My ongoing journey through the Torah

Just not cut out for Judaism?

Just not cut out for Judaism

Barney Zwartz

October 27, 2006

A BOY on the verge of his bar mitzvah was told that he wasn’t properly circumcised and therefore wasn’t Jewish.

Orthodox rabbis in Sydney said he had to be recircumcised within four days or the ceremony — which marks the official transition to adulthood Jewish boys make at 13 — could not go ahead.

The boy’s mother, Sydney journalist Ros Reines, said she was shocked and sickened, and refused a second circumcision. "He’s undoubtedly circumcised. It’s just a matter of degree," she said.

 

Read more…

 
If the article is true, do the Orthodox Rabbis in Sydney have any authority to say who is Jewish and whom is not?

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Wedding day … I’m up and waiting for the five ‘wake up’ calls that are coming

Who is supposed to call me this morning to make sure I’m awake?

1. Dad
2. Nate
3. Pummy
4. Dan
5. Glennys

Guess what?  I’ve been awake for the past half hour.  Nope, no trouble sleeping at all last night.  I put my head on the pillow and then I woke up this morning feeling perfectly fine.  No nervousness, no anxiety, just a delightful calm.  Really, the only things I’m thinking about at the moment are when is breakfast and when is lunch.  I’m just hanging out in our apartment.

tzurriz, dreamsweaver, and all the other women are probably going nuts right now at dreamsweaver ’s house about now getting their hair, makeup and whatever it is that women have done on the day of the movie while I’m just sitting here doing nothing with nothing that has to be done (except drop off the car at the hotel in Lombard).

skyring, Aussie Casanova, just totally surprises me every day.  Yesterday he posted Hurricane Rebecca and today he sends roses and chocolates!  When we get to Canberra, Austraila  in the next couple of years, I’m going to hire skyring’s cab for an entire day so he can show us Canberra.  The best way to site-see is in the cab IMHO. :)  Look out skyring!  Hurricane Rebecca (tzurriz ) is coming to Austraila in a couple years!

Work has been very good in not trying to contact me so kudos to Bill, Josey, Bruce, Rick, Drew and Francis for holding down the fort!!

A word of warning to Pummy:  If you don’t get your tux today at noon, like you were supposed to do two days ago, not only is tzurriz and Latika going to kick your butt, but dreamsweaver is talk very politely and calmly to you while the rest of the families come up behind you and….

Pauline’s wife is stuck at Union Station because she didn’t bring any money, credit cards, or even ID.  One of my uncles is going to go get her.  I’m sorry but I don’t have time today to go and pick up ANYONE today. hmmm

To everyone that is coming to the wedding:
I’m in no mood for any selfish antics today!  Pummy, Dan and Nate are the bouncers at the wedding and reception..  That means if you have a cell phone, put it on silent - you can answer the blooming phone after the ceremony outside of the main area.  Don’t even think of bringing laptops, iPods, Blackberrys, or anything like that… keep it in the car or better yet, don’t bring it at all.

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FW: At Least Six Slain At Pa. Amish School

FW: At Least Six Slain At Pa. Amish School
"So far six confirmed dead and the helicopters are pulling into (Lancaster General Hospital) like crazy," Lancaster County Coroner G. Gary Kirchner said.Six people were dead after a gunman opened fire in a one-room Amish schoolhouse Monday in Pennsylvania’s bucolic Lancaster County, the county coroner said. It was unclear if the shooter was among the six, but state police had said earlier that he had been killed at the school. Police said the situation is now under control.

Read more…

On Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, this happens :(  How can we ask G-d for forgiveness of the entire human race when someone is willing to kill children?  What in the world could the Amish be targeted for?  The Amish have got to be one of the most harmless groups of people on the planet!  They keep to themselves and offer help to strangers when needed.

The Amish remind me strongly of a group of people Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga known as the Tuatha’an:

Those sworn to the Way of the Leaf are a pacifistic group, pledging to do no violence. They believe that violence harms not only the victim, but the person who harms the victim.

The Way of the Leaf also means taking what must come, and the leaf is an example: "For the leaf lives its appointed time and does not struggle against the wind that carries it away. The leaf does no harm, and finally falls to nourish new leaves." Those sworn to the Way of the Leaf pledge not do violence, but are willing to accept if it comes upon them.

Some born to the Way of the Leaf have trouble accepting this lifestyle. For the most part, though, those who follow the Way of the Leaf are happy and at peace with themselves. Many find it difficult to see how anyone could follow the Way of the Leaf in a world filled with violence and troubles, but these people find it hard to believe people would choose to live any other way.

Despite the difficulties involved, it easy to envy those who follow the Way of the Leaf for the simplicity and peace with which they live their lives.

I’m very angry and I shouldn’t be on Yom Kippur but I am.

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