05-06-2005, 11:28 PM
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianCivili...n/message/74653
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->From: "Kalavai Venkat"
Date: Thu May 5, 2005Â 8:23 pm
Subject: A cause that Hindus must supportÂ
Dear List members,
Please see an appeal for contribution from Prof. Nathan Katz in
message
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianCivili...n/message/74626 .
This is a cause that must be very dear to every Hindu for two
reasons:
One, Prof. Katz is doing yeomen service by taking Sanskrit to the
community.
Two, Prof. Katz is one of the rare individuals that has paid the
richest tribute to India and her Hindu civilization. Those that have
read his book "Who are the Jews of India?" can easily connect to
what I have stated above. At a time when vested interests indulge in
a campaign of hate and lies against the Hindus and India, Prof. Katz
gratefully recognizes the fact that the Hindus played gracious hosts
to the Jewish people that sought refuge in India. Any Jewish person
or for that reason any balanced individual that has read Prof.
Katz's book will appreciate the pluralistic and tolerant spirit of
the Hindus.
I request every Hindu on this list, especially those living in the
West, to contribute for this effort. Vishal suggested that we can
pool in our contributions and mail it to Prof. Katz. Alternatively,
you can also mail him the contributions individually.
I am reproducing a few passages from Prof. Katz's book [taken from
the Amazon review by my friend Dr. C J S Wallia] so that you will
appreciate how much Prof. Katz's has done for Hindus and India. I am
also reproducing the appeal message in the footnote.
Please respond with suggestions on how we can raise funds and
support this effort.
Prof. Katz writes:
"Indian Jews lived as all Jews should have been allowed to live:
free, proud, observant, creative and prosperous, self-realized, full
contributors to the host community. Then, when twentieth century
conditions permitted they returned en masse to Israel, which they
had always proclaimed to be their true home despite India's
hospitality. The Indian chapter is one of the happiest of the Jewish
Diaspora.
(...)
As late as 1550 the Raja of Cochin refused to fight a battle on
Saturday because on that day his Jewish soldiers would not fight;
and they were the best warriors he had raised. Probably India is the
only country on earth so civilized that in war, out of deference to
its esteemed Jewish soldiers, no battles were fought on the Sabbath.
(...)
A crucial distinction between India and the rest of the Diaspora,
however, is that in India acculturation is not paid for in the
currency of assimilation. By acculturation I mean fitting
comfortably into a society while retaining one's own identity,
whereas by assimilation I mean that the loss of that identity is a
perceived condition for acceptance. The study of Indian Jewish
communities demonstrates that in Indian culture an immigrant group
gains status precisely by maintaining its own identity. Such is the
experience not only of India's Jews, but also of local Christians,
Zoroastrians, and recently, Tibetan Buddhists. This striking feature
of Indian civilization is reflected by each of these immigrant
groups."
Thanks.
PS: Prof. Katz's message:
Dear Friends,
Is Sanskrit a dead language? Unless someone steps up to the plate,
it is as far as FIU is concerned.
We were able to work out a cooperative arrangement with Hindu
University of America to offer two years of Sanskrit online. The
program is excellent in my opinion, and the first year is up and
running, and the second year is ready to go.
Our arrangement requires a modest buy-in from the community of three
thousand dollars per year. We received a pledge of support from
community leaders. Under this arrangement, FIU carries the lion's
share of the costs.
Unfortunately, the pledge has not been redeemed, and as FIU has to
watch costs so closely these days, this excellent program is about
to be cancelled.
This would be very unfortunate, as Sanskrit online benefits FIU, the
local Indian American community, as well as students and scholars
globally.
This is the very last chance to save Sanskrit at FIU. We need the
$3000 immediately.
Thank you for your consideration,
Nathan Katz
Nathan Katz
Professor of Religious Studies
Florida International University
Miami FL 33199
tel.: 305-348-3909
fax: 305-348-1879
Who Are the Jews of India? <http://www.khazaria.com/katz.html>
http://www.khazaria.com/katz.html
Journal of Indo-Judaic Studies: <http://www.usask.ca/relst/jijs.htm>
http://www.usask.ca/relst/jijs.htm
Center for the Study of Spirituality:
<http://cas.fiu.edu/SpiritualityCenter>
http://cas.fiu.edu/SpiritualityCenter
Web page: <http://www.indojudaic.com> http://www.indojudaic.com
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->From: "Kalavai Venkat"
Date: Thu May 5, 2005Â 8:23 pm
Subject: A cause that Hindus must supportÂ
Dear List members,
Please see an appeal for contribution from Prof. Nathan Katz in
message
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianCivili...n/message/74626 .
This is a cause that must be very dear to every Hindu for two
reasons:
One, Prof. Katz is doing yeomen service by taking Sanskrit to the
community.
Two, Prof. Katz is one of the rare individuals that has paid the
richest tribute to India and her Hindu civilization. Those that have
read his book "Who are the Jews of India?" can easily connect to
what I have stated above. At a time when vested interests indulge in
a campaign of hate and lies against the Hindus and India, Prof. Katz
gratefully recognizes the fact that the Hindus played gracious hosts
to the Jewish people that sought refuge in India. Any Jewish person
or for that reason any balanced individual that has read Prof.
Katz's book will appreciate the pluralistic and tolerant spirit of
the Hindus.
I request every Hindu on this list, especially those living in the
West, to contribute for this effort. Vishal suggested that we can
pool in our contributions and mail it to Prof. Katz. Alternatively,
you can also mail him the contributions individually.
I am reproducing a few passages from Prof. Katz's book [taken from
the Amazon review by my friend Dr. C J S Wallia] so that you will
appreciate how much Prof. Katz's has done for Hindus and India. I am
also reproducing the appeal message in the footnote.
Please respond with suggestions on how we can raise funds and
support this effort.
Prof. Katz writes:
"Indian Jews lived as all Jews should have been allowed to live:
free, proud, observant, creative and prosperous, self-realized, full
contributors to the host community. Then, when twentieth century
conditions permitted they returned en masse to Israel, which they
had always proclaimed to be their true home despite India's
hospitality. The Indian chapter is one of the happiest of the Jewish
Diaspora.
(...)
As late as 1550 the Raja of Cochin refused to fight a battle on
Saturday because on that day his Jewish soldiers would not fight;
and they were the best warriors he had raised. Probably India is the
only country on earth so civilized that in war, out of deference to
its esteemed Jewish soldiers, no battles were fought on the Sabbath.
(...)
A crucial distinction between India and the rest of the Diaspora,
however, is that in India acculturation is not paid for in the
currency of assimilation. By acculturation I mean fitting
comfortably into a society while retaining one's own identity,
whereas by assimilation I mean that the loss of that identity is a
perceived condition for acceptance. The study of Indian Jewish
communities demonstrates that in Indian culture an immigrant group
gains status precisely by maintaining its own identity. Such is the
experience not only of India's Jews, but also of local Christians,
Zoroastrians, and recently, Tibetan Buddhists. This striking feature
of Indian civilization is reflected by each of these immigrant
groups."
Thanks.
PS: Prof. Katz's message:
Dear Friends,
Is Sanskrit a dead language? Unless someone steps up to the plate,
it is as far as FIU is concerned.
We were able to work out a cooperative arrangement with Hindu
University of America to offer two years of Sanskrit online. The
program is excellent in my opinion, and the first year is up and
running, and the second year is ready to go.
Our arrangement requires a modest buy-in from the community of three
thousand dollars per year. We received a pledge of support from
community leaders. Under this arrangement, FIU carries the lion's
share of the costs.
Unfortunately, the pledge has not been redeemed, and as FIU has to
watch costs so closely these days, this excellent program is about
to be cancelled.
This would be very unfortunate, as Sanskrit online benefits FIU, the
local Indian American community, as well as students and scholars
globally.
This is the very last chance to save Sanskrit at FIU. We need the
$3000 immediately.
Thank you for your consideration,
Nathan Katz
Nathan Katz
Professor of Religious Studies
Florida International University
Miami FL 33199
tel.: 305-348-3909
fax: 305-348-1879
Who Are the Jews of India? <http://www.khazaria.com/katz.html>
http://www.khazaria.com/katz.html
Journal of Indo-Judaic Studies: <http://www.usask.ca/relst/jijs.htm>
http://www.usask.ca/relst/jijs.htm
Center for the Study of Spirituality:
<http://cas.fiu.edu/SpiritualityCenter>
http://cas.fiu.edu/SpiritualityCenter
Web page: <http://www.indojudaic.com> http://www.indojudaic.com
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->