My rabbi wrote this on our synagogue's Facebook page next to a picture of Manisheweitz matzoh meal: "This is not an endorsement of any particular brand of matzoh; it's simply a gentle reminder that the season of liberation is upon us. The most important issue is drilling down to the bedrock message of the Passover story: tyrany and oppression are offensive to God and must be forcefully opposed and overturned. None of us is free until all of us are free."
Pesach is my favorite Jewish holiday because it is both somber and joyous, and those two feelings come full circle at the seder. We remember with sadness the ancient Hebrews who toiled as slaves at the hands of a cruel government.
We celebrate their liberation. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel says that after G-d's deliverance of the Israelites, "an allusion to the need for every man's own quest for God was seen homiletically in the Song of the Red Sea:
"This is my G-d, and I will glorify Him;
The G-d of my father, and I will exalt Him."
For thousands of years since the Hebrew exodus, Jews have suffered the oppression of cruel leaders time and again, through ethnic/religious discrimination, forced emigration, and genocide. Today our position in the world is better than ever. We are seen as an influential, powerful ethnic group with a vibrant culture and have contributed mightily as architects of the world.
The most recent Out Magazine says, "Without the Jews, much of 20th century culture would look very different, and we'll never know what future geniuses were lost to us in the ovens of Auschwitz."
There is still a great deal of anti-Semitism in the world. But like I always say, we should balance that awful knowledge with the equally valid point that Jews are popular. For every racist loser tweeting about "the Jewish lobby" from his parent's basement, there are countless others who support us. Most of my friends are enthusiastically interested in my religion and heritage, especially Muslims and Christians.
Aside from the ever-present hatred of Jews in some quarters, we lead much more comfortable lives than our parents did. Today, gay is the new Jewish. Mexican is the new Jewish. "None of us is free until all of us are free." That means we will not truly be free until gays are granted equal rights, until state governments stop separating immigrants from their families, until becoming an American citizen is as easy as owning a lethal firearm, until countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Uganda stop murdering/imprisoning their own gay citizens, until Israel stops war-mongering in the name of self-defense, until Palestinians have their own state.
Somber, joyous; symbolic, practical. And that's just the seder. The first night of Passover really is different from all other nights.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Response to "Why Are Jews Liberals?"
The old saying is that Jews earn like Episcopalians but vote like Puerto Ricans.
Or. . .
"Whatever the promptings of their economic interests," Jews have consistently supported "increased government spending, expanded benefits to the poor and lower classes, greater regulations on business, and the power of organized labor." So says economist Nathan Glazer when touching on a certain political phenomenon that apparently has no shelf life: Jewish liberalism.
Almost half a century after Martin Luther King, Jr. thanked Jewish Americans for their disproportionate numbers in the fight for black civil rights, U.S. Jews are still a noticeable presence in progressive political life, from the ranks of regular liberal Democrats to the likes of Chomsky and the late Howard Zinn. Even many of the harshest critics of Israel's occupation are Jewish. And it's not just irreligious, secular Jews. Reform and Conservative Judaism were among the first major religious sects to ordain female and gay clergy, and the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Theological Seminary support gay/straight equality, immigrants' rights, and labor unions.
Conservative Norman Podrohtz (along with the Jewish founders of neo-conservatism) hoped Jewish support for Democrats would end with the nomination of Barack Obama. A shady campaign was launched to convince Jews that Obama was a secret Muslim who wants to wipe out Israel. They desperately tried to scare Jews by constantly pointing out Obama's middle name. Conservatives were convinced Jews would vote Republican for the first time.
This wishful thinking caused MSNBC's Rachel Maddow to point out how ridiculous the idea of Jews voting for McCain in large numbers was, and that it obviously was not going to happen. Indeed, to Podrohtz's chagrin, 75% of Jewish voters supported Obama, more than any other religious group and more than any ethnic group other than black voters.
This frustrated Podrohtz and the few other Jewish conservatives (as well as others who are also perplexed by Jewish liberalism.) So he wrote "Why Are Jews Liberals?," an article for the Wall Street Journal, which became a book around the same time (Why Are Jews Liberals?, Doubleday, 2009.) The main thesis is this: Jews are liberals, Jews should not be liberals, and it is a mystery why Jews are liberals.
In the book and article, Podrohtz details the long, sordid history of Jewish liberalism, culminating in the presidency of Barack Hussein Obama, who--Podrohtz never bothers to point out--is actually out of step with most rabbis on health care reform and gay rights. And that's really the cruz of the problem with Podrohtz's thesis. Jewish liberalism cannot be described as mysterious or as blindly toeing the party line if most Jews prefer universal health care coverage to Obama's plan, or straight/gay equality to second-class citizenship. Maybe Jews are liberals because liberalism better suits their beliefs than conservatism.
Podrohtz distorts history by painting a rosy view of how Americans treated Jews who came to this country looking to make a better life. He claims that because of America's Christian heritage, the land of the free was a safe haven for Jews who share many of the same sacred scriptures and therefore the same values. Actually, Jews were treated with persecution in the U.S., and the discrimination they faced probably helped lead Jews to vote Democrat along with other minorities.
There were signs on restaurants saying "No Coloreds or Jews." Jewish people had a hard time finding work because so many help wanted ads read "Gentiles Only" or "Only Christians Need Apply." Universities kept Jewish students out with quotas. Normal ways of living were so difficult for Jewish Americans that many of them helped build the film industry (no surprise to racists) and became athletes (big surprise to racists.) Far from providing a safe haven, the U.S. ensured a Jewish future of nose-jobs and name changes.
Podrohtz echoes the sentiments of many white supremacists by saying liberal Jews are attempting to thwart old-fashioned values in the name of progress. But what old-fashioned values are Jews trying to thwart? Disowning daughters who get abortions? Sending gay kids to creepy Evangelical camps to make them "straight?"
Podrohtz says, "Most American Jews sincerely believe that their liberalism, together with their commitment to the Democratic Party as its main political vehicle, stems from the teachings of Judaism and reflects the heritage of "Jewish values." But if this theory were valid, the Orthodox would be the most liberal sector of the Jewish community. After all, it is they who are most familiar with the Jewish religious tradition and who shape their lives around its commandments." He then goes on to say Orthodox Jews mostly vote for Republican candidates.
Just because Orthodox Jews follow halakha to the letter does not mean they are more "familiar with the Jewish religious tradition." I am very well versed in halakha; I simply agree with Abraham Joshua Heschel that Judaism does not equal law. The Tanakh is important to my faith because of the beauty of the Psalms and the wisdom of many of the laws--not to mention an astonishing concern for the poor and oppressed that religious conservatives must be overlooking. But I am a smart, educated Jewish guy living in 2010, and if I choose to drive my car on Friday nights or to have sex with a boyfriend, it's not because I'm ignorant of the prohibitions to not do these things.
That's what Podrohtz does not understand. Religious Jews who didn't give a fuck that Obama's middle name is Hussein can point to Hashem's commandment to look out for the oppressed because we Jews were oppressed in Egypt. And secular Jews like Chomsky can point out the torrent of abuse Jews faced in the U.S. not very long ago.
Podrohtz can keep going to brunch with the famous conservative in this conversation.
PHIL DONAHUE: Let me just tell you. He accuses you, among other things, of being an anti-Semite.
ANN COULTER: Maybe that will help me with the Muslims.
DONAHUE: He says that you left New York because you wanted to get away from all these Jews. Did you say that?
COULTER: I find this very interesting, that I write a book saying liberals won't argue about things, instead what they do is call conservatives names. And I come on your show and all you're doing is calling me names.
Why are Jews liberals? It's a mystery.
Or. . .
"Whatever the promptings of their economic interests," Jews have consistently supported "increased government spending, expanded benefits to the poor and lower classes, greater regulations on business, and the power of organized labor." So says economist Nathan Glazer when touching on a certain political phenomenon that apparently has no shelf life: Jewish liberalism.
Almost half a century after Martin Luther King, Jr. thanked Jewish Americans for their disproportionate numbers in the fight for black civil rights, U.S. Jews are still a noticeable presence in progressive political life, from the ranks of regular liberal Democrats to the likes of Chomsky and the late Howard Zinn. Even many of the harshest critics of Israel's occupation are Jewish. And it's not just irreligious, secular Jews. Reform and Conservative Judaism were among the first major religious sects to ordain female and gay clergy, and the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Theological Seminary support gay/straight equality, immigrants' rights, and labor unions.
Conservative Norman Podrohtz (along with the Jewish founders of neo-conservatism) hoped Jewish support for Democrats would end with the nomination of Barack Obama. A shady campaign was launched to convince Jews that Obama was a secret Muslim who wants to wipe out Israel. They desperately tried to scare Jews by constantly pointing out Obama's middle name. Conservatives were convinced Jews would vote Republican for the first time.
This wishful thinking caused MSNBC's Rachel Maddow to point out how ridiculous the idea of Jews voting for McCain in large numbers was, and that it obviously was not going to happen. Indeed, to Podrohtz's chagrin, 75% of Jewish voters supported Obama, more than any other religious group and more than any ethnic group other than black voters.
This frustrated Podrohtz and the few other Jewish conservatives (as well as others who are also perplexed by Jewish liberalism.) So he wrote "Why Are Jews Liberals?," an article for the Wall Street Journal, which became a book around the same time (Why Are Jews Liberals?, Doubleday, 2009.) The main thesis is this: Jews are liberals, Jews should not be liberals, and it is a mystery why Jews are liberals.
In the book and article, Podrohtz details the long, sordid history of Jewish liberalism, culminating in the presidency of Barack Hussein Obama, who--Podrohtz never bothers to point out--is actually out of step with most rabbis on health care reform and gay rights. And that's really the cruz of the problem with Podrohtz's thesis. Jewish liberalism cannot be described as mysterious or as blindly toeing the party line if most Jews prefer universal health care coverage to Obama's plan, or straight/gay equality to second-class citizenship. Maybe Jews are liberals because liberalism better suits their beliefs than conservatism.
Podrohtz distorts history by painting a rosy view of how Americans treated Jews who came to this country looking to make a better life. He claims that because of America's Christian heritage, the land of the free was a safe haven for Jews who share many of the same sacred scriptures and therefore the same values. Actually, Jews were treated with persecution in the U.S., and the discrimination they faced probably helped lead Jews to vote Democrat along with other minorities.
There were signs on restaurants saying "No Coloreds or Jews." Jewish people had a hard time finding work because so many help wanted ads read "Gentiles Only" or "Only Christians Need Apply." Universities kept Jewish students out with quotas. Normal ways of living were so difficult for Jewish Americans that many of them helped build the film industry (no surprise to racists) and became athletes (big surprise to racists.) Far from providing a safe haven, the U.S. ensured a Jewish future of nose-jobs and name changes.
Podrohtz echoes the sentiments of many white supremacists by saying liberal Jews are attempting to thwart old-fashioned values in the name of progress. But what old-fashioned values are Jews trying to thwart? Disowning daughters who get abortions? Sending gay kids to creepy Evangelical camps to make them "straight?"
Podrohtz says, "Most American Jews sincerely believe that their liberalism, together with their commitment to the Democratic Party as its main political vehicle, stems from the teachings of Judaism and reflects the heritage of "Jewish values." But if this theory were valid, the Orthodox would be the most liberal sector of the Jewish community. After all, it is they who are most familiar with the Jewish religious tradition and who shape their lives around its commandments." He then goes on to say Orthodox Jews mostly vote for Republican candidates.
Just because Orthodox Jews follow halakha to the letter does not mean they are more "familiar with the Jewish religious tradition." I am very well versed in halakha; I simply agree with Abraham Joshua Heschel that Judaism does not equal law. The Tanakh is important to my faith because of the beauty of the Psalms and the wisdom of many of the laws--not to mention an astonishing concern for the poor and oppressed that religious conservatives must be overlooking. But I am a smart, educated Jewish guy living in 2010, and if I choose to drive my car on Friday nights or to have sex with a boyfriend, it's not because I'm ignorant of the prohibitions to not do these things.
That's what Podrohtz does not understand. Religious Jews who didn't give a fuck that Obama's middle name is Hussein can point to Hashem's commandment to look out for the oppressed because we Jews were oppressed in Egypt. And secular Jews like Chomsky can point out the torrent of abuse Jews faced in the U.S. not very long ago.
Podrohtz can keep going to brunch with the famous conservative in this conversation.
PHIL DONAHUE: Let me just tell you. He accuses you, among other things, of being an anti-Semite.
ANN COULTER: Maybe that will help me with the Muslims.
DONAHUE: He says that you left New York because you wanted to get away from all these Jews. Did you say that?
COULTER: I find this very interesting, that I write a book saying liberals won't argue about things, instead what they do is call conservatives names. And I come on your show and all you're doing is calling me names.
Why are Jews liberals? It's a mystery.
Gay Jewish Spiritual Retreat
announcement from Justin Spiro's Facebook Gay Jews shabbat message. None of the following words are my own, but I hope everyone who wants to go gets a chance. Non-Jewish partners are welcome.
The First Annual Nehirim Men’s Retreat
March 5-7, 2010
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, CT
Registration for Nehirim’s Men’s Retreat 2010 is now open. www.nehirim.org
The First Annual Nehirim Men’s Retreat is a weekend of community and spirituality for queer Jewish men. We are the nice Jewish boys your mother warned you about. We are sexual and spiritual, proud to be queer and proud to be Jewish. Our retreat is open to all self-identified men, and features workshops, pluralistic services, outdoor activities, and indoor activities. Our presenters include playwright Dan Fishback, performance artist Amichai Lau-Lavie, Israeli writer Gideon Litchfield, adult film star Mike Dreyden, Rabbi Jacob Staub, Jay Michaelson, and more.
The Second Annual Nehirim Women’s Retreat
March 12-14, 2010
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, CT
Registration for Nehirim’s Women’s Retreat 2010 is now open!
Visit www.nehirim.org
Join us for a weekend of rejuvenation, community, and fun…
Explore and refresh your relationship to Judaism and Jewish community in a warm, pluralistic and respectful setting.
Connect with 100 lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer Jewish women: families and singles, students and seniors, frum and secular — there are people like you at Nehirim! (Children and non-Jewish partners welcome.)
Daven and learn with scholars like Rabbi Jill Hammer & Professor Joy Ladin.
Nourish your body with delicious organic, kosher food.
Move with Jewish yoga innovator Myriam Klotz, and open your heart with Nehirim teachers Chani Getter, Becky Emet & Shoshana Jedwab, or just …
The First Annual Nehirim Men’s Retreat
March 5-7, 2010
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, CT
Registration for Nehirim’s Men’s Retreat 2010 is now open. www.nehirim.org
The First Annual Nehirim Men’s Retreat is a weekend of community and spirituality for queer Jewish men. We are the nice Jewish boys your mother warned you about. We are sexual and spiritual, proud to be queer and proud to be Jewish. Our retreat is open to all self-identified men, and features workshops, pluralistic services, outdoor activities, and indoor activities. Our presenters include playwright Dan Fishback, performance artist Amichai Lau-Lavie, Israeli writer Gideon Litchfield, adult film star Mike Dreyden, Rabbi Jacob Staub, Jay Michaelson, and more.
The Second Annual Nehirim Women’s Retreat
March 12-14, 2010
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, CT
Registration for Nehirim’s Women’s Retreat 2010 is now open!
Visit www.nehirim.org
Join us for a weekend of rejuvenation, community, and fun…
Explore and refresh your relationship to Judaism and Jewish community in a warm, pluralistic and respectful setting.
Connect with 100 lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer Jewish women: families and singles, students and seniors, frum and secular — there are people like you at Nehirim! (Children and non-Jewish partners welcome.)
Daven and learn with scholars like Rabbi Jill Hammer & Professor Joy Ladin.
Nourish your body with delicious organic, kosher food.
Move with Jewish yoga innovator Myriam Klotz, and open your heart with Nehirim teachers Chani Getter, Becky Emet & Shoshana Jedwab, or just …
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Jewish Non-Terrorist
A Southern flight attendant assumed a passenger on a flight to Louisville, Kentucky was a terrorist because he was wearing a kippah and praying in Hebrew with tefillin.
The media is acting as though this is a non-issue; they say the boy was extremely cooperative, and once the pilot and crew realized the passenger was a Jewish boy praying and that tefillin are for prayer purposes and not bombs, everything was fine.
But it took police taking him into custody and questioning him to find this out. The FBI questioned nearly everyone on the plane, and some people had their flights cancelled. Seemingly, the passengers were not scared of the suspected "terrorist;" they were annoyed by the employees. None of the flight attendants asked him what he was doing or requested to look at the tefillin.
A passenger on the plane who sat next to the Jewish boy told the website Jewcy, "There was no problem with [the Jewish passenger] at all." He also said the flight attendant didn't understand the Jewish faith and reported the "suspicious activity" out of anti-Semitic bias.
So instead of just being worried about real terrorists, we can now also worry about being suspected of being terrorists ourselves, just for belonging to the people Osama bin Laden hates above all others.
The media is acting as though this is a non-issue; they say the boy was extremely cooperative, and once the pilot and crew realized the passenger was a Jewish boy praying and that tefillin are for prayer purposes and not bombs, everything was fine.
But it took police taking him into custody and questioning him to find this out. The FBI questioned nearly everyone on the plane, and some people had their flights cancelled. Seemingly, the passengers were not scared of the suspected "terrorist;" they were annoyed by the employees. None of the flight attendants asked him what he was doing or requested to look at the tefillin.
A passenger on the plane who sat next to the Jewish boy told the website Jewcy, "There was no problem with [the Jewish passenger] at all." He also said the flight attendant didn't understand the Jewish faith and reported the "suspicious activity" out of anti-Semitic bias.
So instead of just being worried about real terrorists, we can now also worry about being suspected of being terrorists ourselves, just for belonging to the people Osama bin Laden hates above all others.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Haiti Devastation: Israelis and Diasporan Jews Help Save Lives
On January 12, massive earthquakes devasted Haiti, killing thousands of people.
Two friends from my synagogue, Ben Portman and Jacob Klein, actually flew to Haiti to help out with relief aid. I want to point out their mitzvah on this site. They're amazing guys.
My Sabra friend Isaac Cohen is helping with the IDF and a group of non-profit Israeli doctors, and their country is getting a ton of good notice. In fact, Israelis are being remarkably effective.
According to CNN, Israel, Argentina, Russia, Portugal, and Turkey are sending hospitals constantly. "6-year old Jessica Hartelin was pulled from the rubble by local residents and rushed to a field hospital set up by Israelis at a Port-au-Prince soccer field."
"I'm just amazed," one CNN reporter said. "This [Israeli] makeshift hospital is like another world compared to the other [makeshift] hospital. According to The Forward, the reporter asked how it could be that the United States did not set up a hospital in Haiti while "the Israelis came fromm the other side of the world."
It's always nice to see our own people doing good in the world (along with members of practically every other religion and nationality,) but that's not the only reason to point out Jewish and Israeli Good Samaritans. It's also important for Jews to know their hard-earned money is actually going towards something effective when they support Jewish and Israeli charities.
Here are some of the best Jewish groups doing relief aid work in Haiti at this moment.
http://www.wjr.org.uk/appeals/646-Haiti-Emergency-Earthquake-appeal
http://www.jdc.org/about-jdc/crisis-response.aspx?id=4028
Also check out this Israeli group with whom my friend Isaac is working.
http://www.afmda.org/
Finally, it's so easy to donate to the American Red Cross. Just text HAITI to 90999 and a ten dollar donation will be added to your phone bill (with most carriers.)
Two friends from my synagogue, Ben Portman and Jacob Klein, actually flew to Haiti to help out with relief aid. I want to point out their mitzvah on this site. They're amazing guys.
My Sabra friend Isaac Cohen is helping with the IDF and a group of non-profit Israeli doctors, and their country is getting a ton of good notice. In fact, Israelis are being remarkably effective.
According to CNN, Israel, Argentina, Russia, Portugal, and Turkey are sending hospitals constantly. "6-year old Jessica Hartelin was pulled from the rubble by local residents and rushed to a field hospital set up by Israelis at a Port-au-Prince soccer field."
"I'm just amazed," one CNN reporter said. "This [Israeli] makeshift hospital is like another world compared to the other [makeshift] hospital. According to The Forward, the reporter asked how it could be that the United States did not set up a hospital in Haiti while "the Israelis came fromm the other side of the world."
It's always nice to see our own people doing good in the world (along with members of practically every other religion and nationality,) but that's not the only reason to point out Jewish and Israeli Good Samaritans. It's also important for Jews to know their hard-earned money is actually going towards something effective when they support Jewish and Israeli charities.
Here are some of the best Jewish groups doing relief aid work in Haiti at this moment.
http://www.wjr.org.uk/appeals/646-Haiti-Emergency-Earthquake-appeal
http://www.jdc.org/about-jdc/crisis-response.aspx?id=4028
Also check out this Israeli group with whom my friend Isaac is working.
http://www.afmda.org/
Finally, it's so easy to donate to the American Red Cross. Just text HAITI to 90999 and a ten dollar donation will be added to your phone bill (with most carriers.)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Yesterday at Work, Or Why I Fucking Hate Tyra Banks
I had to walk through the break room at work yesterday, and there were quite a few people there. Tyra Banks' tacky, awful show was on, and everyone was paying close attention, because Tyra was hosting an episode-long debate about gay people. Not gay marriage. Gay people, in general.
Given the inappropriate format and Tyra's almost hilarious unprofessionalism, it would have been bad enough if she and her producers had booked homophobic bigots of the Bush/Palin/Obama variety--the kind that has nooooooo problem with gay people but think they should be second class citizens without equal rights. But apparently the folks at her Bankable Productions aren't even up to speed with the GOP.
Marriage was barely an issue. It was more like a Klan rally. The antagonists were foaming-at-the mouth religious extremists who call being gay "a disease" and "sick" and "immoral." They were screaming and snarling. Really hot gay guys were reduced to tears and couldn't even make their arguments through their sobs. And at the center of it all was the brainless moron of a host--completely unqualified to deal with the circus she had started.
And she ended the show by saying she "respects both sides" and wishes they could show each other "empathy." Both sides!! As if they were Israelis and Palistinians, as if they both had valid points, as if their story was complicated.
It was unsettling going back to work after sharing this weird spectacle with my co-workers, not all of whom can be described as "gay-friendly" or "accepting" or "normal." Thanks, Tyra.
Given the inappropriate format and Tyra's almost hilarious unprofessionalism, it would have been bad enough if she and her producers had booked homophobic bigots of the Bush/Palin/Obama variety--the kind that has nooooooo problem with gay people but think they should be second class citizens without equal rights. But apparently the folks at her Bankable Productions aren't even up to speed with the GOP.
Marriage was barely an issue. It was more like a Klan rally. The antagonists were foaming-at-the mouth religious extremists who call being gay "a disease" and "sick" and "immoral." They were screaming and snarling. Really hot gay guys were reduced to tears and couldn't even make their arguments through their sobs. And at the center of it all was the brainless moron of a host--completely unqualified to deal with the circus she had started.
And she ended the show by saying she "respects both sides" and wishes they could show each other "empathy." Both sides!! As if they were Israelis and Palistinians, as if they both had valid points, as if their story was complicated.
It was unsettling going back to work after sharing this weird spectacle with my co-workers, not all of whom can be described as "gay-friendly" or "accepting" or "normal." Thanks, Tyra.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Please Help Gay Rights in Uganda
If this passes, it will be among the most vicious anti-gay legislation in the world. Please help.
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=13583&ICID=E1001A01&tr=y&auid=5801232
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=13583&ICID=E1001A01&tr=y&auid=5801232
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