Comments on: Is that a torah in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 09:35:10 +0000

Why does it always seem to fall on the women’s shoulders to control the desires of men? An attractive woman is an attractive women. Period. She can cover herself with the exception of her hands and face and still arouse a man. Men must take responsibility for their own desires and emotions. Do I believe that the Kotel should be separated? Yes, but men and women should have equal amounts of space. This irritates me so much! Just because women are not commanded to carry out time restrictive mitzvahs does not mean they are not allowed to do them. Why do men think that their prayer is somehow more important to G-d? At this rate, women won’t even be allowed in! Also, just a side note; it’s not fair to lump all Orthodox Jews into one general category. However, it is not right for one Jew to try and determine what it means to be Jewish for someone else. If practicing Orthodox Jewry makes you feel spiritually fulfilled then that is great, but you do not have the right to tell someone else who chooses to practice another form of Judaism that they are somehow “less Jewish” than you are. The Kotel is for ALL JEWS…and a small group of Orthodox rabbis cannot determine what it means to be Jewish. That is not their job. That is G-d’s.

By: Jewish Mother

Jewish Mother — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:47:29 +0000

There are a thousand Purims. Everybody gets the Purim they want. They decide what their Purim will be, in advance of it, whether they know it or not.

You are responsible for your own Purim.

Great post, # 39.

Hey Middle, what happened to your usual great grasp of middles? SOME segregation, not extreme. SOME modesty, not extreme. The MIDDLE.

A right-winger is a liberal with a daughter in high school. – proverb from my stetl.

It’s not, hey, Mom, meet my new concubine. It’s hey, Mom, I’m gonna BE what’s his name’s concubine. Isn’t he nice?

By: Drew Kaplan

Drew Kaplan — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 05:06:06 +0000

a discussion along similar mehiza issues and men and women

By: Templar

Templar — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 11:49:10 +0000

Now I feel like an idiot. I hear what you are saying Tom. Guys like that just give me a bad taste in the mouth, but one’s anger should be directed towards that person and not the entire Arab community.

By: Tom C

Tom C — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 21:53:39 +0000

ugh… can Templar… your racism disgusts me, is anti-thetical to the very core of the Jewish experience. Ahmed Saadat is a dick… but please dont make the mistake of painting all Arabs with the same brush.

By: Templar

Templar — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:19:41 +0000

Ahmed Saadat….. High blood pressure, ulcer, erectile disfunction, hamasian, arab, asshole, etc. Calm down and except the fact that you and your race are zonky-nut in a camel’s ass. Keep well.

By: themiddle

themiddle — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 07:13:38 +0000

Did somebody erase my response?

By: Purim Hero

Purim Hero — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:58:24 +0000

I got this email from a friend shortly after I posted, I figured I’d share…

“Ok. A short idea for Purim.
Haman tells Achashverosh that there is a nation that is scattered and divided in his land. He was, of course, referring to the Jews. When Esther was going to go see Achashverosh, she asked Mordechai to gather all the Jews together to fast. Some say that her point was to repent for us being divided. We should all come together and rally around one thing.
If Purim is supposed to be about coming together, then we find a peculiar thing. Some Jews read the megillah on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar. And some who live in walled cities from the times of Joshua, including Jerusalem, read on the 15th. And in the Talmud’s time, people also read on the 12th and the 13th…What’s going on? I thought we were supposed to come together on Purim????
One answer is that coming together and being united, contrary to some people’s beliefs, does not mean doing the same thing. True unity is when we respect each person’s individuality and even more, we realize we NEED each person’s individuality. We rally around the same thing, the Torah and our value system, but we each retain our own sense of self. That’s real unity.
And that’s why we have a special mitzvah to give charity on Purim, more than any other day. And we have a special mitzvah of eating a festive meal. And of giving Mishloach Manot. Because all these things bring us closer to our fellow brothers and sisters.
On that note, I want to bless you, and me, and all of Am Yisrael, that we merit to have true unity this Purim. That we merit also to have one thing to all focus and rally around – namely, the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). And may we defeat the Haman’s of today and as it says in the Megillah (8:16) “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honour”.
Happy Purim!”

By: andrew

andrew — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:25:17 +0000

TM, I understand where you’re coming from. I’ve been there too. I’m still there in a way. But for some reason I’m stuck, ’scuse the pun, in the middle of these two views. I understand the point of separation. But I also see the point in the unfairness of forcible separation, like this whole entrance line stuff.

I just want to point out that the secular controlling of “animal instincts” whatever they may be (in this case…that group of women that you mentioned) is a part of Judaism as well. Just with a name to it. Secular or not, the point is choice, the choice to restrain. But, it’s more of a law on the Jewish, or rather, more “observant” side of things. Thus, you have all this balagan about forcibly separating men from women. At least, in the lines. The Kotel I can understand. But that horse’s been dead and beaten for years, and several comments.

Anyway, I see your point, middle. It’s pretty stupid. But don’t count the reasoning out.

By: Purim Hero

Purim Hero — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:53:09 +0000

Purim Samayach!!! Happy Purim!!! Let’s remember what this Holiday is all about. There are 2 hero’s one man, one woman, both important, both with different parts to play, different missions. One not better then the other. But most importantly, remember that all Jews were in it together, facing the same external enemy. As a people they came together behind their leaders and achived victory. Mitzvat Aseh Shel V’Ahavta Larecha Kamocha – It is a possitive commandment to love each person like yourself. Achdut People! Come on, how about a little Jewish Unity…

(As a side note, the army forces that captured yerushaliem and the Kotel/Temple Mount were comprised both of secular and religious soldures working together for a common cause. Funny how successful we can be when we put aside our differences and focus on our shared goals…

one of the soldures who freed the Kotel (Rabbi Yisrael Ariel) is currently sitting on the new Sanhedrine. You can check it out at: thesanhedrin.o...)