Q - I am a traditional Jew who subscribes to the traditional definition of Jewish identity (you are Jewish if your mother is Jewish or if you've converted). By this definition, Gabrielle Giffords is not Jewish. But by other definitions, including her own, she is. Given all she has done and what she has gone through, and given the strong possibility that her assailant attacked her in part because of her self-declared Jewish identity, what is the proper ethical response to all this?
Rep. Giffords should be embraced by all Jews as one of our own. And I say this as a rabbi who has long disagreed with the Reform Movement's 1983 decision to accept a patrilineal definition of Jewish identity. See my Jewish Week posting: Gabrielle Giffords' Jewishness
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Debbie Friedman Tributes
Here is a video of the funeral of Debbie Friedman, z'l, who passed away earlier this week. The begining consists of her music and the actual speaking begins several minutes in.
Abraham Joshua Heschel - Dr. King's Partner in Peace
As we recall Martin Luther King this weekend, we also recall his partnership with the great Jewish leader of that time, Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Click here for a number of transcripts of Heschel's speeches and other primary sources on his life.
See below some extensive excerpts from the final interview TV Heschel gave, which aired in 1973 shortly following his death, along with a feature about that interview.
In this last collection of clips, see at the end, advice Heschel gave to youth:
I would say to young people a number of things, and I have only one minute. I would say let them remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power, and that we can do, everyone, our share to redeem the world, in spite of all absurdities, and all the frustrations, and all the disappointment. And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to build life as if it were a work of art. You're not a machine. When you're young, start working on this great work of art called your own existence.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Strenger than Fiction-Israel News - Haaretz Israeli News source.
Israel's Right Have Eyes but Do Not See - Haaretz
Future historians will debate how Israel’s leadership could have been so blind. They will wonder how it was possible that Israel - for 43 years - didn’t realize what David Ben-Gurion saw a few weeks after the Six-Day War: that the occupation of the West Bank was a catastrophe for Israel.
They will wonder even more what the government of Benjamin Netanyahu had in mind when he allowed the destruction of the Shepherd Hotel, the eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan; they will wonder what was happening to the 18th Knesset, in which parliamentarians were competing with each other with their anti-democratic legislation.
They will be struck by the total blindness of these parliamentarians and ministers to Israel’s place in the world, and their total lack of vision for what kind of state Israel would be in the future. All they seem to care about is to establish their patriotism through ‘Judaizing’ Jerusalem and other areas; to grab another building from Palestinians; to show how “Jewish” they are by proposing anti-Arab legislation and by attacking NGOs that try to protect Israel the liberal democracy.
The frenzy of the ‘Judaization’ of Jerusalem has now crossed the tipping point where the international community is no longer willing to just stand by. A while ago 26 former EU leaders, many of whom during their careers had been staunch friends of Israel, asked for sanctions against Israel. This has now been followed by a call of EU consuls to recognize East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital; to place observers at each venue where Israel wants to destroy Palestinian buildings.
The ominous signs that Israel will soon be under great international pressure are mounting, and proposals for specific steps of boycott and sanctions are taking shape. One is to deny Israelis who live in the West Bank entry to the EU, and to forbid the sale of any Israeli products from the West Bank.
The present government will react to these steps with Netanyahu’s usual lament that Israel’s existence is delegitimized; that there is no connection between Israel’s actions and criticism from abroad. Avigdor Lieberman will say that Israel needs to show the international community that it has backbone, and that it doesn’t cave in under pressure.
Nothing; absolutely nothing seems to penetrate the minds of Israel’s right-wing politicians. Talking to them, I mostly hear genuine surprise at Israel’s isolation. They live in a deep bunker where the simplest of truths doesn’t penetrate their minds: for the world, a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital is a non-negotiable demand.
Mind-boggling as it may be, they really don’t understand that Israel’s actions in East Jerusalem and the continued building in the settlements has categorized Israel as the peace-refusenik. Even our most highly educated prime minister and defense minister, the seemingly worldly Netanyahu and Barak, have lost complete touch with the universe outside the Knesset. Netanyahu’s lamentations that it’s the Palestinians’ fault, and Barak’s assertion that during his tenure as prime minister Israel built more than now just show that their horizons are now exclusively defined by their desire to hold on to this coalition of shame for a few months longer.
I wish I knew of a way to stop the madness, but prospects for the immediate future are bleak. Human nature is deeply averse to accepting guilt and responsibility. Right-wing politicians in power refuse to look in the mirror and understand that their actions are bringing this disaster on Israel. They will need an internal scapegoat for whom they blame for Israel being under such heavy attack now.
We are therefore likely to witness an increase in attacks on NGOs, academics, men and women of letters, and citizens who have for years tried to avert disaster, and to divert Israel from the course of becoming an illiberal ethnocracy. The Knesset will step up its attempts to shut up criticism, and to claim that the critics of Israel are responsible for the sanctions, despite all the evidence to the contrary. They will do everything to avoid facing the simple truth: their actions, and not Israel’s liberal critics, are putting Israel into its unprecedented international isolation.
While I cannot predict how and when exactly it will be, the day will come when Israel will awake from the nationalist and racist nightmare into which it has fallen. Until Israel’s electorate wakes up and understands that a sane government needs to be elected, it is up to Israel’s civil society to keep alive the vision of what Israel can become.
Legal scholars like Ruti Gavison, writers like David Grossman, philosophers like Avishai Margalit and political historians like Zeev Sternhell, along with institutions like the Israel Democracy Institute, its academia, its theaters, its musicians and its filmmakers are keeping the moral and political vision alive, on which the Israel of tomorrow can build its foundations. The day will come in which the moral clarity and political wisdom of those who kept their minds and hearts intact will determine Israel’s future.
A final word to the majority of Jews around the world, whose worldviews are overwhelmingly liberal, and to the many non-Jewish friends of Israel who are disappointed by its actions: This is a difficult time to be a friend of Israel, and we have never been as much in need of friends as now, to help us through this time until Israel regains a viable moral and political vision for the future.
We need to remember that countries make mistakes. The McCarthyist wave that swept the U.S. darkened the horizon for a few years, but in the end, the American love for freedom overcame this terrible episode. At heart, Israel is a society that believes in life, freedom and creativity. Seeing Israel’s potential beyond the mistakes of its politicians keeps alive the knowledge that Israel will become the flourishing, creative, just and liberal democracy we want it to be.
Future historians will debate how Israel’s leadership could have been so blind. They will wonder how it was possible that Israel - for 43 years - didn’t realize what David Ben-Gurion saw a few weeks after the Six-Day War: that the occupation of the West Bank was a catastrophe for Israel.
They will wonder even more what the government of Benjamin Netanyahu had in mind when he allowed the destruction of the Shepherd Hotel, the eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan; they will wonder what was happening to the 18th Knesset, in which parliamentarians were competing with each other with their anti-democratic legislation.
They will be struck by the total blindness of these parliamentarians and ministers to Israel’s place in the world, and their total lack of vision for what kind of state Israel would be in the future. All they seem to care about is to establish their patriotism through ‘Judaizing’ Jerusalem and other areas; to grab another building from Palestinians; to show how “Jewish” they are by proposing anti-Arab legislation and by attacking NGOs that try to protect Israel the liberal democracy.
The frenzy of the ‘Judaization’ of Jerusalem has now crossed the tipping point where the international community is no longer willing to just stand by. A while ago 26 former EU leaders, many of whom during their careers had been staunch friends of Israel, asked for sanctions against Israel. This has now been followed by a call of EU consuls to recognize East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital; to place observers at each venue where Israel wants to destroy Palestinian buildings.
The ominous signs that Israel will soon be under great international pressure are mounting, and proposals for specific steps of boycott and sanctions are taking shape. One is to deny Israelis who live in the West Bank entry to the EU, and to forbid the sale of any Israeli products from the West Bank.
The present government will react to these steps with Netanyahu’s usual lament that Israel’s existence is delegitimized; that there is no connection between Israel’s actions and criticism from abroad. Avigdor Lieberman will say that Israel needs to show the international community that it has backbone, and that it doesn’t cave in under pressure.
Nothing; absolutely nothing seems to penetrate the minds of Israel’s right-wing politicians. Talking to them, I mostly hear genuine surprise at Israel’s isolation. They live in a deep bunker where the simplest of truths doesn’t penetrate their minds: for the world, a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital is a non-negotiable demand.
Mind-boggling as it may be, they really don’t understand that Israel’s actions in East Jerusalem and the continued building in the settlements has categorized Israel as the peace-refusenik. Even our most highly educated prime minister and defense minister, the seemingly worldly Netanyahu and Barak, have lost complete touch with the universe outside the Knesset. Netanyahu’s lamentations that it’s the Palestinians’ fault, and Barak’s assertion that during his tenure as prime minister Israel built more than now just show that their horizons are now exclusively defined by their desire to hold on to this coalition of shame for a few months longer.
I wish I knew of a way to stop the madness, but prospects for the immediate future are bleak. Human nature is deeply averse to accepting guilt and responsibility. Right-wing politicians in power refuse to look in the mirror and understand that their actions are bringing this disaster on Israel. They will need an internal scapegoat for whom they blame for Israel being under such heavy attack now.
We are therefore likely to witness an increase in attacks on NGOs, academics, men and women of letters, and citizens who have for years tried to avert disaster, and to divert Israel from the course of becoming an illiberal ethnocracy. The Knesset will step up its attempts to shut up criticism, and to claim that the critics of Israel are responsible for the sanctions, despite all the evidence to the contrary. They will do everything to avoid facing the simple truth: their actions, and not Israel’s liberal critics, are putting Israel into its unprecedented international isolation.
While I cannot predict how and when exactly it will be, the day will come when Israel will awake from the nationalist and racist nightmare into which it has fallen. Until Israel’s electorate wakes up and understands that a sane government needs to be elected, it is up to Israel’s civil society to keep alive the vision of what Israel can become.
Legal scholars like Ruti Gavison, writers like David Grossman, philosophers like Avishai Margalit and political historians like Zeev Sternhell, along with institutions like the Israel Democracy Institute, its academia, its theaters, its musicians and its filmmakers are keeping the moral and political vision alive, on which the Israel of tomorrow can build its foundations. The day will come in which the moral clarity and political wisdom of those who kept their minds and hearts intact will determine Israel’s future.
A final word to the majority of Jews around the world, whose worldviews are overwhelmingly liberal, and to the many non-Jewish friends of Israel who are disappointed by its actions: This is a difficult time to be a friend of Israel, and we have never been as much in need of friends as now, to help us through this time until Israel regains a viable moral and political vision for the future.
We need to remember that countries make mistakes. The McCarthyist wave that swept the U.S. darkened the horizon for a few years, but in the end, the American love for freedom overcame this terrible episode. At heart, Israel is a society that believes in life, freedom and creativity. Seeing Israel’s potential beyond the mistakes of its politicians keeps alive the knowledge that Israel will become the flourishing, creative, just and liberal democracy we want it to be.
Civility Metrics: What Can Be Done About Toxic Political Climate
In the wake of Tucson, James Besser of The Jewish Week interviewed me for his article Jewish Leaders Seem Absent About Toxic Political Climate. He was spot on in his analysis.
We don't know whether that climate of vitriol and hate had anything to do with this massacre. We also know that extremism comes in all colors and political leanings (although Besser elsewhere makes a solid case that all incitement is not created equal - see "Political incitement on the airwaves: Not a balanced equation").
The Jewish Council on Public Affairs recently issued a Statement on Civility, an admirable first step. Other faith groups are responding as well. A Christian group led by Pastor Jim Wallace has created a Civility Covenant, signed originally by over a hundred Christian clergy of diverse denominations.
We had a nice discussion about this topic last night at our "Learning and Latte" monthly interfaith conversation, which had Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu representation. We discovered much common ground on the need to address this issue actively and to go beyond petitions and pretty covenants. The huge turnout at John Stewart's recent Rally to Restore Sanity(and /or fear) is another indicator that people are ready for more substantive action.
Just as several Jewish groups have recently established new certification standards for ethical behavior in the production of food (including the Conservative movement's brand new and highly commendable Magen Tzedek symbol), it’s clear that we also need measurable and verifiable certification standards for civility. This would extend to politicians and the media. Jewish groups routinely call for more civility, but these calls fall on deaf ears because they are seen as agenda driven (e.g. when the Reform Movement's Religious Action Center issues a statement, it is seen, however worthy, as being biased toward a liberal perspective). So we need to meet that with something more objective – a watchdog group monitoring the use of inflammatory language on all sides and calling people out on it.
Rabbis can take the lead on this. Judaism calls on us to “Seek peace and pursue it.” We’re not very good at the “pursue it” part. Theoretically, ethical behavior in the public square is something the religious streams can agree on and unite to combat. Resolutions and petitions are a beginning. But the situation has become so acute that we need much more – outright condemnations accompanied by a scarlet letter of shame for those who incite.
Remember the quaint old days when we argued over violence on TV and the need for a "V-Chip" to filter out excessive violence and sex? When it comes to anger, violence and incivility, we've gone way beyond restricting what's accessible on TV at this point. Hate is so easily available everywhere: online of course, with a national addiction to violent video games and cyberbullying, and also on line, at the bank, at the gas station and at the supermarket (or as we from Massachusetts say, in line). Anger is everywhere.
It's time to quantify civility. Much as we give politicians numerical ratings on their votes on other issues, we should give them objective ratings on hate. So just as the NRA will give someone a score on gun control legislation and AIPAC will let us know how they are voting on Israel, let's score everyone on civility - and not just politicians, but media folk too. A formula can be created, much as Sabermetrics does to rate baseball and football players and teams (my personal favorite is Football Outsiders - created by Aaron Schatz, a Boston bred, Brown educated rabbi's son, who tells us this week on a Jewish podcast which team Jews should root for - the Patriots, of course).
The metrics might include how often the person uses certain code words in speeches, terms that tend to incite and anger, expressions like, say, "blood libel,"( which along with Holocaust terminology, is used all too often and by Jews and Gentiles of all viewpoints) or inaccuracies, like calling someone a terrorist when the person has never advocated murdering innocent civilians. I'd say it would count as a negative if military terminology is used regarding political opponents, expressions like "wipe him out" or "put him in the cross hairs." I'm sure some objective standard could be created and out of that a rating for all to see. For some it will be a Good Housekeeping seal and for others a scarlet letter. Some will be praised for their insight, others will be shunned when they incite.
We need a seal to assure that our political discourse is strictly Kosher.
In Besser's article I refer to the Jewish community's vigorous (and necessary) need to gain wide consensus in the defense of Israel. But that legitimate concern for a big tent has had its costs. At the AIPAC Policy Conference, which I recommend to all, perhaps the highlight of the event is the roll call of political leaders who are considered Israel supporters. It is impressive. But wouldn't it be great if AIPAC, in addition to listing their scores on Israel, would give us access as well to the politician's civility rating. This isn't just about AIPAC of course, but all interest groups - and especially faith based ones, the ones who supposedly answer to a higher authority on moral behavior.
It has proven time and again that to "go negative" in politics is not only advantageous, it is the only way. It worked last November, more than ever. even as the public was disgusted by it. Only a concrete and strong response will disincentivize politicians and media personalities from continuing to incite anger and hate. Petitions will not do it. Strong statements will not do it.
A scarlet letter might. The response needs to be overwhelming. There needs to be a blanket intolerance of intolerance. We've changed the culture before. If we could make smoking and littering uncool, maybe we can make slander uncool as well.
Imagine, at your next political fundraiser:
"We introduce Senator X, who scored an impressive 98 from the Oil Lobby and an amazing 84 from PETA. But, oh, I'm sorry to say he got only a grade of 38 on civility...."
Civility metrics could be a game changer.
We don't know whether that climate of vitriol and hate had anything to do with this massacre. We also know that extremism comes in all colors and political leanings (although Besser elsewhere makes a solid case that all incitement is not created equal - see "Political incitement on the airwaves: Not a balanced equation").
The Jewish Council on Public Affairs recently issued a Statement on Civility, an admirable first step. Other faith groups are responding as well. A Christian group led by Pastor Jim Wallace has created a Civility Covenant, signed originally by over a hundred Christian clergy of diverse denominations.
We had a nice discussion about this topic last night at our "Learning and Latte" monthly interfaith conversation, which had Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu representation. We discovered much common ground on the need to address this issue actively and to go beyond petitions and pretty covenants. The huge turnout at John Stewart's recent Rally to Restore Sanity(and /or fear) is another indicator that people are ready for more substantive action.
Just as several Jewish groups have recently established new certification standards for ethical behavior in the production of food (including the Conservative movement's brand new and highly commendable Magen Tzedek symbol), it’s clear that we also need measurable and verifiable certification standards for civility. This would extend to politicians and the media. Jewish groups routinely call for more civility, but these calls fall on deaf ears because they are seen as agenda driven (e.g. when the Reform Movement's Religious Action Center issues a statement, it is seen, however worthy, as being biased toward a liberal perspective). So we need to meet that with something more objective – a watchdog group monitoring the use of inflammatory language on all sides and calling people out on it.
Rabbis can take the lead on this. Judaism calls on us to “Seek peace and pursue it.” We’re not very good at the “pursue it” part. Theoretically, ethical behavior in the public square is something the religious streams can agree on and unite to combat. Resolutions and petitions are a beginning. But the situation has become so acute that we need much more – outright condemnations accompanied by a scarlet letter of shame for those who incite.
Remember the quaint old days when we argued over violence on TV and the need for a "V-Chip" to filter out excessive violence and sex? When it comes to anger, violence and incivility, we've gone way beyond restricting what's accessible on TV at this point. Hate is so easily available everywhere: online of course, with a national addiction to violent video games and cyberbullying, and also on line, at the bank, at the gas station and at the supermarket (or as we from Massachusetts say, in line). Anger is everywhere.
It's time to quantify civility. Much as we give politicians numerical ratings on their votes on other issues, we should give them objective ratings on hate. So just as the NRA will give someone a score on gun control legislation and AIPAC will let us know how they are voting on Israel, let's score everyone on civility - and not just politicians, but media folk too. A formula can be created, much as Sabermetrics does to rate baseball and football players and teams (my personal favorite is Football Outsiders - created by Aaron Schatz, a Boston bred, Brown educated rabbi's son, who tells us this week on a Jewish podcast which team Jews should root for - the Patriots, of course).
The metrics might include how often the person uses certain code words in speeches, terms that tend to incite and anger, expressions like, say, "blood libel,"( which along with Holocaust terminology, is used all too often and by Jews and Gentiles of all viewpoints) or inaccuracies, like calling someone a terrorist when the person has never advocated murdering innocent civilians. I'd say it would count as a negative if military terminology is used regarding political opponents, expressions like "wipe him out" or "put him in the cross hairs." I'm sure some objective standard could be created and out of that a rating for all to see. For some it will be a Good Housekeeping seal and for others a scarlet letter. Some will be praised for their insight, others will be shunned when they incite.
We need a seal to assure that our political discourse is strictly Kosher.
In Besser's article I refer to the Jewish community's vigorous (and necessary) need to gain wide consensus in the defense of Israel. But that legitimate concern for a big tent has had its costs. At the AIPAC Policy Conference, which I recommend to all, perhaps the highlight of the event is the roll call of political leaders who are considered Israel supporters. It is impressive. But wouldn't it be great if AIPAC, in addition to listing their scores on Israel, would give us access as well to the politician's civility rating. This isn't just about AIPAC of course, but all interest groups - and especially faith based ones, the ones who supposedly answer to a higher authority on moral behavior.
It has proven time and again that to "go negative" in politics is not only advantageous, it is the only way. It worked last November, more than ever. even as the public was disgusted by it. Only a concrete and strong response will disincentivize politicians and media personalities from continuing to incite anger and hate. Petitions will not do it. Strong statements will not do it.
A scarlet letter might. The response needs to be overwhelming. There needs to be a blanket intolerance of intolerance. We've changed the culture before. If we could make smoking and littering uncool, maybe we can make slander uncool as well.
Imagine, at your next political fundraiser:
"We introduce Senator X, who scored an impressive 98 from the Oil Lobby and an amazing 84 from PETA. But, oh, I'm sorry to say he got only a grade of 38 on civility...."
Civility metrics could be a game changer.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Rotem Bill Moratorium Extended in Israel
Some small triumphs for democracy in Israel. Avigdor Lieberman's efforts to intimidate human rights groups with a Knesset Investigation has been stymied. Also, the advancement of the Conversion Bill was postponed an additional 6 months - until July 10, 2011. During the freeze, the Reform and Conservative Movements have agreed to hold off on petitions to the Supreme Court on this issue, and Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky will mediate negotiations between the parties during this time.
On a related topic, see this fascinating, detailed report on Gender Segregation in the Public Sphere in Israel.
And mark the date of Jan 28, Friday evening, for the appearance here of the New Israel Fund's executive director in Israel, Rachel Liel, who will speak on A Critical Conversation about Israel’s Democracy.
On a related topic, see this fascinating, detailed report on Gender Segregation in the Public Sphere in Israel.
And mark the date of Jan 28, Friday evening, for the appearance here of the New Israel Fund's executive director in Israel, Rachel Liel, who will speak on A Critical Conversation about Israel’s Democracy.
God's Playlist: Judaism's Top Ten
Special for Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, I recently compiled my list of the Top Ten Songs in Jewish History, along with one from Midrashic sources. You can see my list here, with a tribute to Debbie Friedman, and an older version here, along with a detailed explanations for the unusual layout of the Song of the Sea in this week's portion.
Yes, I put "White Christmas" there because it met the standards that I had set - though feel free to disagree. This Shabbat includes not one but TWO of the top ten, the Song of the Sea and the Song of Deborah.
And in memory of the great Debbie Friedman, here's her version of Deborah's song.
Yes, I put "White Christmas" there because it met the standards that I had set - though feel free to disagree. This Shabbat includes not one but TWO of the top ten, the Song of the Sea and the Song of Deborah.
And in memory of the great Debbie Friedman, here's her version of Deborah's song.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Debbie Friedman, z'l
The passing of Debbie Friedman today gives us a moment to reflect on the monumental impact she has had on Jewish culture. It goes beyond the music she gave us - melodies to "Misheberach," Oseh Shalom," "Lechi Lach" and "Havdalah" that have become almost as fixed as Kol Nidre in most Reform and Conservative synagogues; kids songs like "Alef-Bet" that actually have taught generations of children the alef bet, and "I am a Latke," that give us a snapshot of what it has been like to grow up Jewish in America these past four decades.
As the tribute to her immediately below states (it was produced in 2007 by the URJ), she took the folk traditions of the '60s and translated them into Jewish sacred language. Through her, words like "blessing," "healing" and "peace" became part of our vernacular. It's not that Jews never talked about blessing and peace before Debbie Friedman, but those conversations were typically couched in jargon few laypeople understood. She would take the words "bracha" and "shalom" transform the unattainable Hebrew into simple, down-home language everyone could wrap their arms around. She brought warmth into our sanctuaries - and feminized Jewish prayer - even as a generation of (mostly male) cantors tried to keep her music out. She was the first post feminist Jewish songwriter - and her image of Miriam singing and playing and dancing is the one Jewish girls now grow up with, proud and equal, as they join together for "Miriam's Song." That song will be repeated, fittingly, this coming Shabbat, as this week we recall the crossing of the Red Sea in the portion Beshallach.
It was the vox populi that insisted that her music be let in to our services, in the face of those who stubbornly stuck to an ossified liturgical tradition. And now she has become the tradition, her melodies are now the standards, and the words of the prayers, those ancient words, have found new life - and services are all the warmer for it.
Debbie came here to Beth El about 15 years ago, but I first met her a few years before that, at a retreat hosted by the Jewish Healing Center in the Catskills. There, before a few dozen people one evening, Debbie, who attended the retreat as a participant not simply to entertain, talked of the difficult chronic neurological illness she endured, which often left her wheelchair bound. When she was here, she gave clear instructions that there be no flash photography during the performance, because it could harm her. Every time she performed, she risked all, and it was clear that the power of her music came from her own suffering. (see this book for more on the subject of her illness and the Jewish healing movement)
And she poured every ounce of her energy into each performance, every song. Her voice was not her greatest strength, but it never mattered, because her music was so brilliant. She will be missed, but her music will live on, quite literally in our prayers.
JTA points us to Sue Fishkoff's article from 2007 on her appointment to the faculty of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Sue mentions the popularity of Friedman's version of the "Mi Shebeirach" healing prayer, which is sung now at countless synagogues and Jewish gatherings. As Sue put it: "When the diminutive Friedman takes up her guitar in front of 1,000 people, tilts her face skyward and lets that rich, yearning voice pour out, the tears often flow."
Below you will find that moving tribute to her by the Reform Movement, followed by videos of Debbie singing some of her best known song as well as a video simply showing the passion of Debbie doing what she did best - getting the rest of us to sing along.
As the tribute to her immediately below states (it was produced in 2007 by the URJ), she took the folk traditions of the '60s and translated them into Jewish sacred language. Through her, words like "blessing," "healing" and "peace" became part of our vernacular. It's not that Jews never talked about blessing and peace before Debbie Friedman, but those conversations were typically couched in jargon few laypeople understood. She would take the words "bracha" and "shalom" transform the unattainable Hebrew into simple, down-home language everyone could wrap their arms around. She brought warmth into our sanctuaries - and feminized Jewish prayer - even as a generation of (mostly male) cantors tried to keep her music out. She was the first post feminist Jewish songwriter - and her image of Miriam singing and playing and dancing is the one Jewish girls now grow up with, proud and equal, as they join together for "Miriam's Song." That song will be repeated, fittingly, this coming Shabbat, as this week we recall the crossing of the Red Sea in the portion Beshallach.
It was the vox populi that insisted that her music be let in to our services, in the face of those who stubbornly stuck to an ossified liturgical tradition. And now she has become the tradition, her melodies are now the standards, and the words of the prayers, those ancient words, have found new life - and services are all the warmer for it.
Debbie came here to Beth El about 15 years ago, but I first met her a few years before that, at a retreat hosted by the Jewish Healing Center in the Catskills. There, before a few dozen people one evening, Debbie, who attended the retreat as a participant not simply to entertain, talked of the difficult chronic neurological illness she endured, which often left her wheelchair bound. When she was here, she gave clear instructions that there be no flash photography during the performance, because it could harm her. Every time she performed, she risked all, and it was clear that the power of her music came from her own suffering. (see this book for more on the subject of her illness and the Jewish healing movement)
And she poured every ounce of her energy into each performance, every song. Her voice was not her greatest strength, but it never mattered, because her music was so brilliant. She will be missed, but her music will live on, quite literally in our prayers.
JTA points us to Sue Fishkoff's article from 2007 on her appointment to the faculty of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Sue mentions the popularity of Friedman's version of the "Mi Shebeirach" healing prayer, which is sung now at countless synagogues and Jewish gatherings. As Sue put it: "When the diminutive Friedman takes up her guitar in front of 1,000 people, tilts her face skyward and lets that rich, yearning voice pour out, the tears often flow."
Below you will find that moving tribute to her by the Reform Movement, followed by videos of Debbie singing some of her best known song as well as a video simply showing the passion of Debbie doing what she did best - getting the rest of us to sing along.
How Green is My Judaism - source material for Tu B'Shevat
The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem has put together an "E-Shiur" (lesson) for Tu B'Shevat, which falls on January 20. It's called How Green is My Judaism, How Green is My Judaism.
Click here for a text of the shiur, which stands on its own, as well as a Source Sheet with notes and questions, so that people can dig into the relevant sources. Both the text and the source sheet are in PDF format and can be easily downloaded and printed out.
Click here for a text of the shiur, which stands on its own, as well as a Source Sheet with notes and questions, so that people can dig into the relevant sources. Both the text and the source sheet are in PDF format and can be easily downloaded and printed out.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Too Much Information: The Questions
Due to the weather, the highly anticipated panel discussion, "Too Much Information: Privacy in the Age of Social Networking" will have to be postponed to later in the spring. However, this, of all topics, is one that can be discussed online. Below is the list of questions I was planning to use as a basis for the discussion. Take a look at them and if you have an observation to make, leave your comment below. Teens and adults are invited to participate. Meanwhile, enjoy the snow.
- Define “friend”- and how has that definition changed? What does it mean now to have a friend?
- How has the definition of friend changed for you?
- Is a person’s popularity measured by how many “friends” they have?
- What do you feel comfortable telling about yourself to your closest friends – and how does that differ from what you post to your “friends?”
- What constitutes “too much information?”
- What is self branding and is that a good thing? Is it new or just a new form of something people have been doing all along?
- Are adults ruining Facebook?
- Is it a good thing that adults now routinely rediscover old friends and relatives that they hadn't seen in decades?
- Does the current culture (texting, Skype, Facebook) make reunions obsolete? Are we in fact NEVER out of touch with our friends from home once you go off to college?
- Are we relating to others or simply keeping up on the facts of their lives (who got into what college, who had a haircut today... whose kids just threw up...) is all this an example of TMI???
- Does social networking reduce or increase the degree to which people gossip?
- Ashton Kutcher has posted numerous Tweets featuring vivid details tracking the state of his marriage with Demi Moore, including photos of her in her underwear. (Thankfully, their marriage was reignited recently when they were in Israel). In the past, such stories would have been printed by the tabloids against the will of the celebrities. What does it say about our society that now celebrities are voluntarily exposing themselves to the public. Is this Too Much Information?
- Should football players Tweet from the sidelines during the game? Soldiers from the front?
- Think of how social networking allowed word to filter our of Iran following the elections there, or from Haiti after the earthquake. How has this changed society? Are these changes for the good?
- In the film "The King's Speech" the heir to the throne of England was able to walk the streets of London unnoticed - this was an era before television. Could that happen today? How, with Facebook, have we all become, to a degree, like celebrities? Or are we just celebrities in our own eyes?
- What is the impact of cyberbullying? Is it overblown or are the dangers worse than described? Do you know students who have contemplated suicide because of it?
- Does social networking / texting, etc / increase the degree to which people in high school / college cheat? Or does it act as protection against cheating (since our actions are so “out there” and can be seen by the whole world)?Have the shifting boundaries of privacy changes what a newspaper might ordinarily cover?
- Is there any difference at this point between bloggers and mainstream media?
- Will newspapers exist in 20 years?
- How will people communicate?
- Facebook or Twitter postings often warn of dangers - anything from a flu outbreak to a traffic jam up ahead, to a road blocked with snow. How have social networks taken on the role of the old town crier, who would post important notices and alert the public of significant happenings? What about the Moslem muezzin, who calls people to prayer, a role that in ancient Israel was taken on by a priest at the Temple (the prayer "Barchu" was that call), and a shofar or trumpet blower standing on the ramparts.
- Given what happened with Wikileaks and with cameras on every phone, can we assume that, if we are relatively well known, anything and everything we say and do will likely be made public?
- Even if we are not famous, doesn’t the current environment eliminate privacy in all our communications as well?
- Is that a good thing?
- Define “friend”- and how has that definition changed? What does it mean now to have a friend?
- How has the definition of friend changed for you?
- Is a person’s popularity measured by how many “friends” they have?
- What do you feel comfortable telling about yourself to your closest friends – and how does that differ from what you post to your “friends?”
- What constitutes “too much information?”
- What is self branding and is that a good thing? Is it new or just a new form of something people have been doing all along?
- Are adults ruining Facebook?
- Is it a good thing that adults now routinely rediscover old friends and relatives that they hadn't seen in decades?
- Does the current culture (texting, Skype, Facebook) make reunions obsolete? Are we in fact NEVER out of touch with our friends from home once you go off to college?
- Are we relating to others or simply keeping up on the facts of their lives (who got into what college, who had a haircut today... whose kids just threw up...) is all this an example of TMI???
- Does social networking reduce or increase the degree to which people gossip?
- Ashton Kutcher has posted numerous Tweets featuring vivid details tracking the state of his marriage with Demi Moore, including photos of her in her underwear. (Thankfully, their marriage was reignited recently when they were in Israel). In the past, such stories would have been printed by the tabloids against the will of the celebrities. What does it say about our society that now celebrities are voluntarily exposing themselves to the public. Is this Too Much Information?
- Should football players Tweet from the sidelines during the game? Soldiers from the front?
- Think of how social networking allowed word to filter our of Iran following the elections there, or from Haiti after the earthquake. How has this changed society? Are these changes for the good?
- In the film "The King's Speech" the heir to the throne of England was able to walk the streets of London unnoticed - this was an era before television. Could that happen today? How, with Facebook, have we all become, to a degree, like celebrities? Or are we just celebrities in our own eyes?
- What is the impact of cyberbullying? Is it overblown or are the dangers worse than described? Do you know students who have contemplated suicide because of it?
- Does social networking / texting, etc / increase the degree to which people in high school / college cheat? Or does it act as protection against cheating (since our actions are so “out there” and can be seen by the whole world)?Have the shifting boundaries of privacy changes what a newspaper might ordinarily cover?
- Is there any difference at this point between bloggers and mainstream media?
- Will newspapers exist in 20 years?
- How will people communicate?
- Facebook or Twitter postings often warn of dangers - anything from a flu outbreak to a traffic jam up ahead, to a road blocked with snow. How have social networks taken on the role of the old town crier, who would post important notices and alert the public of significant happenings? What about the Moslem muezzin, who calls people to prayer, a role that in ancient Israel was taken on by a priest at the Temple (the prayer "Barchu" was that call), and a shofar or trumpet blower standing on the ramparts.
- Given what happened with Wikileaks and with cameras on every phone, can we assume that, if we are relatively well known, anything and everything we say and do will likely be made public?
- Even if we are not famous, doesn’t the current environment eliminate privacy in all our communications as well?
- Is that a good thing?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
TBE Shorashim Nursery School: The First Day
History was made today, as we opened our doors for the very first time to a "twos" class in our new Shorashim Nursery School. "Shorashim" means roots, and the roots of this early childhood endeavor go way back, to the beginnings of a congregation built on the principles of serving people of all ages, from "womb to tomb" as we say - and representing the very best of what the Jewish tradition has to offer. We love children - all children, and now we'll be able to share that love each and every day.
When our wonderful early childhood director Ronnie Brockman happened to show up a little early for her first class, lo and behold she was the tenth person at services, making a minyan, especially important for several people saying Kaddish. When we say"full service from womb to tomb, we mean it! We added a "Shehechianu" prayer at the end of the service for this historic day.
As for the photo above, I had a great time and am considering enrolling in the program! My specialty is blocks.
Truth be told, everything I need to know about being a rabbi I learned in Nursery School. So now I'll get to learn it again.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
"The King's Speech" - and Moses'
I had the opportunity recently to see the excellent new film, "The King's Speech," detailing the struggles of Britain's King George VI to overcome a serious speech impediment as he asserted himself as England'a new leader just before World War Two. The movie was fascinating on a number of levels, not the least being the parallels to the story of Moses' speech-related struggles as documented in this past week's Torah portion, especially his comment that he is handicapped by "uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:12).
I put together a discussion packet which you can access here. We used the packet last week at services. The discussion was illumined by several speech and mental health professionals present. Included in the material I distributed is a collection of traditional and contemporary commentaries, along with a selection from Avivah Zornberg's masterful work on Exodus, "The Particulars of Rapture." Zornberg talks about the "Exile of the Word" regarding how divine messages are received - or not - by the people.
There is a case to be made that it is better for leaders not to be articulate, as it protects the people from succumbing to demagoguery. But at a time when King George needed to go toe to toe with Hitler, who used the power of speech to advance his agenda, the world didn;t have the luxury of a stammering-but-humble British King.
Zornberg brings in an Oedipal dimension to the disability and the parallels between Moses' desire not to displace his older brother Aaron and the crises in the royal family leading to King Edward's abdication are striking. Also we see the lonely struggle of the royal outsider (which Moses was too, as a child) trying to speak in a language his people can understand. The parallels abound. But in the end, kings, prophets, rabbis and all leaders need to find a way to distill the Cry of their generation, the divine imperative, into language that will inform and motivate, unite and galvanize, comfort and cajole, the people.
I put together a discussion packet which you can access here. We used the packet last week at services. The discussion was illumined by several speech and mental health professionals present. Included in the material I distributed is a collection of traditional and contemporary commentaries, along with a selection from Avivah Zornberg's masterful work on Exodus, "The Particulars of Rapture." Zornberg talks about the "Exile of the Word" regarding how divine messages are received - or not - by the people.
There is a case to be made that it is better for leaders not to be articulate, as it protects the people from succumbing to demagoguery. But at a time when King George needed to go toe to toe with Hitler, who used the power of speech to advance his agenda, the world didn;t have the luxury of a stammering-but-humble British King.
Zornberg brings in an Oedipal dimension to the disability and the parallels between Moses' desire not to displace his older brother Aaron and the crises in the royal family leading to King Edward's abdication are striking. Also we see the lonely struggle of the royal outsider (which Moses was too, as a child) trying to speak in a language his people can understand. The parallels abound. But in the end, kings, prophets, rabbis and all leaders need to find a way to distill the Cry of their generation, the divine imperative, into language that will inform and motivate, unite and galvanize, comfort and cajole, the people.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Shabbat-O-Grams in 2011
- Shabbat-O-Gram for Israel’s Indepedence Day and Mothers’ Day
- Shabbat-O-Gram for April 29 2011
- Shabbat-O-Gram April 15 Best. Seder. Ever
- Shabbat-O-Gram for April 8, 2011: TBE @ 90, Conservative at a Crossroads
- From Baghdad to Beth El: A Musical Journey
- Shabbat-O-Gram for March 25 2011
- Shabbat-O-Gram for March 18 (Purim)
- Shabbat-O-Gram for March 11, 2011
- Shabbat-O-Gram For Feb. 18
- Shabbat-O-Gram for Feb. 11, 2011
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