Blog

A new Torah in Atlanta; not so chosen after all; and more. [Reading List]

February 3rd, 2012 by John Wofford

Eddie Long… the new Torah? [Forward]

In one of the oddest religion stories this year, Atlanta pastor Eddie Long–who recently faced accusations of child molestation, and a subsequent divorce from his wife–was recipient to a strange outpouring of affection from a self-identified Messianic Jew as part of a recent church service. The Huffington Post gave early coverage to this story, but author Jay Michaelson goes into greater, even more bizarre detail in his article for the Jewish Daily Forward.

“There were additional details that doubtless escaped notice of casual visitors, but which get progressively more offensive the more knowledgeable one is. For example, Messer described removing the Torah’s cover as ‘removing the foreskin.’ And at the climax of the ritual, after wrapping Long in the Torah, he placed the scroll’s gartel (belt) around Long himself, stating that Long had become the Torah, become the King.”

“…and then a step to the R-i-i-i-ight…” [Forward]

Jewish voters have tended to identify more conservatively since 2008, says a new survey. The jump went from 20% to 29%, a factor which may have Democratic strategists wondering how to recapture these sentiments or prevent more Jewish voters from leaning to the Right in light of the upcoming election. Then again, maybe not…

“‘Republicans have been saying for more than 30 years that ‘this will be the year’ Jews will move to the Republican Party, and it has simply never materialized,’ said David A. Harris, president of the National Jewish Democratic Council. ‘I’m confident 2012 will be no different and Jews will continue to vote overwhelmingly Democratic.’”

Israel’s sex trade: can young men make a difference? [Huffington Post]

In light of new legislation that may help to curb the growing problem of an Israeli sex trade, Rabbi Daniel Brenner explores the gender conflicts at the heart of this industry, as well as potential sparks for a paradigm shift among young and future generations. Can the way in which we think about the give and take of human relationships be a key factor in overcoming the kind of thinking that leads to exploitation and control?

Super Bowl half-time: who needs Madonna when you’ve got… the Torah? [Forward]

In an effort to blend what’s hip and happenin’ with ye-ol’-biblical learnin’, Yeshiva University is offering a half-time show featuring the teachings of three professors who will make connections between Jewish ideas, athleticism, and formal sports.

“The video contains three eight-minute lectures by Y.U. professors Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff (‘Hold the Wings: Maimonides on Physical Fitness’), Rabbi Ely Allen (‘The Importance of Halftime’) and Yitzchak Schechter (‘The Ultimate Comeback’). Highlights include Schechter using a sports theme to teach the lesson of never giving up hope, and Allen talking about taking time out and recharging yourself — not unlike halftime. ‘It’s pretty direct,’ Isaacson said.”

The chosen people (…ish) [Zeek]

Just how “chosen” are the Chosen People? asks Zeek. In light of increasing globalization and a growing awareness that cultural interdependence and cooperation is best for breeding peace, can a singular “elected” people continue to cling to the Sinai narrative as it has been traditionally interpreted? Two Reconstructionist rabbis weigh in with different perspectives on the possibilities for redefining what it means to be chosen by God.

“The concept of ‘chosenness,’ only hinted at in the Hebrew Bible, was developed during periods of Jewish history when Jews were deeply persecuted and searching for some supernatural explanation for their suffering. Like other practices and beliefs, it need not be retained simply because it once existed in the Jewish canon of beliefs. We no longer believe that God contravenes nature or acts in history. If God is not a person, then who is choosing the Jews?”

 

 

Posted in community, Culture, Orthodoxy, politics, Reading List, yeshiva | No Comments »

Barnard College and the Case on Racism

February 2nd, 2012 by Carly Silver

Barnard College
Barnard College the subject of controversy after an alleged slight to a professor with negative views on Israel | photo by Flickr user walkinggeek (CC BY 2.0)

Last fall, a Barnard College professor was accused of discrimination when she allegedly steered  an Orthodox Jewish student away from taking a class taught by controversial professor Joseph Massad. The U.S. Department of Education jumped right in to the mix, sending its Office for Civil Rights to check out the student’s claims. Massad,who has been called anti-Semitic in the past, has been a topic of interest for years. He even went under investigation in past years by an ad hoc committee – he was later found not guilty – but remains one of Columbia’s most notorious professors.

Rachel McDermott, a Barnard faculty member, allegedly counseled the student that she might be uncomfortable in Massad’s course and advised her to take another class. McDermott and the student – who has remained unnamed – give conflicting reports on the issue: the student states that McDermott claimed Massad was anti-Israel, while McDermott alleged the student was the one  to express concerns about taking his class.

Regardless of who said what, McDermott could have been both right and wrong in her actions. Barnard is an extremely closely-knit school in which the faculty looks out for students. Therefore, if a professor – probably thinking about the well-being of a student – advised against taking a  class that might make her uncomfortable, she likely did so to ensure the student got the most enjoyment and value possible out of that class. Even if Professor McDermott was the one to first claim Massad was anti-Israel, she merely expressed Massad’s own point of view.

For example, Massad’s op-ed“The Legacy of Jean-Paul Sartre,” declares: “no matter how much Zionism continues to resurrect it and claim it as the excuse for its racist violence against the Palestinians, the Holocaust does not justify Israel’s racist nature.” This clearly delineates a staunch opposition against Israel for its supposedly racist policies. And if this is the case,  Professor McDermott merely pointed out what Massad himself has already shown. Her claim that Massad is anti-Israel is hardly news, but seemingly a fact. For McDermott to advise the student might be uncomfortable in his class may have been an act of consideration.

I would have a problem, though,  is if McDermott gave more than her two cents. A professor is entitled to offer his or her opinion. If that’s all McDermott did, then that’s fine. If she told the student she would be better off not taking the class, that, in itself, is still an opinion. If, as Tablet alleges, McDermott kept insisting the student shouldn’t take a class, that would cross a line.

At the end of the day, it is  that student’s decision whether or not she should open her mind to different opinions. Though Massad has demonstrated anti-Israel opinions, in today’s day and age, shouldn’t everyone have a voice?

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Posted in anti-Semitism, Blogs, Campus, Israel, palestine, politics, Religion, Twenty Thousand Leagues From Hillel | No Comments »

On Voting for an American President

February 2nd, 2012 by Penina Kessler

That Israel is a hot-button issue for many American Jews goes without saying. However, to those casting their votes solely on this issue, I beg you to stop and think for a second. While American support of Israel is crucial to the maintenance of a Jewish state, I do not believe in letting it cloud over domestic issues. As Brent Sasley writes in this Huffington Post article, the American presidency has shown time and time again that it can do little to broker peace in the Middle East. A politician may use pro-Israel rhetoric to court the Jewish vote, but once elected, their support will be as strong as the diplomatic climate warrants. Few presidents, Democratic or Republican, would put their presidency on the line to uphold promises to Israel. In addition, turning the Jewish vote away from domestic concerns could create a climate of adversity here in the United States. If a candidate would infringe upon rights here but support them in Israel, what overall good would their presidency serve for the Jewish community? Compromising on a candidate is one matter, but disregarding current affairs in America in order to show your support for Israel seems foolish. Support Israeli products, support Israeli enterprise, support the Israeli government with your words and actions but when it comes to the polls, remember that the impact an American president may have on the Middle East is limited, while the impact he can have on the United States is massive.

Posted in Israel | No Comments »

Reform Jews on Planned Parenthood, Vote America Not Israel, Newt Gingrich on the Jews, and More. [Reading List]

February 2nd, 2012 by Penina Kessler
Chipotle Hummus

Molly Yeh gives bachelors advice on impressing women with their culinary skills | photo by Flickr user whitneyinchicago (CC BY 2.0)

Why Israel shouldn’t be the deciding factor in the American Jewish vote. [Huffington Post]

As the traditional Jewish/Democratic alignment is being challenged by those who believe that President Obama has not done enough to reaffirm American support for Israel, Brent Sasley argues for why Jews should remain in the Democratic Camp.

“It would be bad for Jews for Israel to become a permanent wedge issue in American politics: It would diminish support for Israel to smaller elements on the political spectrum, make it a constant battle, and drive Jews away from other issues of concern to the community.”

How to win girls over with Shabbat dinner. [Forward]

Single? Jewish? Cooking to impress? Molly Yeh has the recipe for your success. Tired of watching her bachelor friends prepare pre-packaged Shabbat meals, the culinary enthusiast offers simple and easy tips for a classy, impressive Shabbat.

“Dan also has a key priority: Girls. “Girls will always just have salad. If you go to a girl’s on a Friday night, there will be like six different salads,” said Alan in disgust. But earth to Alan and Dan — you don’t win girls with a turkey from the prepared section of Costco.”

Reform leaders band together to save Planned Parenthood. [Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism]

In response to Susan G. Koman for the Cure’s announcement that it would cease to fund Planned Parenthood, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Rabbi Marla Feldman, Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism wrote to Koman’s CEO, advocating the importance of Planned Parenthood’s breast cancer screenings in fighting the disease.

Newt Gingrich’s convoluted relationship with the Jews. [Huffington Post]

Gingrich’s attempts to court Jewish voters will likely subside now that the Florida primary is over. However, this leg of his campaign, financed in part by a wealthy Jewish couple from Las Vegas, has been marked by inconsistencies regarding his views on the Jews, and has David Margolick wondering: is he exalting them, demonizing them, or pandering to them?

 

 

Posted in Israel, Reading List, Religion | No Comments »

Jewish seminaries doing it right (and by it, I mean ‘it’) [Sex!]

February 1st, 2012 by David A.M. Wilensky

The Religious Institute's 2009 steamy study on the topic

Big news, folks. Three American Jewish seminaries have been pronounced “sexually healthy:”

  1. Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform seminary with branches in Cincinnati, New York City and Los Angeles
  2. Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, the — you guessed it — Reconstructionist seminary in Philly
  3. Jewish Theological Seminary, the Conservative seminary in New York City

The Religious Institute (rather expansively names for an institution that says calls itself ”a multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education, and justice in faith communities and society”) has announced that 20 Jewish and Christian seminaries in America are doing it  right.

I shudder to think what conditions are like at seminaries that didn’t make the cut. Throngs of sexually unhealthy seminarians roaming the halls…

Conspicuously missing from the list:

  1. Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, the flagship seminary of centrist Modern Orthodoxy — no surprise there
  2. Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the seminary of Open Orthodoxy – perhaps a little surprise there
  3. American Jewish University’s Ziegler School of Rabbinical Studies, JTS’s West Coast counterpart — definite surprise there
  4. Hebrew College, the pluralist seminary in Boston — big surprise there

The announcement only has details on a few of the institutions listed. About HUC, it says:

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York now includes gender identity and gender expression in its non-discrimination policy, and will display a groundbreaking collection of Jewish art that addresses gender and sexuality issues at its museum in Fall 2012, the first ever at a Jewish museum.

And about JTS:

The Jewish Theological Seminary developed two full-semester courses on sexuality issues, and now requires at least one full-semester sexuality-related course as well as clergy sexual misconduct training for all rabbinical students prior to graduation. Going forward, almost all Conservative rabbis in the U.S. will have at least one full course on sexuality issues, including education on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as a professional sexual misconduct training—all as a direct result of this project.

No details are given on RRC.

In addition to the three Jewish seminaries listed, there are some noteworthy Jew-ish institutions on the list as well:

  1. Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass. also houses Hebrew College on its campus (conspicuously missing from the list, as I said before)
  2. Drew Theological School, which represents the far left wing of the United Methodist Church, is really only notable for the fact that it’s part of my alma mater, Drew University. Drew, by the way, has a Jewish president, a Jewish dean of the undergraduate college and a Jewish dean of the grad school. In fact, the only non-Jew left in one those top positions is the head of the Theo School, Jeffrey Kuan. (And as I learned while interviewing him when he was new at Drew, he’s a scholar the Jewish Bible, anyway.)

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Posted in Campus, Religion, Sex | 1 Comment »

Your (Republican?) grandparents pick Romney [Florida!]

February 1st, 2012 by Zach C. Cohen

Mitt Romney / Creative Commons

The Jewish state has spoken. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney should be president.

Oh, sorry, I was talking about Florida. It may not be the most Jewish state in the Union, but it’s certainly the first in this presidential primary voice to have a sizable Chosen People population choosing.

The GOP’s Favorite Lukewarm Son won Florida tonight in his seemingly unstoppable march to the Republican nomination, powered mostly by his moderate policies, mainstream media’s unrelenting predictions and, most importantly, a giant bag of cash.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won 46 percent of Florida’s primary, way ahead of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s 32 percent and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s 13 percent.

But where are Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul?

Nevada.

Nevada?

Yes, they pulled a Huntsman and flew out to the next primary state. (If you’re not getting the reference, check out some of our other coverage. And maybe after that, they’ll pull a different Huntsman and drop out of the race!)

But Paul still had a showing, especially, among people age 18-26. Though Paul took seven percent of the general vote, 26 25 percent of college-age voters picked the Texas congressman, second only to Romney’s 36 41 percent.

I’d tell you how Jews voted, but they only made one percent and didn’t register on exit polls. A little surprising, but understandable. Florida is 3.4 percent Jewish, and it’s fair to say not all of those are Republicans. So… you’ll have to wait for New York, New Jersey (the home of three quarters of the NV editorial board [EDITOR'S NOTE: Hold the phone, Zach. You and Dafna may call N.J. home, but I just live there]) and Massachusetts (home of the fourth member of the editorial board) to find a Jewish voice in exit polls.

So what happened to Newt, who came out of South Carolina with a come-from-behind victory? Well, Romney trounced him in the debates, a la Mortal Kombat (thanks to the Daily Show for the delightfully accurate analogy).

Too bad Newt doesn’t have a moon base to hide in. I guess he’ll have to have to campaign in the other 46 states. Yes folks, we’ve only seen eight percent of states vote in this nomination process. Buckle up.

Correction: This blog post originally said Paul won 26 percent, and Romney 36 percent,  of the college age vote. Those numbers were not updated when the final precincts were reported.

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Posted in politics | No Comments »

Kosher Violence, Boozing Jews, Minimalist Kippot, and More. [Reading List]

February 1st, 2012 by John Wofford

A selection of kippot. Photo by Flickr user rbarenblat (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Not so kosher after all? [Forward]

Ever wondered if you were funding the violence of radical ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel? Shmarya Rosenberg is there! Rosenberg finds a link between the purchase of kosher food items in the United States and the militant, fundamentalist groups recently dominating Israel’s headlines.

“Most of us do not want our money to be used to pay the stipends of men who stone Israeli police, vandalize Israeli buses, spit on ‘immodest’ little girls and attack ‘immodest’ women. One way to ensure it won’t be is to stop buying products that carry the Badatz Yerushalayim and CRC kosher seals. Another is to raise Satmar’s involvement in Edah HaCharedis with American politicians who help Satmar organizations receive government funding.”

The Jewish Press responds to outspoken critics after article about being frum and gay. [Press]

The Press goes on the defensive after a recent article by a gay Orthodox Jew led to backlash from angry readers who felt it had no place in the pages. While suggesting that homosexual acts are “anti-Halachic,” the article does note the hidden presence of LGBT people in everyday life.

“We ran this article because, whether one wants to admit it or not, there is a serious problem that some members of our religious community face – day in and day out. It could be your Chavrusah (study partner) in Yeshiva, the guy sitting next to you in shul, or your brother in your very own home. And this is true whether you wear a black hat, a streimel, or a knit yarmulka.”

Protestant Jews? [Sh'ma]

American Jews are becoming too concerned with material things, argues Jenna Joselit, who suggests that this shift in thinking is leading to the sacrifice of an important component of a religiously engaged, Jewish life.

“Without knowing it, many American Jews take their cue from Max Weber’s classic account of the relationship between capitalism and Protestantism. In ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,’ the German sociologist likened material wellbeing to a state of grace. Within Protestant circles, he argued, prosperity was a sign of approval from on high. The same might be said of American Jews. Maybe, consumerism is one of the ways we count our blessings.”

Architecture makes for one stylish kippah [Tablet]

Late artist Sol LeWitt’s work is becoming a sort of phenomenon in the Jewish world. But who would have thought that a minimalist synagogue design would have turn into a kippah-pushing fad?

Jews in the Prohibition: “Would you like some kosher wine with that?” [NY Times]

In a review of Marni Davis’ “Jews and Booze: Becoming American in the Age of Prohibition,” Sam Roberts takes a look at a few colorful characters from the period (Izzy and Moe, anyone?), the battle between assimilation and religious continuity, and other factors that led to the integration of Jewish Americans into public life.

Posted in Arts and Culture, Diaspora, Food, Orthodoxy, Reading List, Uncategorized | No Comments »

A thought-provoking Shabbat

February 1st, 2012 by Simi Lampert

A human rights flag in Tel Aviv. Photo by Flickr user ygurvitz (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

This past weekend I had one of those all-too-rare Shabbatot, where I spent the day with friends who I got to know better, and strangers who quickly became friends.

Shabbat was a mixture of eating, sleeping, and long conversations where we all shared and learned from one another. It was the kind of weekend that makes the whole week worth it, and the type of Shabbat that reminds me what I find so special about being Jewish. It also gave me a lot to think about. You see, three of the people there are openly gay Jews from Orthodox homes.

I have gay frum friends and I’ve spoken with them to some extent, but never in such depth. Never had I realized that high schoolers– minors still learning their way in the world, and who they are– are thrown out of yeshivot simply for being gay. One of my friends told me his story: he was kicked out of his high school because rumors abounded in school that he was gay. When they threw him out, he had never once acted on being gay and he wasn’t “out” to anyone but himself. Yet the school, perhaps fearing for their reputation, or afraid being gay was contagious, disallowed him to return. His favorite rabbi in the school told him never to talk to him or his children again.

I knew in an abstract sense that people in the Orthodox community can be openly homophobic. But I never realized to what extent this was true. I never realized organizations would take actions against gay children, harmless students in their most vulnerable and confusing years. I didn’t know rabbis could be fired from their positions for discussing homosexuality and men like Chaim Levin could be condemned in a newspaper for doing nothing more harmful than giving hope to other gay Orthodox Jews.

What is it about homosexuality that makes so many people so self-righteous? Not everyone– thank God, there are hundreds if not thousands of rabbis across the globe speaking up on behalf of acceptance and tolerance. But is everyone else really so holy that they’ve never committed a sin? Have they no compassion for a young boy, confused by the world around him and, worst of all, confused by himself, who’s just trying to find his way like the rest of us?

Of all the mitzvot in the Torah, the one against homosexual acts is the most confusing to me. Yes, there are bizarre mitzvot– the famous shaatnez one is a prime example– but I can’t think of any other that really makes me question the authenticity of the Torah. Don’t get me wrong– I believe the Torah comes from God, I believe every mitzvah should be kept. But that just makes it harder; I still can’t wrap my head around a mitzvah banning two people from being in love and showing that love. Not when I have friends who are gay, who are so clearly in love with their partner, and so badly want to be a part of the Orthodox community. Not when I know being gay is not a choice.

I don’t want to argue any political stance or discuss the halachot of being gay. I am neither a politician nor a rabbi. I am just an Orthodox Jew who believes that no one should be ostracized for who they are.

Posted in Blogs, community, Modern Unorthodox, Orthodoxy, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Judaism Embodies More than Ethics

January 31st, 2012 by John Wofford

For years now the synagogue format, with all its membership dues, local events, potluck dinners, trips to Israel and the like, has attempted to attract the interests and imaginations of young Jews. The common phrase is “You are our future,” and we definitely are. Each successive generation replaces the generations that preceded it, in time. Survival in part depends on our continued engagement. This reality has been the cause of a host of denominational programs, all seeking to integrate into the community the collegiate, the high schooler– perhaps even to retain the very young before they can become disillusioned or disinterested with synagogue life. Each of these programs has had varying success, and not a single one of them will prove alone to be the deciding factor in the future relationship between young Jews and local synagogues. Jewish leaders are looking for signs of hope that their institutions will be carried on by others.

In his article “Calling Jewish Activists: Synagogues Need You and You Need Them,” Rabbi Jonah Pesner argues that a bond between Jews and synagogues can be cemented over common social justice issues. By finding these threads of commonality and concern, synagogues can serve as vehicles for the ideas of Jews who might otherwise be disinterested in synagogue life or its implications. There are legitimate reasons why Pesner’s claims have merit, but there is a point of concern in all of these calls for young Jews to be grafted into the peoplehood by way of charitable causes. This point has to do with Judaism itself. Judaism as an institution has a long-standing history of social justice engagement. But the engagement isn’t itself Judaism. It’s just ethics. While young Jews striving to live ethically is certainly a good thing, building bonds between them and the synagogue on the basis of a social justice platform alone potentially leaves the liturgy, philosophy, and practice of Judaism out in the cold. There’s nothing inherently wrong with capturing the spirit of Judaism in kindness, compassion, and vigorous discourse on behalf of others. But at its heart, Judaism has to be about more than ethics. This “more” is found in the language of prayer, in the discourse at the heart of the Talmud, in a history that matches bleak periods with equally redemptive ones. Ideally, when synagogues choose to reach out to the unaffiliated, young Jews among them, they temper their ethics platforms with something like Torah.

Posted in activism, Blogs, community, Culture, opinion, Religion | No Comments »

Israelis think Birthright is funny; contraception for college Catholics; and more [Reading List]

January 31st, 2012 by John Wofford

VIDEO: Israelis think Birthright is funny [Eretz Nehederet]

Israeli comedy show, “Eretz Nehederet” (“A Wonderful Country,” somewhere between “The Daily Show” and “Saturday Night Live”), took Birthright in their season premiere. The skit came complete with a perverted trip mate, an enthusiastic frat-boy a tour guide with a guilt complex… and this gem from their tour guide:

“It’s important that you tell your parents that Israeli is not what they thought. It’s not a desert with camels, but a modern and developed place. By the way, we asked women to sit at the back of the bus and men at the front.”

JNF is still the cuddly entity you learned about in Sunday school… er… wait… [+972]

Sunday saw protests at the offices of the Jewish National Fund in Jerusalem, where demonstrators sought to prevent the displacement of Bedouin families in the face of proposed JNF development in the Negev region.

“The JNF took my land, said a man who introduced himself as Hussein and who was born in al-Araqib. “They’ve taken everything, all types of crops—watermelon, wheat—and they planted trees all over it…  Now we’re all living in the al-Araqib cemetery, all 25 of us [extended family members].”

Contraception for college Catholics [Campus Progress]

Students who receive health insurance from colleges with religious affiliations will also be afforded coverage for contraception, according to a decision by the Department of Health and Human Services.

“This is a major victory for the reproductive health of students enrolled at religiously affiliated universities that currently deny this coverage. Students often enroll at these universities without any knowledge of this gap in their health insurance, and they find themselves without the preventive care they need at a time when their income is low, their debt is growing, and their stress levels are high.”

Jews agree that greenhouse gases suck [JTA]

Not sure which is more sarcastic “newsflash!”-worthy, the agreement… of the fact that they agreed. Several Jewish groups have agreed to decrease their emission of greenhouse gases in a three-year span, an effort bringing together organizations such as the Union for Reform Judaism and the Orthodox Union.

Jesus: “He-who-must-not-be-named”? [HuffPo]

Are Jews still afraid to talk about Jesus? Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s latest book, “Kosher Jesus,” hopes to challenge that taboo, but he’s drawing ire. Rabbi Jason Miller discusses the positive implications of Boteach’s work.

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Posted in Birthright Israel, politics, Reading List, Videos | No Comments »

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