[HANASHIR:14713] Re: secular music

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

It's not that Israel is "more jewish" or "better" than what we American
Jews are.   But I don't think our supplemental students should think
that Israel is a place where "history happened," but where "Am Yisrael"
thrives, lives, is culturally alive and welcomes us!

I have to disagree with your comment about "letting the exchange become
mired in feelings of insecurity and superiority."   I don't see that as
an issue and am not sure what your point is.  
Meris Ruzow

Meris (at) nycap(dot)rr(dot)com


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org] On
Behalf Of Ruth Levenstein
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 7:51 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:14712] Re: secular music


> There are differences that we just have period.  What we have to do, I

> think, is teach MORE ISRAEL in any of our curricula.  We have to
promote 
> programs that bring kids to Israel.  


I'm all for more Israel but I think we make a mistake when we feel that 
everything Israel is more Jewish and better.  Judaism takes on a 
different form in the US.  It is neither better or worse.  Israel 
programs should be about cultural exchange.  We do both communities a 
diservice when we let the exchange become mired in feelings of 
insecurity and/or superiority.

I also spent time living in Israel and have an affinity for lag b'omer, 
Israeli independence day and other various holidays and traditions that 
are not well known in the US.  But I know that at my core I am an 
american Jew most at home in the US Reform movement.

Ruth





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