December 2, 1999

Addressing The December Dilemma
New OU/RCA Publication Asks
‘What is theirs?’ ‘What is Ours?’ and ‘What Do We Share?’

Year-round, we are bombarded with tempting images of "must-have" items and "must-see" movies and television shows that are available to us regardless of our beliefs. But throughout the December "holiday season," our culture is saturated with symbols of religious observances that clearly do not apply to us as Jews. So it is at this time of year, especially, that many Jews question their participation in mainstream American popular culture.

The Orthodox Union (OU) and the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) have created a new publication that attempts to address this complex subject by exploring the critical questions: "Are we part of the national culture?" and, perhaps more importantly, "Is the national culture our culture?"

At issue is the Biblical injunction to resist assimilating into the prevailing culture of the country in which we live and its repeated urgings for us to be vigilant in the preservation of our own religious identity. Citing centuries of rabbinic scholarship, the booklet traces the historical applications of this concept, addressing everything from ancient practices to secular holiday observances to regulations regarding the most trendy hair and clothing styles.

Rabbi Yaacov Haber, OU Director of Education and an author of the source book, explains that for Jews historically, remaining apart from the culture in which they had settled was quite simple – especially in those countries that did not welcome its Jewish citizens, confining them to ghettos where there were no opportunities to integrate into society-at-large. But, as Rabbi Haber writes in his introduction to the pamphlet, "Jews in America have achieved great success, enjoying complete freedom to integrate into society and economy…. Today, the thinking Jew in America – and indeed in most of the world – now needs to devote serious thought to this injunction."

According to Rabbi Steven M. Dworken, Executive Vice President of the RCA, the source book touches upon a struggle familiar to virtually all Jews reared on baseball and apple pie: Do we have to choose Jewish values over American values? "The fundamental question underlying the entire discussion is, ‘How different does a Jew have to be?’ " Rabbi Dworkin notes.

The guide is intended to serve as a springboard for lively discussions in synagogues nationwide as it compels congregants to consider their views on whether everything secular is off limits to them as Jews: Are designer garments designed for Jews, for Christians or for all individuals? What about the latest best selling books – for whom were they written? Don’t Jews celebrate Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July and Mother’s Day? Weren’t these holidays created with all Americans in mind? The issue is, as Rabbi Haber notes, "At the heart of many of our daily decisions, whether we are conscious of it or not."

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of America and other countries, is a foremost leader in youth work, advocacy for the disabled, synagogue services, adult education and political action. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 220,000 products in 62 countries around the globe.

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Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Department of Public Relations Sharyn Perlman, Director Main Office: 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212-613-8321 Fax: 212-564-9058 E-mail: media@ou.org

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