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Bronfman: One can be Jewish without believing in 'Biblical' God
By Shlomo Shamir
Tags: U.S., Edgar Bronfman, Israel

NEW YORK - Edgar Bronfman, 79, still best known in the financial world as the owner for many years of Seagram's Whiskey and until a few years ago as president of the World Jewish Congress, recently published a book, "Hope, Not Fear." Over its 222 pages, Bronfman preaches for comprehensive reform of the content of Jewish life, and calls for changes in the conduct of its religious streams - particularly in the relationships between them.

In an interview with Haaretz Tuesday, Bronfman said: "Judaism must open up and fully accept families where one of the parents is not Jewish. If a revolutionary change is not made in the present rejectionist attitude toward mixed couples, the Jewish community in America will shrink and lose its influence, and American support for Israel will be in danger."

In the midst of the financial crisis, Bronfman, who is considered a symbol of capitalism, says he is more worried about the future of Judaism and what the Jewish community may have to face because of what he defines as "narrow-mindedness and clinging to archaic Jewish values that are not in keeping with the needs and goals of the community in the 21st century."
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According to generally-accepted statistics, intermarriage in the Jewish community stands at 48 percent. Bronfman stresses that he is not encouraging intermarriage, but the phenomenon exists and cannot be ignored. He warns that "if Judaism wants to keep its relevance, it must grow," and that will happen only "if Judaism welcomes men and women who have chosen to marry non-Jews.

"Abraham welcomed the three angels as his guests and did not ask who they were or what their religion was," Bronfman says.

As support for his argument, Bronfman presents a little-known statistic: "About half the students on U.S. campuses who identify themselves as Jews come from families where one of the parents is not Jewish," he says. This particular figure has meaning for Bronfman, who has for many years chaired the international board of governors of the Jewish campus organization Hillel.

Bronfman, who is spending time lecturing in synagogues and promoting his book, says "I am surprised at the positive reaction to my opinions about the need for changes in Judaism."

After his talk at an Orthodox synagogue on Long Island, 70 copies of his book were sold, he says proudly.

Bronfman says he does not believe in the type of God in the Bible "that orders the killing of people. We were not created in God's image, but rather we created God in our image," he says. Bronfman also said one can be a part of Judaism without believing in what he calls the "Old Testament God," and that he loves tradition and ritual, Friday nights and holidays. "The content of Yom Kippur is wonderful. But I do not ask forgiveness from God, but rather from human beings."

According to Bronfman, the main problem in Judaism is that various denominations are "fighting with each other. They need to learn to respect each other and respect people of other faiths." Bronfman says such behavior will lead to greater respect between a Jewish and a non-Jewish spouse.

He also challenges the place of the struggle against anti-Semitism at the top of the Jewish community's priorities, which he calls a "mistake." When Bronfman was president of the World Jewish Congress, he led fights against anti-Semitism, but says that in the U.S., anti-Semitism is not a problem that requires special action and that financial resources would be better spent on education - paying teachers in Jewish day schools higher salaries.

As opposed to other Jewish leaders who prefer not to comment on the presidential election, Bronfman says he is going to vote for Barack Obama, and that he had preferred Hillary Clinton.


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      1.   masonic worldview 04:55  |  dave 08/10/08
      2.   For a rich man he is pretty unrealistic 05:52  |  Robert 08/10/08
      3.   Bronfman 06:08  |  Yosemite 08/10/08
      4.   "BIG SURPRISE" coming from an intermarried Jew! (NOT!) 07:02  |  Yaakov K. 08/10/08
      5.   Thank you Oligarch Bronfman 08:11  |  Shlomo 08/10/08
      6.   Beating a dead horse 08:49  |  Jonathan 08/10/08
      7.   why not change the recipe for whiskey as well 09:00  |  shraga 08/10/08
      8.   Clueless 09:03  |  Dave 08/10/08
      9.   correction of one word to previous message 09:03  |  shraga 08/10/08
      10.   How about making Judaism a PR religion? 09:14  |  KMS 08/10/08
      11.   The Jewish religion has not (yet) arrived in the 21 th century... 09:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      12.   Thanks to Bronfman for opening the topic 09:39  |  Natallie Durson 08/10/08
      13.   By the way, in all fairness, what I said in my previous post..... 09:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      14.   Israel may be broken, but Judiasm is still sound 09:55  |  Ilan 08/10/08
      15.   Thanks to Durson for opening this door 10:26  |  Joe Sittizen 08/10/08
      16.   Edgar, whatever you believe . . . 10:59  |  Zvi 08/10/08
      17.   Jews must unite 11:07  |  ScotGuy 08/10/08
      18.   Bronfman is right! 12:02  |  chelemer 08/10/08
      19.   others have also tried 12:05  |  ecr 08/10/08
      20.   Who cares about Israel or Judaism anymore? 12:10  |  Dutch 08/10/08
      21.   just like whiskey judiasm has ingredients to make it what it is 12:13  |  zionst forever 08/10/08
      22.   Ilan #10 and others 12:18  |  Michael 08/10/08
      23.   misplaced energies 12:20  |  sws 08/10/08
      24.   Who is a Jew? 12:27  |  A born again Jew 08/10/08
      25.   Speak For Yourself Natallie 12:37  |  Yosemite 08/10/08
      26.   What a "surprise!" (not) 12:41  |  Yaakov K. 08/10/08
      27.   Bronfman: for all the wrong reasons! 12:42  |  Alicia 08/10/08
      28.   If the topic is open, let`s get it right 12:51  |  Joe Sittizen 08/10/08
      29.   Jews or lose 12:53  |  tbart 08/10/08
      30.   Jewish 12:57  |  Charles 08/10/08
      31.   Dave 13:08  |  tbart 08/10/08
      32.   Hello, Rabbi Edgar 13:17  |  Zev Davis 08/10/08
      33.   The Jewish people managed to survive for 2000 yrs w/o E. Bronfman 13:24  |  Jew 08/10/08
      34.   Bronfman`s Son Married out and "We" need to recognize this? 13:25  |  Ben 08/10/08
      35.   From Natalie the Assimilationist always the wrong side 13:28  |  Ben 08/10/08
      36.   Apparently the more watered down Judaism the better 13:29  |  Ben 08/10/08
      37.   One can be kiddng themselves 13:42  |  Avi 08/10/08
      38.   Insights 13:54  |  Baz Mann 08/10/08
      39.   8, Durson, strategic ally is why 98% benefit as well 14:14  |  The Equalizer 08/10/08
      40.   ISRAEL NEEDS A BIGGER TENT...OR ELSE 14:18  |  jewish DOctor 08/10/08
      41.   Mixed marriages 14:36  |  Hastaroth 08/10/08
      42.   What`s Next Mr Bronfman, Desalting The Sea? 14:38  |  Alex 08/10/08
      43.   Was the money laundering applied by Bronfman biblical or not? 14:41  |  Aounist 08/10/08
      44.   Defining a Jew 14:42  |  Brod 08/10/08
      45.   Bronfman sites an interesting statistic 14:43  |  Meir Weinstein 08/10/08
      46.   Bronfman Atheism 14:45  |  Amos/ Jeremiah 08/10/08
      47.   Conversion 14:53  |  ILFESSO 08/10/08
      48.   Intermarriage is ancient problem yet we have still survived 15:06  |  Bartley Kulp 08/10/08
      49.   One can also be smart and Jewish !!! 15:08  |  Moshe 08/10/08
      50.   Bronfman is right 15:17  |  J K 08/10/08
      51.   #8 Natallie Durson 15:17  |  Not Quite 08/10/08
      52.   is the presidency of yishuv open?? 15:38  |  Rob of melbourne 08/10/08
      53.   A righteous Jew - Bronfman 15:38  |  Barry Praag 08/10/08
      54.   Well spoken Mr.Bronfman. 15:54  |  Stephen. 08/10/08
      55.   Bronfman 15:56  |  Kalinin 08/10/08
      56.   strategic ally #12 ?? 16:08  |  Rob of melbourne 08/10/08
      57.   NOT SO FAST 16:08  |  Barry S. Roffman 08/10/08
      58.   No We should not water down our religion thru Mixed marriage 16:26  |  Robert/Montreal 08/10/08
      59.   True Judaism 16:30  |  Edmond. Cohen 08/10/08
      60.   Swiss (Dino) 16:39  |  Jane 08/10/08
      61.   structure of judaism 17:14  |  AMIHAI 08/10/08
      62.   to amos/jeremiah, inventing god 17:27  |  amos 08/10/08
      63.   # 60 Jane (1) 17:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      64.   # 60 Jane (2) 17:50  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      65.   For Natalie who is afraid to open my posts. Do I scare u? 17:59  |  Big Sur 08/10/08
      66.   mixed marriages is the future 18:00  |  CM 08/10/08
      67.   for Ben & others in the Galut 18:44  |  Ari ben Yisrael 08/10/08
      68.   Its not reform it`s spirit! 18:56  |  rigma 08/10/08
      69.   How? 18:59  |  rigma 08/10/08
      70.   intermarriage 18:59  |  alanna 08/10/08
      71.   Shlomo #5 19:02  |  Miransky 08/10/08
      72.   Not! 19:06  |  rigma 08/10/08
      73.   Bronfman: One can be Jewish without believing in `Biblical` God 19:21  |  Marvin 08/10/08
      74.   #2 Robert 19:24  |  Jim 08/10/08
      75.   #15 Joe Sittizen, Israel is closing the door 19:27  |  Dutch 08/10/08
      76.   #33 Jew 19:32  |  Jim 08/10/08
      77.   Swiss (Dino) 19:37  |  Jane 08/10/08
      78.   Let American Jewish life wither on the vine 19:37  |  joe Smith 08/10/08
      79.   # 11 Swiss (Dino) 19:38  |  David 08/10/08
      80.   Bronfman is RIGHT....... 19:59  |  Dagma 08/10/08
      81.   Bronfman: One Can Be Jewish 20:04  |  Bruce Leson 08/10/08
      82.   Bronfman Israel need God more than ever!! 20:05  |  Clarence Williams 08/10/08
      83.   # 13 Swiss (Dino) re Buddhism 20:07  |  David 08/10/08
      84.   Swiss DIno 20:10  |  Franklin Bluth 08/10/08
      85.   #78 joe smith 20:14  |  Jim 08/10/08
      86.   common sense leadership 20:22  |  scott 08/10/08
      87.   #66 CM 20:29  |  Jim 08/10/08
      88.   # 79 David 20:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      89.   The Jews should support Israel but his vote goes to Hussein Obama 21:06  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 08/10/08
      90.   # 77 Jane (1) 21:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      91.   # 77 Jane (2) 21:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      92.   # 77 Jane (3) 21:39  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      93.   Nonsense, Jews That DO NOT Believe in G-d Can Not Be Jews 21:46  |  Baruch Gold 08/10/08
      94.   # 84 Franklin Bluth 21:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      95.   #20 Who cares? 21:51  |  Zaza 08/10/08
      96.   Bronfman and being Jewish 22:00  |  Ezra 08/10/08
      97.   # 83 David 22:11  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/10/08
      98.   #12 Natallie 22:24  |  Victoria 08/10/08
      99.   Splits In American Judaism 22:52  |  Gary 08/10/08
      100.   #93 Baruch Gold: you deserve a big laugh! 00:20  |  Avi 09/10/08
      101.   # 77 By the way, Jane, please don`t get me wrong..... 00:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/10/08
      102.   Children of intermarriage 01:07  |  Manuel 09/10/08
      103.   mixed marriages 05:22  |  marianne evans 09/10/08
      104.   #61 AMIHAI has a good point... 05:31  |  Smadar 09/10/08
      105.   no more ghetto jews 05:44  |  michael 09/10/08
      106.   religion 06:10  |  superstition 09/10/08
      107.   To Yaacov: We Are A Doomed People Unless.. 06:36  |  Dave Levy 09/10/08
      108.   Many JEWS hate Judaism, Many defined NON JEWS LOVE JUDAISM 06:47  |  Jorge 09/10/08
      109.   cm; Intermarriage is destrosying the Jewish community! 06:55  |  anti-intermarriage 09/10/08
      110.   None of Edgar`s grandchildren are Jewish. 06:57  |  anti-intermarriage 09/10/08
      111.   To anti-intermarriage # 109 - It`s happening...... 08:56  |  Dagma 09/10/08
      112.   anti-intermarriage 110 - The Wiser Path..... 09:37  |  Dolly 09/10/08
      113.   # 111 Dagma, THANK YOU ! 09:55  |  Aaron 09/10/08
      114.   The Truth about Conversion 09:57  |  Touvya Meyir 09/10/08
      115.   Bronfman doing what he thinks is best 10:08  |  Onlooker 09/10/08
      116.   Bronfman at 79 years of age is an Old Man 10:16  |  netta 09/10/08
      117.   # 65 Big Sur re Massacre of Jews and Israelis 11:01  |  Traude 09/10/08
      118.   Trying to Convert to Judaisim is not easy..... 11:27  |  Dolly 09/10/08
      119.   #117 Traude 12:55  |  Not Quite 09/10/08
      120.   # 119 Not Quite 14:04  |  Traude 09/10/08
      121.   #120 Traude 15:04  |  Not Quite 09/10/08
      122.   # 65 Big Sur - An excellent Article...... 15:14  |  The Threadmill 09/10/08
      123.   Bronfman: One can be Jewish without believing in `Biblical` God 15:29  |  Rob Hecht 09/10/08
      124.   #120 Traude Continued 15:31  |  Not Quite 09/10/08
      125.   To Traube # 120 - No Claim made to the factual nature 15:42  |  Dagma 09/10/08
      126.   Rob Hecht # 123 - Sad to say and most unfortunate 16:54  |  Dagma 09/10/08
      127.   Strange ways interlock these three Religions, Dolly, 17:01  |  Reader 09/10/08
      128.   # 121 Not Quite 18:05  |  Traude 09/10/08
      129.   # 125 Dagma 18:16  |  Traude 09/10/08
      130.   Which Christian of today may begin to wonder ...... 18:39  |  Pathfinder 09/10/08
      131.   #128 Traude 18:58  |  Not Quite 09/10/08
      132.   Baruch gold 93 , Jews are a People 19:41  |  Charles 09/10/08
      133.   Torah and Bronfman 19:59  |  Meir 09/10/08
      134.   Bronfman sounds like a Reconstructionist 20:44  |  Harry 09/10/08
      135.   #197: (to David Levey) LIBERAL Judaism is a dying religion 21:22  |  Yaakov K. 09/10/08
      136.   Bronfman does not ask forgiveness from 23:08  |  Robert Haymond 09/10/08
      137.   To Yaacov: Read What Makes a Jew? 02:06  |  Dave Levy 10/10/08
      138.   I second your motion, Robert 02:34  |  Zev Davis 10/10/08
      139.   Reply to Anti-Intermarriage (Post No. 110) 03:11  |  Johnny Weintraub 10/10/08
      140.   Bronfman 05:00  |  Secular Muslim 10/10/08
      141.   Swiss (Dino) About 21st centurey Judaism 05:39  |  David Israel 10/10/08
      142.   Did Moses marry a jew? 06:09  |  Shimon Cleopas 10/10/08
      143.   # 128 Not Quite 08:30  |  Traude 10/10/08
      144.   assimilation 09:12  |  israeli 10/10/08
      145.   cheers to bronfman for his courage 09:46  |  mike 10/10/08
      146.   #139. Shimon Cleopas. On Jewish Royalty. 10:22  |  Stephen. 10/10/08
      147.   #140 Traude 14:51  |  Not Quite 10/10/08
      148.   One can be Jeiwsh 16:15  |  Avi Cimento 10/10/08
      149.   # 147 Not Quite 18:33  |  Traude 11/10/08
      150.   # 174 Not Quite continued 18:52  |  Traude 11/10/08
      151.   Traude 23:37  |  Not Quite 11/10/08
      152.   Well Said Edgar, I agree 100% 22:16  |  Matt Rosen 24/10/08
      153.   Bronfman 01:01  |  David 06/11/08
      154.   Bronfman 07:36  |  Arama 08/11/08
      155.   ubermensch 20:18  |  psyops 22/10/09
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