coComments related to TikkunGer

David: Ok so in some respect y

2007-12-03T20:11:06.944+01:00

David: Ok so in some respect you are saying it's a question of " what exactly should Tikkun Olam emphasize . As for the hijacking, what are your thoughts as CJ lay leader (in-training?) on how the current emphasis on Tikkun Olam, may (or IMO is indeed) overshadowing the importance of Observance is a primary mode of (personal) Jewish expression? Even if only from within a CJ context. Also I thought I would share a few relevant/related links covering this topic. First , it seems that David was quoted by BZ (of Jewschool fame) in his recent post on the NT times article. Nice! Also Shmuel Rosner of Haretz has an interesting article summarizing and sharing his take on the recent Synagogue 3000 Study on these independent communities.

Before getting to LA I was qui

2007-12-03T04:23:49.527+01:00

Before getting to LA I was quite excited about the idea behind independent Jewish communities that seek to balance egalitarianism, tradition, study and social responsibility. In fact Tamara and I have been including one such community (IKAR) as part of our regular circuit of shul hopping. And in terms of services it's great but after participating for several months on and off the community feels like (albeit an engaged one) Reform community that just happens to do all Hebrew services using a conservative Siddur. There is very little opportunity for serious study and/or deepening of observance, especially outside of the shul (I don't actually mean shul at the JCC where they have services). They are primarily focused on Tikkun Olam style social justice and activism. I'm down with the eco-kosher, fair trade non-sweatshop fashion shows and woman/gay rights stuff. Just not at the expense or exclusion of creating a community that is serious about observance, study, and Halacha (however that might be defined). To be honest I don't care of the guy sitting next to me at services, is gay or not. I'm more interested in whether he keeps kosher and if so how he makes it work. I'm down with eco-Kashrut and focusing on how to bring that into Jewish life but not as a replacement or in lieu of traditional Kashrut. I'm down with having mitzvah days and projects where we go out and volunteer in the community but I want equal effort put into learning Hebrew, how to incorporate Teffilin into daily life or how to Kasher my home. From what I gather many of these independent communities do hold traditional Shabbat services but it seems that's all they mean by traditional. There are community standards (if not flat out peer pressure) to engage in "progressive causes" but I haven't seen even a fraction of that effort put into promoting suggested ideals for observance, nevermind any attempt at community standards. Oh man,I'm just a real downer lately! Sorry guy's. I promise this week, I will be much more constructive in terms of my commenting.

Hey guys, I thought some of yo

2007-11-30T19:28:31.888+01:00

Hey guys, I thought some of you might like this article (Why Annapolis Worked) from the forward. It seems to optimistic about what was accomplished. Anyhow I just thought I would share. Be well.

Nice post! It definitely shows

2007-11-30T03:14:47.885+01:00

Nice post! It definitely shows that you have what I would call a true "heart connection" to the homeland. But I've got to say I'm just not feeling it. At least certainly not the way you are, or even anywhere near it. I'm not sure what's up with that, so I think that I might, need to spend some time trying to figure out, why I might be feeling this way.

Hi AviS

2007-10-26T22:04:14.561+02:00

Hi AviS

Glad you liked it Yankel!

2007-10-24T05:00:01.008+02:00

Glad you liked it Yankel!

Nice! What can I say, I am imp

2007-07-10T22:31:29.570+02:00

Nice! What can I say, I am impressed and I wish you the best with this!

Oh my dear Xeno711 Did I sugg

2007-03-06T23:09:27.748+01:00

Oh my dear Xeno711 Did I suggest anything about ADD being antithetical to genius or what could be reasonably considered high cognitive band with? I think not, sir. I don't think I implied that he was retarded, or intellectually stunted in any way. What I did say is that he (Meta) seemed to be “sucked into and pulled around by his thoughts” and that my dear Xeno711, has to do with focus and not intelligence. I would also add that Meta himself in his video caught himself being sucked into his own thinking in a way which took him off his focus. You Also seem to have been sucked into your thoughts and pulled around by them. Do you think that maybe you are yourself ADD Xeno711? Really no need to reply it was a rhetorical question. So although I do believe you could be onto something with your comment regarding single-mindedness and specialization to the exclusion of other intellectual and performative competencies. It bears little if any relation to the comment I actually made. Let me offer you a little unsolicited advice Xeno711. Focus, focus, focus, oh and don't forget to breathe. Best of wishes to you and yours. All kidding aside Meta, I myself am ADD and I couldn't help but think tomyself as I watched your video. Wow I do the exact same thing and I suppose thats the reason for asking the question. If there was any other motive behind my post, it was simply to suggest that reading Watts isn't really going to be enough and it's certainly not going to help with focus. Transcendence and glimpses of non-duality are not deduced from logic, they are experienced in moments of stillness. But then again what do I know? I do have ADD and as Xeno711 clearly pointed out in his reply to my comment, it is a mental disorder. That being the case I'm probably wrong. PS Meta I'm sure you've heard of him already but if you're reading Watts and trying to turn it into something integrated and relevant to your own views, you might wanna try Ken Wilber and his work on integral theory. Like I said, interesting post and I certainly wasn't trying to insult you or label you as deficient. Just monkey mind’ish and that's something I completely relate to. Wow this turned into a long comment, my apologies.

Hey Meta are you ADD by any ch

2007-03-06T03:49:22.818+01:00

Hey Meta are you ADD by any chance? Don't get me wrong interesting video but man do you ever get sucked into and pulled around by your thoughts. Maybe a little reading watts and a little more being watts. anyhow be well.

that did thanks so much. now i

2007-02-08T20:43:30.494+01:00

that did thanks so much. now i will try to this colour thing.

oh boy, I'm not sure why this

2007-02-08T20:20:00.695+01:00

oh boy, I'm not sure why this keeps happening maybe I can just e-mail you the stuff?

hi great plug-in thanks for d

2007-02-08T18:10:35.977+01:00

hi great plug-in thanks for designing and sharing it with all of us. okay so onto my problem. I seemed to a run into a glitch where there is an orphan icon on every page at the beginning of the comments section on my blog. can someone have a look and let me know how to fix it? also I've been nailed with ugly looking Day-Glo color for my personal icon and am wondering how can I change it so that I'm not the one stuck with it? thanks in advance for your help.

very interesting and all I can

2007-02-08T15:28:55.101+01:00

very interesting and all I can say is, more please!

think again dear sir its not j

2007-02-05T04:45:06.175+01:00

think again dear sir its not just a question of who more or less observant. because despite the fact that I am wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more observant than many who claim to be Ortho I apparently do not count. because i am a Jew by Choice from a Progressive (as in non ortho) stream of Judaism. Its not just a more or less thing so please don't make sound simpler and more reasonable than it really is!