from web site
December 25, 2003, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Baptism controversy flares anew between Jews and Mormon church, by Joe Berkofsky,
What do Gustav Mahler, Theodor Herzl and Mordecai Anielewicz share, other than their Jewish roots?
The famed Austrian composer who converted to Catholicism, the founder of Zionism and the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto all have been baptized, posthumously, by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
These three giants of Jewish history are among the estimated hundreds of thousands of dead Jews included in the Mormon church's genealogical files, which include some 200 million souls given posthumous baptisms as part of the church's mission to convert all people and thus, they believe, hasten the resurrection of Jesus.
For years, Jewish officials have blasted the conversions as an insulting desecration, but the controversy is flaring anew amid charges that the Mormons have broken a 1995 promise not to add Jewish Holocaust victims to their International Genealogical Index.
Church officials insist they've kept to the agreement. Even among Jewish critics of the policy, there is some dispute over just what the Mormon church originally agreed to, and what it has done wrong.
But all the critics agree that, as Jewish genealogist Gary Mokotoff puts it, the Mormons should take Jews off the list.
"Baptism is the second ugliest word in the English language to a Jew," Mokotoff said. "The first is gassed. The third is raped."
Ernest Michel, a former executive vice president of the UJA-Federation of New York and chairman of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, hinted this week at legal action. He broached the issue with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).
"We have agreed to consider all possible options, including legal options, but we would much prefer to come to an agreement with the church in what I believe is, to all of us Jews, a very crucial and emotional issue," Michel said. Clinton voiced "concern" over the issue, Michel said. The senator's office did not return calls for comment.
In 1994, Michel discovered that the Mormons had baptized posthumously his parents and various aunts and uncles who were killed during World War II in the Nazi death camp of Gurs, in southern France.
Michel's family members were among an estimated 360,000 Holocaust victims and other deceased Jews listed in the Mormon genealogical archives.
Michel and other Jewish officials met with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and top officials of the Mormon church, eventually hammering out the agreement to take Holocaust victims and other Jews off the list, and not to add more.
The church agreed to remove "all known posthumously baptized Jewish Holocaust victims" who have no Mormon descendants, and eventually to remove "all deceased Jews" improperly added to the index. But the contract is worded in such a way that the church is only responsible to strike "known" Jews - those who are brought to its attention - from the list.
D. Todd Christofferson, a church official involved in the talks, said the church removed Holocaust victims listed before 1995 and has since followed the pact by instructing members not to add more.
Christofferson told the The New York Times that the church cannot monitor the situation completely and that some members might themselves add names.
Malcolm Hoenlein, one of the signatories of the 1995 pact, said that all the parties to the agreement understood what was supposed to be done, and that it is not the Jews' responsibility to bring new names to the Mormons' attention.
The Mormons "have an obligation to live up to their commitment," he said, adding that he hopes they will do so without legal action.
Helen Radkey, an Australian-born genealogist who has been studying the baptism issue since 1999, prepared a report for Michel this October that found "thousands of entries" of dead Jews, many of them Holocaust victims. Most of the names are from Germany and other parts of Europe, she said.
Radkey said she checks the church's online lists on a daily basis and has found that whenever news reports reveal famous Jews in the index, their names are removed quickly.
It remains difficult to discern exactly when names on the list have been added, Radkey said. Most of the records she referred to indicate simply that a name was "submitted after 1991." Only church members with passwords can delve further, she said.
The Mormon church's genealogy lists are separated into CD-ROMS, which go until 2000, and online indexes thereafter, Radkey said. She said names listed online may well have been added in the past three years.
Among notable Jews still in the online records, she said, are the founder of the Hasidic movement, the Ba'al Shem Tov; Nobel Prize-winning author S.Y. Agnon; and Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann.
Rabbi James Rudin, who helped broker the 1995 deal as director of interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee, said the real issue is that Jews remain on the list at all.
"Whatever Mormons want to teach their fellow Mormons to do is their right," he said. "But when it crosses over to people who are not Mormons - and who are deceased and never intended to be Mormons - we have to be a voice for the voiceless."
louis vuitton handbags outlet
lululemon uk
rolex watches
tory burch outlet
michael kors handbags clearance
longchamp outlet
beats by dr dre
ray ban sunglasses
longchamp handbags
tiffany and co
ray ban sunglasses
christian louboutin shoes
longchamp solde
nike air force 1
swarovski crystal
mbt shoes
louis vuitton neverfull
ray ban sunglasses
true religion jeans
tiffany and co jewelry
nike air huarache
coach outlet
snapbacks wholesale
adidas uk
nike roshe
hollister clothing store
juicy couture tracksuit
kate spade uk outlet
bottega veneta outlet online
true religion jeans
tory burch outlet online
rolex watches
hollister shirts
pandora outlet
christian louboutin uk
ferragamo shoes
gucci outlet online
michael kors outlet store
nike air force 1
cheap michael kors handbags
cheap jordans
ray ban sunglasses
lacoste shirts
cazal outlet
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet clearance
true religion outlet
hermes bags
louis vuitton handbags
bottega veneta outlet
swarovski crystal
kate spade uk
chrome hearts outlet
mulberry bags
louis vuitton outlet online
christian louboutin uk
lululemon outlet
mulberry handbags sale
louis vuitton pas cher
oakley sunglasses
rolex watches
ralph lauren uk
coach outlet online
cartier sunglasses for men
nfl jersey wholesale
cheap soccer jerseys
true religion jeans
ralph lauren polo
ralph lauren femme
ralph lauren shirts
louis vuitton outlet
coach outlet store
toms outlet store
fitflops outlet
true religion jeans
louis vuitton pas cher
nike air force 1
celine outlet online
herve leger dresses
oakley sunglasses
cheap oakley sunglasses
ray-ban sunglasses
herve leger outlet
nike free 5.0
rolex watches,rolex watches,swiss watches,watches for men,watches for women,omega watches,replica watches,rolex watches for sale,rolex replica,rolex watch,cartier watches,rolex submariner,fake rolex,rolex replica watches,replica rolex
football shirts
ralph lauren uk
fitflops uk
fitflop sale
nike blazer pas cher
rolex uk
swarovski outlet
ray-ban sunglasses
fitflops sale clearance
oakley sunglasses uk
michael kors handbags
pandora jewelry
iphone case uk
michael kors outlet
prada sneakers
louis vuitton handbags
fitflops shoes
swarovski outlet
michael kors uk
nfl jerseys
ferragamo outlet
christian louboutin outlet
longchamp pliage
louis vuitton handbags
polo ralph lauren
oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet stores
michael kors outlet online
fitflops sale clearance
michael kors outlet
tory burch outlet
longchamp pliage
michael kors outlet
longchamp outlet
oakley sunglasses
burberry sunglasses
celine outlet
michael kors outlet
police sunglasses for men
michael kors handbags
tory burch sandals
police sunglasses
gucci outlet
versace sunglasses on sale
polo ralph lauren
ralph lauren outlet
prada shoes
ralph lauren polo
rolex watches outlet
jordan pas cher
nike store uk
air jordan shoes
tory burch outlet online
swarovski crystal
cheap oakley sunglasses
true religion outlet
ralph lauren
louis vuitton outlet
kate spade uk
longchamp pliage
chrome hearts outlet
chrome hearts
coach outlet store
lululemon pants
ralph lauren pas cher
reebok trainers
adidas shoes
coach handbags
cheap nfl jersey
oakley sunglasses wholesale
soccer jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors wallet
cheap mlb jerseys
calvin klein outlet
michael kors canada
jordan shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
fitflop clearance
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet
longchamp handbags
michael kors uk
timberland boots
tory burch shoes
tiffany and co
louis vuitton handbags outlet
rolex watches for sale
cheap nhl jerseys
montblanc pens
cartier watches
coach outlet
cheap jordan shoes
ralph lauren outlet
true religion jeans
toms outlet
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
juicy couture outlet
fitflops outlet sale
omega watches
beats by dre
hollister uk
coach outlet online
fitflops clearance
burberry outlet
tiffany jewellery
hollister
coach outlet
michael kors clearance
iphone case
louis vuitton sunglasses for women
ray ban sunglasses
tiffany outlet
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren outlet
true religion outlet
true religion canada
rolex watches
beats by dr dre
lululemon outlet
longchamp outlet
hollister clothing
nba jerseys
michael kors outlet
ray-ban sunglasses
prada outlet online
michael kors outlet
longchamp pas cher
michael kors outlet
cartier sunglasses
michael kors uk
michael kors handbags outlet
beats headphones
nike huarache
toms outlet
jordan pas cher
air force 1 shoes
louis vuitton bags
thomas sabo outlet
ralph lauren outlet
nike air huarache
fitflops sale
michael kors outlet
futbol baratas
fitflops sale
hermes outlet
prada sunglasses
christian louboutin outlet
asics,asics israel,asics shoes,asics running shoes,asics israel,asics gel,asics running,asics gel nimbus,asics gel kayano
tiffany outlet
michael kors handbags outlet
toms shoes
gucci sunglasses
mulberry handbags
dior outlet
mulberry outlet
tiffany jewelry
coach outlet
lululemon outlet
michael kors outlet
polo outlet
louis vuitton outlet store
michael kors outlet
nike air max 90
prada sunglasses for women
mont blanc outlet
cheap replica watches
basketball shoes,basketball sneakers,lebron james shoes,sports shoes,kobe bryant shoes,kobe sneakers,nike basketball shoes,running shoes,mens sport shoes,nike shoes
mlb jerseys
ralph lauren uk
cheap jordans
lebron shoes
rolex watches for sale
lacoste polo shirts
cheap nfl jerseys
michael kors outlet
tory burch outlet online
mbt shoes outlet
adidas trainers
asics
adidas outlet store
michael kors bags
ferragamo outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
beats headphones
kobe bryant shoes
rolex watches for sale
polo ralph lauren
reebok shoes
nike air max 2015
michael kors outlet clearance
mulberry uk
ferragamo outlet
coach outlet online
tiffany and co
polo ralph lauren
nike air max 90
true religion jeans
michael kors wholesale
hollister uk
prada handbags
mcm backpack
cheap ray ban sunglasses
tory burch outlet
pandora jewelry
coach outlet store
fitflops clearance
polo ralph lauren
fitflops sale clearance
links of london
true religion outlet
fitflops clearance
ralph lauren pas cher
cheap oakley sunglasses
mont blanc pens
michael kors handbags clearance
tiffany jewellery
air jordan shoes for sale
true religion sale
cartier watches for sale
jordan shoes
true religion uk outlet
cartier watches
chaussure louboutin
cazal sunglasses
air max 90
mulberry sale
rolex watches
louis vuitton pas cher
michael kors outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
nike blazer pas cher
ray-ban sunglasses
pandora outlet
michael kors outlet uk
longchamp handbags
ray-ban sunglasses
louis vuitton sunglasses
cheap football shirts
cheap snapbacks
longchamp handbags
michael kors factory outlet
true religion jeans sale
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet
coach handbags outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach outlet store
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton bags
ralph lauren outlet
swarovski jewelry
babyliss pro
air max 2015
nike roshe run
replica watches
coach outlet store
true religion jeans
christian louboutin online
lebron james shoes
cheap nba jerseys
michael kors outlet clearance
coach factory outlet
mont blanc pens
mulberry handbags
ferragamo outlet
beats by dre
cheap ray ban sunglasses
replica watches
cheap mlb jerseys
longchamp
air max 90
true religion jeans
reebok shoes
ray ban sunglasses
true religion jeans
christian louboutin outlet
polo shirts
michael kors factory outlet
cheap nba jerseys
michael kors outlet
rolex watches
babyliss flat iron
hermes outlet
hollister shirts
tiffany jewellery
michael kors uk
beats by dre
adidas uk store
lebron shoes
ray-ban sunglasses
toms outlet
toms outlet
mulberry outlet,mulberry handbags outlet
adidas wings shoes
ralph lauren polo
michael kors uk outlet
hollister sale
tiffany and co
ralph lauren uk
longchamp outlet
ralph lauren uk
mulberry handbags
burberry outlet store
michael kors handbags
ray ban sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
michael kors handbags wholesale
true religion outlet
swarovski crystal
cartier uk
mulberry outlet
true religion uk
cartier outlet store
tiffany outlet
nike air max 90
toms shoes
true religion outlet uk
ralph lauren polo shirts
tiffany and co
burberry outlet
basketball shoes
tiffany jewelry
michael kors wallet sale
tiffany outlet
hermes belt
mulberry handbags
nhl jerseys
tiffany jewelry
rolex watches
coach outlet
polo ralph lauren
ralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren outlet
fitflops shoes
hermes outlet store
michael kors outlet online
true religion jeans
mlb jerseys
fitflops sale
michael kors handbags
hermes birkin bag
michael kors outlet
rolex outlet
mulberry handbags sale
tory burch shoes
ray ban sunglasses sale
air max 90
prada outlet
adidas wings
nike uk store
fitflops sale
longchamp handbags
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
burberry outlet
michael kors canada
rolex orologi
soccer jerseys
coach outlet
ralph lauren polo
ferragamo shoes
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet online
chrome hearts outlet online
coach outlet store
kobe bryants shoes
lululemon outlet online
mulberry handbags
chaussure louboutin
hollister clothing
tory burch outlet
burberry outlet sale
michael kors outlet
ralph lauren,polo ralph lauren,ralph lauren outlet,ralph lauren italia,ralph lauren sito ufficiale
michael kors online outlet
burberry outlet store
true religion jeans
michael kors handbags
mulberry bags
coach outlet online
louis vuitton neverfull sale
louis vuitton bags
nike air max 90
true religion outlet
mcm outlet
reebok outlet store
calvin klein underwear
oakley sunglasses
ferragamo shoes sale
sac louis vuitton pas cher
jordan shoes 2015
ray-ban sunglasses
tiffany and co
burberry outlet online
lebron james shoes
oakley sunglasses
toms shoes
polo ralph lauren
louis vuitton bags cheap
burberry outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet
thomas sabo uk
ray-ban sunglasses
hollister
louis vuitton handbags
mulberry handbags
nike tn pas cher
ralph lauren outlet
cartier outlet
coach outlet canada
kobe shoes
hermes belt for sale
air max 90
true religion outlet
nike air max
nike huarache
michael kors outlet
tiffany outlet
gucci sunglasses uk
mulberry outlet
fitflops uk
ralph lauren pas cher
michael kors factory store
louboutin pas cher
swarovski jewelry
tory burch outlet online
versace sunglasses
ghd hair straighteners
christian louboutin shoes
louis vuitton outlet
kate spade handbags
timberland shoes
ferragamo shoes
swarovski outlet
cheap nfl jerseys
cheap jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
longchamp pas cher
christian louboutin outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses sale
air max 90
true religion jeans outlet
oakley sunglasses
ferragamo shoes
michael kors handbags
tory burch outlet
beats headphones
michael kors uk outlet
hermes birkin
omega outlet
swarovski crystal
ray ban sunglasses
cheap jordans
ferragamo outlet
prada outlet
swarovski outlet
ghd uk
michael kors online
christian louboutin shoes
polo ralph lauren
nba jerseys
nfl jerseys wholesale
kobe shoes
michael kors outlet
oakley sunglasses sale
longchamp outlet
longchamp outlet online
adidas outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
swarovski crystal
cheap oakley sunglasses
links of london jewellery
nike tn pas cher
coach outlet
camisetas futbol baratas
coach outlet online
coach outlet online
dior sunglasses
nike free run
burberry sunglasses on sale
michael kors outlet online
ferragamo shoes
longchamp solde
ferragamo shoes
longchamp pliage
tory burch outlet
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.