by sarah [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
I had the extreme pleasure yesterday of hanging with 300 or so of my best friends at the San Francisco Feast of Jewish Learning, a fantastic event (with the predictable exception of the stalker weirdos who flock to “young adult” Jewish events.) I got to learn with Daniel Boyarin and schmooze with lots of other Bay Area smartypantses like Rabbi Josh Strulowitz, Jhos Singer and David Henkin.
I went to a session called Jews in the Big House, hosted by J.T. Gottlieb and Dr. Debbie Findling, who was one of his teachers at San Quentin. J.T. served a life sentence of 25 years in famous prisons like Folsom and San Quentin for driving the getaway car in a murder when he was a teenager. He was denied parole 4 times by 3 governors and finally was released just this past September by the Governator. He shared his story of convinction, rage and ultimately rehabilitation through education. Quoting from a PJA story:
“I call it an epiphany from G-d,†he said. “I believe that G-d asked me to do good deeds. I saw the opportunity to rehabilitate myself.â€
Gottlieb was able to find a niche for himself in the tough prison population by becoming the go-to guy for prisoners who wanted to better themselves through education, to “stay on the team rather than sit on the bench fuming.” He sheparded prisoners through the pathetic offerings of the prison system, gaining himself a college degree and pushing many others into school and vocational programs. Now, he’s on the trying to make a future for himself on the lecture circuit, talking about the importance of bettering yourself and keeping kids out of trouble.
How Jewish. Here’s a guy who’s been out of prison for 5 months after basically growing up there, and what is he doing? Speaking at the JCC. He held up a hamantaschen and told us that it will be basically his first Purim since he was a little kid and thanked us deeply for the special little cookie. He is so excited to begin creating a living Jewish identity after having to hide it in prison, a breeding ground for neo-Nazi, white supremacist hate groups.
If you have any connection to organizations that work with at-risk youth, J.T. Gottlieb is extremely eager to come talk to them about the reality of crime and punishment. Post your contact information in the comments and I will pass it along.
by Jewish Robot [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
by EV [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
“Ooh, hey baby, I didn’t hear you come in. My roommate and I were too busy … studying for our LSATs.”
Hazon has put up a video teaser, filled with the usual stereotypes but still funny, in advance of its annual “Shushan Channel” Purim spiel, March 13 at Makor.
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
Tens of thousands of French Jews responding to the murder of Ilan Halimi, took to the streets of Marsailles, Paris and Jerusalem in protest Sunday, many brandishing the flag of the Jewish Defense League, the right-wing extremist faction founded by R’ Meir Kahane. For video click here.
A memorial service was held at La Victoire synagogue Thursday night, in Paris, and was attended by President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, as well as several local Christian and Muslim leaders.
Halimi’s distant cousin, Shmouel Halimi, a French ex-pat living in Jerusalem and an avid reader of Jewschool responds: “Generally, French Jews are right-wing. Sometimes very right-wing. We do not like Arabs. You need to live in France to understand this. Arabs in France are very violent and hateful. They attack Jews all the time, for years on-end. You can’t imagine the situation.”
When asked if he felt that “responding to hate with hate” is the right thing to do, he replied, “No, I prefer to focus on the light. The Torah is our force. But I dont like the Arabs in France. There is nothing controlling them. They are extremely racist. So, then, what? Should we love them?”
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
Attention ecologists, educators, activists and nature lovers: Are you interested in a rooted Jewish-spiritual approach to issues and ideals running throughout various branches of the Environmental Movement?
Announcing the Spring session of the Eco-Activist Beit Midrash, a part of Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo, located in the heart of Jerusalem. The program is open to people of all backgrounds in observance and learning.
Come and explore deep Jewish teachings on the role of humanity in our eco-system, permaculture, bio-diversity and approaching activism. Open a guided conversation into our tradition’s wisdom, values and approaches to this modern issue. Three days a week of learning, and two days of community service and tiyulim in the local ecology, we will form a temporary learning and doing community, affecting change of all realms in Jerusalem.
The program starts May 21-June 22.
For more information visit shlomoyeshiva.org/eco.
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
Hebrew Union College will be presenting Eve Ensler’s controversial hit, “The Vagina Monologues”, Thursday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 4 at the HUC Mo’adon (13 R’ King David, Jerusalem). Advanced tickets can be purchased by e-mailing hucvagina at gmail dot com.
Read about Ensler’s visit to Jerusalem in 2002 for the first Israeli performance of her play here, in Haaretz.
by sashinka [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
Post-purim, technically, but Jewdas (who dey?) and Heeb are hosting a punkPurim gathering in Whitechapel’s Rampart space on Saturday night March 18th.
Apparently the Jewdas folk are bringing radical Yiddish-style culture back to the East End, and it looks like a cool night of live music (Ghettoplotz and Emunah), poetry from angry sam and adam cohen (he is way cool, and is, I think, the official Yahoo poet, if you knew ther was such a thing), radical torah from Jeremy schonfield and Simon Eder, film, VJ Miki Grahame (ghettoplotz as well as my friend), slides curated by Sarah maxwell (heeb magazine) and a deconstructive megilla from florian to boot.
You can’t say you’ll be bored. And it appears to be free to get in. Feels like now is a cool-n-funky time to be living in London.
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, February 27th, 2006
I’m no fan of the Jerusalem Post. Never really have been. If you need an explaination, two words that should sum things up nicely are “Caroline Glick.” Caroline Glick is a right-wing ideologue of the worst variety, and the deputy managing editor of the Post, who, while emedded in Iraq, rushed to report that US troops had discovered a chemical weapons plant, though in fact, they had not. Glick, who, rumor has it, has been asked to work the night shift from home because none of her co-workers can stand to be in the same room with her, and, under whose editorship the Post continues to run rampant with typographical and factual errors, is regularly given a soap box in the editorial section of the paper to, for example, charge the American Jewish Left with Hamas’ victory.
So when the Post’s subscription department called me up one evening, pushing me to subscribe, I was reluctant to say the least. In fact, I must have said, “no thank you” and “not interested” two dozen times before hanging up. When they called back ten minutes later insisting they’d give me “an unbeatable deal” I finally caved just to get them to leave me the hell alone.
More »
by BZ [➚] · Sunday, February 26th, 2006
An announcement from our friends at Keshet:
The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards is meeting March 7-8 to discuss the Conservative Movement’s stance on homosexuality.
In preparation, Keshet invites all JTS students, faculty, and staff to:
Lost (and Found?)
a candid talk with the
REAL PEOPLE
affected by our policies
featuring:
Gabriel Blau
Jarah Greenfield
Kate O’Brien
Wednesday March 1, 12:15-1:15
Beit Midrash
Gabriel Blau is an author, educator, and founder of God and Sexuality: an Academic Conference on Religion and Issues of Sexuality and Gender at Bard College.
Jarah Greenfield is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College who could not apply to JTS because of the policy prohibiting lesbian and gay ordination. She serves on the board of Rabbis for Human Rights, and has studied at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education.
Kate O’Brien attended the JTS Rabbinical School from 2001-2004 before being forced to leave due to the policy prohibiting lesbian and gay ordination. She is currently studying for masters’ degrees in Jewish Education and Bible at JTS and serves as director of Alma NY, a new progressive learning community.
This Wednesday, at JTS. All are invited, and I hear there is free food!
Background: the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards is the Conservative movement’s version of the College of Cardinals, but not as transparent. Demonstrating its commitment to halachic innovation, the CJLS has created the new halachic category of “homosexual” out of whole cloth. In the spirit of the rabbis who extended the Torah’s “Do not cook a kid in its mother’s milk” to prohibit eating, cooking, and deriving benefit from any mixture of meat and milk, the CJLS has taken an opaque biblical verse that chaza”l understood as banning a specific sex act between two men, and extended it to exclude anyone of either sex who identifies as “gay” or “lesbian” (with no actions necessary) from various communal roles. This is the part where Moses shows up to Rabbi Akiva’s classroom and says “What are you thinking???”
Even when the CJLS is at its most inclusive, it says “We emphatically recognize the human dignity (k’vod habriut [sic]) of all such individuals, and invite them to participate within our religious communities.” (Who is “we”? Who is “them”? Whose religious communities?)
by BZ [➚] · Sunday, February 26th, 2006
Independent minyanim are featured in Time magazine!
Like Kol haKfar, many of the new communities thriving in cities across the U.S. are run by volunteers–with a healthy representation in their 20s and 30s–and offer religious services organized almost exclusively by e-mail. The groups tend to avoid denominational classification.
Full (very short) story.
by Lilit [➚] · Sunday, February 26th, 2006
The concept of chosenness is both central to Judaism and often misunderstood. Throughout history, it has been seen as an affront by many non-Jews. Rare is the indictment of the Jews that does not, in some way, invoke this idea that presumably suggests the Jews are better than everyone else.
Rabbi David Wolpe (author of Beliefnet.com‘s “Ask the Rabbi”) uses this paragraph to start a review of Jean Daniel’s new book The Jewish Prison. The Jewish notion of “chosenness,” Daniel argues, is a concept that interferes with feminism, democracy, and the possibility of peace in Israel. Read the rest here.
by David Kelsey [➚] · Sunday, February 26th, 2006
The NY Post reports,
Al Qaeda warned the government of the United Arab Emirates more than three years ago that it “infiltrated” key government agencies, according to a disturbing document released by the U.S. military.
The warning was contained in a June 2002 message to UAE rulers, in which the terror network demanded the release of an unknown number of “mujahedeen detainees,” who it said had been arrested during a government crackdown in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks [...] The document was among a batch of internal al Qaeda communications captured by U.S. forces in the war on terror.
They were declassified and released earlier this month by the Center for Combating Terrorism at West Point.
Now I just want to point out that just because someone is an Al Qaeda member does not mean that they are any less capable of doing their job than anyone else, and a person’s political or religious affiliation should not affect whether or not they are hired for a job. So too, the political affiliation of a few of their workers should also not affect whether the corporation they work for secures a contract or not. I mean, I’ve worked with Red Sox fans at other companies (and they are at least as hostile to New York as Al Qaeda ;)), but that doesn’t mean the corporation they work for should be considered hostile to a New York one! What happened to innocent until proven guilty, folks? Give the U.A.E. a break! Dubai corporations are corporations too!
This information may have been declassified recently, but I am sure that the Bush administration was aware of this alleged compromised intelligence, and if Bush says it’s no big deal and nothing to worry about, then why should we worry? Bush has never been one to be overly pollyannaish about Middle Eastern desires and intentions, so if he says it’s okay, it probably is.
Yes, the U.A.E. may have facilitated the funding of 9/11, and yes, they may have been infiltrated by Al Qaeda, but you know what? That happened, like, over three years ago. Those guys may have died or something since then, or moved on to a radically different career path. Or maybe they changed their mind. I know I see things differently than I did three years ago over three years ago. Everyone deserves a second chance. And hey – Al Qaeda might find out that they have more in common with New Yorkers than they thought. Maybe we don’t agree on everything political or philosophical, but where else is Al Qaeda going to be able to buy a falafel at 3am? You see? New York’s not so bad! This port deal could actually prove a much needed bridge towards greater understanding between the two groups. If it goes well — and hey, there is always a blowup or two in these situations at first, these things take time – but I say it’s all part of the healing process, if we want it to be. And we should want it to be. Maybe if we all try hard to make it happen, we will be able to expand the dialog to a student exchange program.
So please support our president in standing up to these bigots who get all hot and bothered whenever they hear the words “security†in conjunction with a “person of color†or “Al Qaeda.†Don’t let The Man use his divide and conquer techniques. I think that’s what President Bush is really saying.
Whether it’s Al Smith, Al Kaplan, or Al Qaeda, we are all people, and we need to work together on this, and recognize it for the opportunity it really is. Don’t bring your own prejudices into the process. Our ports need security. And if Al can do the job, I say bring it on.
[Related] NJ sues Bush over ports deal; Deal extends to 21, not 6, ports; DHS opposed deal; Bush family, cabinet members tied to UAE; UAE gave $1 million to Bush library; Bush aide: If you oppose the ports deal, the terrorists win.
by Mobius [➚] · Friday, February 24th, 2006
Our friend Gili Levi, proprietor of Jerusalem’s only skateshop — the inventively named
Gili’s Skateshop — has begun printing his own series of skateboard designs, starting with this tribute to the Israeli Defense Forces. The board is currently in-stock in Gili’s shop on R’ Shammai in Jerusalem, and will soon be available for purchase through Gili’s online store.
Why he chose the British spelling of defense is beyond me, but hey, it’s better than most of the spelling in this city…
by Mobius [➚] · Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
The Lebanon Daily Star reports,
Like any good entrepreneur, Palestinian beermaker Nadim Khoury knew that adaptation would be key to his brewery’s survival under a government led by the Islamists of Hamas. So anticipating the hard-liners’ rise to power in January’s general election, Khoury decided to develop a new product – a nonalcoholic microbrew brandished with a label that coordinates perfectly with Hamas’ trademark color.
“All customers will notice the green for the Hamas flag,” said Khoury, who runs the Taybeh Brewing Company, the only brewery in the territories.
The alcohol-free version of Taybeh beer, with a label inscribed only in Arabic and whose name means “delicious,” is to be released this summer and will target the “local market,” he said.
Full story.
by Benyamin [➚] · Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
by Monk Eastman [➚] · Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
I know a lot of Black people.
Okay, let’s be polite: there are many African-Americans in my peer circle, my wife is African-American, and there are African-American congregants at my shul. Heck, Tamara helps lead services most weeks. In the African-American community, there is repeated reference to the ‘wannabe’ – the ubiquitous culture vulture who snacks on Black culture, adopting the superficial aspects, but who NEVER has to deal with the consequences of actually being Black.
In that vein, WHAT IN THE $%^&* IS GOING ON WITH THE JEWISH WANNABES, FOLKS?!
Madonna changed her name to ‘Esther’ for $%^&’s sake!
And now this.
Without giving anything away, scroll to the bottom of page one. Johnny Weir – you rock!
Special thanks to Shred Lexicon, a fellow poster here at Jewschool, for bringing this to my attention.
How do we, as a people, feel about the ‘Jew Hags’? Are they allies? Harmless culture bandits? Or do they demean who were are by wearing our Judaism like the lates Prada handbag and gulping it down like Kabbalah water?
I’m curious.
by David Kelsey [➚] · Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006
The Jewish Press, the “largest Orthodox Anglo-Jewish weekly in the world,†lashed out at the mail campaign recently waged by Un-Orthodox Jew against Yeshiva Torah Temima. Â
Alumni claiming molestation had already been mobilized under UOJ’s blog’s campaign to pressure the Yeshiva to fire the alleged child molester. When that failed, UOJ hired a lawyer, Jeffrey Herman, to represent the former students who charge they were molested in a lawsuit, and when that still failed to impress the yeshiva’s administration, UOJ sent out a mail campaign of 22,000 letters alerting the community of the claims against the Rabbi and the yeshiva’s refusal not only to believe the claims but to demonstrate that they had ever been seriously considered.
Now the Jewish Press has its pulse on its readership, and the epicenter of its readership is the Black Hat Jewish community in Brooklyn. If they thought this was a sick joke or merely a personal vendetta with no substance, they should not have addressed this mailing directly in any way shape or form. In fact, if they addressed it at all, they should merely published a puff piece about how the yeshiva was the very best ever and all its faculty members are pillars of the community (there are no shortage of “pillars of the community†in these communities).Â
Instead, the Jewish Press printed a statement from its Editorial Board about the letter, though it declined to mention UOJ by name, nor any of the subjects of the scandal. This suggests that behind the smoke is a raging fire worthy of a Lag B’Omer celebration in Har Meron.Â
This Editorial Board statement is posted on their website. What is remarkable is not what they said, but what they didn’t say. They are not disputing the claims against Torah Temima. They are only attacking the process of the mail campaign being waged against the yeshiva. They smear the man leading the fight against the yeshiva, but they do not praise the people being accused.Â
The fact that they printed this at all is startling. They must feel it is past the point of no return.Â
The Jewish Press notes,
 “Anonymous accusers effectively destroying their targets’ reputations, even before the truthfulness of the accusations are ascertained, cannot be the way of Klal Yisrael – and indeed has never been. Certainly it accords neither with halacha nor with common sense. It is precisely for this reason that for millennia we have invariably insisted that those making claims against another take the accused to a bet din in order to determine the facts and, if necessary, the halacha.â€
Keep in mind, allowing only for a “bet din†(a religious Jewish court) as a means to protest behavior would have kept OU’s scandal with Baruch Lanner from ever hitting the fan, in part because the accusers have to attend the hearing, and it would never have happened so easily or as intensely, as many of these former NCSY attendees lived outside the U.S.There may be an additional reason why the Jewish Press would prefer this remain in the Bet Din’s and not the media. The Bet Din is considered a much better bet for a sympathetic and discreet process as well as a favorable decision for the yeshiva than a secular court, and it is also not likely to interest the former students as much as a lawsuit. According to UOJ, “Many victims have come forward since they now believe that Jeff Herman Esq. has accepted the case. In a previous bais din, the kids that testified were painted as delusional and ill.â€
For a full reading of the letter and UOJ’s mail campaign, you can go here, but you get a bunch of posts and need to scroll down, because a single post can no longer be accessed — today UOJ was hacked for the second time in as many months. His attorney is in contact with google, the owner of blogger, over the repeated sabotage to his sites.
This is his new url.
Full Jewish Press Statement Â
We’ll see if the editorial board statement stays up on their site through tomorrow!
by Mobius [➚] · Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006
I just got emailed and IMed this five times in three minutes.
Oh Joti…To be “outed” on Gothamist. Especially when you’re not a lesbian.
Sigh. I think I know everyone in that room. Shamir, weren’t you
at that seder?
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