I just saw an announcement for a talk being given tonight in a Boston Jewish venue by a visiting rabbi who shall rename nameless. The title of the talk is, “Self-Righteousness — Going on an Ego Trip”. The announcement of the talk included the following biography of the speaker (emphases mine): Rabbi [deleted] was born… Read More »
A few days ago, I flew off the handle and attacked someone on the jewish-boston mailing list for a comment which was meant in jest and which I incorrectly took seriously. I was helped to see the error of my ways by some very polite people, and this morning I sent this apology to the… Read More »
It’s campaign season in the US, and like clockwork, out come the Jews who ask only one question when deciding for whom to vote: “Which candidate is the strongest supporter of Israel?” It is not unheard of to hear such people express the opinion that Jews who consider issues other than support for Israel when… Read More »
It’s campaign season in the US, and one of the issues that comes up during every campaign is “school choice.” “School choice” is a code word for school voucher programs, through which money would be taken away from public schools and given to private schools instead. In other words, under a school voucher program, if… Read More »
Seen in a posting on-line from someone discussing the positive impact of taking regular breaks from one’s day-to-day routine: “I guess Jesus knew what he was doing calling for the observance of the Sabbath…” *sigh*
The Boston Public Schools attendance policy states that absences due to religious holidays are excused. See page 14 of the 2007-2008 Guide to the Boston Public Schools. This is not surprising, since it would be blatantly and obviously unconstitutional for a public school to treat absences due to religious holidays as unexcused absences. Unfortunately, despite… Read More »
Someone recently asked this on a mailing list I’m on: I am once again faced with the situation of having to take my vacation days for the Jewish High Holidays. Instead of passively standing by, I plan to take this issue up with my company and human resources department, as I am tired of corporate… Read More »
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has set off a firestorm by refusing to endorse House Resolution 106, which calls upon the Federal government to recognize the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. The ADL’s position is consistent with their longstanding policy not to get involved in the debate. They don’t… Read More »
Conservative Judaism’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) of the Rabbinical Assembly has recently approved three responsa on the question of ordaining avowed homosexuals as rabbis and cantors. The way the CJLS works, any of the three positions is now considered valid within Conservative Judaism, and individual rabbis may choose which to follow.
First, the letter (also online at the Herald):