I hear the music’s great and almost all the prayers are sung and the services are like snorting cocaine, only the high is more intense.
I hear the talk from the bima is largely about social justice which reminds me of a bon mot from a professor at Hebrew Union College in the 1930s: "There are two types of Reform Jews: Those who believe that Judaism is social justice and those who can read Hebrew."
I know Ikar is Conservative but the phrase still fits.
Would any shul that seriously studies Torah (say, a daf yomi class) ever put anything on its website as hyperbolic as Ikar’s offering?
We believe that serious, passionate, and authentic engagement with Torah is an enduring response to the deepest cry of the human heart.
We believe that prayer and learning in a kehillah kedoshah, a holy community, can be soulful, inspiring, and profoundly impactful.
Only people who don’t learn write like that, just as the only people who call themselves "proud Jews" are ignorant Jews.
I guess I got up on the wrong side of the floor this morning.
(The only reason I don’t sleep in a bed is that I’m mourning the destruction of the Temple.)
While Heeb’s secularist, cultural attitude towards Judaism has ample room for overbearing Grandmothers, the self-hating Jew shield and shallow Jewish pride, it doesn’t much comment on the shared values implicit in such a community.
Why doesn’t the Journal relieve her of reporting duties and allow her to cut loose with her profound perspectives on living?
Yeah, some of these spouses are so diverse that they are of the same sex as their partner. In Australia, we called them "poofters."
Until I became spiritual, I’d call any guy I hated a "faggot."
As a kid, I loved playing "smear the queer." We’d give a guy a football and then all tackle him in a healthy heterosexual way. The pleasure we took from this was hale and hearty, not queer and perverse.
Given that the Jewish Journal Calendar Girl blog was last updated Aug. 18, it appears to need life support much more urgently than its last subject — the recovering Joan Hyler.
It’s safe to say that something unprecedented and never before attempted in the history of Judaism took place at “Heeb Storytelling” on Sept. 23: During her 7-minute Jewish stand-up routine, writer Emma Forrest performed a burlesque strip-tease to Craig Taubman’s L’cha Dodi. There she was—on stage in a knit wrap dress, telling a story about self-loathing and her Jewish looks, when in a burst of bravery she lifted the dress over her head and kick-lined around the stage clad in a red-fringe two-piece. It was like Ziegfeld’s Follies transplanted to M Bar in Hollywood—set to the music of Friday Night Live.
“Shed your leaves in winter,” she said. “And you come to bud in spring.”
Forrest wasn’t the only entertainer that evening, just the scene-stealer. The warm British accent, the hot little number and a coterie of fans that included actresses Natalie Portman and Kate Beckinsale as well as her latest flame, Irish-actor Colin Farrell, sporting a Star-of-David dangling from his neck. He looked pleased with her rapturous performance.
Call it racy or raunchy, but this is the kind of Jewish-is-cool Heeb Magazine, the evening’s sponsor, is all about. As publisher Josh Neuman said in his introduction, “The magazine pushes the notion of what constitutes a Jewish story.” The irreverent, tongue-in-cheek quarterly, more than being artsy or literary, promotes a social element that reframes the way in which young Jews can gather together as a community.
Shalhevet is a left-wing Modern Orthodox day school. It is the only one in Los Angeles where boys and girls get the same curriculum.
The school has a new leader — Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach who’s brought in an efficient East Coast mentality. Teachers no longer get everything they ask for. Students who don’t dress or act appropriately get citations. Three citations in a month and you have to serve detention.
The editor of the Jewish Exponent, Jonathan S. Tobin, will be leaving the newspaper to become executive editor of Commentary magazine.
Bennett L. Aaron, chairman of the Jewish Publishing Group said in a statement: "We thank Jonathan Tobin for 10 highly successful years as editor of our newspaper. We will miss his professionalism, but wish him well in his new position."
Tobin will assume his new post on Jan. 1.
Jonathan S. Tobin
"Jonathan Tobin has done brilliant work at the Exponent both as an editor and a columnist," said John Podhoretz, who will take over as Commentary’s editor-in-chief in 2009 and is currently the magazine’s editorial director.
"[Tobin’s] professionalism, intellectual curiosity and deep commitment to the enduring ideas that have animated Commentary since its founding in 1945 will make him an ideal member of our staff as we work to expand the magazine’s reach and its audience while remaining true to its unparalleled tradition of excellence and its uncompromising pursuit of the truth."
Tobin came to the Exponent in 1998. During his editorship, the newspaper won more than 140 awards for editorial and graphic excellence from national, state and city press associations. Tobin himself has won many awards for his own writing. He has won first prizes many times as a columnist and editorial writer in the American Jewish press, as well as an editorial columnist and arts critic in Greater Philadelphia competitions. He also writes regularly for The Jerusalem Post, and his columns are widely circulated in the Jewish media.
"I’m both delighted and proud to be joining Commentary," Tobin said. "Commentary has long been a pivotal voice in American intellectual life, and I’m looking forward to working with John Podhoretz as we expand our readership and build on its existing position as the nation’s premier monthly magazine of opinion."
Mickey Kaus writes: "Many Democratic friends are asking me why I’m not highlighting the National Enquirer’s Sarah Palin Affair story, given the constant harpi … I mean comprehensive coverage in this space of John Edwards’ affair. It’s not that I think the Enquirer‘s reporting is necessarily off. It’s not that I’m not curious! … But Palin’s spouse isn’t suffering from cancer, and Palin is not running on the basis of her good character as demonstrated by her loyalty to her suffering spouse. … Isn’t Palin running on ‘family values’? Sure. But it seems to me she’s running on ‘we’re-an- ordinary-messy-family confronting ordinary messy problems and we’ll work it out’ family values, not ‘we’re-a-near-storybook-perfect-faithful-couple’ family values. And whatever happened or didn’t happen was over a decade ago and they seem to have worked it out. … Having an affair and still saving your marriage–now that’s family values in action! It’s almost the opposite of hypocrisy. … Plus if Palin gets the vote of every spouse who has ever cheated, Obama’s going to lose and poor Gwen Ifill isn’t going to earn out her advance. You wouldn’t want that."
I am a double board certified orthopedic surgeon who sub specializes in hip and knee surgeries, especially in the aging population. I offer the latest in surgical and non surgical techniques regarding orthopedic injuries. The best part about my practice in the education process which empowers patients to understand and make informed conscious decisions. Being an avid ‘past’ athlete I also understand the great value of non surgical treatments and can ‘weed’ out the useless treatments.
2. What types of patients do you treat?
I treat athletes, baby boomers, all types from higher profile clients (celebrities), to great grand parents. As a surgeon who focus in joint replacements and with the aging active population I see all types. The newer educated Internet patient tends to be a bigger draw for me as well
3. How do you distinguish yourself your practice from other surgeons in the same field?
I am more open minded to provide access to the latest in surgical and non surgical treatment. I also am able to educate patients to empower them towards their own treatment. The era I was trained, in the 90’s, allowed me to see the good and the bad which puts me at a significant advantage. My Canadian training also allows me to apply to ever more popular European trends which are now becoming more accepted in the US
4. What are some of the exciting new innovations within orthopedic surgery?
With respect to surgeries we are going towards quicker recovery and less morbidity. For example, knee and hip replacements, the incisions are smaller the amount of bone we remove is less, the components are more physiologic and last longer. We are aiming for immediate stability so patients can walk right away. These concepts were un thought of 15 years ago. Our surgeries are becoming more minimally invasive which is paramount in quicker recovery.We are also coming out with better medications, injections modalities to reduce the need for surger y. Most importantly education on how to prevent injuries.
5. What are some key facts prospective patients should know about you?
I am accessible with a good bedside manner. My results speak for themselves. Although i have a busy surgical practice doing 40 cases a month , i have a much busier non surgical practice which prevents people from undergoing surgery through mulitile modalities
6. Why is your specialty so important?
Our population is changing. American want to live better and longer. The want to function and be more active compared to years ago. That puts more importance on my specialty to allow such. The younger population is going to be at higher risk for issues and we need to educate. They are more sedentary in their earlier years and this obesity leads to more load on joints and more health issues.
7. What’s the most common ailment you treat?
I see alot of knee injuries of all ages from stright forward meniscal tears to degenerative osteoarthritis
8. What types of orthopedic injuries are on the rise?
More knee injuries are on the rise due to our relative increase in weight and less activity in younger people. I am also seeing alot more back pain for the same reasons in younger populations
9. What sorts of preventive measures can people take to guard against some of the more common injuries you treat?
Number 1 be preventative by changing your lifestyle. Control your weigt and be more active. Understanding you body is crucial in preventing most injuries
10. What’s the most important thing patients should know about you?
I am board certified in Canada and the USA. Being board certified is imperative when you go to see any Orthopedic Surgeon, as it places us amongst a proven group with respect to standard of care. Although i am younger, I enjoy people and enjoy my job. I have a passion to create success be it through conservative or surgical means.
David: "Hollywood did not do this movie. We had to go to Vivendi for distribution [1600 theaters this weekend]."
Dennis: "I love comedy of the absurd."
David: "Because you tend to be absurd."
Dennis: "That may be. I do tend to be absurd, but happily not on the air."
David: "I’ve had experience of that."
Dennis: "You claim that I have had an effect on you so you cannot say anything bad about me."
Dennis Prager says this in a jocular way but he’s not kidding. He truly believes that anyone whose life he’s touched should never be publicly critical of him. Prager has influenced thousands of people. He arouses strong feelings. Many have been turned on to Judaism, for instance, through Prager, and then they’ve become more observant of Jewish ritual than Dennis is, and they have no problem with lambasting him for his (in their view) insufficient religiosity.
The reason that my writing on Dennis hurt him so deeply was that I was indepted to him and Prager thought my public criticisms of him were the height of ingratitude. From my perspective, the requirement of truth comes before gratitude when it comes to my blogging on a public figure.
Then there’s Prager’s bumper: "You want to hear me make liberals cry? Stick around for more on Townhall radio."
"This guy knows all the gossip, the ins and outs, the lashon hara of the Orthodox world. He’s an [expert] in... all the inner workings of the Orthodox world." (Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff)
