MS-603: Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum Collection , 1945-1992. Series G: Speaking Engagements. 1975-1992 Box 106, Folder 13, National Town Meeting [Washington, D.C.]. 18 February 1976. 3101 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 (513) 221·1875 phone, (513) 221·7812 fax americanjewisharchives.org THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER • 0 .. 2ND STREET AND DEWEY AVENUE '0 OMAHA, NEBRASKA "10' • DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE o May 11, 1976 .IoMph C. Shipp, M.D. «I1/f041 -48 16 a..lrm.n M.lcoIm T. Foster, M.D. 4OlJS4I-iSOO VIc...ch.i •..,.n Ridllrd Ottemalm. M.D. 401/541·1188 Chief u.dlc:al R ..1d«I1 National Town Meeting C.,d~ «I1~1~1 1990 M Street NW ___ 11<1 ..1 . M. D. Suite 360 a...v D~ind&:Io , M.D. ·R....., Eliot, M.D. Washington, D. C. 20036 AIM Fo.b., M. D. Robwt 0,,,-,,,. M.D. H.... Sl¥b. M .D. Gentlemen: Diabet.. , Endoe,inology and Metebolmn o4CI11f>41-4001 I was privileged to attend the Town Meeting On February 18 c..otyn D. lerdM• . "'.0 . with the panel of Senator Hatfield, Rev. Cheek and Rabbi Rot.ert Ecklund. M.D. Thom_a ......... M.D. Tanenbaum. I have been attempting to purchase NOT QUITE SO V. K. Mum.,. I"h.D • SIMPLE and CONFLICT AND CONSCIENCE by Senator Mark Hatfield, ........ C. Shipp. M.D. RK:fwo.oIl. Tobin. M.D. THE SUN STOOD STILL by Rod MacLeish, and INTERNATIONAL Digelli.,e DiM_ end Nutrition COLLOQUIUM ON RELIGION, LAND, NATIONS AND oPEOPLEHOOD and 401/f041-4800 SPEAKING OF GOD TODAY IN THE AGE OF AUSCHWITZ AND TERM INOLOGY. A. J. ''''., "h.O. ·F... :' .. 1ck F. ".utl"n. M.D. Rober! Sett-. M.D. MicftMl SomoII. M.D. Our sources have been unable to get information regarding O.. nT ....... I"tI .D. the purchase of these books. Could you help me in this General Int.rn-' M.diei", matter. 401/f041·1735 M.&eolmT. F""... , M.D . .' WiII"m ault. M .D . JoM M.toole. M .D. I would be grateful. ~' ·L.. R..,M.., ... M.D. o ..,.w M_.M.D . M .... Mc.AIwy. M'o. incerely O ...id Ohon. M.D. Y0'(t;A "-'Ph C. S"ipp. M.D. RoDer1 S. "'''-:_. M.D. BiomediCOll Gerontology ~ShiPP. M.D. 402/S41..... 18 ro essor and Chairman -o."".rn H.,rn.n. M.D. Hemetology 401JS41-4811 R. Au... .....O . 'R~oI 0 ..... M.D • ..erry Rilby. M.D. Infecttous Oi.. _ .t011S41 -4804 'J. e ....;n D.,Is. M.D. M.leolm T. F...,.. M.D. Nutrition -401/f041-400 1 A ...old Scto..f.. "".0 . JodI Smi1". ..... 0 . """"GOY402/541-4810 • .IotIn Fok-(. M.D. An .. K ........ M.D. "H.nry M. L ....on. M.D. Pulmoner'y Medicine «12/541-"087 L_........... M'o. c ... O .........h.D . ""'inI Ke.. M.D. S.V. N .... M.D. Rene' Media", «I2155f-8404 -t= ....1ck W_. M.D. Jeff,.., P_r. M.D. Adminiltfeti.,e A_dant «12/541-48115 ...,. Jo.I 'MRr ·Oo ;";'1on C".., ( Today 's Chureh or Synagogue l ately is disc:uned by Rabbi - "" Mare Tanenbaum of the American Jewish .0;-, ~ Committee and en. Mark Hatfield- jR.'O;:;: d,­ o 90nl. The spe a TS answered the public's ::::: questions at the nOlI ow . 9 which o 2' is held 'each weak Ilt Kennedy Center in Wash. -' - -<- ington D.C. This articl. was adapted from the W"'­ 0 debate. :::'::::0 1 , " ...:I N H " RABBI MARC TANENBAUM SEN. MARK IIATF1£LD " ot' ::; c What Is the condition of America's organlutl reli­ What is the conditl'"!: of America's organi%ed reli­ . ~ gion? gioo! d 0_ -'0. By the usual American standards of success in the A Question put to Jestis might be paraphrased to marketplace, religion is reasonably successful. De­ Cit our theme today - "Have you peen observing the '"'"W "0 spite statistical ups and downs, institutionnl memo S1bbath lately?" Jesus used the Question as an 0p­ ::::::QCI bership in churches and synagogues rose 46 per cent portunity to speak about the basic purpose of reli­ between 1950 and 1970 while tIle general POi'u1:1t~n. gious oh!;Crvances. He said, "The Sabbath was made declined. By 1971, religious groups received more (or man, not man for the 'Sabbath." If the Lord than 40 per cent or the total philanthropic giving in would ask today about his church or synagogue at· our nation. But the criteria for spiritual success is to tendance, he might very well respond in a similar be looked for elsewhere. Jews and Christians who vein. If we look at the church as an organization are faithful to their shared Biblical covenant stake located in a building, we see many indications of their existence on the central Biblical affirmation declining loyalty to it. Church membership is down o c thal each human being is created in the sacred im· for the first time s!nee records have been kept. 0." age of God. that human life is of infinite worth and Church giving did not keep up with inflation last -'~ -< d preciousness, that no human being can be used as an year. Onlookers are aware of divisions within the object for someone else's project. In my judgment, church over the historical issues of faith and over W"' ­• = n, CI t.he greatest moral, spiritual threat that we face at the current issues - the roles of women and abor­ this moment in history is the actual potential for tion, for instance. Christ's view 0{ the church was unprecedented destruction of life that is posed by the purposely to avoid putting the emphasis on structure nuclear aImS race. We now have the capacity, the and organization. He was more C9ncerned about obe­ -, ,,,~'- w Soviet Union and ourselves, to destroy each other by dience and discipleship than organizational achieve­ - some 200 times over. The insane spiraling arms race . ments. H " , ., '" consumes billions of dollars that are desperately -~ . For the dispersed church, the building ~es -'-' , needed for overcoming hunger, poverty and suffer· 0 ing and diverts our attention frrun the denial of hu· mainly as a place for the believer to meet for train­ c >- Ing and for fellowship and to observe the sacra­ ~ man rigbts in virtually every part of the world. The => ments. The Church is at its best where people are - 0_-• ..., condition of religion will be judged' ultimately' In -' in ghettoes, needing better housing; in the offices of -< "- America's third' century by the degree to which we take seriously the instruction of sucb prophets as national leaders, needing fellowship and elK'O\lr­ w 0 :=0'" - Isaiah and translate his vision not into piety and agement; in prison study groups and many other '" liturgical codes but ilIto actual change of human con· places where people are. The dispersed church is dition. ' • able to escape from the questionable stewardship oC ". building more costly buildiogs at the expense of a ministry to the poor and to experience a new free- What is the future of organized religioll? dom of service. ' .' Probably there will be an increase in' diver· What is the fuLure 01 organized reUgion? sification of Corms in which people wIll seek to find There is much evidence today that there is a new elements within the established churches and syna­ dynamic in the church. The kind of enlivenment that gogues and adapt them to their own particular needs is occurring spirtuaUy in many of the churches (is in their ultimate search for meaning . .. the mean· occurring) because people have grown tired of the ing of human existenCi:!. I would bless every effort - institutional deadness that has gripped too many churches. This does not mean that tbe church will that is a serious effort - in which a person seeks to disappear, the institutional church, but let us be find meaning [or one's own life, to create justice and mindful that God is the God of history, his is the righteousness and a compassionate relationship with sovereign God and his church will prevail. I have another. If the intention is honorable, in the service. every confidence that the spiritual church will be of truth, love and justice, ultimately the form will stronger in the future than it is even today. prevail. <Newspaper Enterprise Assn.) National ~,v, ... Meeting iNiJ,1i61UU 16wn c!Jt'@!tilll! 1990 i\ I Sm,'Ct. N. \\! Suite.)6() \\ hsh i ~m. DC 20036 (202Y223-+t58 Mobil Oil Corporation sUITe 1030 1100 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. WASHINGTON. D.C. 20038 February 25, 1976 Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum 165 East 56th Street New York, N. Y. 10022 Dear Rabbi: Thank you for participating i n our recent National Town Meeting . I know your comments u t successful. My thanks also to Mike for accompanying you. I am responsible for Mo bilis consumer pro­ grams. If I can ever be of assistance, pl ease do not hesitate t o calI on me. T_oo,erely yours, a ton JH:a1 "For God's sake, let us freely hear both sides!" -- Thomas Jefferson Wednesday, Feb_ 18th 10: 30 to 11:30 a.m. CONCERT HALL, KENNEDY CENTER Washington, D. C. TOPIC: HAVE YOU BEEN TO CHURCH IATELY? OR SYNAGOGUE? (The Condition of Organized Religion) PANEL: Senator Mark Hatfield (R.-Oregon) Rev. Alison Cheek, "Woman of the Year" Time Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, American Jewish corrani ttee MODERATOR: Rod MacLeish, Westinghouse Broadcasting SENATOR MARK HATFIELD Senator Mark Hatfield has served in the U.S. Senate since 1967. Prior to that he served as Governor of Oregon for two terms. His governorship was marked by a program of "payrolls and playgrounds," as economic devel­ opment of the state moved hand in hand with the state's environmental protection efforts.