[HANASHIR:14711] Re: secular music

[Joy Newman <joyzee...>]

Hello:

Thanks for sharing your amazing life experiences with us.  I think it's 
awesome that you have had the opportunity interact with so many Jews in a 
variety of settings, as well as to live in Israel for such a long time.

I think that Ruth summed up everything that I was trying to say.  I know 
we're losing Jews.  I know that.  And I know that there is never enough 
time.  That applies to everything.  But I also know, that what has kept me 
and my friends close to our faith, was the acceptance of our teachers and 
clergy, of who we were as Jews.  My Rabbi is phenomenal.  He often refers to 
TV shows, or current issues in the secular world.  We often chat about my 
classes at the university, softball, dance....non-Jewish activities.  I feel 
as though in order to keep Jews, in order to stop those numbers from falling 
every year, we need to take a step back from 100% Judaism, and recognize 
that 50% is better than none at all.  Through our actions, and through the 
types of lives we lead, we need to help Jewish children realize that one can 
be passionately Jewish, and still participate in the secular world most 
American Jews have grown to love.

~smile always~
-Joy

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