Woe to Them That Are at Ease in Zion

Last Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune included a jaw-dropping portrait of the laughably enthusiastic group B'nai Shalom, "an organization that is described . . . as including Mormons who 'share a common Jewish heritage or have an interest and love for the Jewish people and their culture'. " Reporter Jessica Ravitz points out that the group was "created 40 years ago in part to encourage Jewish genealogical research to further temple work." Ah.

Of the 350 people who attended the gathering featured in the story, "no more than two dozen . . . were born into Jewish homes. . . . The bulk of people in attendance seem to be Mormons . . . whose curiosity brought [them] through the door."

The funniest, and oddest, aspects of the story involve the earnestness of the attendees to associate themselves with Judaism. One participant notes, "Jewish culture is fascinating. It's fun to see the Jews here, too."

Look kids! Hebrews!

One is reminded of New Age gatherings in which the crystal pyramids are put aside momentarily while the white people discuss their Native American ancestry and their quest for a spirit guide. Another participant at the gathering "says of her family, 'We had Rosenbaums . . . a long time ago'." Legitimacy at last!

It's hard not to choke when reading of "the two young men who stroll in dressed as Orthodox Jews, straight out of central casting. . . . The giveaway that this is not their regular attire comes when Jason, who refuses to give his last name, reaches out to shake a woman's hand." Ravitz notes that a real Orthodox Jewish man would never do this.

The adoption of Orthodox gear in an attempt to lend some kind of authenticity to these proceedings seems akin to Al Jolson busting out another chorus of "Mammy." It's like blackface for Mormons.

Perhaps even more pathetic than these clowns playing dress-up are the so-called "Jewish Mormons" who are prone to declarations like "the future of Judaism is Christ" and "the Book of Mormon is more Jewish than the Talmud." Oh, really? Too bad the Book of Mormon has only been around for 177 years; I bet those Hebrews back in Moses' day could have really used its insights. Makes you wonder if all those Jews in the concentration camps died for the right reasons. If only they had known!

The whole article leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm neither Mormon nor Jewish, but I felt sorry for both of them. And appalled. I'm not the only one, it seems. Check out the comments at the bottom of the page, after the plug for the General Conference. Just in case you forgot who's running this show.