I read Heidi Estrin's post about the Sydney Taylor award in disbelief. Why are interfaith books allowed in the competition for the award. Is a book with the name Jesus acceptable as an award given by a Jewish organization? Is a book that describes celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas acceptable? The answer should be a resounding NO. The meta-communication of such actions is that we accept materials that promote assimilation and interfaith socialization. This is not a religious issue, it is an identity issue. AJL promotes Jewish libraries, Jewish literacy, and Jewish literature. Are there not enough materials that reflect Jewish identity, religious or otherwise that can be entertained as nominees for the Sydney Taylor Award. I realize that many of you may perceive my protest as some kind of right wing bigotry, it is not. I am making a point about standards and limits of subject matter that reflect a Jewish organization. ALA has become an arena for promoting numerous left wing causes and ideas. They promote recommended materials about gay life, teenage sexuality, and the like. Is AJL now becoming another arena for promoting specifically Jewish liberal ideas such as accepting interfaith behavior as normal. Accuse me if you will, that is your right. If this behavior continues then AJL runs the risk of compromising the J in AJL.
Eliezer M. Wise Library Director Tuttleman Library of Gratz College [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
