You have legitimate issues about the things Madonna has said and done. Fine.

But what are you saying when you call someone a cunt, which is another name for a vagina?

You are saying that the person in question is “a vagina”, or really a woman. Well, I’m sorry, but being a woman is not a reason for insult.

Nobody says things like, “Hitler: what a dick.” No, they say, “Hitler was an evil man. He murdered millions of people.”

Now, it would be coy of me not to mention that one criticism of Madonna is that she exploits her sexuality to sell records. Therefore, some could call her “a prostitute.” Being a Western Canadian, I am a bit sensitive about the term “prostitute” being an insult (murdered prostitutes found in my medium-sized city this year, so far: 3); however, it would be a correct description of someone who sells sex.

Nope, I’m not arguing over semantics. It’s about dehumanizing women.

I’ve got too many friends who have been raped or beaten to let shit like this go. And, BTW Jewish Mother, some of them were frum women.

I’d never heard of her pain syndrome, but I have heard that she was going through a period of emotional instability. She should have nothing but the refu’ot she needs and the hatzlachot she prays for…

Not too long ago, Madonna would decorate herself with henna tattoos; Hindu organizations asked her to stop doing so as she was using symbols that are of religious value to Hindus. Not long before that, she named her daughter after a pilgrimage site popular among hardcore conservative Catholics. I wouldn’t consider her an ambassador of any religion, philosophy or lifestyle other than that of a rather successful business woman.

Just to be clear: I wasn’t trying to engage in debate. The woman should go jump off a cliff.

But only after all of the hucksters responsible for demeaning and degrading Yiddishkeit by pandering to gentile fascination with Jewish exoticism for money FOAD.

When did you become Henny Youngman, Tom?

Know why this doesn’t matter to me? Because I answer to a higher authority.

And to put it in ridiculously childish terms, my Jewish soul is as good as anybody’s. It isn’t about a choice even, really, a “taking on” of something; it’s the recognition and acceptance of something that is already there, of who you already are. What outsider could possibly know what that means? Could it ever really be anything but between you and G-d? The presumptuousness of anyone who would challenge that should make you laugh. And while Madonna might be irritating, I think she is so far away from anything that resembles Judaism by choice that she is insignificant–she’s looking for designer Judaism, not anything real. Don’t forget, people have to actually believe in her as a spiritual guide for her to be one. I don’t think many people are making that mistake.

And in case anyone was wondering, as Paula says on this video where she is seen with her Chaba”d rabbi, she had recently begun to light Shabbat candles and pray daily. IY”H her observance will increase and she’ll be another observant Jew on the TV.

When I get the occasional, “Oh, Jewish like Madonna?” comment, I just laugh and inform them that Madonna is not Jewish. Her connection to the Kabob Centre does nothing to degrade my commitment to Judaism. That’s like saying my marriage to my husband degrades another’s heterosexual marriage. (Not implying that you felt this way about my marriage :-p)

American Jews have much more to worry about than Madonna wearing a red string, even though her belief system is completely bogus. If she and her celeb friends find some connection to these teachings, then good for them. If we want to root out the real problem, it’s time to point out these organizations that are bogus and reveal them for who we are.
Our inability to disassociate with the Kabob Centre is what degrades our Jewish identity, not an individual like Madonna or anyone else.

One of the sins we are going to confess at Yom Kippur in a few days is sneering at genuine converts, G-d help us all.

Judaism is a huge choice for me, learning and trying to find the right level of observance is an amazing challenge. Even with all the work and excitement I bring in with me, I know that some people won’t ever consider me a ‘real Jew’.

While I’m glad Madonna and the other Kabbalah Patch Kids have found something that makes them happy, and that adds something meaningful and mystical to their lives, declaring herself an “ambassador” for the Jewish population (including Jews-by-choice like me) just seems to cheapen those of us striving to what she seems to hold so cheaply – the Torah to which the Zohar is a complement, not a replacement.

Anyway, now I’m getting all farklempt at work. Good morning, all!