the DECEMBER, 1981 SHOFAR D S B'NAI B'RITH YOUTH ORGANIZATION ALEPH ZADIK ALEPH (AZA) B'NAI B'RITH GIRLS (BBG) Region gion #15 uffolk tates egion Region ion (W.C.) ion n Region Cent. egion o Council tario loast Region Region S Region Region Region ast g. Region Reg. $1000.00 Reg. DECEMBER 25: REFLECTIONS OF AN AMERICAN JEW DOV PERETZ ELKINS America is a pluralistic society, we're told, with against members of a minority religion. Kingdom of the Almighty" (from Jewish traditional official race, creed or religion. "Another paranoid Jew?" you might ask. One of liturgy). For me, an American, a Jew, a rabbi, this notion those Holocaust-mentality/Masada-complex Jews, The reminders that I am a member of a tolerated grand myth. I have found America so who sees Nazis lurking in every corner! meated with the trappings of Christianity that I minority are ubiquitous. The list is legion. My Maybe so. But there is a fine line between fear anger about them is cumulative. Each reminder not infrequently given good cause to feel like and paranoia. Paranoia is unjustified fear. Normal deepens the hurt of the previous ones, and makes outsider, a stranger, a pariah, a member of a fear is useful, protective, necessary, healthy. its effect more insidious, more lasting, more erated minority. As December 25 approaches, The experiences I will describe are real to me. painful. Mind you, I love watching beautiful America garbs itself in red and green, this As such, they should be recognized by my eling intensifies. Christmas decorations in December, am moved by Christian neighbors. They must decide whether to Our language has acquired some new additions the spiritual depth of neighbors praying to Jesus, ignore or change the situation. I am comfortable its vocabulary in recent decades. We have and thoroughly enjoy listening to the beautiful being a Jew. I will never change that. I believe that acism." which is discrimination against members liturgical and popular music of Christian holidays, the ultimate goal of American society ought to be mich one race by those of another. We have "sexism," as an observer. My objection arises when these to improve that society, not merely to make it activities, events, experiences, are assumed to be is discrimination against members of one "easier" for Jews or any other minority. I write as those of another. I propose a new term, the sole cultural/religious/ethnic property of all religionism," which describes the discrimination an American to other Americans-Christians, Jews, good Americans. Muslims and others, who want to share with me by the majority religion in this nation the task of "perfecting the world under the Continued on Page 2