A conservative synagogue and its senior rabbi touched off a heated discussion after Rabbi Alan Green and Shaarey Zedek introduced a proposal to bring interfaith burials into its cemetery. Local Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Altein along with several other community members with family buried at the cemetery took issue with this proposal, and Rabbi Greens contention that the “time has come to “embrace” intermarriage”.
Interfaith Burial an Issue in Winnipeg – Shliach Challenges
A conservative synagogue and its senior rabbi touched off a heated discussion after Rabbi Alan Green and Shaarey Zedek introduced a proposal to bring interfaith burials into its cemetery. Local Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Altein along with several other community members with family buried at the cemetery took issue with this proposal, and Rabbi Greens contention that the “time has come to “embrace” intermarriage”.
From Rabbi Green:
There are so many erroneous statements in Hart Peikoff’s article (Ed. note: See earlier article entitled “Critics lash out at Shaarey Zedek cemetery plans for interfaith burial), which can be found in the ”Local“ section on this website.) on the new Dual Faith section of the Shaarey Zedek Memorial Park that it’s difficult to know where to begin.
However, I want to affirm that I consulted with Rabbis Altein and Ellis, as well as Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, Av Bet Din of the Rabbinical Council of America, one of the foremost Halachic authorities on the continent. These three rabbis cover the entire spectrum of Orthodox Jewish practice.
I consulted these rabbis on the question of a universally acceptable Halachic boundary between the Dual Faith section of our cemetery, and the rest of our cemetery—a critical issue, if we wanted to maintain the Jewish integrity of the remainder of our cemetery. All three rabbis agreed that our fifteen-foot wide roadway, combined with a (still to be constructed) six-foot high fence, exceeded every standard for a valid Halachic boundary between the two parts of our cemetery.
Our main concern was that all rabbis in our community would continue to be able to conduct funerals and burials in the Shaarey Zedek Memorial Park. Rabbi Altein, Rabbi Ellis, and others may be less than happy with Shaarey Zedek Congregation’s decision to accommodate the burial of the growing number of interfaith couples in this community. Nevertheless, the rabbis have agreed to live with the situation, and funerals conducted under the auspices of all Jewish religious movements will continue to take place at the Shaarey Zedek Memorial Park.
Mr. Peikoff baldly states that Shaarey Zedek’s decision to establish the Dual Faith section of our cemetery was taken with a lack of care or concern over Halacha. However, as I think I demonstrated above, the Dual Faith section of the Shaarey Zedek Memorial Park was established with great care for Halacha. The real dispute is over how we ought to respond to the vast changes currently sweeping through the Jewish world.
The Jewish people seem to have voted, with their feet, in favor of interfaith marriage. There is every indication that interfaith couples will eventually become the majority of every Jewish community on the continent. Interfaith marriage is certainly a challenge. It’s also an opportunity—for outreach, and even for expansion of the numbers and influence of the Jewish people. In establishing the new Dual Faith section of our cemetery, Shaarey Zedek Congregation has made a loud, clear statement: that we will not ignore, write off, or shun interfaith couples and their families; that they too, are an important part of our community; and that we aim to integrate them, as much as possible, into the living fabric of a modern Jewish spiritual life.
Very sincerely yours,
Alan Green
Senior Rabbi
Shaarey Zedek Congregation
From Rabbi Altein:
Rabbi Green did consult with me, as well as with Rabbi Ellis. I discussed this with Rabbi Ellis and we took the same position.
First, let me preface my remarks with noting that is not the way of Chabad to condemn, nor to pass judgment on those Jews that compromise on Jewish observance. No one knows what challenges people face; only G-d can judge. Instead, Chabad builds Jewish life by inspiring and teaching the joy, the love and the depth of Judaism. However, this issue is so basic to Jewish survival that it is necessary to bring sense and clarity to this issue.
There are several elements in this discussion and the confusion stems from the mixing of these various issues. It does not take a genius to recognize that intermarriage is not only against Jewish tradition, but that it endangers Jewish continuity. Even the most secular Jew of the previous generation was dead-set against intermarriage. No matter how one defines his/her Jewish identity, it is clear that in a short span of time, Jews will become extinct as a nation, if intermarriage continues. I am a personal witness to cities where there are no more Jews, only gentiles who descend from Jews that intermarried.
The notion that the time has come to ”embrace“ intermarriage is wrong and dangerous. We definitely should embrace every Jew–including those that have intermarried, but not embrace what they do as legitimate expressions of Judaism. Chabad is inclusive and many of our regulars are intermarried. That does not mean that we should distort Judaism and pretend that intermarriage is good for Jewish continuity. For example: we also encourage people to observe Shabbat & kosher–although many people involved with Chabad do not yet keep kosher or Shabbat, for personal reasons.
The younger generation needs to be given an honest and true version of Judaism and they will then choose the best that they can do. To pretend that non-kosher is kosher undermines the integrity Jewish teaching and will only be a deterrent to young Jews rather than an encouragement. You cannot inspire with dishonest and distorted presentation of what the Torah teaches.
The same is true for mixed burials. Anyone with the most basic knowledge of Judaism will know, as Mr. Peikoff has stated, that mixed burial is counter to Jewish tradition. If there are mixed couples that feel they want to be buried together and arrange to do so, that is their personal choice. We continue to love them as Jews, respect them as good people–but we do not misrepresent Jewish life as pretending that it is a ”kosher“ form of burial.
In my discussions with Rabbi Green, who is my personal friend, I was quite clear in stating that I felt it would undermine Jewish continuity in this community, if Shaarei Zedek allowed mixed burials. He told me that regardless, it was going to happen because that is what the board decided. Since, no matter how much the mixed-section is against Jewish practice, it will nevertheless become a fact, he asked how we can protect the legitimacy of the ”Jewish-only“ section of the cemetery. A Jewish cemetery may be adjacent to a gentile cemetery (and a ”mixed-burial” ground does not qualify as a proper Jewish burial ground). But there must be a separation of a fence (optimally to a height of 4 cubits, or 6-8 feet) and/or an empty space between the two burial grounds of at least 8 cubits (16 feet).
Rabbi Green said that the Shaarei Zedek will have that separation between the only Jewish area and the mixed area.
I also mentioned that once a burial ground was consecrated for Jewish burial, Jewish law considers it unacceptable for it to be changed to bury gentiles. Rabbi Green explained that the specific area that will become a mixed burial ground was never before intended to be used for Jewish burial; it was not consecrated.
We then discussed the danger to Jewish survival in removing a traditional deterrent to intermarriage and that perhaps the two areas would have separate entrances, so that the perception will remain that an authentic Jewish burial can only take place in the Jewish-Only section. Rabbi Green said that he would try to do so.
In summary, I cannot embrace nor condone mixed burial. I think that it undermines an already difficult challenge to preserve the strong Jewish character of this community. In that regard, Mr. Peikoff is correct. On the other hand, the traditional status of the burial ground on the Jewish-only side of the fence will not be compromised. And for that, I thank Rabbi Green for taking into serious consideration the Halachic perspective of those buried on the Jewish side.
We remain divided in how to build Jewish life in a community where intermarriage is common. I do not believe that we can further the cause of Jewish life by pretending that mixed marriages and burials are acceptable; certainly not by embracing those marriages or burials. I believe that we should not judge or condemn anyone for what they do, but teach with truth and honesty the beauty and richness of Jewish life. In the end, that will be the only way to reinvigorate Jewish life in our community.
Rabbi Avrohom Altein
English lessons
Well argued piece — though Rabbi Altein’s could have been written better. It is full of repetitions, grammatical errors, and Yeshiva-English. It would be advisable for Shluchim who do not have a secular education to have their public letters edited by a professional. A professionally written piece gives off the image of a better argument.
Rabbi Altein
To Comment #1
It so happens to be that Rabbi Altein did learn English. As a matter of fact, I believe he proofreads for other Shluchim
CR
“ The Jewish people seem to have voted, with their feet, in favor of interfaith marriage.”
Rabbi Green, the door is over there. Generally speaking “voting with one’s feet” means, in effect, they have left the boundaries of discussion. Those who have intermarried have already left the bounds of our community (and be serious, you know fully well that they have a “yatzmuch boim” in their living rooms in late December among other such “goyishe” observances). Your attempts at “redefining” are simply insulting to the intelligence of your reader. You cannot metaheir this sheretz, no matter how many times you dunk it in the baptismal pool.
Ruth (Pinsky) Krevsky
Very well stated and very well written, Rabbi Altein. As a former Winnipeger I am so happy that Rabbi Altein has been there through the years to spread the message he so eloquently states above. We love all Jews, and we embrace and include all Jews. At the same time, we do not compromise the truth.
To #2
Just because you “learned English” (Yeshiva-speak) doesn’t mean you write well.
mistake
To be fair, he did make a grammatical mistake in his very first sentence which is a bad way to start your point of view:
“First, let me preface my remarks with noting that is not the way of Chabad to condemn…”
Andrea Schonberger
You go Rabbi Altein! Where does Rabbi Green get off on saying we voted for inter-faith marriage? I don’t recall voting for that on any election ballot anymore than I will vote for an inter-faith cemetary. I want and plan to be buried among the Yidden and not with the goyim included.
Actually ...
I read Rabbi Altein’s letter and was impressed by his writing. I actually wondered whether Rabbi Altein had an editor. Although there were things I might have changed due to both my personal writing style and some minor errors, this was from the best letters I have seen from Chabad rabbis.
Dovid
Rabbi Altein represents the Torah and Chabad position in a clear, articulate, and easy to follow fashion. He does this with love and respect. His words, that come from the heart, should enter the hearts of all he can influence.
Chaim (Hart) Peikoff
http://www.jewishtribune.ca…
I was the individual that wrote the first article addressing Rabbi Green’s Letter in the Faith Section of the Winnipeg Free Press. This created a very necessary discussion for our community and others in North America. Rabbi Avrohom Altein and Rabbi Ari Ellis then added their comments. The link above is an article I sent to the Jewish Tribune out of Toronto. Rabbi Avrohom Altein’s comments were seen in the Jewish Post and News and winnipegjewishreview.ca
Chaim (Hart) Peikoff
You should also know, I attend the JLC in Winnipeg on a regular basis. The Chabad are assisting me in re introducing myself to my birth religion, Judaism. I had a Bar Mitzvah and attended Shul on Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana. And of course Weddings, Bar and Bats and Funerals for example like most secular Jews do today.
I do not agree with the approach to dual-faith burials as Rabbi Green projects. Actually he was losing congregants to Temple Shalom who created the first dual-faith cemetery in a sectioned off Christian Cemetrey.
We must spend all are loving creative energy developing a model which will attract Jewish Men and Jewish Women of all ages to have the opportunity of marrying and keeping the most wonderful religion in the world moving forward. Accommodating Dual-Faith burials will not reverse the direction Judaism is travelling in. I know as I come from exactly this secular background.
Baruch Hashem,
Good Shabbos,
Chaim (Hart) Peikoff
WELL WRITTEN RABBI ALTEIN
to #1
I strongly disagree with you. Rabbi Altein has clarity of presentation and his arguments are easy to follow, There may be one or two errors in grammar, but really nothing major. Just BTW #1 your first sentence is also not a correct sentence.
deena
Rabbi Altein’s piece was well-written and was not full of repetitions. My hunch is that #1 does not know english himself, and therefore he is quick to condemn. He probably doesn’t understand what he’s reading.
Way off topic
Number One, you are clearly a college writing paper grader reading internet blogs during your lunch break. Here’s my advice:
Don’t be an novice run of the mill ESL newbie. The difference between a neophyte instructor and a veteran is that the former grades a paper for its mechanics like a Microsoft Spell Checker scans a document for its binary code, whereas a good writing teacher grades a paper based on weather or not it had something intelligent to say. Your type would be better off in the IT department.
Your comment only further alienates those who tell yeshiva boys to get a life and get educated. There are more important things in life then worry about when to write “Me” and when to write “I”. Get a life.