After hearing about this article and talking about genetics and how it relates to being Jewish, I wanted to read what it was all about. Some people believe that anorexia or bulimia is something genetic that is passed down from parent to child. Seeing a rise of eating disorders amongst Jews makes me wonder why people don't see this and think of it as a "Jewish" mental illness like the view other diseases like Tay Sachs disease.
I found the New York Times article to be very interesting. Confronting mental illness is hard enough in our liberal society as a whole, I can not imagine how frightening it must be for Orthodox women to admit they have a problem. This fear of voicing your problems is heightened for Orthodox women because it can negatively impact things that are important to them and their families. For example, the article talks about matchmaking and how having a mental illness can stand in the way of finding a perfect match. In order to avoid this, they keep it to themselves and stay away from treatment. It is sad that there has to be an element of fear and shame surrounding mental illness, because it causes people to hide it and allows it to grow and get worse.
I also thought it was fascinating to read about the Rabbis reaction with Naomi Feigenbaum. He made exceptions to religious rules and tradition in order to get her help, like driving in the car on Saturday or eating non Kosher food. I was a little surprised to see that her own health was placed before Orthodox Judaism by a very religious Rabbi. However, that just goes to show how extreme these situations can become. She discusses this later in the article quoting the Rabbi saying, "The Jewish laws are things God wanted us to live by, not die by, and that saving a life takes precedence over all of them." I found this to be an important quotation in the article and it was informative to see the standpoint of an Orthodox Rabbi on an issue such as this.
The article continues to talk about the reasons explaining this kind of phenomenon. The pressure to do things like marry early, start families and be a homemaker who prepares huge Friday night meals, is difficult to manage with other things we participate in that are demanding like a professional career. They also talk about the eating disorder emerging during a time when young women are supposed to be caring for siblings and have less time to take care of their own health.
Lastly, it finishes talking about issues with days Orthodox Jews are supposed to fast. These days can be detrimental to someone with an eating disorder, and regardless of doctors orders, many women will still try and withstand from food or water for 24 hours. The Rabbis response to this was that in cases like this, the woman must eat, not that she can eat but she must. This again goes back to the quote from above and gives a rational reason to breaking Jewish tradition.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
IFCJ
I think that the topic of Jews in the Christian imagination is very interesting, although I wonder if it is naive to think that the tension between countries and people that have been happening for years can just disappear. Personally, I think the idea is great and I agree that religions, or established groups in general can work together and form friendships when they recognize the common concerns they share.
My mother is Christian and my father is Jewish, but that has never influenced what people I interact with. They never pressured me either way or discouraged me to learn about other cultures and religions. However, most of my friends and the families that lived in my neighborhood because being Jewish, was an important factor for people when choosing to live in Scarsdale, NY. There were non-Jews who lived and went to my high school also that were welcomed into the community, but the bond between the synagogues in our small town made it easy for Jews to associate more with Jews. Growing up in a neighborhood with people that were not all Jewish proved to me on a first hand level, that regardless of the identity that religion places on us, we can all live harmoniously if we look for our similarities, not focus on our differences.
I also enjoyed looking at the website. They made their mission very clear under "About IFCJ" and it did not seem to be biased towards one religion or another, but truly just an organization trying to promote peace. I also thought that it was interesting that they were based in Chicago, but also in Jerusalem because that shows how important Israel is to multiple people, religions and cultures. I also liked the trips they offer and would consider looking further into participating in one. However, this is the first time I have ever hear of a movement like this, and I think it would be beneficial to move it along if they advertised and promoted it more. They are involved with the popular social networks to try and spread the word, but I think if they could team up with another well known organization they would be able to reach out to more people.
I could see where Jews would be turned off by something like this because of the past and I don't know how close two religions can really become. I do think that if they continue to try and do this and they focus on the more general idea of all people living with respect and cooperation more people would be able to understand the concept.
My mother is Christian and my father is Jewish, but that has never influenced what people I interact with. They never pressured me either way or discouraged me to learn about other cultures and religions. However, most of my friends and the families that lived in my neighborhood because being Jewish, was an important factor for people when choosing to live in Scarsdale, NY. There were non-Jews who lived and went to my high school also that were welcomed into the community, but the bond between the synagogues in our small town made it easy for Jews to associate more with Jews. Growing up in a neighborhood with people that were not all Jewish proved to me on a first hand level, that regardless of the identity that religion places on us, we can all live harmoniously if we look for our similarities, not focus on our differences.
I also enjoyed looking at the website. They made their mission very clear under "About IFCJ" and it did not seem to be biased towards one religion or another, but truly just an organization trying to promote peace. I also thought that it was interesting that they were based in Chicago, but also in Jerusalem because that shows how important Israel is to multiple people, religions and cultures. I also liked the trips they offer and would consider looking further into participating in one. However, this is the first time I have ever hear of a movement like this, and I think it would be beneficial to move it along if they advertised and promoted it more. They are involved with the popular social networks to try and spread the word, but I think if they could team up with another well known organization they would be able to reach out to more people.
I could see where Jews would be turned off by something like this because of the past and I don't know how close two religions can really become. I do think that if they continue to try and do this and they focus on the more general idea of all people living with respect and cooperation more people would be able to understand the concept.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Race, Religion or both?
Today in class we discussed what race is and what Judaism as a whole is considered by our society. We specifically looked at African American Judaism and looked more closely at Beth Shalom B'Nai Zaken: Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. First off, I found it to be interesting that their website says an Ethiopian hebrew congregation. While I was in Israel, I worked on a community service project at an Ethiopian absorption center, so this is a targeted group of people Israel hopes to connect with all over the world. We watched a video about this group of people an a few things that people said stood out to me. One woman tried to explain the differences between this congregation and others. She used the word "Amen" as an example to say that the other African Americans understand what she means when she says, Amen! It is more explosive and they connect on a closer level. They also believe that the Ethiopians are the "true" Jews, and they do not say they are Jewish or call their religion Judaism. They call themselves Hebrew Israelites and consider that they are African American descents from Egypt.
Beth Shalom tries very hard to connect with other Jews of color. They think there needs to be more room for all these ethnic people who have found their way back to Judaism. The support Israel just as much as countries like Nigeria and South Africa and consider it to be just like home. The video that we saw made it seem like the congregation incorporates cultural things like song and dance associated with African Americans with Jewish traditions to revert to Judaism. Things like this and even food doesn’t belong to one “identity” ex: soul food can be black and Jewish. Many African Americans are unsure where and how to practice Judaism so Funnye's goal is to encourage reverting back to Judaism.
As we discussed further the history of African American Jews, I thought it was interesting that it originated during the Civil Rights Movement. Both minorities came into alliance because they were being oppressed and this this created an entire generation of black jews. In general, they tell the story about the jewish people being very inclusive and inviting to these new Jews so a community arouse. I also find it compelling to see how minorities can come together or compete. One of the representatives from the African American Jewish congregation perceived their identity as being the "true" Jews. This creates a hierarchy and creates more division amongst the Jews.
Beth Shalom tries very hard to connect with other Jews of color. They think there needs to be more room for all these ethnic people who have found their way back to Judaism. The support Israel just as much as countries like Nigeria and South Africa and consider it to be just like home. The video that we saw made it seem like the congregation incorporates cultural things like song and dance associated with African Americans with Jewish traditions to revert to Judaism. Things like this and even food doesn’t belong to one “identity” ex: soul food can be black and Jewish. Many African Americans are unsure where and how to practice Judaism so Funnye's goal is to encourage reverting back to Judaism.
As we discussed further the history of African American Jews, I thought it was interesting that it originated during the Civil Rights Movement. Both minorities came into alliance because they were being oppressed and this this created an entire generation of black jews. In general, they tell the story about the jewish people being very inclusive and inviting to these new Jews so a community arouse. I also find it compelling to see how minorities can come together or compete. One of the representatives from the African American Jewish congregation perceived their identity as being the "true" Jews. This creates a hierarchy and creates more division amongst the Jews.
Overall identity, race and ethnicity are very problematic topics. Who we are is not comprised of one identity. We aren't just Jewish or just Asian, it is much more complicated. To see the assimilation of identities like in the congregation Beth Shalom is both inspiring and a positive shift for Judaism as a whole.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Kotel, Green project and Shabbat
Once we got to jerusalem we went to the Kotel. This was one of my favorite places we visited, and the Jewish connection there is overwhelming and immediate. The history and story behind it is very unique and the experience was one I will never forget. There were hundreds of people here, many dressed as Orthodox Jews, and the men and women pray on different sides. We had to wait for awhile before we were able to go up, touch the wall, pray and put a note into the small cracks that are already filled with tiny folds of white paper. It was a very spiritual place and there was also a Barmitzvah going on the Thursday we were there.
After that we went to the hotel we were staying at and heard about this recent campaign that was started called Nu. They told us about their organization and they make t-shirts with very cool designs on them and print the story of the organizations the picture is representing on the inside. Since they just started only 20 percent goes to the actual charity but they hope to eventually donate 100 percent of proceeds to the specific charity, pretty great idea. They hope to bring these t-shirts to college campuses to spread the word about the different charities and get young people involved with Israel since we are the future.
After this we worked on something called the Green Project. It was working with a community of activists that turned a garbage dump into a green space. It was SO beautiful, and the view was breath taking. We helped improve the terraces and moved rocks to create a path. After this we went to the shuk which is a huge market place, if I could compare it to anything it would be something like canal street. Lots of little shops and a ton of food. We go falafel and walked around, and since it was friday there were SO many people buying groceries for shabbat. I have never seen anything like it, it was hard to even move! Being from NY gave me an advantage because we know how to be pushy! After this prepared for Shabbat and we started off the night lighting candles. They gave us the option of going to a local temple, going to the service in the hotel or staying for an open discussion of Shabbat in the hotel. I went to the temple and it was SO different then what I have experienced at my temple at home. The women sit behind the men to pray and there was a lot of singing and dancing. Those who were part of the congregation were very welcoming and the service lasted about 2 hours. After we had a special shabbat dinner and then had an oneg which is kind of like a Shabbat party. We all bought snacks from the market to eat, played games and sang songs. The next morning there was optional worship for Shabbat and we went to the Kotel again to pray. Then we had a workshop on the weekly parsha and the discussion lead us to the topic of heros because of the story of purim. We talked about some of the biggest heros in jewish history which was very inspiring. My group focused on Hannah Senesh, one of the bravest people I have every learned about. People do such unbelievable things with their lives. After lunch we reseted for Shabbat then had havdallah which is the prayer that is said at the end of shabbat. After we had a free night to get dinner, on Ben Yahuda street. Being in the Old City really allowed us to connect to Judaism and seeing so many Jewish people in one place was refreshing. Everyone we met was so grateful for our help and the people of Israel really love and care about their land.
After that we went to the hotel we were staying at and heard about this recent campaign that was started called Nu. They told us about their organization and they make t-shirts with very cool designs on them and print the story of the organizations the picture is representing on the inside. Since they just started only 20 percent goes to the actual charity but they hope to eventually donate 100 percent of proceeds to the specific charity, pretty great idea. They hope to bring these t-shirts to college campuses to spread the word about the different charities and get young people involved with Israel since we are the future.
After this we worked on something called the Green Project. It was working with a community of activists that turned a garbage dump into a green space. It was SO beautiful, and the view was breath taking. We helped improve the terraces and moved rocks to create a path. After this we went to the shuk which is a huge market place, if I could compare it to anything it would be something like canal street. Lots of little shops and a ton of food. We go falafel and walked around, and since it was friday there were SO many people buying groceries for shabbat. I have never seen anything like it, it was hard to even move! Being from NY gave me an advantage because we know how to be pushy! After this prepared for Shabbat and we started off the night lighting candles. They gave us the option of going to a local temple, going to the service in the hotel or staying for an open discussion of Shabbat in the hotel. I went to the temple and it was SO different then what I have experienced at my temple at home. The women sit behind the men to pray and there was a lot of singing and dancing. Those who were part of the congregation were very welcoming and the service lasted about 2 hours. After we had a special shabbat dinner and then had an oneg which is kind of like a Shabbat party. We all bought snacks from the market to eat, played games and sang songs. The next morning there was optional worship for Shabbat and we went to the Kotel again to pray. Then we had a workshop on the weekly parsha and the discussion lead us to the topic of heros because of the story of purim. We talked about some of the biggest heros in jewish history which was very inspiring. My group focused on Hannah Senesh, one of the bravest people I have every learned about. People do such unbelievable things with their lives. After lunch we reseted for Shabbat then had havdallah which is the prayer that is said at the end of shabbat. After we had a free night to get dinner, on Ben Yahuda street. Being in the Old City really allowed us to connect to Judaism and seeing so many Jewish people in one place was refreshing. Everyone we met was so grateful for our help and the people of Israel really love and care about their land.
Yosi's farm, the crater and army base
Another experience I had over the eight days I spent in Israel was at a place called Yosi's farm which is literally in the middle of nowhere in the Negev Desert. First we met the man that owned the farm and he explained to us how the only people who are there are him, his family and 1 volunteer. Must be a ton of work to take care of the land with so few people but he told us he didn't have the money to employ people yet. They are hoping that as more people come to this area, the tourism will bring them income. We started working on his olive trees around 9, and pulled out weeds, raked, and put stones around the tree in a circle. He said that the weeds take water away from the trees and by raking the soil around them we were helping more air get in. After helping prep the land on his farm, which will over time bring more people to visit the Negev, we saw one of the worlds biggest crater in the world. It was massive and I have never seen anything like it and after went to the israeli army base camp for people who are training to become officers. Basically what this means is that they are extending their time in the army (women are required 2 years, men 3). We had a girl show us around and also met the rabbi on the base. He showed us their synagogue that was funded by JNF when there was a need for a bigger one to fit all the soldiers. The architecture was inspired by the burning bush, and the building resembles flames of fire. He told us that the meaning behind this is that even though the bush was on fire, it did not burn- it stayed strong and held its ground, just like israel. It was also a very simple building, no painting or color just concrete. The reason for this is that israeli people feel people should just be simple and not flashy and take off their outer "mask". He told us this is what israeli leaders in the army are like- they sacrifice their wants for the good of the country. We went inside of their work room first which is a place with a long table and chairs with a lot of hebrew books. This is a place for the soldiers to come during their free time to read and learn since to traditionally religious israelis, learning is a necessity in everyday life. Then we went upstairs to see the synagogue which was also very simple for the same reason as I mentioned above. There were 2 floors because the men and women pray separately- men on the floor, women upstairs. He also showed us the torahs which were absolutely gorgeous. They have 3 different ones so that when people have to leave the base and go elsewhere they can bring the torah as they travel. After this we walked around a little more and then met some of the soldiers. First we had a more formal kind of question and answer but then were able to interact with them on a more personal level. It was so humbling to see these people, some were even younger then me. They ranged from ages 18-21 and it was really unbelievable to here them talk about their experience and why they do what they do. They said that in the army if you are still capable of giving you must, its not a choice or a thought but an instinct. They all spoke so highly of their experience and said that although it is very hard they feel that the army gives back even more that they give to israel. A few of them said they wanted to make this into their career and they only get to see their family 1 time in 90 days! They get no days off beside shabbat and have days from 520 am to 11 pm! The people were just so nice and sincere, you could tell how passionate they are about israel, something you do not always see in the US.
ASB, day 1
I took a trip to Israel with JNF's ASB to spend my spring break in the Negev desert and Jerusalem, working on community service projects to help build Israel. It was such an amazing experience and I participated in several Jewish activities that I would have been unable to experience without this trip. The first day we spent there we went to an absorption center called Earth's Promise, where Ethiopian immigrants come and live in Israel. Many came to israel to escape persecution and now live in government housing that seem like the project's we see here in the US.
We worked on a communal garden that every family in the building is giving a plot of land in. They explained how important this land was to their pride and dignity, and it allows them to feel like their farming skills are making them relevant and useful in today's fast paced, technologically advanced society. They split us into groups and we worked on a bunch of different things like a plot for kids to play and garden in, a fire pit where they have bonfires, we made a brand new elevated garden and loosened up the dirt, added composte and hay and it was just such a rewarding thing. We got to see the people who lived in the community and there were a lot of kids running around and playing so it was really nice to actually see who we were helping. They also brought in some one who works with the ethiopians to tell us about the history and the current situation for the ethiopian people. We also planted an olive tree as a group and its so great knowing that we could come back in 10 years and see the exact tree we helped plant. After the garden we went to Ben Gurian University which felt similar to a school like IU, and our tour guide told us that it gives Israeli students a college experience more similar to in the US because many other kids live at home if the go to school in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. After the university we saw the biggest on going program JNF is working on, a river walk. They have done about 2/5ths of the work and hope to make beer sheva an upcoming place for people to visit and live in. It was very motivating to be in Israel and share such a connection to other Jewish people from the communities we visited and the other participants on the ASB trip. A lot of the work I did this week is going to affect the bigger picture of Israel, and will hopefully make it a more popular place for people to come support and help make even better then it already is.
We worked on a communal garden that every family in the building is giving a plot of land in. They explained how important this land was to their pride and dignity, and it allows them to feel like their farming skills are making them relevant and useful in today's fast paced, technologically advanced society. They split us into groups and we worked on a bunch of different things like a plot for kids to play and garden in, a fire pit where they have bonfires, we made a brand new elevated garden and loosened up the dirt, added composte and hay and it was just such a rewarding thing. We got to see the people who lived in the community and there were a lot of kids running around and playing so it was really nice to actually see who we were helping. They also brought in some one who works with the ethiopians to tell us about the history and the current situation for the ethiopian people. We also planted an olive tree as a group and its so great knowing that we could come back in 10 years and see the exact tree we helped plant. After the garden we went to Ben Gurian University which felt similar to a school like IU, and our tour guide told us that it gives Israeli students a college experience more similar to in the US because many other kids live at home if the go to school in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. After the university we saw the biggest on going program JNF is working on, a river walk. They have done about 2/5ths of the work and hope to make beer sheva an upcoming place for people to visit and live in. It was very motivating to be in Israel and share such a connection to other Jewish people from the communities we visited and the other participants on the ASB trip. A lot of the work I did this week is going to affect the bigger picture of Israel, and will hopefully make it a more popular place for people to come support and help make even better then it already is.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Jewish Film Festivals
Jewish film festivals take place in many different locations including San Fransisco, Boston, Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, Maine, Connecticut etc. Many of the websites were from the same organization- Jewish Film Festival (jff), but each place had their own website . For example, sfjff.com would be for San Francisco and bjff.com would be for Boston. Each festival focuses on a different aspect of Judaism and their overall missions differed although they all wanted to bring Jewish culture to each city or state. Since I am from New York, I decided to look further into the Jewish film festivals that take place there.
The information for the New York Jewish Film Festival was on the thejewishmuseum.org under "Exhibitions." The website, more generally is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the cultural and artistic heritage of the Jewish people. They use collections, exhibitions and education programs to encourage the understanding of Judaism. The festival will take place from January 12-27 at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and is their 20th anniversary. It is presented by The Jewish Museum and The Film Society of Lincoln Center. The Lincoln Center, which is a very well known and renowned NY establishment for the performing arts is a great way to encourage people to come see the NYJFF and the relationship that the Center has with NY gives the NYJFF credibility and the venue alone can attract a bigger audience. The website explains what the festival is and lists what the program includes. There is a diverse selection for the NYJFF including narrative features, documentaries and short stories with world, US and NY premieres. They include a link to this year's line up which consisted of over 20 titles! I was not expecting such an assortment but it is beneficial to the NYJFF because people are very likely to find at least one thing that interests them enough to buy a ticket. The tickets are $12 for the public, $9 for students, $7 for Jewish Museum and Film Society Members and $8 for seniors. Tickets can be purchased online or in person, and the discounted price for members gives people an incentive to join the Jewish Museum or Film Society and get more involved. You can also sign up for newsletters and give your email to receive information about whatever section interests you. They make it very easy to navigate and find what you want, however there was barely any information about what makes a film eligible to be in the NYJFF.
As I tried to look for what I unsuccessfully found on the previous website I visited (what makes a film "Jewish") I had better luck at the film festivals in Pittsburgh and Denver. The Denver website, www.maccjcc.org had an application for people to send in to try and get their film chosen to be presented. I was unable to see this because the entries for the upcoming event were already closed. However, when I went to their "2010 FAQ" section, they had a response to the million dollar question, what makes a film Jewish? Their response was that there is not one answer, but they show films to celebrate the human experience from a Jewish perspective or topic. The festivals main focus is on contemporary film with genres probing Jewish identity, history, culture and experience. In doing this, the themes of the films are on a more universal level that everyone can relate too, uniting all people. They also briefly explain the way that films are chosen, listing two ways. First, they look to other festivals to see what they are showing and research the ways that they function. They also build connections with film distributors and their festival director requests films they find, and like for previewing. In addition, they have an open call for submissions. Any film maker can submit a film which is then evaluated by their selection committee during the summer into the early fall.
The Pittsburgh festivals' website has a note from their chairman, Iris Samson describing what makes a film Jewish. She goes through the criteria they look when selecting the films for that year. The storyline must have a Jewish theme, the subject matter must be prevalent and of concern of the Jewish community, the characters, actots or director are Jewish themselves and peripherally look at Jewish issues and lastly, the film should convey some aspect of Jewish life or culture that we wouldn't ordinarily be exposed too.
Having a set of criteria is a good way to organize the Jewish Film Festivals but I find it problematic to just say that a film has to have a Jewish theme, because it brings up a similar issue- what makes a theme specifically Jewish?
These festivals create a sense of unity amongst Jewish people because everyone can relate to what is being presented. They also do a good job assimilating Judaism into our modern society and are entertaining and enjoyable for everyone, even those who do not identify as being Jewish. In general, they bring more publicity to Jewish film which otherwise does not get very much attention.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)