Come-and-Hear(TM) Is ADL Compatible

Some people may worry that by inquiring about and commenting upon the Jewish religion, they may give offense to a widely persecuted group. At Come and Hear™, there are no grounds for those concerns. We follow ADL practices.

The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (ADL) sets the standards when it comes to protecting religious sensitivities. In May 2002, the ADL honored the First Lady of New York, Mrs. George (Libby) Pataki for her unwavering support of Israel. The ADL published Mrs. Pataki's acceptance speech on its website. In that speech, Mrs. Pataki, eloquently characterizes the ADL:

Mrs. Pataki Speaks on Islam

One may be assured that anything published and endorsed by the ADL would fall within their own guidelines and would be free of hatred, prejudice, and other unacceptable attitudes. Mrs. Pataki's speech continues with remarks on international terrorism and those who practice the religion of Islam.

Notice that Mrs. Pataki does not cite any passages of the Koran to back up her claims. Instead, she relies on information from a broadcast TV show, the CNN news feature, Beneath the Veil.

By publishing Mrs. Pataki' speech without disclaimers or caveats, the ADL demonstrates that it considers her remarks fall within ADL guidelines, and that it considers perfectly acceptable the following activities:

The ADL thereby confirms an important policy. To speak freely — and not always favorably — of others and their religions is a bedrock American value enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It is indeed refreshing to find that the ADL has wholeheartedly signed onto the principle of Freedom of Speech.

ADL Falls Victim to Talmud Bashing

When one is on any battle front in the line of fire, it is easy to sustain injuries. Thus, perhaps, the ADL has fallen into agreement with "anti-Semitic" criticism of the Talmud. Speaking of Talmud critics, the ADL states:

The ADL obviously takes to heart these negative characterizations that the Talmud is a "primitive and parochial religion." The ADL states that the Talmud was written by people, taking a secular approach. To normative Judaism, the Talmud is the Word of God, a record of the Oral Law given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

Moreover, the ADL has fallen behind the times. The Orthodox wing of Judaism is in ascendance in America and throughout the world. The ADL seems to be unaware that,

Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein is the director of Project Next Step of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles and a professor of Jewish Law and Ethics at Loyola Law School. In praise of the 1999 amicus curiae submitted to the Supreme Court, Rabbi Adlerstein writes:

Contrary to the statements of the ADL that the Talmud is not applicable to our own society, Rabbi Adlerstein asserts that the Talmud has already considered the questions with which we are struggling. Whereas the ADL asserts that the Talmud was "composed close to two thousand years ago by people living in cultures radically different from our own," Rabbi Adlerstein asserts that the Talmud, rather than being defunct, has been continuously practiced. In addition, according to the US Congress, the Supreme Court, and other prominent Talmudic and US law specialists, the Talmud is au courrant. Since Talmud and Talmud-derived law is now being promoted as an exemplar for the US justice system and non-Jewish society, the Talmud has become a public policy issue.

Given this corrected view of the position of the Talmud in Judaism and American society, we are certain that the ADL would agree: The Talmud is well within the arena of public debate in America.

Thank you for your consideration of the above,
Carol A. Valentine, Ear at come-and-hear dot com
July 14, 2003 ( This article is on line at http://www.come-and-hear.com/editor/howdy_2.html )

NEXT: Howdy 3: Linguistics of Come and Hear™

Endnotes:

This and other Come and Hear™ Studies on Talmudic Judaism can be found online:: http://www.come-and-hear.com/editor
The Jewish Religion: Its Influence Today by Elizabeth Dilling, complete with all 300 exhibits, can be found online:: http://www.come-and-hear.com/dilling
Soncino Babylonian Talmud tractates, with Forewords, Introductions, Glossary, List of Abbreviations, and footnotes. Now you can study the Babylonian Talmud in full context and with the running commentary of the finest scholars of Judaism:: Tractate Berakoth: http://www.come-and-hear.com/berakoth; Tractate Shabbath: http://www.come-and-hear.com/shabbath; Tractate Yebamoth: http://www.come-and-hear.com/yebamoth; Tractate Kethuboth: http://www.come-and-hear.com/kethuboth; Tractate Nedarim: http://www.come-and-hear.com/nedarim; Tractate Nazir: http://www.come-and-hear.com/nazir; Tractate Sotah: http://www.come-and-hear.com/sotah; Tractate Gittin: http://www.come-and-hear.com/gittin; Tractate Baba Kamma: http://www.come-and-hear.com/babakamma; Tractate Baba Mezi'a: http://www.come-and-hear.com/babamezia; Tractate Baba Bathra: http://www.come-and-hear.com/bababathra; Tractate Sanhedrin: http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin; Tractate Abodah Zarah: http://www.come-and-hear.com/zarah; Tractate Horayoth: http://www.come-and-hear.com/horayoth; Tractate Niddah: http://www.come-and-hear.com/niddah; Tractate Tohoroth: http://www.come-and-hear.com/tohoroth; Search the Talmud http://www.come-and-hear.com/tindex.html
Download all the above resources for local study, CD, or mirror web site:: http://www.come-and-hear.com/download

Footnotes:
Full specifics for each of the printed sources are provided in the Bibliography. Outside URLs were valid at the time this article was written. However, be mindful that URLs do change.