One word. It’s amazing that one word can prompt a response.
In his letter to your paper recently, Mr. Joel Katz of Port Washington protested the workings of Adam Haber, and my congregation, The Reconstructionist Congregation of the North Shore, in trying to help resettle Syrian refugees in this country.
So far, so good – dialogue is the bedrock of our society. But, his use of the slur, faux (that he used before our Congregation’s name), requires a response.
It is one thing to object to the Congregation’s selection of Syrian, as opposed to other groups of refugees to help. It’s even acceptable for him to say we should help Jewish people first – that’s an opinion he’s entitled to.
It’s quite another to imply we are “less”, or worse, “fake.”
I will say this: Your outrage literally changed the subject for me, and, I’m sure, my fellow congregants.
It is the essence of the Jewish People to follow the teachings of none less than Rabbi Hillel. I imagine you know the story about the gentile who asked both Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai to elucidate on the Torah, while standing on one foot.
If they could do that, he would become a Jew.
Shammai, a strict follower of the rules, struck him with a stick in his anger.
Hillel, on the other hand, who was less of a “Constructionist,” said the following: “That which is hateful to you, do not unto another: This is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary — [and now] go study.”
Of course, it’s much more complicated than that in Talmudic interpretations (and, I’ll thank Mr. Katz for helping me educate myself), which I’ll leave to the rabbis to discuss.
Mr. Katz, I respect your opinion, but leave the denominations of our mutual faith out of it. I will promise you this: If you are right and the people we help come back to hurt us, they’re not going to ask what kind of a Jew we are. I’m not going to feel any safer than you.
But there are so many mitzvot (moral commandments from the Torah) that support Mr. Haber, and my congregation’s behavior.
I’m no expert, but I can’t think of one that supports yours. Let it be.
Martin N. Adickman
Great Neck
