Members of the Tribe

I just listened to a wonderful podcast from Nextbook.com, called Chosen People, about an African American shule in Chicago, Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. It sounded great and very Jewish. The Rabbi talked about his journey to Judaism. Among other things, he really loved the Jewish G-d wrestling and support of intellectual pursuit as well as religious. Sounds great. I'm happy to have people coming sincerely to Judaism. I've always thought that it is well suited to the African American experience. But then one of the congregants talked about how much she loves Shabbat, etc. And how her grandmother never did any work on Saturday but never knew why, which proves her people really are Jewish (like the Spainish and Latin American Catholic women who light candles in a cabinet on Friday nights). They see themselves as returning not converting to Judaism. In fact, this woman said she was more Jewish than most white Jews. WAIT!

Okay, that's where I say, WAIT! It is wonderful for all people who feel a kinship with the Jewish people to throw their lot in with ours. It is, however, entirely a different story to imply in any way, as this woman did, that the rest of us are not really Jewish. She now throws herself in with Hitler, the Inquisition, the Romans and the Babylonians to mention a few. In the long run, people who decide we traditional Jews of Europe and Northern Africa are not real Jews, are the people who end up killing us. Now I'm afraid. But still, i would like to invite the woman who was interviewed to come to Adat Shalom and see OUR drum playing, singing and dancing. I want them to be one with us; not against us.

And how is this different from the Christian Tribe of Judah in Boonsboro, Maryland? The family of friend of my step daughter is prominent in this small church, where they recite motzi over the flesh of Christ and bless the blood with kiddish. An overhead projector beams the Hebrew letters and transliterations up on a wall next to the toy Torah scroll and toy arc. Flags fly around the room, each with one of the 12 tribes written in Hebrew with a Celtic-like coat of arms. People spin. The visiting preacher lays hands on the foreheads of forlorn parishioner's and preaches all of those who do not walk the righteous way they do will be killed. They know nothing of today's Jews; how long will it be before they decide that we are not Jews and kill us?

Okay. It's very different. But my fear is the same.