I think the most salient part of it, for me, was the description of the evolution of this Persian Jewish community from a typical Sephardic-like one that we would consider traditional, to one that is splitting in the polar opposite directions of secularism and ultra-Orthodoxy. One would imagine that these changes are coming about after centuries in which this community was almost entirely on the traditional side.

In fact, these changes reflect our changing times, where the middle ground is being lost in Jewish communal life. Reform, Reconstructionist Jewish movements and the ranks of the unaffiliated are swelling in size, as are Orthodox, but at the expense of the Conservative movement which is watching its members leave either for more secular lives or for more observant ones. One can even see pressure on Modern Orthodox to become more “machmir.”

It’s almost as if the only way to overcome the questions of modern life as they relate to faith, is to either give in to secularism or to give in to Orthodoxy that shuns the disruptions of modern life in terms of practice and observance.

*The Middle packs up and runs away*

“Maybe Angelina Jolie can take care of this?”

Where’s a good rabbi when you need one?

Besides, doesn’t the very wealthy part help to remove the stigma of bad looks?