|
|
|
February 26, 1999/10 Adar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 22
Two Jews, three opinionsEditorialJust as the hamentashen, a traditionally prune-filled Purim pastry, lately comes infused with infinite variety - affected as much by geography and current custom as by gastronomic taste - so too do the three-cornered treats symbolize the remarkable variety and diversity of Jewish life.Look no further than the story this week about fewer than 200 Bucharian Jewish families who want to create a center to meet the specific social and educational needs of their cohesive community. Organizers hope to raise $50,000 as a down payment on a former west-Phoenix church so that they will have a place "to come together." Never mind that another group of Jews from the same part of the world last year established a synagogue that meets in a local home. That first, even smaller group garnered a grant from Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix to help purchase a Torah scroll. Efforts to join the two groups have failed, as members disagree on mission and purpose and other fundamental issues. It proves the wisdom of Israel founding father David Ben Gurion, who observed that for every two Jews there are three opinions. Ben Gurion's prescience is validated again and again, as Israel struggles to reconcile its identity as a democracy, a homeland and the Jewish state. While the differences among the Bucharian Jews living in Phoenix pale in the context of the rifts in the Jewish state, they speak to the issue of how we define ourselves and where we feel most welcome and at home. The Valley Jewish community provides a wealth of congregational choices for Jews of varying denominational affiliation and preference. It offers common ground at facilities such as the Tri-City Jewish Community Center (and the planned Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in northeast Phoenix) and at events such as Israel Independence Day celebrations that bring all Jews together to applaud what we share, even as we debate our differences. Chocolate hamentashen? Not your choice? Never mind. Let's find ways to savor all the flavors of Jewish life together. Chag Sameach - Happy Holiday. |
