The Movement for Reform Judaism

I was told a joke this week that I would like to repeat to you. I must admit that most of the jokes I’m told - or more correctly that I receive by e-mail - I cannot tell in public. But although this joke can be repeated, it probably will upset all the people who believe in political correctness and who think that telling harmless jokes can result in racial hatred. So having made my excuses, here goes. A group of people consisting of an American, a Russian, a Chinese and an Israeli are standing talking to each other when another person comes along. The newcomer introduces himself. “Excuse me, I’m a market researcher and I’d like to ask you all a question: what’s your opinion on the meat shortage?” “What’s a shortage?” responds the American. “What’s meat?” asks the Russian. “What’s an opinion?” enquires the Chinaman. And the Israeli says “What’s excuse me?”

The stereotyping of different nationalities has been the cause of many wars over the centuries, yet invariably there has to be some truth in the jibe in order for it to work. Either that or whole nations or groups of people are being stigmatised because of the faults of a small but visible and vocal minority. This is, I believe, the situation at the moment regarding those fundamentalist elements of Islam, who are carrying their fanatical interpretations of Muslim belief into terrorist attacks wherever they see an easy target. This is just as true in Europe as Israel or in Iraq and the targets are just as likely to be other Muslims as Jews or Christians. These are people who are misusing their holy scriptures for their own selfish interests and in the process giving religion a bad press.

I was at a meeting this week of the Management Committee of the Redbridge Faith Forum, where Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews are members, along with two representatives of the smaller religions, one a Bahai and the other a Zoroastrian. The cameraderie at these meetings between the different people, the respect for each other and their religions, the ease with which we can talk to each other, belies what is clearly going on outside. A few months ago we were invited by the police to a meeting with the highest ranking officer at the Ilford station. His concern was interfaith strife between Muslim and Sikh youngsters. I don’t know the details of the death of a sixteen year-old in Ilford this week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some inter-religious tension at the bottom of it. The other day Trevor Phillips, the Head of the Commission for Racial Equality, painted a verbal picture of a Britain that he described as a ‘fertile breeding ground for extremists’. He spoke of a ‘society, which almost without noticing it, is becoming more divided by race and religion.’ His concern was with ‘the fragmentation of our society by race and ethnicity’ which he stated as being ‘a catastrophe for all of us.’

The idea of separation of religions is nothing new. Jews were segregated in Ghettos in medieaval times and since, even to the Race Purity Laws of the Nazis in the 1930’s. The difference this time, is that people are choosing to cut themselves off from the rest of society. Again not new for Jews. The chasidim of Stamford Hill and Golders Green, of Manchester and Gateshead have long shut themselves apart from not just society as a whole, but also from other Jews. There have been separate Jewish schools for over a century. But the Jews have always been a tiny minority in this country and, for the most part, they have fully participated and involved themselves in the wider community. However, the Muslim community is far more numerous and much more noticeable, and their self-imposed separation thus becomes not just very visible, but also of greater concern. And the problem extends right down into schools, where research has appearently indicated that children mix far less with other ethnic groups than did their parents.

I’m not a social scientist, but I rather think that what we are seeing in this country for the first time is an ethnic minority reaching critical mass. That is, in the past none of the minority groups were large enough to rock the boat; they kept their heads down - the leadership of the Jewish community in particular were often accused of maintaining too low a profile; they accepted what was given them with a thank-you; they worked hard to achieve a little more economic freedom; they took nothing for granted; they waited until they were invited in. The Muslim community, on the other hand, is in much more of a hurry to receive what they believe is their due as citizens of this country. They have no intention of hanging around waiting for the left-overs. They will take every opportunity of improving their lot, including access to whatever financial handouts are available, unlike many of the indigenous population, who are too proud or too embarrassed to request what is their right. And if they feel that they are being discriminated against, then they will let us know loudly and forcefully. And when those situations are not resolved, there are extremists around who will prey on the naivete of poorly educated and socially deprived youngsters to create terrorists.

So is there anything we can do. Trevor Phillips says that we all have a part to play. It’s very difficult to know what we as individuals are able to achieve, but let me make some suggestions. First, we have to learn to treat all races and religions with respect. We mustn’t tar everyone with the same brush; not every Muslim we see on a bus or train is a potential suicide bomber and we must act accordingly. Second, we cannot allow a culture or ethos of discrimination to build up. Whether in employment or housing or education or benefits, all citizens of this country must be treated equally, and that means ensuring that everyone receives their entitlement, so perhaps easing some of the resentment felt by those who think someone is getting more than them. Third, the leadership of all minority groups should be encouraged to not only meet with each other, but to insist that their followers also arrange for such meetings, especially among young people, including sharing social and sporting and cultural experiences. Fourth, we can’t turn the clock back on faith schools, they are too well established and serving their purposes to want to change that. But we can make sure that the different faith schools talk to each other, not just to share best practice - that too - but again to create opportunities for children to meet and enjoy themselves together.

I’m sure that there will be many other ideas, but I submit these as adequate to make a start on building a more equitable social inclusion for minority groups; helping them to integrate into the wider community, without losing their own identity, enabling them to feel part of society rather than apart from it. May it come speedily in our time. Amen.

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