Re: A Tree Grows in Cleveland

[Eliott Kahn <Elkahn...>]

I wish to thank Lori Simon for her loving description of her Modern Orthodox 
shul in Cleveland. It sounds like a healthy balance between the spirituality 
and tradition of Orthodox Judaism and the modern, egalitarian values espoused 
by the more liberal Jewish denominations. Not surprisingly, such a divine 
experiment is happening in a town like Cleveland, whose citizens I have usually 
found to be well-educated and appreciative of the finer things in life--like 
good baseball and excellent symphony orchestras!

But it saddens me to learn that such a groundbreaking congregation was having 
trouble attracting congregants. (Lori, was the original building in an older 
part of town, away from the suburbs?) I've seen any number of former vibrant 
congregations--of all denominations--struggling in the New York metro area, and 
this also saddens me.

Which makes me curious: If many of the halachic restrictions in place against 
women were rescinded, would many of the folks on this list (men and women) who 
are opposed to them attend such a shul on a regular basis, let alone adopt the 
rigors of an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle?

I say this with all the respect due our observant Orthodox Jewish friends--both 
men and women--who ultimately should be the ones to decide the rules for 
worship and social interaction that define their branch of Judaism. As I 
mentioned before, I attend an Orthodox shul, but do not maintain an Orthodox 
lifestyle. Yet, I am grateful to the folks who make being Jewish such an 
integral part of their lives, that every Saturday I can reap the benefits of 
their daily hard work.

The gist of what I am saying is that it is up to the citizens of each 
individual country to make their own revolutions--not outsiders who know little 
of the reasons why certain laws and customs exist. Simply to say "we are all 
(born) Jews; can't you see the error of your ways?" is insufficient. A perfect 
metaphor would be the folks from Jews for Jesus addressing more liberal or 
assimilated Jews: "We are all (born) Jews; can't you see the error of your 
ways?"

Eliott Kahn


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