by Mobius · Monday, May 31st, 2004
[Repost from Jakeneck] Catholic churches around the US are responding to a gay-Catholic rights campaign by denying its supporters communion (that’s when you eat the wafer, or um, the body of Christ…hot!).
Sure, God hates fags. But he hates shrimp too, just about the same. And well, the truth is, God doesn’t hate fags, he just hates gay sex. And I mean, ew, so do I—it’s gross. But, uh, God doesn’t seem to mind lesbians, whereas the commandment says merely that a man should not lie with a man as he does a woman. It says nowhere that a woman can’t lie with a woman… And in fact, considering that a prominent man was expected to keep a harem, you’d kind of hope they would hook up, cuz otherwise all them womens might get hard up and bitchy. N’ah I mean?
And actually, considering all that love and peace shit flowing out of his mouth endlessly, isn’t it a little obvious that…
Can’t queers get a fair shake? A reach-around maybe? Er, I mean, hey… What the fuck is up with this? Fucking eugenecists. Is this how Jesus loves?
by Mobius · Monday, May 31st, 2004
It seems our culture isn’t the only thing Madonna’s been accused of stealing. She’s recently been found guilty of jacking a famous photographer’s artwork too.
by Mobius · Monday, May 31st, 2004
he likes you.
by The Town Crier · Monday, May 31st, 2004
Bnei-Brak introduces a sex-segregated street—men and women must walk on opposite sides—a rule which applies everyone, residents tourists etc.
Ironically, this is more understandable to me than the high school principal who told students to cross to the other side of the street if we should happen to approach or pass a member of the opposite sex on shabbos afternoon, lest we be put in the awkward position saying “good shabbos.”
by Mobius · Monday, May 31st, 2004
Reporting on the current exhibit, Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race, at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Atlanta Journal Constitution writes,
While many people know about the Holocaust, “generally they don’t know much, if anything, about this euthanasia program that targeted non-Jews in Austria and Germany and provided a model for the killing of Jews,” said Susan Bachrach, curator of special exhibitions at the museum.
If anythings speaks to the reprehensibility of the Nazi agenda, it is that, like animals in the woods, they had no compassion for their own sick. Word up. Fight Nazism. Do bikur cholim.
Full story. (Bypass Reg)
by Reb Yidlicious · Sunday, May 30th, 2004
Today’s piece in the Times on American youth and their peculiar relationship habits (namely, the use of internet/cellphones/etc to facilitate “hook ups” as opposed to develop “real” relationships), brings to mind the sorry state of at-risk youth in the Jewish community.
According to a 1999 study conducted by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, 1,500 Orthodox Brooklynites aged 11 to 20, or 3.75% of Orthodox teens, are using or dealing drugs or engaging in other delinquent activities. An estimated 2,000 more are considered to be headed in that direction. Since then, one can safely assume the number of at-risk OrthoYouth has increased, as has their proportion in terms of the general population.
While the number of Orthodox agencies servicing these segment of the population has gone up, their success has often been stymied by their lack of proper training, funding or cooperation.
Have thoughts on the plethora of saving-Orthodox-kids-from-the-big-bad-world type of organizations — share ‘em!
by The Town Crier · Sunday, May 30th, 2004
Non-Kabbalist hollywood Jew, Kirk Douglas reaffrimed his wedding vows under the chuppah on his 50th wedding anniversary.
by The Town Crier · Friday, May 28th, 2004
Legal War over Liz Taylor’s ownership of an auctioned piece of art stolen by looters in Nazi Germany in 1939.
by Moishe Oofnik · Thursday, May 27th, 2004
One of the most important needs of the Jewish community is open spaces for discussion and dialogue about Judaism, Zionism and Israel. Such spaces were created in the last year, some by campus-based activists and others by ‘leftist’ peace activists. One such open space is the Creative Zionist Circle, which ipso facto limits its discussions to the context of Zionism. The meetings are extremely interesting. Another political circle is the Israel Forum (co-founded by myself) which is more concerned with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promotion of political diversity. I think these discussions circles are very important as they create alternative spaces for people to discuss views which do not find their way through the institutionalized American-Jewry. Jewschool becomes sometimes some kind of online political circle.
Ariel Beery, co-founder of the Creative Zionist Circle, pointed out today in the circle’s website the need for having decentralized circles around the issue of Zionism. I would like to extend this call also to discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Zionist/Post-Zionist/Anti-Zionist debate and of course all topics that can be included under the general umbrella of Judaism.
A fellow activist from Philadelphia started a Jewish Dialogue program. This is a great resource to check out if you are thinking of facilitating dialogue. I would encourage you all to formalize political and cultural circles in your community.
by Moishe Oofnik · Tuesday, May 25th, 2004
Isn’t it time for some Tikkun in NYC? Check out the Creative Zionist Circle’s session, which seems promising. Tonight!
by The Town Crier · Tuesday, May 25th, 2004
In honor of the Holiday of Shavuot, of which it is customary to eat Dairy and lots of Jewish Cheescake, bakers In the Israeli port city of Haifa, believe they have created the largest cheescake in the world, measuring measuring three meters (118 inches) in length and a meter high (39 inches). Attention Guiness: The cake is on display in a Haifa Shopping Center.
by Mobius · Monday, May 24th, 2004
The JTA writes,
Common wisdom has it that Jewish students are facing a deep crisis as college campuses across the United States burn with anti-Israel fervor.
Certainly there has been an outpouring of anti-Israel agitation at many campuses since the Palestinian intifada began in September 2000. Faculty, especially in the field of Middle Eastern studies, often are anti-Israel, and student efforts to force schools to divest their holdings in companies that do business with Israel have garnered headlines, if not mass support.
Last fall, Israeli Cabinet minister Natan Sharansky visited 13 American college campuses and reported that he was horrified by what he found.
But aside from the most egregious cases, is the common wisdom true?
Full story.
by Mobius · Monday, May 24th, 2004
The Sioux City Journal has an interesting story about the founding of the local Jewish cemetary.
by Mobius · Monday, May 24th, 2004
It’s a couple of days old already but uh, JPost reports,
Jewish Girl Scouts in New York, who were warned by the national Girl Scouts against marching in uniform at the annual Israel Day Parade because it would be “insensitive to Arab Scouts,” have at the last minute received an okay.
That this should have even been an issue just doesn’t seem right…
[Update] The JTA reports,
“Ellen Christie, spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., said that wasn’t true. “We would never tell the girls that they couldn’t participate in a parade,” she said. Christie said scouts are prohibited from marching only in parades endorsing political candidates.
Two years ago, however, local parents expressed concerned about the safety of girls marching in the parade because of tension in the Middle East, she said.
Erm, another example of pro-Israel reactionaryism?
by Mobius · Monday, May 24th, 2004
The Palm Beach Post catches up with the King David Bikers.
by The Town Crier · Monday, May 24th, 2004
In response to media noise that she put on weight, Britneys Spears has quit Atkins for a diet that suits her, “Strictly Kosher.” The pop tart cites musical mentor and kissing partner, Madonna, as her inspiration for the move. Rumor has it that Ms. Spears is now considering tatooing herself with a backwards OU or Chof-K.
by Mobius · Monday, May 24th, 2004
How’s this for surreal? The Folksbiene has Neil Sedaka singing Barry Sister’s tunes with the Klezmatics at Carnegie Hall. My parents and grandparents already got their tickets…
