Admitting non-Jewish children to JFS: no halachic barrier


By Miriam Shaviv
November 29, 2009
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According to Rabbi Asher Lopatin, a modern Orthodox rabbi from Chicago, one of the most respected Orthodox figures of the 20th century, Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik, issued the following ruling about admitting non-Jewish children into Jewish schools:

when we set up our community, pluralistic school, (Chicago Jewish Day
School) I asked him if we could admit children of Jewish fathers,
non-Jewish mothers. He said yes! Then his grandson who was there said,
But Zayde, these are “goyim g’murim” [complete non-Jews]! His answer was, So what? You can
teach Torah to goyim as well! And he quoted the S’fornu.

Something for this country's Orthodox authorities to keep in mind, perhaps, re: the JFS case.

(Via)

COMMENTS

moshetzarfati2

29 November, 2009 - 14:52

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Ain't gonna happen. This country's Orthodox authorities don't keep much in mind other than their dogma.


Lanne

29 November, 2009 - 18:18

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article6579040... says "The United Synagogue has already spent more than £150,000 on the case, the JFS has also spent considerable sums, and they will be seeking financial help from the community as they continue their fight to the Lords" (This article is dated June 2009 so since then more money has been spent on this case by taking it to the Supreme Court).

Is it really worth it for them to spend so much money on this case to stop a few people they do not consider Jewish going to a Jewish state school?. If JFS were to take a few people they do not consider Jewish, they would save all this money. In this time of recession when many Jewish charities are struggling, surely this money would be better spent on these charities.
Does anyone know how much money the United Synagogue and JFS have spent on this case now?


benjya

30 November, 2009 - 12:56

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This raises an interesting point. Personally I have no problems with non-Jews going to a Jewish school. They know they're not Jewish and we know they're not Jewish. Simple. If they want the generally high quality education that Jewish schools give, and understand that they won't be getting any exemption in Kodesh lessons (or any specific provision for them to learn about their religions instead of ours, given their choice to attend a Jewish school), that's fine.

Where I do have concerns, though, are cases like the specific case here - somebody who thinks they are Jewish, but we (orthodox Judaism) doesn't consider them Jewish, for whatever reason.

It's fairly easy to explain to a child "These people aren't Jewish. They're the same as us in all other ways, they are as good people as we are, and we can be friendly with them, work with them, socialise with them, and do everything with them except marry them". But they then come home from a Jewish school one day, with a boy/girlfriend who says they are Jewish, and who the school has admitted as a Jew, that it becomes very difficult.


Lanne

30 November, 2009 - 13:28

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"But they then come home from a Jewish school one day, with a boy/girlfriend who says they are Jewish, and who the school has admitted as a Jew, that it becomes very difficult." Those who go to school are usually too young for serious relationships/ marriage and they usually don't last. Also many Jewish people go to University or work in non Jewish companies where they will meet non Jews or reform people who have a mum who converted to reform, who are not considered Jewish by the Orthodox. Even Jews who work in Jewish companies have non Jewish colleagues. If this is the real reason for not taking a few people who are not considered Jewish, the Jewish community should be arranging for Jewish universities and companies who only take Jewish people so no Jews will ever fall for non Jews.


DLeigh-Ellis

30 November, 2009 - 22:02

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(comment deleted)


Denny

8 December, 2009 - 22:13

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It's a complicated issue to talk about. My mother isn't a Jew. My husband isn't a Jew. What can I say? When I was a child it wasn't a problem. I agree that kids are usually too young to think about their differences. But now I see the difference clearly. You know, people like to demonstrate that they belong to the "better" nationality or class or something like that.
But as for the Jews, it has always made me sad that a our nation that suffered so much through all it's history now is thinking about throwing away "non100% Jewish people"!

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