Hebrew

Everybody get together: Try to love one another right now.So, here in Chicago, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs is doing some great work as part of their Jewish-Muslim Community-Building Initiative that I wanted to tell you about super-fast before Shabbes.

Jewish-Muslim text study will be held on Thursday January 24th at 6pm at Bourgeois Pig Cafe in Chicago. In the recent email I was forwarded about this event, I read, "Torah? Qur'ran? What are the differences? What are the similarities? At our first monthly text discussion, we will exchange ideas, thoughts and stories from our separate yet bound traditions. This evening's focus will be on Abraham/Ibrahim. Future texts, as well as locations, will be decided by the group.This group will meet monthly." Hit this link to send the required RSVP.

Cafe Finjan (Finjan, a word in both Arabic and Hebrew, is a metal pot for brewing coffee in the traditional Middle Eastern style, not only in the home, but also on a campfire, with friends gathered around for warmth) will be held Thursday February 7th from 7-9pm at Mercury Cafe in Chicago. The event description reads: "Jewish-Muslim arts exchanges -- an evening of Muslim and Jewish poetry, storytelling and song in an intimate coffee-house setting.  Come join new and old friends for a night of comedy, music, song, and spoken word.CAFÉ FINJAN is a series of interfaith arts exchanges, begun in 2004 by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs as part of its Jewish-Muslim Community-Building Initiative. The series establishes points of contact, and nurtures a greater understanding between Jews and Muslims of Chicago while creating spaces for Chicagoland Jews, Muslims, and others of diverse backgrounds to come together and give voice to their identity and experience as part of a larger community." RSVP here.

Also, Cafe Finjan is looking for performers of any sort (writers, poets, singers, songwriters, dancers, essayists, storytellers, etc.) for their events. Just email and include your name, phone, email, details of your performance and the community (Jewish or Muslim) with which you identify yourself for a five-minute time space.

But, don't stop there.  Hit their website for information on all sorts of events, including something called Chocolate for Change, which, well, sounds rather interesting...

Le NaNaNachman: Ain't no Royale with Cheese about it.

My good friend and yours, DJ Handler, is in the middle of Y-Love's European tour. Right now they're in Paris, where, apparently, the crazy Hasidic raver kids also hang out on the way home from Uman.....* Boys, girls, and Rebbe Nachman. This is the way it should be.

_____ 

* - yes, i know that Paris is not on the way home from Uman to Ramat Bet Shemesh. Unless you're traveling without moving.

Ahhh: The warming glow of ChanukahAfter the questions I posed, and the thoughts I was kicking around the other day about the pre-Christmas frenzy, it was with great delight I read this article over on Aish today that, though not exactly related to what I was talking about, it is a lovely article about the stillness and introspection that comes of Chanukah. I was loving it after reading this in the second paragraph: "In a world that thrives on flashy externals, Chanukah focuses our attention inwards, urging us to purify ourselves so that the flame we shine into the world will be strong and bright." But, once they olives to illumination and conclusion about cans of tuna can into play, I was loving it even more. Anyway, go read. It's lovely, and that very kind of Jewcy-goodness that I dig to death.

Ritual Well is another source I check often to see different approaches and ways to examine traditions, which I've mentioned here a few times. Anyhoot, for Chanukah, they're running a piece from Kolot Center for Jewish Women's and Gender Studies that is a slightly-tinkered version of Chanukah brachot with male and female pronouns, in Hebrew, transliterated Hebrew and English. Also, a nice piece (which does relate to my Christmas post from the other day a bit) suggesting ways to keep/make Chanukah less material that I like and actually follow a version of myself. Lastly there's an interesting and very different take on candle lighting each night of Chanukah by attaching physical and emotional language and imagery to each observance.

The Misheberach-- the prayer to ease suffering of the ill-- is on my mind today, or rather, lately, so what do I do when something is on my mind? I start looking into it and unpacking it and checking it out and trying to see it with new eyes in the hopes of finding something I've overlooked.

With all due respect to Debbie Friedman, her version doesn't much feed my being. It works for plenty of people and that's really great if it works for you, but it's never felt right for me. I've been thinking about the Misheberach so much lately, that I needed to bypass all of that and find more, to find something else. You see, the Misheberach was turning into something I did without thinking, and I didn't want it to be that. I wanted to feel reconnected to it.

MisheBEARach?: Get it? Hello?... Is this thing on? Eh, tough crowd.

So, today, I sifted through Ritual Well's version, expanded to utilize both masculine and feminine language and imagery, this piece "When The Body Hurts, The Soul Still Longs to Sing" by Rabbi Nancy Flam, I dug through Jewish Healing, The National Center for Jewish Healing, (I've taken a few workshops at the Jewish Healing Network of Chicago, and there are similar networks all over the place. I highly recommend their classes.), even related and semi-related issues like Velveteen Rabbi's musings on Asher Yatzer, Aish's "G-d Makes A Housecall", flipped through Sha'arei Refuah: Gates of Jewish Healing, Healing and The Jewish Imagination, The Mitzvah of Healing, and thought through the emotional parts of physical healing as well as the equally-important purely emotional issues that arise in the world that need to heal just as much and thumbed through Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing and Inner Wholeness, and revisited an old-favorite of mine, Jewish with Feeling, a Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice.

And then I had a thought: Think of the term rakhamim that is connective of both mercy and also womb in Hebrew. Could this be the reason we use the ailing person's mother's name in the Misheberach? As in, May it be the case that so-and-so feels the healing warmth of g-dliness as s/he did in the moment s/he was born, that moment of his/her greatest potential and his/her most sacred. Ah-ha! Right away, this set off all sorts of ideas and, yeah, there it was. My new way of thinking about the Misheberach. Something I'd known but perhaps not put together quite in that way before.

As a side note, I know a lot of people who are uncomfortable with the Misheberach, insisting it feels like begging for something. To that, all I can really say is this... refuah shlemah, a "complete recovery", a term found in the Misheberach-- refuah is from the root that means something like "soften" and "lessen". Not as in "Do what I want! Do it, do it now!" but like "I hope it is easier", "I hope the discomfort is softer or lesser than it is right now".

As the curtain rises on this week's parsha, the scene is set by mention of the selfishly-living masses, and Noach, who felt divinely prompted to construct not a ship (sfinah or oniah in Hebrew), but rather a Teva (ark). Ah-ha. Teva, is also a word for "word." So, just the word teva implies a sense of harmonious coexistence, in that every word requires at least two letters working together. But then this theme is further addressed with the description of the inhabitants of the Teva, humans and animals, all different, all stuck together but managing to live and thrive together, mostly.

Um: Maybe not the Teva Noach I had in mind.

Needless to say, words like community and unity are on my mind when this parsha rolls around, as are all the ways we can consider community for ourselves. Doing our part as individuals to make the earth clean and healthy works for the greater of the global community (well, I suppose technically most positive actions benefit the global community in the buzzword sense, but I suppose I mean in the earthy sense here). Championing human rights causes supports the human community as does helping to develop and teach sustainable agriculture and turning to sustainable resources. Then, we can look at our national and ethnic and religious communities, our communities as men or women or singles or couples or special needs or survivors or gay, bi or straight or transgendered persons or however and wherever we find ourselves in the world. What about our cities? Our neighborhoods? Our city block? Our homes? Our families? Our... selves?

There are a lot of communities to support and it can be overwhelming. Do we work micro to macro or the reverse? Or, do we try to take on all of our various levels of community all at once?

Perhaps the description of Noach taking foreverrrrr (120 years) to build his Teva is meant to remind us to value persistent, determined effort, and perhaps to not dismiss and ridicule the small groups of individuals committed to making positive changes in the world, no matter how insurmountable their tasks seem. And, perhaps it serves at a reminder that daily mindfulness spreads light into all the different communities we each touch, and the more of us to live in ways that bring forth our daily best, the more light spreads, micro to macro, macro to micro. Back and forth, sent and reflected, all at once.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."” -Margaret Mead

Maddy,

It's not that I don't like you. I don't personally know you, of course, and I once bought Like A Virgin (as a new release, and on vinyl, ahem) and loved it. And until now I've resisted commenting about your Jew-ish schtick, because I found it a bit too half-hearted to really stir me. But your "I'm an ambassador for Judaism" comment right there with Israeli President Shimon Peres floored me and hurt me on a deeper level than I imagined something like that would.

Peacekeeping: Bodypaint + Pop Star

You are not Jewish. As far as I know, you're not even really all that Jew-ish. I am Jewish, and I am offended that you are speaking on my behalf. On our behalf. I've studied a great deal about other religions, but, just because I think, say the idea of patron saints is a cool concept, or just because I agree deeply with some Buddhist teachings, doesn't mean I'd haul off and declare myself an ambassador for those traditions. If I felt strongly enough about Catholicism or Buddhism, I'd be Catholic or Buddhist. And, even then, if I were to jump religions, I can't imagine feeling qualified to be an ambassador. But that's just me. I can recognize beauty and find ideas resonant without taking it for my own. I know you're really gung-ho about Kabbalah, as are a lot of celebrities. And I find non-Jewish interest in Judaism to be the highest compliment; a testament to the beautiful ideas and concepts we hold so dearly and that make me so proud of my Jewishness. But, I'd like to remind you that Kabbalah is not a religion. Kabbalah is an ancient set of Jewish mystical concepts. And one is supposed to be both a Torah and Talmud master before beginning the study of Kabbalah.

I can say confidently, without knowing you personally, that you, Madonna, are not a Torah and Talmud master. If I may be so frank, you're a woman with a shit-pot of money and worldwide fame. Those two things open a lot of doors, but they often insulate a person from authentic information/experiences and cause a lot of people to give you authority that hasn't necessarily been earned. You worked hard for your success, and I'm not begrudging you the fruits of your labors. But are you aware of how deeply you are irritating to some of the peoplehood you claim to adore? Anyone would recognize your authority in matters of music, singing, dance, celebrity, and wealth, but I'm not comfortable with your authority in Jewish matters. Maybe because you're not Jewish.

I wouldn't stand in front of President Shimon Peres and declare myself an ambassador to Judaism, and I'm not only Jewish but gung-ho about being Jewish. I just don't think I'm narcissistic enough to think my Jewishness can speak for anyone but myself. In fact, I think Judaism, by nature, is anti-ambassador. We don't get "preached to" but rather we "discuss and consider for ourselves". So, yeah. There's that. Anyway, check this out.

Ambassador. n.

1. A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.
2. A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.
3. An authorized messenger or representative.
4. An unofficial representative: ambassadors of goodwill.

See my point, Maddy? The two things that stick out to me are "of highest rank" and "authorized". Nobody charged you, nobody urged you, nobody asked you. You decided you speak for me and I have to be honest and tell you thanks but no thanks. However, I do want to point out the words "usually for a specific length of time" and inquire about your plan in this regard...?

Pick a Narcissism, Any Narcicsssm: First She-Jeeze, now Yiddishe Ambassador?

The Times Online's (UK) Hugo Rifkind wrote today (I'm sure you are aware of this publication, as the UK seemed to be the last thing you half-heartedly co-opted, alienating the shit out of folks both in the UK and here in the US, where you are actually from) that you are "to actual Judaism what the Beach Boys were to actual surfing (in that you can’t do it, and don't really want to, but pretend it has influenced your songs)" which I found quite funny. What do you think about that? I'm sure, since you are a human being, that criticism isn't pleasant. Does it offend you because you feel so deeply connected to Judaism and our peoplehood that this accusation makes you feel misunderstood?

Because, here's the thing. If you wanted to actually be Jewish, if you studied with a rabbi and the two of you felt you found your place inside of Judaism and fit within Judaism as you are, if you went before a beit din and went to mikveh, I would welcome you, just as I would welcome anyone who felt strongly enough to convert. But, you aren't. You haven't.

I'm protective of Judaism. It isn't always easy to be Jewish. You're like our sparkly little fair-weather friend. By that I mean, you're a friend-of-the-Jewcy, which is better than being an aspiring Jew-exterminator, of course. (By the by, I was sorry to hear about what Popular Resistance said about you. That's got to be scary.) You put Rosh HaShanah and Purim in People magazine, which I suppose might lead to Judaism being a bit less mysterious to non-Jews, perhaps. But, on the same token, putting Rosh HaShanah and Purim in the news makes it all seem glamorous rather than meaningful. And, when something starts on that path, it gets misunderstood and whitewashed and co-opted and cheapened.

I can't begrudge anyone anything from which they derive meaning and sacredness, but I'd really encourage you to think about how your behavior looks to those of us you mean to "represent," and those of us you profess to care so deeply for. If you feel good about Judaism, please remember "chosen people" doesn't mean elevated in importance in the great karmic pecking order, but it means we choose greater responsibility for repairing the world around us and  caring for one another.

Just something to mull over and think about. I do appreciate your willingness to embrace many paths as well as how eager you are to reinvent yourself. My hope for you is that one day, you find a spiritual home that evolves with you and you with it, and that it is one you can finally live in with your whole self.

B'Shalom,

Amy Guth

Post Script: While you have really got some chuptzah to ink out one of the 72 names for the source of the universe on your arm, your new Hebrew tattoo does, I'll admit, look really badass, and I can see the theoretical appeal in the explanation your Kabbalah Center Guy offered, I guess, about manifesting things in your own life. Perhaps you might encourage your old pal Britney to take the advice on the "healing" nature of her tattoo. Girlfriend is pretty cracked-out these days.

Post-Post Script: I sort of like to run to that song that you sampled ABBA to make. I didn't understand the suntan pantyhose leggings in the video, though.

[Note: This post has been edited since publication.]