Half a "Phew!"

At my Bat Mitzvah, after my part was done on Friday night, the rabbi told me to utter half a "phew" because I was half-finished with my service-leading for the Shabbat.

Anyway, now I say half a "phew" in relief. I have gotten into all the classes I want to take. Most are interesting, but one is simply amusing.

In core biology yesterday I learned that ice floats, that oil and water don't mix, and that you can't superimpose your right hand on your left hand.

Return of the King

I'm back in Chicago and back at the University. This is absolutely wonderful. I don't know what I'd have done if they did not let me back. I think I can get into all the classes I want to take. I am taking a class called Body/Soul: Approaches to Prayer; it is nothing like I expected it to be, but I think it will be a good experience. We are required to do a 'prayer exercise', which is designed to be accessible to those of all religious persuasions and lack thereof (we'll see about that, I suppose). I find this at the same time creepy and extremely interesting. The idea is to turn ourselves into subjects on a quest to find out what changes prayer causes and for whom it causes them. So far, I think the course may be harder to access for people who are not themselves the type who pray. For me, the prayer exercise is a change because it involves private meditation rather than communal prayer. However, since I have on occasion done meditation, I think I will get used to it.

#16 - Israel's Golda Meir: Pioneer to Prime Minister

This book by Iris Noble is a glowing portrait of Golda Meir. I don't recommend it - the only attribute that distinguishes it is its positivity. Thus, it is a portrait more than a biography. Every person has more than one side, but this book portrays the first female Prime Minister of Israel to be flat and flawless.

#15 - My Name is Asher Lev

My Name is Asher Lev is an excellent read. About a Chasid who paints a crucifixion, the book is both well-written and interesting. I have been a fan of Chayim Potok since I read The Chosen, but had never gotten around to reading this book until now. I was honestly sorry to have finished it.
Careful, the book is a bit grim.

It also spoke to me as someone who has come out - it made me feel extraordinarily lucky, which I suppose I am.

#14 - The Riddle of Scheherazade: And Other Amazing Puzzles

This book of logic puzzles has a narrative, and therefore counts. Only read this if you like logic puzzles though, and the narrative is only good for young readers. Raymond Smullyan is a logic genius.

#13 - Archy and Mehitabel

Archy and Mehitabel, by Don Marquis, is told by Archy, a cockroach who hijacks a typewriter at the New York Sun. Archy, obviously cannot work the shift, so no capitals or punctuation marks appears, though he sometimes types them out. Archy and Mehitabel is a collection of Archy's poetry, primarily about his friend, Mehitabel the Cat. Don Marquis introduced Archy in his column, "The Sun Dial", in 1916. Archy and Mehitabel is the first collection of Archy (or should I write archy s) columns. A fun read, may be difficult for very young readers.

#12 - From Zero to Infinity

I knew the mathnerd in me would come out sometime in this blog. Hi, I'm Kythe, and I'm a mathnerd. (How many closets have I stepped out of now?) Anyway, From Zero to Infinity, by Constance Reid is a fun read. If you know how to do arithmetic, then you will be able to follow along, and if you want to know why numbers are interesting in ways that don't apply to science or money, this is your book. Fun and easy-going. Warning: It might turn you into a math person.

Happy Purim (or should I say Gay Purim?)

On Sunday, during a Purim Assembly at the religious school where I'm filling in as a Hebrew teacher, Rabbi Dan Rabeshaw said that everything gets turned upside down on Purim. That, coupled with this essay by Steven Greenberg (an out gay Orthodox rabbi), which I found from the linked site (below), remind me of how queer-positive a holiday Purim should be. Purim is about turning things upside-down until their true character is. It's like voluntarily letting someone hold you over a garbage can until you speak the truth.

The Purim Story: A queen won't submit to her king, then the king shouldn't be king in the first place, his advisor controls him, a lowlife Jew becomes queen, a lottery happens where the winners are losers, the new queen confronts the king, an edict gets overturned, the guy who wanted to kill others gets hanged.

Practices: We dress in costumes, we get intoxicated, we are pushed to hide and then reveal who we truly are, just like Esther in the story.

While Purim may be a symbol of encouragement to those who want to come out, I am not sure we need a National Jewish Coming Out Day. I'm not even sure I approve of National Coming Out Day. We need to work to make it safe for people to come out every day, not only once or twice a year. While Purim may remind us of the positives of coming out, we must acknowledge that people come out when they are most ready and most safe in doing so.

Aside: I think Purim can be especially significant for trans-folks out there. Anyway, I know it was a type of draw for one.

#11 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, one of Victor Hugo's classic novels, has a captivating story. However, the writing did not grab me the way I expected it to, despite the numerous good lines. Perhaps it was due to the translation I read (the Scholastic edition). Perhaps it was due to the time difference between the writing and now, but I have generally enjoyed books from that period by any author, the exception being Billy Budd, by Melville.

Anyway, a it's a good, long read, so if you have the time, you should spend it on this book.

TransAmerica

Seeing TransAmerica was an experience to say the least. I spent most of the time trying not to cry and/or vomit due to how upset I felt. Granted, this feeling was not appropriate, but I cannot say that it was invalid. TransAmerica should make me happy due to its trans-positive nature. But not everybody has that opportunity.

Asshole, continued

This week, Eilu v'Eilu published Rabbi Librach's closing argument.

In it, he argues that Rabbi Saperstein's assessment that Rabbi Librach is wrong because he is "out of sync" with most Reform Jews is unjust because one can be right even in the minority. Then he goes on to say that Rabbi Saperstein and the majority of Reform Jews are incorrect because they are in the minority of Americans. Superb reasoning, don't you think?

He argues that complete separation of Church and State is purely political. Aren't all matters concerning law political? Since when did political become a dirty word.

He also states: "I am grateful that we live in a religious country, so yound and yet so great. I do not fear its Christian character or the religious intesity of its Christian citizens." I, too, do not fear the Christian character of the culture of this country. Neither do I fear the intensity of its Christian citizens. However, I do fear the zealousness and self-righteousness of a small group of its Christian citizens. Furthermore, we must make a distinction between having a religious country and a country of religious people. Thankfully, we have the latter, at least for the time being.

Freedom of Religion is Good, as Long as You Practice Mine

I don't understand the notion in interfaith circles that as long as we pray to one deity, we are being inclusive. It's a bit - well, hypocritical.

Separation of Church and State, or How to be a First-Class Asshole

Recently I started receiving a publication from the URJ called Eilu v'Eilu, which is a point-counterpoint publication on various issues. The first issue was separation of Church and State. The initial arguments were good, although neither author argued excellently. Rabbi David Saperstein, who is the Director of the Religious Action Center, argued that strict separation of Church and State is necessary and indeed benefits Jews, while Rabbi Clifford Librach argued that the founding fathers had no intention of a strict separation between Church and State, and that one that is lax benefits Jews more than a strict one. I tend to agree with Rabbi Saperstein, and I think that the arguments are obvious.

But the futility of this particular point-counterpoint argument is not what concerns me. What concerns me is the manner in which Rabbi Librach answered questions from readers after the initial arguments were sent out. It was clear he did not respect the readers' opinions or knowledge. And what makes that more annoying is that they, unlike me, are mostly well-educated middle-aged persons.

Judaism, Gender, and Blessings of Children

It has been probably a month or so since we read the parasha wherein we read that all the sons of Israel will be blessed in a certain way. Specifically we say, "May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh." However, what do we actually know about Ephraim and Menasheh? From Torah, we know they are Joseph's sons and Jacob adopts them, and we know Menasheh is older than Ephraim. I am not sure what is in Talmud or Midrash, but the Torah itself is not very specific.

We also bless the daughters of Israel with a specific blessing. We say, "May you be like Ruth and like Esther." We know so much about Ruth and Esther. For starters, each have their own books in the Bible. Ruth is the first convert, while Esther saves the Jews from genocide. Both are strong women. (Though Esther takes her cues from Mordechai, she still stands up to her husband.) "May you be like Ruth and like Esther" translates (for me) to "may you be strong, may Judaism be important to you, and may you help others."

So why such a detailed description of what women should be like and such an empty one of what men should be like? (And of course, the binary gender paradigm persists throughout.)