Jewish Issues
In the interest of education, rabbinical awareness, and as a result of massive public inquiry, I have prepared this short exposé.
People don’t often talk about beards – particularly in relation to style – and it is therefore my hope that I can do my part to shed light and offer guidance.
Consider figure one:
Notice how the beard and hat naturally complement each other – the hat adding height and the beard, length. The hat and beard combination is a standard look found in most communities around the Jewish world. As in contrast to figure two:
Figure two is a striking look indeed! Typical amongst Jewish desert dwellers, the beard adds a rugged, harder edge.
In figure three we find a look more common amongst Jewish educators in the Diaspora. The beard and sunglasses create a natural balance that enables the educator to “blend in” with the general population.
Finally in figure four we find a more personal, contemplative look. The beard is neatly tucked away to allow for meditation and quiet introspection.
Far from being a nuisance, the beard enables the Jewish man to take on myriad looks, conform to new trends and fashion, and to express his uniqueness and individuality.
August 24th, 2008
Beards are in (as noted by the New York Times and mentioned in a previous post) and my beard is no exception.
I am no newcomer to the world of beards – I quit shaving in late 1993 and I have never looked back – and now I am experimenting with a long beard. (This is a second attempt, the last time I grew it long was about 13 years ago.)
A few myths to dispel about beards:
- They are not hot
- They do not itch (more about itching below)
- If you clean them, nothing grows in them
Itchy beards:
Yes, when you first grow your beard it itches. It itches for about five weeks and then during the sixth week it feels like you have something on your face. But then it is over and it just feels like “face” (most men wimp out in the first five weeks – hence the myth). If you can make it through the itch – for the rest of your life you can enjoy the itch-free benefits of being bearded. No more shaving, no more irritated skin, no more wasted time, no more bleeding – just a wonderful beard.
It looks great right? I cannot guarantee that my long beard will last the summer, but for now I am enjoying it and my family and friends are amazed by its mass.
More beard news:
- According to this site – beards are the way you can identify the Jews in Egyptian hieroglyphics
- Beards.org is a site dedicated to growing beards – see link below
July 28th, 2008
An old friend of mine coined the phrase “cylindrical tubes of coolness” to describe cigarettes. He was right, they are cylindrical, and smokers are cool, but the obvious health risks should be enough to discourage anyone with a brain from smoking.
What shocks me is how prevalent smoking is in Charedi circles. As far as I know, Charedim are not immersed in American pop culture, or are a part of the chic Euro-disco crowd. So like, if you don’t like the Doors and you never saw a poster of James Dean – why start?
It seems now the Charedi establishment (at least one group) is taking a definitive stand against smoking:
Jews are not allowed to smoke, and they are required to observe a healthful way of life, said Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein, rabbi of Bnei Brak’s Ma’ayanei Hayeshuva Medical Center and representative of the halacha committee of one of the city’s leading rabbinical arbiters, Rabbi Shmuel Wosner.
Although I do have a lot of sympathy for the plight of today’s smokers (kicked out of bars, offices, and in some states their cars!), I think that ultimately this statement is a good thing. Hopefully it is a first step to bringing a healthier lifestyle and health awareness to the whole of the Jewish community.
July 10th, 2008
Chananel turned me on to this article about the “Bro Mitzvah” – a type of coming of age ritual for black teenagers loosely inspired by the Bar Mitzvah.
At first I thought it was hysterical, because the name is so ridiculous, and then I was miffed – because why is it ok to make a mockery of Jewish tradition?
Then I actually read the article.
The Bro Mitzvah is indeed a sincere attempt by one boy’s well-meaning family and friends to help usher him into manhood. And this is a fine and noble thing, though I would suggest changing the name – people will get the wrong idea.
If the black community is searching for a more authentic right of passage ritual, I once read about the Xhosa ceremony described by Nelson Mandela in his amazing book “Long Walk To Freedom” (think teenage circumcision), and I am sure there are others (and probably a few that aren’t as painful).
June 30th, 2008
My good friend Rav Yehuda, over at the Jawbone Valley blog, posted this unbelievable video. Gang signs at a whole new level – far out Na Nach Nachman style.
June 25th, 2008
I read a number of articles recently about problems facing the Reform Movement, including this front-page story in today’s Boston Globe, and it seems that a big problem plaguing Reform Judaism today is that men are fleeing the movement in droves. Look at some of these stats:
At the Reform movement’s seminary, 60 percent of the rabbinical students and 84 percent of those studying to become cantors are female. Girls are outnumbering boys by as much as 2 to 1 among adolescents in youth group programs and summer camps, while women outnumber men at worship and in a variety of congregational leadership roles, according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
The evidence is everywhere. At Temple Sinai in Sharon, nine of the 11 members of this year’s confirmation class were girls. At Temple Beth David in Canton, last Saturday’s Bible study drew 11 women and no men. At Temple Isaiah in Lexington, the executive board for the last year had eight women and one man. And at the Prozdor, an intensive supplementary high school program at Hebrew College in Newton, 59 percent of the students are female.
The analysts and experts are creating commissions to investigate the problem, but I think the reasons are simple. According to this article in Commentary Magazine (the voice of the Reform Movement) entitled “What Does Reform Judaism Stand For?” it says:
In recent years, Reform Judaism, at the prodding of its Washington arm, the Religious Action Center, has issued resolution after resolution in support of Left-liberal positions across an array of political and social issues. It has opposed the war in Iraq and the nomination of Justice Samuel Alito; sharply rebuked the Christian Right; and vigorously supported the left-wing Democratic stance on gay marriage, affirmative action, and school vouchers.
In other words, the Reform Movement is a left wing organization. It is leading the fight for “inclusiveness,” and pushes hard for things like women’s rights, gay rights, and egalitarianism. But what does it offer a nice heterosexual Jewish boy looking for something “Jewish” to belong to?
Nothing – or not much at least.
He doesn’t feel at home or comfortable with all the left-wing ideologues. He is cowed by political correctness and afraid to speak up or defend himself. And so he leaves. What do you expect?
Unfortunately for the Reform Movement, the swift exit of men is only one of its many problems. I won’t list them all here, but I think the article in Commentary does a great job summing it all up:
What does all this augur for Reform itself? The movement has wagered its future on the gamble that a coherent and vibrant Judaism can be built on the idea of a big tent, on the informed choice of each Reform Jew, and on a highly elastic definition of both “Reform” and “Jew.” Both in what it cannot accept and in what it cannot but accommodate, the movement is very much at one with the individualistic and “pluralist” ethos of contemporary American culture. But for how long will significant numbers of people continue to be drawn to, or stick with, a religious movement that cannot or will not define standards for committed living, and that, except when it comes to political imperatives, has self-consciously shunned the very notion of imperatives?
June 22nd, 2008
I was told about this video and it is amazing to watch. I don’t know if there is anything better out there that sums up the state of the Jewish people today.
Listen to what the boy is saying – he is clearly an intelligent kid who thinks about things. Unfortunately he surrounded by people who know absolutely nothing about Judaism, he is not getting answers, and he thinks it is all a big joke. And why shouldn’t he? If his family, friends and even the rabbi think he is hysterical – his father is so proud he posted his son’s speech on youtube – what does it say about how they feel about G-d and Judaism?
I just hope no one has the audacity to be mad at him when he marries Christina in a few years.
June 16th, 2008
I was just in Israel (as you can see from my last post) and I was there for Yom Yerushaliam – the day commemorating the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem after 19 years of Jordanian rule (when Jews were forbidden access to holy sites like the Western Wall, etc). About 50,000+ people were gathered at the Wall to dance as part of the annual celebration.
Maybe I am a sap, but I get extremely emotional seeing so many Jews together – it really blows my mind. I called my wife and told her that I want to be 20 and a Zionist. She told me that I am 40 and that I have a family.
I then saw a Rebbe Nachman truck blasting ultra-groovy Nachman music and decided I should join Breslav. So maybe am I just having an identity crisis.
June 13th, 2008
Look at this - it is live Blind Faith in Hyde Park in 1969. Look carefully at the medallion Clapton is wearing - it is a Magan Dovid! Wow!
You know what they say - “When you are in love, the whole world is Jewish.”
You can see the clip here.
April 2nd, 2008
No - I was not reading Vanity Fair - but check out their list of the world’s 100 most powerful people - 51 are Jewish. 51 are Jewish - can you dig that? Google, Mayor Bloomberg, Ralph Lauren - Jews are into everything and are everywhere.
If more people would start reading More Torah, I would be on the list too - tell your friends.
October 13th, 2007
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