[ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Paula Sandfelder]

I would not call "Jews for Jesus" or "Messianic Judaism" cults.  They are 
missionary evangelical outreach programs of the Assemblies of God Church 
and Southern Baptist Church,  (I never remember who sponsors which).  They 
usually have somone with a particulalry Jewish-sounding name who is a 
convert as their "Rabbi". However, most of the members of these groups 
never have been Jews, but are Christians who see it as their mission to 
convert us.  Their methods are quite deceitful.

When my son was at the University of Georgia he was approached by one of 
their workers who were quite active on campus, my son asked him, "Do you 
know what I call a Jew for Jesus? A Christian."  And that is the bottom 
line, they are regardless of what they call themselves, Evangelical 
Christians.  There is an excellent video on this subject produced by the 
Reform movement, but I can't at the moment remember the title.  If I do, 
I'll post if.

Paula Sandfelder

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Re: [ha-Safran]: Old Sefarim

[Daniel Stuhlman]

At 21:07 07/02/03 -0400, you wrote:
>Our library is finishing a retrospective conversion, and we have several old
>sifrei kodesh that are really too fragile to circulate.  What is the
>appropriate procedure? Our director would prefer not to put them in a 
>Genizah, as they have
>historical value.


You will have to have them examined.  Being old does not make them 
valuable.  If they are fragile, that means the paper is of poor quality, 
further reducing their value.

DS




Daniel Stuhlman
Chicago, IL  60645
ddstuhlman @ earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~ddstuhlman/liblob.htm


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[ha-Safran]: Old Sefarim

[Monica Rosenfeld]

Our library is finishing a retrospective conversion, and we have several old
sifrei kodesh that are really too fragile to circulate.  What is the 
appropriate
procedure? Our director would prefer not to put them in a Genizah, as they have
historical value.

Monica Rosenfeld
Maurer Library
Bureau of Jewish Education
Indianapolis, IN

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RE: [ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Rettberg, Dan]

Thanks, Elisheva.  You sum up my feelings on the subject well.  The book I 
recommended is a serious scholarly study, and is not at all in the class of 
some materials we collect here at HUC in the name of academic freedom 
(white supremicist writings, for example), but that, privately, we may wish 
had never been printed.  Nonetheless, we collect them, and put them out in 
the circulating collection, because we believe our patrons have the right 
to learn the views of others from their own literature, and that the 
purpose of a library is to provide access, not to tell people what to 
think.  With all do respects to the organizations, whose websites were 
offered early on in this discussion, I don't believe all of them 
necessarily provide all the truth all the time either.  I don't doubt their 
sincerety, or the good they may do in the Jewish community, but it seems to 
me one always runs the risk of distortion when one's purpose is not simply 
to educate, but to prove another wrong.  One may not always agree with a 
scholar's conclusions, but at least in a critical study, one can assume a 
desire to be as thorough as possible, and give all opinions their due.

Dan Rettberg
Klau Library
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Cincinnati, Ohio

[EMAIL PROTECTED]



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[ha-Safran]: AJ Heschel Poetry in English

[L Felberg]

Hello, I'm wondering if there is an English translation available of the 
poems of Abraham Joshua Heschel? Any suggestions on how I can find such a 
publication would be very helpful. I can be reached at 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Thank you,

Linda Felberg


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[ha-Safran]: A few books on sects and cults

[Liza Stabler]

Dear Rachel,

A selection from my most recent acquisitions on the subject
include:

Handbook of denominations in the United States/F. S. Mead,
Samuel S. Hill, Nashinville, TN; Abingdon Press, 2001

The new believers: a survey of sects, cults and alternative
religions / David V. Barrett, Londong, Cassell&Co, 2001

Odd gods: new religions & the cult controversy, ed. by
James R. Lewis, Amherst, NY, Prometheus Books, 2001 (my
candidate for the best title of 2001).

The illustrated encyclopedia of active new religions,
sects, and cults / Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, New York, Rosen
Publishing Group, 1998.

General World Religion books --  be careful -- many have an
unconscious assumption of christocentrism but they can be
useful as an overview.
Encyclopedia of world religions / Robert S. Ellwood, Facts
on File
Atlas of the world's religions, edited by Ninian Smart,
Oxford U. Press, 1999
Sourcebook of the world's religions:  an interfaith guide
to religion and spirituality, edited by Joel Beversluis,
New World Library 2001
etc, etc.

You might want to look for guides to particular cults and
belief systems, such as Wicca, etc.

and older books:  Smashing the idols: a Jewish inquiry into
the cult phenomenon, edited by Gary D. Eisenbertg,
Northvale, NJ, Jason Aronson, 1988.
Acts of faith: a journey to the fringes of Jewish identity
/ Dan Ross, New York; St. Martin's Press, 1982.  An
fascinating look at non-mainstream or "long-lost" groups
within Judaism.

Hope this is a help,

Liza




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RE: [ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Shmuel Ben-Gad]

I don't know that it is censorship. No library, so far as I know,
prohibits ("censors") any publication but no library buys everything and
libraries  use standards like  accuracy, quality, and the purpose and clientele
of a particular library. Our library, for example, does collect a certain
amount of anti-semitic materials because of a history course offered here
on the subject. That doesn't mean all libraries should collect such material,
however, in my opinion.  With all due respect, I think being blanketly
against "censorship" tends  not allow us to fittingly judge and evaluate.

  Shmuel Ben-Gad,
  Gelman Library,
  George Washington University.


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RE: [ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Elisheva Schwartz]

I understand the difficulty we face, but what you are proposing is called 
censorship. Once we start down that slippery slope I'm not sure where we 
stop. (Do I, as an Orthodox Jew, refuse to circulate Gunther Plaut's 
Chumash?) After all, if I censor what I don't like, why can't everyone else 
censor whatever they don't like. (No Artscroll!)
  I also think that it's a little  condescending to assume that our 
readers, exposed to whatever, will not be able to weigh and decide for 
themselves.
Kol tuv
Elisheva

Elisheva Schwartz
Cataloger
New York University
Library of the School of Law
40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012-1099
212 998 6333
[EMAIL PROTECTED]





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RE: [ha-Safran]: Sephardic synagogue in NYC

[Julie Koven]

Congregation Shearith Israel
8 West 70th Street (at Central Park West), New York NY, 10023
Tel: (212)-873-0300
Fax: (212)-724-6165
http://www.shearith-israel.org/

Julie Koven | Reference/Cataloging Librarian | American Jewish Historical 
Society | 15 West 16th Street NY, NY 10011 | 212-294-6160 | www.ajhs.org




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RE: [ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Sarah Chandler]

This website has a partial list of actual Hebrew-Christian churches in North
America:
http://www.fjmc.org/hebrewCawareness.html

Temple Ohabei Shalom (in Brookline, MA, website: www.ohabei.org) has chosen
to teach their high school students about "Jews for Jesus" by taking them on
an unaccounted visit to actual Saturday morning service at a local
Hebrew-Christian church.
Apparently, they take a Torah scroll out of the ark, do a circuit out of the
congregation, return it to the ark, and then read from a paper bound copy of
the New Testament. This may not be the most common approach, but according
to their Rabbi, it works for them.

Sarah Chandler
Program Associate: Learning, Outreach, and Support
JCC in Manhattan - 334 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY  10023 - 646.505.4458
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.jccmanhattan.org/
Shabbat Under the Stars
Friday, July 18

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Re: [ha-Safran]: Sephardic synagogue in NYC

[Elliot H. Gertel]

The following information comes from the web site at
http://www.shearith-israel.org/

Congregation Shearith Israel
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue

Contact Information
Telephone: (212)-873-0300
Fax: (212)-724-6165

Postal address:

8 West 70th Street
New York, NY 10023

General Information: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

"Shearith Israel was founded in 1654 and was the first Jewish
congregation to be established in North America. The building we are in
now was consecrated in 1897, and is the fifth synagogue building which
the congregation has built in its history. Until the year 1730, the
congregation met in rented quarters. In 1730, we built our first synagogue
building on Mill Street, now known as South William Street. You may see
many of the furnishings of that building in our page on the Little
Synagogue.

"Shearith Israel was the only Jewish congregation in New York City from
1654 until 1825. During this entire span of history, all of the Jews of
New York belonged to our congregation. Shearith Israel was founded by 23
Jews, mostly of Spanish and Portuguese origin, who had been living in
Recife, Brazil. When the Portuguese defeated the Dutch for control of
Recife, the Jews of the area left. Some went back to Amsterdam, others to
places such as St. Thomas, Jamaica, Surinam and Curacao. One group of 23
Jews, after a series of accidents, ended up in New Amsterdam. They were
not welcomed by Governor Peter Stuyvesant, who did not like the idea of
Jews being allowed to settle here. However, these Jewish individuals
fought for their rights and won permission to settle here. During the
colonial days, the Jewish community was relatively small."

More at http://www.shearith-israel.org/folder/main_frames.html under
"History"  BTW, the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the first
permanent, stable Jewish community in the US (then New Amsterdam) is the
theme of AJL Annual Convention 2004 in Brooklyn, NY (June 20-23, 2004).

 >>><<
 >   <
 > Elliot H. Gertel 111-C Hatcher Graduate Library North <
 > Irving M. Hermelin Curator of Judaica  Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1205 <
 > The University of Michigan  [EMAIL PROTECTED] <
 > University Library Area Programs 734-936-2367 (phone) <
 > Near East Division 734-763-6743 (fax) <
 > http://www.lib.umich.edu/area/Near.East/judaica.html  <
 >   http://www.lib.umich.edu/rrs/egertel.html   <
 >   <
 >>><<



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RE: [ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Stuart Schnee]

True. Seems to me that Jewish Librarians need to take some sort of
stand. Otherwise why not give out anti-Semitic books and "let the reader
decide"?

Stuart Schnee
The Toby Press LLC
PO Box 8531
New Milford, CT 06776-8531

www.tobypress.com





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[ha-Safran]: Sephardic synagogue in NYC

[Dvoraleba]

Does anyone know the name and address, and possibly web address, of the 
large Sephardic synagogue in New York City?  I think it may be one of the 
oldest congregations in the City.  A friend and I would like to visit it.

thanks,
Deborah L. Kapper

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[ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Jeff Corbett]

* I have not read the book in question. However, I take exception to a
statement made in a previous message. I do not mean to speak out against a
particular book that I have not read. I am speaking on the statement that we
don't have a right to suggest certain books over others to our patrons. I am
not passing judgement on any particular book. Also, I do not want to sound
as attacking the author of any material or list member. With that being
said... *

Dan said, "..as librarians, we need to be careful not to let our own
personal views
impede the patron's access to the whole range of opinion on a subject."
Although this may be true with a parve subject, the case of Christian
Missionaries and Cults is a big problem in today's Jewish Society. More and
more of our children and young adults are attending Universities and Secular
High Schools and being drawn into these Non-Jewish groups and away from
Judaism. No matter what "Jews for Jesus" or "Hebrew Christians" may call
themselves, they are simply not Judaism. I would not like to discredit my
good Christian friends by calling these groups "Christians." Rather, any
group who tries to turn Jewish people away from Judaism is nothing more than
a cult. Therefore, any material that concludes that "there is no valid way
to exclude messianic Judaism from "authentic" Judaism" is wrong and we do a
greater disservice to our patrons by offering them books that are false. As
librarians, library technicians and library workers, we are the gate keepers
and therefore obligated to help steer our patrons to materials that are
truthful. There are other books out there on a variety of subjects that are
written based on lies (e.g. propaganda) and I am sure that any of us
wouldn't suggest a book to a patron that was a lie. In every topic, there
are always better books and materials out there. Part of our jobs is to seek
them out and make them available to our patrons.

Jeff

Jeff Corbett
Library Technician
McLean Budden
2525-145 King St. W
Toronto ON M5H 1J8
Tel & Fax: 416 642 8084
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: www.mcleanbudden.com



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[ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults

[Yossi Galron]

--- Message requiring your approval --
From: Jeff Corbett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [ha-Safran]: Judaism and cults
* I have not read the book in question. However, I take exception to a
statement made in a previous message. I do not mean to speak out against a
particular book that I have not read. I am speaking on the statement that we
don't have a right to suggest certain books over others to our patrons. I am
not passing judgement on any particular book. Also, I do not want to sound
as attacking the author of any material or list member. With that being
said... *
Dan said, "..as librarians, we need to be careful not to let our own
personal views
impede the patron's access to the whole range of opinion on a subject."
Although this may be true with a parve subject, the case of Christian
Missionaries and Cults is a big problem in today's Jewish Society. More and
more of our children and young adults are attending Universities and Secular
High Schools and being drawn into these Non-Jewish groups and away from
Judaism. No matter what "Jews for Jesus" or "Hebrew Christians" may call
themselves, they are simply not Judaism. I would not like to discredit my
good Christian friends by calling these groups "Christians." Rather, any
group who tries to turn Jewish people away from Judaism is nothing more than
a cult. Therefore, any material that concludes that "there is no valid way
to exclude messianic Judaism from "authentic" Judaism" is wrong and we do a
greater disservice to our patrons by offering them books that are false. As
librarians, library technicians and library workers, we are the gate keepers
and therefore obligated to help steer our patrons to materials that are
truthful. There are other books out there on a variety of subjects that are
written based on lies (e.g. propaganda) and I am sure that any of us
wouldn't suggest a book to a patron that was a lie. In every topic, there
are always better books and materials out there. Part of our jobs is to seek
them out and make them available to our patrons.
Jeff

Jeff Corbett
Library Technician
McLean Budden
2525-145 King St. W
Toronto ON M5H 1J8
Tel & Fax: 416 642 8084
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: www.mcleanbudden.com








--

-
Joseph (Yossi) Galron-Goldschläger
Head of the Hebraica & Jewish Studies  Library
The Ohio State University Libraries, 324 Main Library,
1858 Neil Ave. Mall, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
E-Mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel.: (614) 292-3362,  Fax: (614)292-1918
URL:  http://www.lib.ohio-state.edu/jdc/jdc.html

[ha-Safran]: News from the AJL Scholarship Committee

[Deborah Stern]

1. Donations
The following donations to the AJL Scholarship were received in June:
In memory of Bernard Berger, father of Shulamit, from Liza Stabler
In appreciation, from Rita Frischer
In honor of the Toronto Convention Committee, from the AJL Board

2. AJL Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of all of you who made donations to the
Scholarship Fund this past year, AJL was able to award two scholarships
this year to assist promising Judaica librarians continue their library
studies.  The winners are: Rivka Schiller, who got her B.A. at the
University of Chicago and is attending the Dominican University of River
Forest, IL for her MLS degree, and Laurie Adler, an undergraduate of
Yeshiva University who is attending St. Johns University in NY for her
MLS degree.  Rivka has experience primarily in academic libraries and a
strong background in Yiddish.  Laurie has taught in day schools and
adult education centers and is particularly interested in expanding
library services for people with disabilities and thus incorporating
them more fully into the Jewish community. We wish both of them great
success in their endeavor and hope to greet them soon as colleagues.

We had  other very worthy applicants for the AJL Scholarship.  With your
continued donations to this fund we hope to grant even more scholarships
in the years ahead!

3. Criteria Changed for AJL Scholarships
At the convention in Toronto the AJL Council voted to make changes in
the eligibility standards for receiving an AJL scholarship. Candidates
continue to need to strongly demonstrate the potential, ability, and
intention of pursuing careers in Judaica librarianship.  However,
previously only students enrolled at ALA-accredited Library School
programs could apply.  The criteria have been broadened to include
students in the graduate library degree programs at Hebrew University &
Bar Ilan University and in accredited programs in the United Kingdom,
Australia, and New Zealand.  Also previously only candidates who had
completed Jewish studies courses at an academic level could apply.
These criteria have also been broadened to include as well extensive
participation in less formal Jewish studies or extensive experience
working in Judaica libraries, or any combination of the three.

4.  Rosalie Katchen Memorial Award
Unfortunately there were no applicants for this award this past year.
It is intended to assist a student or practicing librarian attend a
course or workshop in Hebraica or Judaica cataloging.  Please help
spread the word about this scholarship, or consider applying yourself.


With wishes for peace and a restful summer,

Debbie Stern, Library Director
Mordecai M. Kaplan Library
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
1299 Church Road
Wyncote, PA 19095
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone: 215-576-0800 ext. 234 fax: 215 576-6143

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[ha-Safran]: Launch of Nextbook.org

[Michele Gueron]

We are delighted to announce the launch of Nextbook.org, an online gateway 
to Jewish literature, culture & ideas.



The homepage of Nextbook.org features a lively, eclectic, and timely digest 
of Jewish cultural news and reviews.  With a quick daily visit to 
Nextbook.org or a free subscription to our daily email you can keep up with 
the wide world of Jewish books and culture, and explore topics of 
particular interest in greater depth.



The site also offers background on Nextbook s other programs, including 
annotated reading lists, national cultural programming, and partnerships 
with public libraries and with Schocken Books.



Please take a moment to stop by, at http://www.nextbook.org.  We hope you 
ll become a regular visitor, and spread the word about Nextbook.



Sincerely,



Blake Eskin

Editor, Nextbook.org



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