From: warren@nysernet.org (Warren Burstein)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: wrap up on Michael Lerner talk
Date: 3 Oct 92 21:50:55 GMT
Reply-To: warren@nysernet.org
Organization: Mail to News Gateway at Wang Labs

As a Tikun reader, and speaking soley for myself, here are answers
that I think Michael Lerner *might have given* to the questions.
These are not the answers that I would give myself and since I didn't
do some of the things that Lerner is being asked to defend it doesn't
make sense to ask what my own answer is.

Oh, and Sam, thanks for reminding me to renew my subscription.

In <1992Oct2.172819.27721@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> saal@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (samuel.saal) writes:

>  We are in a time of widespread assimilation, lack of Jewish
>  knowledge and loss of Jewish identity.  What role does _Tikkun_
>  play in working toward the survival of the Jewish people?

Many Jews are repelled by the identification of Judaism with
reactionary politics.  Tikkun aims to bring these Jews back into
contact with their Judiasm by offering them a progressive alternative.
Tikkun wants to encourage politically active progressive Jews to be
more Jewish and Jewishly involved Jews to be more politically active.

>  Follow-up:  *Why* should one want the Jewish people to survive?

For the same reason that we support progressive political programs.

>  How should a Jew be taught morality, and how should a Jew
>  be taught what makes him or her Jewish?  Since the present educational
>  system has left most Jews unaware of our heritage and what
>  makes us unique, what would you propose in its stead?

[since the question is flame bait, the answer is whimsical]

Every Jew should subscribe to Tikkun and discuss it with his or her
children at the Shabbat table.

>  As was common among our enemies throughout history, several
>  countries today ban the Jewish form of animal slaughter, and
>  legislation is periodically proposed to ban 'bris milah' - Jewish
>  circumcision.  If, G-d forbid, such laws were passed in the U.S.,
>  would Tikkun stand up for the rights of fellow Jews against these
>  assaults on our freedom to worship?

Yes.  Tikkun opposes all restrictions against religious freedom.

>You might consider asking him how he reconciles the opinion expressed a
>couple of months ago in his magazine about homosexuality (the editorial
>was in fact posted to s.c.j.) with his willingness to be the shaliach
>tzibur in an Orthodox synagogue.

[When Michael was in Jerusalem last year for the Tikkun convention he
davvened at Kehilat Yedidya just about every Shabbat for weeks but
never asked to go before the amud.]

My differences with any branch of Judaism do not prevent me from
participating in services conducted by that branch.  I find what to
criticize in all of the movements within Judiasm.

>I want to know, what direct effect did he/his org have at/on the democratic
>convention?  (He was there)

Not enough.  Tikkun printed a critique of the Democratic platform in
the July/August issue with suggestions for what a truly progressive
platform might look like.

>What action has he/his mag/his org had in stopping/helping war in former
>Yuogoslavia, famine in Somila, apartid in South Africa, needs of southern
>Flordia and Louisiana, changes in LA....

I would hope that bringing these issues to the attention of Tikkun
readers, and speaking to audiences on these topics at events such as
this encourages people to work towards resolution of these problems.

>Can you ask Micheal Lerner if Clinton really love the Jews, or is he
>playing music in their ears just to get their votes?

I don't know if Clinton loves us, or if Bush does, and I don't care.
I'm going to vote for Bill Clinton because his policies are better for
America, Israel, and the entire world than Bush's.

>Can you suggest reasons for Tikkun's circulation to be dropping while
>circulaiton for a magazine like Commentary is increasing even in a
>recession and even in a year in which the right, in general, is not doing
>too well?

Tikkun readers have a lower median income than Commentary readers and
are harder hit by recession.  Fortunately, not all Jews upon having
"made it" turn their backs on the progressive values of Judaism.

However, financial difficulties need not keep anyone from reading
Tikkun.  Here's what I wrote in a letter urging people to renew their
subscriptions:

    If it's the *cost* of the magazine that's keeping you from renewing,
    send me a personal letter explaining your situation and we'll work
    soumthing out.  I don't wont to lose anyone bcause they absolutely
    _can't_afford_ to subscribe, so if renewing would really hurt you
    financially, please let me know.

>As a Jew who tries to be Halacha observant, there are aspects of American 
>Liberalism that are attractive to me.  Yet, I have a certain difficulty with 
>the concept of value-free education, relative ethics, and other underlying 
>agenda or policy ideals of the left.  How can I reconcile my allegience to 
>Halachic ideals and values with those of today's liberals

Tikkun does not stand for the above.  Here's the very first paragraph
of our proposed platform (from the July/August issue)

    Educate for Values

    Values clarification is not enough - schoools should give priority to
    educating students to practice the following specific values: love,
    empathy, caring, cooperation, committment to others, spiritual and
    ethical sensitivity, respect for difference, repsect for learning, and
    honesty.  Students should learn about the different thoretical
    approaches to *how* one can achieve thse values. But they should not
    be left unclear that these are the values that the school system
    seeks to engender.

>As a leading left-leaning liberal, do you consider there to be separate
>Americas - specifically, one white and one black? If so, do you hold "white
>America," responsible for the Los Angeles riots? And if so, do you hold "black
>America" responsible for the rape and mugging of the Central Park jogger?

Thank you for the complement.  No, I don't consider there to be
separate Americas along racial lines, and I consider the suggestion to
be racist, whether it comes from the left or from the right.  I oppose
racism, whatever its source.

>I don't understand the assumption that only thye Left has people's best
>interst in mind, especially given your claim that they don['t even know
>that "meaning" is what drives people.  Are you saying the Left knows what
>people want even if they don't? (Followup: isn't that a bit patronizing?)

The lack of "a politics of meaning" is precisely what the Left needs.
I'm not being patronizing, I'm trying to explain to Americans why our
proposed policies are in their best interest.  I don't expect them to
take me at my word that my proposals are good for them, I want them to
read the proposals and compare them to the Right's, and see which side
really is concerned about people's interests.

>In your rejection of moral relativism, one I tend to agree with, it sounds
>like you hold cooperation, responsibility, justice, peace, moral and
>spritual sensitivity, tolerance, love, and caring as the basis for an
>absolute morality.  While few would disagree that these are "good things,"
>how do you know they are a basos for absolute morality, especially when
>there are contradictions like peace at any cost versus justice.

There are contradictions in every system.  I'm sure that you, too,
face some tough questions in your own moral life, and that you're not
sure that you've made the correct decision every step along the way.
I've made mistakes before, and I'm sure I'll continue, just like you
have and will.

People who disagree with you and me that cooperation, et. al., are not
good things probably don't read Tikkun and probably are accurately
represented by the Right.  I can't convince them to change their
values.  What I want is for people whose own systems of belief
*already* have values that are similar to mine, for whatever reasons,
to join with me in promoting a true progressive vision.
-- 
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