A Happy New Year
•S LTD
FELIX6IN6ER
Plain
By ALFRED SEGAL T)ie opinions expressed by the author of tlits column axe not
necessarily subscribed to by this newspaper.
Dear Mr. Segal:
A Gentile Mend of mine hps been speaking to me about her intention to become Jewish. She seems determiixed. As a friend bt hers Ihave tried to dissuade her from her piupose.
"Alma," I tell her, "I don't mind at iall having you as-a Jewish friend but I should warn yoO. It'.s . hard to be a Jew and a Jewish life isn't a very happy oiie, con^der-ing what JeiwB have to take.
"Even in this country there is a lot of prejudice against the Jews and why should you volimtarily taSoe up Judaism? Why can't you just keep on being a good Chirst-ian?"
She repliies that the rational Jewish religion is more acceptable to her mind. She has studied all the religions. She just doesn't understand why I, a Jewish woman, should try to argue her out of a step that is approved by her mind and conscience.
Moireover, since ! advase her to try to keep on being a good Christian do than voluntarily to share the lot o fthe Jews?
What can you do with la girl like that? I should add that Alma is a normal girl. If it means anything, I should say that she is a very good tennis player. That, somehow suggests a person without psychiatric difficulties.
Nor as some may like to susmise is Alma la frustrated spinter. She is a most personable young woman about 26 and but for har discriminating intelligence would have accepted long ago one. oE the many opportunities she has had to be married. ' • . . .
I am writing to ask what additional arguments J can give her against becoiniiig Jewash.—
A, T. Cincinnati
* * * •'■>. My Dear A. T.: - >
Yes, I knoi^r the compassionate ■wnay Jews to keep- religions out-' siders as Alma away from the a-flOictions that go v^ith being Jewish. As kindly; gdi€rous\people we feel we must wam .those who by conversion would': ^tf along with tis to share our birrdensT.
Our rabbis meticulously admonished prospective converts on the tribulations of the Jews. They, tell people like AJhki that as Gentiles they have only their pains to carry but asi Jews they will;can.'y two loads: Their personal problems and the heavier pffoblem of the group as welL The rabbis stand at the gates conscientiously
to warn away all such newcomers.
But if Alma came to me I would make her welcome to Jewish life,' not because her conversion would increasa the Jewish populaticm by one but because she looks like a coiir£^eous character.
(Certainly, no courageous character should be turned away from Isnael in which there are pusillanimous people who at times are given to*, wondering why- they wiere bom Jewish.)
I would say to her, Welcoihe, dear Alma, to the discipline of character and to the feeling of brotherhood that isjfor those who understand what being Jewish is all about.
Sure, there's a lot of pain in being Jewish. You may feel it even in a night club in a moment when everybody is trying to have a good time. Of a sudden somebody may make a cutting remark about Jews.
Or you may feel it when you go to look for a job and they ask you what your religion is and you reply that you are Jewish. The em^ ployment maniager seems to grow cold, though a moment ago when he knew you only as Alma you seemed to be enjoying the favor of his manegerial judgement. He says he will let you know but you never hear from him. again.
Or, if you ever get rich and vain — though I guess you never; caan turn out to be a girl with the vice of vanity — you may think of belonging, to the Minehaha Country Club. The directors of the' Minehaliia Country Club vote No, nothing doing here for Alma because she is Jewish. But that's the least of all the afflictions — ince it. hurts only one's vanity.(And, any wa,y, even some Jewish elute don't take Jews either.
But you, dear Alma, will mind none of that. As one who xmder-stands why she is Jewish, you will be sure of your aristocracy. I mean the aritocracy of the Jewa v/ho iare aware of spiritual and moral possesions. The aristocracy of people who know they go back all the way to Sianai where the Commandments were given!
Their riches are the Law and the Prophets by which they govern the conduct of their' .lives Tlieir geneology contains saints, sages and martyrs! Mose who gave the law and David who sang to God in the valley of the shadow by still waters; Isaiah whose speeches keep on being trxunpets for justice: Malachi who prached (Continued on Page 37)
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JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN