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Letters
January 22, 2007
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Dear Editor,
As a Jewish Presbyterian I very much appreciated Viola Larson and Jim Berkley's excellent analysis and assessment of Presbyterian Women's "Guidelines for Avoiding Anti-Semitism."
When I first read the "Guidelines" I couldn't help but wonder how they came to choose the resources they've used. One odd resource, just under the heading "Presbyterian Resources", is Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor. He's the Director of Interfaith Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League and the editor of A Jewish Response to Cults (New York, N.Y., UAHC Press 1997). About one third of this book is spent explaining how to protect oneself from Christians, who've been declared cultists, because they want to share the Good News with those who don't yet know Jesus. Apparently only Christians who completely refrain from sharing the Gospel are considered non-cultists.
In a letter to the editor of The Christian Century on May 6, 2005, Rabbi Bretton-Granatoor, in reference to Jews who follow Christ, said, "...any kind of Jewish-Christian fusion is a denial of the unique identity of the Jewish people. I, for one, could not in good conscience enter into dialogue with someone who denies my identity." I assume that means that as the Director for Interfaith Affairs of the ADL he'll only enter dialogue with individuals and denominations that deny Jews the freedom to choose Jesus and/or welcome us when we do. How sad that he's talking to us!
The fact is that he, and many others, who don't know and follow Christ are continually being given far too much authority and opportunity to have an impact on our theology and our policies. There are quite a few Jews who follow Christ in the PC(USA). We're representative of the rest of the denomination in that we hold a very broad range of theological positions. I'd guess that every one of us has struggled with the issue of Anti-Semitism as both Jews and disciples of Jesus. I hope that PW leadership decides to rewrite their document, it's a very important subject, after studying the subject from a much wider range of sources, including Jews who worship Jesus Christ.
In Christ's service,
The Rev. Leslie Fox
Presbytery of Seattle |
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