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Jewish Ideas

"Marriage Equality"--A Blog by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

President Obama framed his endorsement of same-sex “marriage” as an advancement of civil rights and “marriage equality.” After all, why shouldn’t two people who love each other be allowed to marry?

Fyodor Dostoevski once wrote: “If there is no God, then everything is permissible.” Stated another way, if morality is entirely determined by human beings, then human beings can decide what they think is moral or immoral. God is not part of the equation. Thus, if humans decide that same sex “marriage” is moral, then that is their right. God has no say in the matter.

What About Me? A Blog Essay by a Frum Man With Complaints

What About Me?

“The slave lives in silence, if such a meaningless existence may be called life. He has no message to deliver. In contrast with the slave, the free man bears a message, has a good deal to tell, and is eager to convey his life story to anyone who cares to listen.” (Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, “Redemption, Prayer, Talmud Torah”)

For the past few decades, we have all examined, explored, debated, and tried to adjust the women’s role in Torah observant Judaism to work more productively with contemporary sensibilities and realities. I appreciate the need, the effort, and some of the results. However, as a man I often say to myself, as did the simple attendant to the demanding Shakespearean stage actor in the 1983 film The Dresser, “What about me?”

The Exodus, The Jewish People, and Resilience: blog thoughts from Dr. Esta Miran

EXODUS: GOD’S GUIDE ON DEVELOPING RESILIENCE

By Esta Miran, Ed.D.

(Esta Miran, Ed.D. works for Dr. Michael D. Miran, Ph.D., Psychologist PC. She has published extensively in the area of Creativity.)

The story of the Exodus has always boggled my mind. On the one hand, God is promising the Jewish people freedom from slavery. Then God actively manages the journey to freedom by obstructing the effort. God sends Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh asking “Let my people go.” Then God hardens Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites from slavery. This happens again and again. How can we make sense out of Exodus? God explains that he wants to show Pharaoh, the Israelites, and all Peoples His “miraculous signs and wonders.” God wants to “display His Powers.”

Be Strong, and Let us Strengthen Each Other

All of us are deeply saddened by the vicious murder of a teacher and children at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France. All of us continue to be deeply concerned about the flow of missiles fired into Israel by terrorists in Gaza. All of us are distressed by the unvarnished hatred of Jews and of Israel espoused by the leader of Iran, the leaders of Hamas and by other hate-mongering individuals and groups.

Surely, we need to be sure that the murderers and terrorists are properly caught and punished by the police and by the defense forces of Israel and other countries.

It does little good for us to wring our hands in distress. It does little good for us to complain and lament helplessly.

An Insult to Women--and to Men!

We've all been reading of tensions in Israel due to the "Hareidization" of standards of conduct involving women and men. Serious problems have emerged in Bet Shemesh, because some Hareidim were disparaging and spitting at a modern Orthodox girl who was dressed modestly--but not according to Hareidi norms. There has been a long ongoing battle over public buses where the Hareidim demand that women sit in the back and the men in the front. They allow no intermingling of the genders, so they impose their values on everyone else.

The Puah Institute, specializing in medical research on women's health and especially on fertility issues, recently held a conference, but would not allow female doctors to present papers or to be on panels.

The Conversion Controversies Continue

The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has recently rejected the applications of several Orthodox Jewish converts who have applied to live in Israel. This rejection has been reported widely in the Jewish media, and has generated much discussion--and anger, frustration, disgust. These cases are being appealed, and we hope that these converts will indeed be allowed to settle in Israel as Jews.

The Chief Rabbinate only accepts Orthodox conversions performed under their jurisdiction and/or with their express approval. Orthodox rabbis who refuse to bend to the will of the Chief Rabbinate are excluded from the Chief Rabbinate's "approved" list.

This policy is problematic on many levels.

Can We Assume Too Much Responsibility? Guest Blog by Rabbi Harry Zeitlin

(Harry Zeitlin is a Seattle rabbi and teacher, as well as a visual artist and a musician. His blog is rabbizeitlin.wordpress.com)

Jewish Guilt, at least the European/western/Ashkenazi stereotype, is a cliché that is featured in much our unique, Jewish humor, and it is often seen as a positive trait that reflects our traditional values of personal responsibility and hard work. Although it has the potential to effectively cripple us, we are rather fond and protective of it. However, it's capacity for damage shouldn't be taken lightly.

Jewish "Without Religion"?

The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, recently reported:

"One of Israel's most celebrated writers, Yoram Kaniuk, has resigned from the Jewish religion. He won his case in court to have the word "Jewish" removed from his identity at the Population Registry, and from now on he will be listed as 'without religion'. He is not alone. Apparently, hundreds of Israelis are lining up to follow his example."

Why would Israeli Jews--who live in the Jewish homeland, speak Hebrew, and feel comfortable as Jews--want to resign from the Jewish religion? What's their problem? According to halakha, one can never resign from one's Jewishness, so Mr. Kaniuk is Jewish regardless of what is recorded on the Israeli Population Registry.

Remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the U.N. General Assembly, September 23, 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, Israel has extended its hand in peace from the moment it was established 63 years ago. On behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, I extend that hand again today.

I extend it to the people of Egypt and Jordan, with renewed friendship for neighbors with whom we have made peace. I extend it to the people of Turkey, with respect and good will. I extend it to the people of Libya and Tunisia, with admiration for those trying to build a democratic future. I extend it to the other peoples of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with whom we want to forge a new beginning. I extend it to the people of Syria, Lebanon and Iran, with awe at the courage of those fighting brutal repression.

"Shelo Assani Isha"--A Critique of Contemporary "Bloggic" Discourse

SHE-LO ASSANI ISHA– A CRITIQUE OF CONTEMPORARY “BLOGGIC” DISCOURSE

 

By Rabbi Zev Farber

(Rabbi Zev Farber was ordained (yoreh yoreh and yadin yadin) by YCT Rabbinical School. He is the founder of AITZIM (Atlanta Institute of Torah and Zionism) - an adult education initiative. Rabbi Farber serves on the board of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) and is the coordinator of their Vaad Giyyur. He is also a PhD candidate at Emory University's Graduate Division of Religion.)