the Hebrew-Jewish
heritage along with some misgivings
about Jewish behavior and a wish that
they will become "possibly in time"
good Christians.
It must be recalled that it was
this kind of expression which brought
the Christian support for Zionism in
England and in Protestant America quite
before the Jewish "forerunners" of
Zionism in the 19th century.
Christians from the right support
Israel politically and even financially,
and they represent today a large contingent
of tourists to Israel and to Jerusalem
(according to recent report,
more than the Jews).
In contrast, many of the Liberal
Churches are today leading the efforts
for divestment and sanctions against Israel,
and are also an active part of
the "new anti-Semitism" phenomena,
namely playing anti-Semitism
under the guise of anti-Israelism.
Jews can and should express their
voices and their concern on American
society and democracy,
but they should be more constrained
in their organized voice because it
can lead to an unnecessary internal
Jewish debate.
The Jewish approach in its organized
form should not enter what can be regarded
as a Christian debate,
but try to maintain a pragmatic
view which can strike a balance
between the pro-Israel,
pro-Jewish voices in the Christian
camp and their ultimate visions which
are a matter for the "end of the days."
Best wishes,
Avi
.
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