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Seems like a simple situation to me. A bigot of the Jewish persuasion made his last wishes known, and trusted his son to carry them out. The son should carry those wishes out as he was directed, considering there was nothing in the directions that were illegal. It's sad that the old man thought the way he did, but there's nothing you can do about that now.

It has always seemed rather ironic to me that the Jewish people, who cry so loudly about prejudice, holocaust and persecution, are some of the most ethnocentric people on earth! and have put out some of the most scurrilous invectives against the stupid, corrupt Gentiles; some of it on a par with the most virulent Klan manual.

I resonate with the desire of parents to see their children continue their identity and heritage. I would not have liked it if either of my children had married outside the Christian faith. And I can imagine diehard atheists not liking it if one of their children married a committed Baptist fundamentalist. If doesn't matter a hill of beans whether a person's children honor their faith and heritage, one wonders whether they have anything of merit to bequeath to their offspring.

So I think it only natural and universal that people seek to impart the important aspects of their religion and culture to their posterity. I just think there is an excess of irony in Jews, of all people, disowning their kids if they marry outside the Jewish Faith and race; yet at the same time are in the forefront of PCness, hate crime legislation, etc. - and that Israel is one of the most closed and xenophobic nations on the planet. I understand their concerns when it comes to terrorism; but they should consider being less holier-than-thou toward those of other faiths and races who might just want to preserve THEIR cultural and religious heritage - who don't hate anyone, but just love their Faith and their heritage. Jesus’ words apply here: “First remove the log in your own eye, so that you can see clearly to remove the mote in your brother’s eye.”

Now I understand, Nikos. You say that it's okay to want one's children to remain within the faith, but when that desire is expressed by Jews, it's bigotry. But it's worse than that. We Jews aren't mere bigots--in your mind we're little better than the Klan. Well, you've certainly make yourself clear. I was uncomfortable with Feinberg's will provision, but compared to you he's a font of reason.

All this religious bickering - thank god I'm an atheist -

Wow, I guess I am an idealist. I never considered the use of the word "bigot" when I read this. Rather, I thought of this as rather close-mindedness. Love looks over religion, etc. Love sees no boundaries. So, when love; true love is at work, there are no boundaries that our human mind can conjure up that can rationalize away that love!

I did like the way some have responded, some of those make some semblance of sense to me.

Shalom

Couldn't this just be a man who is in love with his faith and wants to make sure it gets carried forward, generation to generation?

Nancy, that seems to be the case, but Nikos only believes Christianity should be carried forward, so he is screaming BIGOTRY and trying to equate Judaism to the Klan When Nikos wrote, without a trace of irony ,,, Jesus’ words apply here: “First remove the log in your own eye, so that you can see clearly to remove the mote in your brother’s eye.” , all I could think was pot, kettle, Nikos! I would love to be a fly on the wall in the House of Nikos when the news is on tv- it must be amazing! I wonder if he is laying hands on the tv and trying to exorcise the attendees at the Dems Convention in Denver this week ?

When someone tries to tell another who they can't love, and bases that command on some arbitrary criterion like race and/or religion, I consider it bigotry. Just call it what it is, IMO. "love of one's religion" is fine, so long as you don't try to force others to follow it.

Your comments, Andrew, were extremely heavy-handed, inaccurate, and generalizing. I did NOT say that it was bigotry to want to convey one’s faith to his children. Someone else said that; please read carefully before accusing.

My comments were more toward the hypocrisy issue, not that Jews don’t have a perfect right to extend their religious heritage across the generations. That's very Biblical and right. I don’t even have many scruples against Mr. Feinberg: perhaps a bit excessive, but generally understandable for a committed biblical Jew.

My point is that Jews are generally very liberal in this country, and stand at the forefront of PC initiates, including hate crime legislation, civil rights, etc. The irony and the hypocrisy is that Jews, like Mr. Feinberg, have SUCH a low opinion of Gentiles, now and historically. Part of Jesus’ focus was to confront this hypocrisy of some of his fellow Jews in this regard: the “Good Samaritan” parable and numerous incidents in his own encounters. Even the OT Scriptures declare over and over again that the Jews were not special or different at all, just chosen: a wonderful legacy of course, but hardly one that should generate pride and arrogance. St. Paul even chides his fellow Messianics about becoming proud because God chose them in grace, be they Jew or Gentile.

And I did NOT say that ALL Jews operated in the Gentile-hating mode of some of their historic literature. I do maintain that it rivals the Klan in its prejudicial animosity toward non-Jews. But I do not maintain, in the least, that most modern Jews are that vitriolic – those like Mr. Fineberg may TEND in that direction, however.

Again my point, in closing, was that Jews need to be a lot more self-aware and humble about lambasting Christians and other religious or social groups who love their own religion and cultural traditions, labeling them prejudiced and bigoted. Jew are walking on thin ice, or throwing their stones in a glass house. Perhaps they should clean up their own hatred and prejudice backyards before attacking others! And I do also maintain that that Israel is a very poor example to commend openness and religious freedom: tolerance of just being there, perhaps, but little more.

Anyway, I love and respect the Jewish people and consider the Tenakh part of my own scriptural heritage. The pride-hypocrisy thing really does bother me though. But that’s just one particular issue; certainly not my entire opinion of Jewry or Judaism.

Nikos wrote "Jews, like Mr. Feinberg, have SUCH a low opinion of Gentiles, now and historically. " I would wager Christians like Nikos have given them just cause. With Nikos' version, you get a lot of judgment but little love, and I don't think Jesus said "Judge one another as I have judged you"!

This is the typical put-down and accusation that flows when ANYONE says anything honest and critical of Jewish shortcomings, failures and faults - which we ALL have. But according to the media, Jews are given a big pass in this regard; probably because they virtually control mamy of the the major media outlets.

Alice: "I would wager Christians like Nikos have given them just cause."

Just as I said - ANY criticism and you're automatically branded a bigoted, xenophibic anti-Semite. If other groups were as hair-trigger sensitive about criticism as some Jews seem to be, we would have "hate-crime" litigation out the wazoo. I just thought I'd throw a little meat out there in the arena to test the reaction level: true to form, attack dogs go nuts biting and devouring any critic. But let the object be Christians, of almost any conservative ilk, and the same attack dogs pile on. That's my point.

It's NOT my intention to unduely criticize Jewish attitudes and sensibilities; just to calmly point out that Jews are just like the rest of us - no better, no worse! Truly. I think the "just cause" of Alice's statement above cuts both ways! We should ALL strive to be less super-sensitive and condescending; and more humble and realistic.

This is the typical put-down and accusation that flows when ANYONE says anything honest and critical of Jewish shortcomings, failures and faults - which we ALL have. But according to the media, Jews are given a big pass in this regard; probably because they virtually control mamy of the the major media outlets.

Alice: "I would wager Christians like Nikos have given them just cause."

Just as I said - ANY criticism and you're automatically branded a bigoted, xenophibic anti-Semite. If other groups were as hair-trigger sensitive about criticism as some Jews seem to be, we would have "hate-crime" litigation out the wazoo. I just thought I'd throw a little meat out there in the arena to test the reaction level: true to form, attack dogs go nuts biting and devouring any critic. But let the object be Christians, of almost any conservative ilk, and the same attack dogs pile on. That's my point.

It's NOT my intention to unduely criticize Jewish attitudes and sensibilities; just to calmly point out that Jews are just like the rest of us - no better, no worse! Truly. I think the "just cause" of Alice's statement above cuts both ways! We should ALL strive to be less super-sensitive and condescending; and more humble and realistic.

"Alice: "I would wager Christians like Nikos have given them just cause.""
Careful, Alice- your self hatred is showing.

Really? Why don't you explain, Mr All-knowing Ellis?

Really? Why don't you explain, Mr All-knowing Ellis?

I'm reading the debate by everyone on preserving heritage, bigotry - all the name calling that is going on.
May I point out that Max Feinberg had five grandchildren, four of whom married outside the faith, and three of those four have accepted the fact that they will not inherit from him. They are happy in their marriages, which is much more important to them than the money.
Why is one grandchild taking it upon herself to change his wishes? If she is happy in her marriage, why would it matter? Can;t her husband support her? Does she need the money?
Why do so many people have opinions about Max Feinberg's actions and no one has given an opinion of this greedy granddaughter who knew about the Jewish Clause, married a non-Jew and wants the money anyway!!

I'm reading the debate by everyone on preserving heritage, bigotry - all the name calling that is going on.
May I point out that Max Feinberg had five grandchildren, four of whom married outside the faith, and three of those four have accepted the fact that they will not inherit from him. They are happy in their marriages, which is much more important to them than the money.
Why is one grandchild taking it upon herself to change his wishes? If she is happy in her marriage, why would it matter? Can;t her husband support her? Does she need the money?
Why do so many people have opinions about Max Feinberg's actions and no one has given an opinion of this greedy granddaughter who knew about the Jewish Clause, married a non-Jew and wants the money anyway!!