by Kol Ra'ash Gadol · Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
I don’t know how I missed this sorry story for nearly two weeks.
It seems that on October 17th the story broke in NC news that Rabbi David Alan Stein, who had been working at The American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro as the director of campus life, was charged with having sex with a now 16 year old boy.
This is rather curious as it was last spring (and Stein was fired), and the alleged acts took place in the 2006-2007 year. The most interesting thing, in my opinion, is that there has been no big news brou ha ha around the country as there was with, for example, the schlemiel David Kay (who resigned his rabbinate). From mental health professionals with whom I have spoken, that poor schmo would likely have never actually acted out his pathetic fantasies if he hadn’t been entrapped in that particular way. Reagardless of whether he would have or not, however, now, we have a guy who has been charged with actually doing something, and the news just dies stillborn, as best as I can tell.
Is this simply evidence that clergy engaging in appalling acts simply have become so commonplace that we no longer notice unless they’re served up with some sort of entrapment scandal where we get to indulge in our worst voyeuristic tendencies and read the transcripts?
by sarah · Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
Apparently, this robot likes to write perfect copies of the Bible onto “endless rolls of paper.” Hmmmm….
From Boing Boing gadgets
by shamirpower · Sunday, October 28th, 2007
As a new member of the Park Slope Food Coop, I am just barely starting to learn about the world of cooperatives. The Park Slope Coop, which originally did not sell meat or alcohol, now to carries kosher organic meet and imported gourmet beer. As I have spoken to many long time members about these hot issues, though I heard about a great deal of controversy, no story I have heard comes close to this one.
Personally, one of the reasons I joined the coop is that they have many local products, particularly vegetables. While I see some of the political reasons for boycotting Israeli products (even when I was in Israel it was often difficult to tell when certain products had come from the occupied territories), for me, the ecological footprint of any overseas product is so high, I can easily “boycott” most Israeli (and other imported) products by eating seasonally and locally whenever possible. Of course olive oil comes to mind as one that is particularly difficult to come by in the northeast US…
Last week, a food coop in Ann Arbor officially voted against a boycott that was to prevent the coop from selling products made in Israel or the occupied territories:
After a month-long polling period - culminating nearly eight months of discussion and petitioning - members of People’s Food Co-op in Ann Arbor voted against a proposed boycott of Israeli goods.
The referendum was initiated by a co-op member, then a member of the group Boycott Israeli Goods (BIG).
In addition to boycotting all Israeli goods, the referendum also asked that the co-op “purchase no goods made, grown or originated in Israel or in Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank.”
The co-op carries fewer than a dozen Israeli-produced items, which co-op president Linda Diane Feldt said is merely “one-tenth of 1 percent of sales - less than $5,000 per year.”
Among the 6,000 members of the co-op, 1,128 valid votes were cast, with 262 members voting in favor of the boycott and 866 opposed.
Full story.
Jewschool readers: please share any news you may have from your local coop regarding Israeli imports.
Editor’s note: Did anyone else know that one could get a *.coop web address? So cool!
by shamirpower · Sunday, October 28th, 2007
Mazal tov to the ever-fabulous Becca Oshins for organizing this important program. It is so exciting to see active, passionate students using the resources of the established Jewish institutions to make an impact. (Well…okay in this case, through no impact…)
Footprint Forward, NYU No-Impact Week 2007
Presented by the Bronfman Center Selma Ruben Distinguished Lecture Serie
NYU Footprint Forward Week (November 4-12) is about making an active environmental difference in a livable way. Through presentations, workshops, a guidebook, and an online community, we hope to inspire over 500 students and community members at NYU and in the surrounding neighborhood to live as close to a zero net impact lifestyle as possible for the duration of the week!
While low-impact living necessitates some changes in lifestyle, Footprint Forward is ultimately about doing more, not less. It means making choices that are within the boundaries of our professional, academic and personal needs that help sustain our school, our city, and our world – as well as ourselves.
Footprint Forward begins on November 4th at 2:00PM at NYU’s Bronfman Center with a private workshop with “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan, www.noimpactman.com, and culminates with a community-wide lecture in the Great Hall at Cooper Union on November 12th at 7:15PM. Throughout the week there will be positive impact events, lectures, volunteer opportunities, social opportunities and more. All are welcome to participate to whatever degree they are comfortable.
Rebecca Oshins and Adam Brock, student co-chairs of Footprint Forward, are dedicated to making a real impact. As Rebecca says, “Footprint Forward is a chance for each of us to make a significant positive impact in our community and in our lives. We are so excited to see the high level of participation and commitment from across the university.”
For more information on Footprint Forward, a complete calendar of events and to register please visit this link.
The event is co-sponsored by the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life Selma Ruben Distinguished Lecture Series, and the NYU Green Arch, with participation from clubs and organizations across campus.
Contact information:
Jill Goldstein
Footprint Forward Committee, NYU Senior
jill.goldstein -at - nyu - dot - edu
954.614.9783
by Danya · Sunday, October 28th, 2007
My friend Justin is reading The Travels of Rabbi Pesachia of Regensburg, the travel writing of a 12th Century rabbi who journeys from Prague to the Mediterranean and Middle East. He sent me the following excerpt, which I thought might be of interest to some of y’all:
åøáé ùîåàì, éù ìå ñôø äéçñ ùìå òã ùîåàì äøîúé áï àì÷ðä: åàéï ìå áðéí àìà áú àçú: åäéà á÷éàä á÷øééä åáúìîåã. åäéà îìîãú ä÷øééä ìáçåøéí ãøê çìåï àçã. åäéà ñâåøä ááðéï. åäúìîéãéí áçåõ ìîèä åàéðí øåàéí àåúä. åëì àøõ àùåø åáãîù÷ áòøé ôøñ åîãé åáàøõ ááì àéï ìäí ãééï àìà îé ùîåñø øáé ùîåàì øàù éùéáä…åçåúîå äåìê áëì äàøöåú åáàøõ éùøàì.
Rabbi Shmuel has a book of geneology going back as far as Shmuel the Ramathean, son of Elkanah. He has no sons but, rather, one daughter. She is an expert in Scripture and Talmud. She gives instruction in Scripture to young men by way of one window. She is within the building, and the students are below outside, and they do not see her. And in all of the land of Assyria and Damascus, in all the cities of Persia and Media, as well as the land of Bavel, they have no judge other than those appointed by Rabbi Shmuel, head of the academy…..His authority is acknowledged in every country, and also in the land of Israel.
It’s a great tidbit–this 12th Century daughter of a very, very important Baghdad rabbi was expert in and a teacher of Jewish text. They solved any issues of possible impropriety by placing a building between her and her students (this understandable given the time and place), but nobody seemed to quibble about her ability to drop knowledge. There are a scant handful of women who are known to have been Torah teachers in the ancient and medieval world; I always love when another one comes to light.
by shamirpower · Sunday, October 28th, 2007
The country’s oldest community Jewish day school finally gives in and changes its name to satisfy a major donor. Read on to learn about the outcry of alumni:
At a private Jewish day school outside of Philadelphia, school long called Akiba Hebrew Academy, alumni are outraged about a donation from an alum that mandated a name change to an unrecognizable name tied to a concept foreign to what many of us learned at Akiba, a school where values used to come first.
Akiba is the oldest Jewish community day school in the United States. It has many distinguished alumni including individuals active across the religious and political spectrum in the American Jewish community and in Israel.
See the letter below signed by more than half of the class of ’71 as well as the response from the school which ignores both requests made in our letter and then asks for our financial support!
Considering the growing influence of individual donors in American Jewish life we thought your readers would also be interested in the Akiba story, one that well illustrates the pitfalls of modern-day fundraising for private Jewish schools and other institutions in the American Jewish community.
If you wish, several of people who signed the letter are available for interviews. Please respond to this e-mail with a request if you wish to speak to one or more of the alumni.
Thank you,
The Akiba Hebrew Academy Class of 1971
AkibaClassof71- at - a o l - dot - com
(original letter and response below)
More »
by Ben Baruch · Sunday, October 28th, 2007
by masthead · Saturday, October 27th, 2007
A Jewschool exclusive, written by Rabbi Elie Kaunfer
It is clear to any baseball fan, and to anyone with a sense of history, that the Red Sox are the Jews, and the Yankees are Ancient Rome, Assyria, or pick your classic nation-state villain. The Yankees are a world-class dynasty, always pull it out, conquer the world with their braggadocio. And the Red Sox are the band of rebels that always find a way to come close to redemption, but blow it in the end. Think Bar Kochba: sure they attain independence for a few years (win the division title) but when it comes to restoring the monarchy (World Series), not a chance.
Until 2004. That year was “next year.” The first World Series victory since 1918. It was the year I got married, and my brother joked in his toast (in mid-July), that I am a true-believer, and “this is the year” for the Sox. But it turned out to really be the year: Johnny Damon and the Sox crew
pulled off the greatest baseball comeback of all time, down 3-0 against the Yankees, with perhaps the most exciting week of baseball yet.
Yet here we are, still living in an unredeemed world. How can it be? As a kid, religion and baseball were always intertwined. I got Bar Mitzvahed during the 1986 World Series, when the Sox lost to the Mets in stunning fashion. That was the year Peter Gammons wrote a column that began: “How will it feel if the Red Sox ever win?…How in God’s name will it feel?”
It felt great. Incredible, in fact. Celebrating at a “Red Sox bar” in the heart of NYC, all the fans finally coming out of hiding. But what do you do afterward? This is baseball, after all, so shouldn’t everything change when the Sox win? I find myself wondering: Is it better to be crushed by the near-misses or to be lulled by victory?
There are those who are getting used to the Sox winning ways. Time to cast off the tragic New England mindset, and grow into a dynasty. But that ignores the essence of the Sox, their Jewish neshama. As Mike Barnicle once wrote: “Baseball is not a life and death matter, but the Red Sox are.” Are they, though, if they turn into Rome?
So I am watching this World Series with confusion. Of course I am pulling for the Sox, and I am astounded at their comeback against Cleveland. But when the New York Times publishes a column calling the Red Sox the new Yankees, all cannot be right. The cosmos seems out of order. One can only hope that true Messianic redemption will feel different.
Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, a Sox fan living in exlile, is executive director of Mechon Hadar: An Institute for Prayer, Personal Growth and Jewish Study. Mechon Hadar has launched the first full-time independent egalitarian yeshiva in the United States: Yeshivat Hadar To see some highlights of our 2007 summer, click here.
by rokhl · Friday, October 26th, 2007
It looks like David Brooks, founder and CEO of DHB Industries, (and current contender for world’s worst person) has done a lot of bad stuff. The federal government just charged him with, among other things, securities fraud and tax evasion. According to the indictment, Brooks sold $185 million of dollars of stock in his company (that’s the insider trading part) upon learning that 6,000 bullet proof vests he was selling didn’t work. As in, they couldn’t stop bullets. Yeah. the company produced were about to be recalled for being faulty.
This is some pretty loathesome behavior, allegedly. But what does the Post lead with? War Profiteer Hates American Troops and Wants Them Full of Holes? Nah. War Profiteer Bilks Investors AND Hates Troops? Nahhhh. Too obvious. Nope, the Post’s headline on this story: the $10 million dollars he looted from his company to pay for his daughter’s bat mitzvah. Two years ago. Granted, this is shocking and repulsive. But the focus on the bat mitzvah ends up shaping the way that other outlets spread the story. See today’s post on Jezebel, where the comments end up focusing on JAPs and the excesses of the modern Bat Mitzvah. And, frankly, I can’t help feeling like there’s a whiff of subtle anti-semitic incitement in choosing to lead with the sensational, Jewish exploitation aspect of the story. Call me crazy, but I felt a little scared reading this. Whatever the impact, this is yet another reason to hate the Post, I suppose.
by BZ · Friday, October 26th, 2007
Guest post from ahavatcafe:
On Thursday October 18, 2007, NYU’s Bronfman Center hosted “Orthodox Paradox: A Debate on Jewish Values,” a panel presentation featuring Shmuley Boteach, Michael Steinhardt, and Noah Feldman, three controversial men with profoundly different conceptions of what Jewish values are and why they matter.
Before diving into the debate myself (don’t worry, you’re getting more than just a summary here), here’s some biographical information about each of the panelists:
Shmuley Boteach (the rebbe) is an Orthodox rabbi, educator, and author who considers himself “America’s Rabbi.” Host of the television show “Shalom in the Home,” on TLC Shmuley is the founder of the Jewish Values Network, a television network created to share Jewish values with the world.
Michael Steinhardt (the king, he has referred to himself jokingly as David HaMelech) is one of the most-well known Jewish philanthropists, having donated over $125 million to Jewish causes. Steinhardt was instrumental in creating Birthright Israel and the Jewish Campus Service Corps, as well as The Makor/Steinhardt 92nd Street Y. Steinhardt’s philanthropy is directed through The Jewish Life Network, his foundation, and focuses on “major projects that revitalize American Jewish life.”
Noah Feldman (the scholar) is a Rhodes scholar, author and Professor of Law at Harvard University. He helped to draft the first Iraq constitution, and much of his work focuses on the intersection of religion and politics. In the summer of 2007, Feldman published a controversial article in the New York Times called “Orthodox Paradox” in which he provided a scathing critique of the Modern Orthodoxy community in Boston in claiming that he and his non-Jewish wife were intentionally removed from a photo of Maimonides alumni.
More »
by zt · Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
I was walking near my office earlier this week and overheard a conversation between two bikers. Both were riding fixed gear bikes and wearing vintage hats. One of the two bikers had on a keffiyeh with the PLO/Arafat keffiyeh worn as a scarf.
This is what i heard:
keffiyeh guy: so, lunch?
non-nationalist symbolism guy: yeah let’s grab falafel.
kg: [several second pause] falafel, what’s falafel?
nnsg: you know, it’s, like, made of chick peas. it’s really fuckin’ good.
kg: whatever man. i’m always up for some new shit.
thank god for urban outfitters and amateurish hipsters. a winning combination if ever there was one.
in related food news, today i got some takeout and they threw in a fortune cookie. I got back to work and ate at my desk while trying to hit a deadline. the fortune:
“there is a true and sincere friendship between you both.”
Both? Me and my computer? In bed?
by BZ · Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
Here at Jewschool, we’ve been reporting on the machinations regarding the shemitah year in Israel. As you may have heard, the rabbanut went through with the heter mechirah (sale of the land of Israel to non-Jews, permitting the use of its produce) as usual, but in a half-assed way, allowing local rabbinical councils to set their own policies, so that local rabbinates could decide not to accept the heter mechirah and to deny kashrut certification to stores and restaurants that relied on it. The case has been pending before the Supreme Court for almost 2 months. In the meantime, here in Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem Rabbinate has not accepted the heter mechirah, a number of businesses have gotten around this by getting their kashrut certification from the nearby Mateh Yehuda Regional Council.
Today, the Supreme Court invalidated this decision of the Chief Rabbinate. The heter mechirah is once again the law of the land, and “the Chief Rabbinate must override any council rabbi that refuses to grant the sales permit and appoint in his [or her*] place a rabbi that would allow the loophole.”
This may be a much-needed smackdown to the Chief Rabbinate, or (unfortunately) this decision may help save the Chief Rabbinate from itself.
* Just kidding!
by Kung Fu Jew · Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
CAMERA, the amusingly-rabid Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, held a conference taking aim at Jewish defilers of Israel — defamers technically — and aimed their wrath at one of Israel’s most-read and respected papers, Haaretz.
What?? Should I laugh?
JTA reports:
In her opening remarks, [Executive Director Andrea] Levin insisted that it is not criticism that is at issue, but defamation, which, when coming from Jews, is afforded added potency. She singled out Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper, one of the country’s most respected news sources and — through its English-language edition and Web site — a chief source of media perspective on Israel abroad. Levin accused the paper of printing outright lies and failing to issue corrections, even when the mistakes are pointed out.
David Landau, Ha’aretz’s editor-in-chief, refused — “as a matter of policy and principle” — to respond to the substance of Levin’s criticisms because they came from CAMERA, an organization that he dismissed as “Mcarthyite.”
“I advise your readers to relate to CAMERA’s tendentious statements and comments with the same measure of skepticism,” Landau said, “and to read Ha’aretz.com and draw their own conclusions as to the veracity of our reporting and the contribution of our op-ed columns to honest and caring debate within Israel and the Jewish world.”
CAMERA has hardly managed a level of mature discourse such as Landau. He speaks to half the battle in his response.
Among other targets included Rabbi Michael Lerner — “Only imagine Karl Marx davening and you will comprehend the dazzlement of Rabbi Lerner’s current achievement,” said a presenter. (What??) Even if that’s not a non sequitur already, the guy has always supported a two-state solution, the man’s son served in the IDF, etc. Hippy or not, the founder of Tikkun Magazine is just one of many Jews who get CAMERA’s crosshairs for not speaking a Likud or National Religious Party line. CAMERA, me thinks, must be somewhere thereabouts politically.
Shout out to Samuel Freedman, journalism professor at Columbia University and a man I greatly respect for his commitment to independent journalism (he’s on the board of New Voices magazine) makes a brief appearance in the article to corroborate CAMERA’s partisan ilk-ery.
Disagreeing with editorial bias is fine — Haaretz is left after all. But to accuse them of lying and defamation? What betzim.
by Danya · Monday, October 22nd, 2007
The Progressive Jewish Alliance in Los Angeles (along with Ikar) is putting together a kosher fashion show–that is to say, an event designed to raise awareness of sweatshop clothing and its alternatives.
Deets:
Rags to Righteousness features: a sweatshop-free market place, dj, fashion show, drinks, snacks and more.
Sunday, November 4th at 5PM - Fashion Show at 6PM
Writers Boot Camp @ Bergamot Station Arts Center
2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA
For even more details, go here.
by Danya · Sunday, October 21st, 2007
A new website, FreeRice.Com (a sister site of Poverty.Com), has come up with a pretty intriguing plan: get people to play a vocab quiz game, and for every word gotten right, 10 grains of rice are donated through the United Nations World Food Program to hungry people around the world. (Those 10 grains add up if you play for a while.) The revenue is generated from pageviews for the advertisers at the bottom of the quiz game.
The vocab is pretty good–they have like 50 levels that self-adjust based on your answers, so it becomes pretty tough pretty quickly and, I have to say, kind of addictive.
Since you’re going to goof off online anyway, why not do it in such a way that helps someone?
(Tip from Justin G.)
by shamirpower · Sunday, October 21st, 2007
Zeek’s fall issue is being released this week! Dedicated to music and featuring artists including Philip Glass, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sagol 59, Laurie Anderson, Basya Schechter, Kobi Oz, and including a FREE CD of the best new Jewish music with every magazine, the fall issue is Zeek’s most ambitious ever. To celebrate, we’re having a series of events, coinciding with the Oy!hoo Jewish music festival in New York.
Below is a listing of the four NYC events. Note that the first one is also co-sponsored by Jewschool, so perhaps we’ll see some of you there!
Chana Rothman’s We Can Rise Launch Party
Wednesday, October 24, 7pm
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston Street
Zeek featured artist, Canadian-raised Brooklynite Chana Rothman, takes you on a roots-driven lyrical journey of spoken word, acoustic reggae, and freestyle rhymes. Incorporating both ancient and modern Hebrew into her message of empowerment and unity. $10.
The Party Continues…
Wednesday, October 24, 8pm
Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery
After Chana’s set, head over to the Bowery Poetry club for a night of poetry and music hosted by Zeek contributor and Mimaamakim impresario Jake Marmer. Featuring Jake’s own Frantic Turtle and a night full of howlers, screamers, shouters, and freaks. Zeeks for sale and drinks are flowing.
Shemspeed Launch Party
Thursday, October 25, 8pm
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street
Join Zeek and their frequent co-conspirator dj handler, for an all-star night launching Shemspeed, the largest and most diverse Jewish music site on the web, and Zeek’s Fall 2007 Music Issue. With performances by: Y-Love*, Pharaoh’s Daughter* Unplugged, King Django, Sway Machinery w/Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Smadar, Blue Fringe, Rav Shmuel, Rachael Sage, dj handler, Shem’s Disciples, Kosha Dillz, Yuri Lane, DJ Balagan, Michelle Citrin, Chana Rothman*, Juez*, Jon Madof, Noir, D. Wolf from Felonious, Luminescent Orchestrii, Jay Michaelson*, Matthue Roth, Hebrew Mamita, Adam Shechter, Jake Marmer* and many more special guests. Two floors, $15.
* indicates Zeek featured artist
Ravayah
Saturday, October 27, 8pm
Centerpoint Yoga Studios, 324 Lafayette St.
Ready for the biggest bash of them all? Join Zeek at Romemu’s Ravayah, a full night of music, celebration, poetry, performance, and more. Celebrating both the release of Zeek’s fall issue and the publication of Zeek chief editor Jay Michaelson’s new book, Another Word for Sky: Poems. Featuring Jay’s ecstatic poetry performance with drums and music, performances by and more, and a dance party into the wee hours.
Lineup:
8pm: Zeek release concert w/ Basya Schechter & Avi Fox Rosen, plus readings by Jon Papernick from his new novel Who by Fire, Who by Blood
9pm: Havdalah w/Rabbi David Ingber & musicians
10p: Ecstatic poetry, drums, & performance w/Jay\u2008Michaelson
11p dance party w/DJ\u2008Busquelo and drums
plus organic food, chill space, massage, community and more
Cosponsored by Zeek: A Jewish Journal of Thought and Culture, Nehirim: GLBT Jewish Culture Spirituality and Kehilat Romemu.
$10 with books, magazines, organic food, and CDs available for purchase.
Okay seriously folks - this Shamir wants to see you there so we can all party together.
by Danya · Friday, October 19th, 2007
This should have been posted last week, but I just found out about it today.
The New Israel Fund is sponsoring symposia all over the U.S. and in Toronto (which is like an American city, but Canadian) this week and over the next week or two, in honor of Israel’s impending 60th birthday. The goal:
NIForum 2007 is a week-long series of events around North America, challenging Israelis and Diaspora Jews to imagine a more just, equitable and pluralistic state.
Featuring activists and leaders from Israel, the NIForum is the only series that focuses in depth on social issues in Israel. The events will offer progressive supporters of Israel a platform for dialogue on vital questions affecting Israel today: How can a Jewish and democratic state also become a real home for its Arab citizens? How can a state founded on the ideals of equity regain fair social and economic policies? How can equality for the various streams of Judaism and true religious pluralism be attained?
As Israel nears its 60th anniversary, we invite you to be a part of a dialogue about supporting Israel – and changing it for the better. Join us to explore the issues that will impact Israel’s future. Meet the activists and leaders shaping Israeli society. And be a part of a frank and honest discussion of the choices Israel faces as it strives for ideals not yet attained.
The events in Philly, Boston, Toronto and DC have already happened, but there will be events in NYC, SF, Chicago, Miami, LA and Seattle happening between October 21st and 28th.
More specifically:
New York City Sunday October 21
Chicago Monday, October 22
Miami Monday, October 22
Los Angeles Tuesday, October 23
Seattle Wednesday, October 24
San Francisco Sunday October 28
For more information on the forums themselves and the events in your city, go here.
by Ben Baruch · Friday, October 19th, 2007
