Luke Ford | No sacred cows.

CANCELED: Demonstration Planned For RCC’s Banquet Sunday Night

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Luke Ford

This dinner has been rescheduled to March 30.

According to the RCC press release: "The Rabbinical Council of California Cordially invites you to attend its Annual Trustees Dinner 18 Adar I, 5768 Sunday, February 24 Two Thousand and Eight Cocktails Six o’clock Dinner Seven o’clock At our community’s newest Premier Restaurant under RCC supervision Mamash Restaurant 9320 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, California Maariv at 8:45pm."

Here’s the crowd that will be protesting. This flyer against RCC administrator Rabbi Avraham Union was posted around Hancock Park three weeks ago.

I email Rabbi Union Feb. 20: "I got an email today announcing that the RCC’s dinner Sunday night was going to be picketed. I noticed a hostile blog about you and a flyer and wondered if you had any comment on this and the threat blogs pose to our community?"

A source emails: " Luke,i dont know if they changed the date because you publicized that a demonstration will be taking place this coming sunday and they are scared, or they truly needed to change the date. in any case the organizer of the demonstration will be there just in case they lied. i would suggest that you publish the facts after it happens and not before so as to not give the RCC a heads up. thank you."

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L.A. Limmud is latest incarnation

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Luke Ford

Sue Fishkoff writes for JTA:

COSTA MESA, Calif. (JTA) — It was the Karlin-Stoliner rabbis in the Havdalah congo line that had everyone buzzing.

Sure, there were great workshops, spirited davening, morning yoga and late-night shmoozing, and all the other multigenerational, multidenominational, plura-palooza that Jews in the know have come to expect from the Jewish learning extravaganza known as Limmud, which made its Los Angeles debut this past weekend.

But of the dozens of sessions that took place over three days — from a midnight screening of the low-budget Chasidic zombie movie “Night of the Living Jews” to Deborah Lipstadt’s Sunday morning talk on Holocaust denial — what stuck in the minds of many of the 650 participants was the two Chasidic guys in their long black coats and fur shtreimels.

There they were Saturday night, marking the end of Shabbat with hundreds of other men, women and children in a raucous outdoor celebration, complete with drumming, dancing and top-of-the-lungs singing next to the parking lot of the Costa Mesa Hilton.

“I knew what I was getting into and I still wanted to come, because I love all Jews,” said Rabbi Moshe Shapoff, who traveled to Limmud LA from his Israeli home in the Jerusalem suburb of Givat Zeev, where he co-founded a vocational school for haredi youth.

“I was literally in tears seeing all those Jews dancing together. At the end of the day, it’s not what we wear, but that one soul touches another,” he said.

That’s a big part of what the British-based, volunteer-driven Limmud is about: Jews of all stripes and ages coming together to study, worship and learn from each other.

Although world-class rabbis, scholars and literary figures show up to lead sessions, they don’t get paid, and they’re expected to stick around and learn with everyone else. People pick and choose from dozens or hundreds of offerings, sharing ideas that span the denominational and the political spectrum.

Where else would one see yarmulke-wearing grandfathers and teens with pierced eyebrows enjoying the same midnight concert of New Jewish music?

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Deviant Sex At LimmudLA

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

My full report on LimmudLA.

Sunday. 10 a.m. Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller and his sex therapist wife Doreen hold what they say is their first joint session in a quarter century. It’s about deviant sex and it’s filled with pages from the Talmud and the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.

Audio

The room is jammed with about 150 Jews.

Doreen’s practice is filled with Orthodox Jews. One woman came to her because she and her husband had been unable to consummate their marriage. Doreen introduced her to dildos. The wife learned to penetrate herself. Doreen told her to have her husband watch. The couple said no because then their children would be born deformed.

We study the Talmudic texts which say that if a man looks at that place, his children will be born deformed.

From Edah.org:

Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller is in his twenty-seventh year at UCLA Hillel as director. He previously served as Hillel Director at Ohio State and as Rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Achim, New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was ordained in 1971 at Yeshiva University where he also earned a Masters Degree in Rabbinic Literature. Rabbi Seidler-Feller is a lecturer in the Departments of Sociology and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA where he teaches courses on the “Jewish Experience in Contemporary America”, on the “Social, Cultural, and Religious Institutions of Judaism” and on “Philosophers and Mystics”. He serves on the Governing Council of the Progressive Jewish Alliance, on the Advisory Council of EDAH, a voice of Modern Orthodoxy and is a founding member of Americans for Peace Now. Chaim is the founder of the Streisand Center for Jewish Cultural Arts at UCLA Hillel and was a rabbinic consultant to Barbara Streisand during the making of the film Yentl. Chaim is the recipient of the Youth Education Stairways (YES) Award as exemplary clergyman in recognition of these efforts. He is married to Dr. Doreen Siedler-Feller and is the father of Shulie and Shaul.
Dr. Doreen Seidler-Feller is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA Medical School where her responsibilities include supervising residents and interns and teaching third-year medical students selected topics in the psychology of doctoring. She also has a private practice of Clinical Psychology. Dr. Seidler-Feller received her MA in Clinical Psychology in 1973 from The Ohio State University and went on to receive her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1980. For five years, she was an assistant professor at California State University and for four years, she lectured in Psychology at The Ohio State University. From 1968-1969, she was teaching associate and taught in conjunction with playwright Arthur Sainer.

Here is how the class is described at limmudla.org:

Sexual Repression and Obsession in Traditional Jewish Practice: The Case of the Kitzur Shulhan Arukh
Although the Jewish tradition is generally open-minded regarding sexual behavior within marriage, certain repressive ideas have gained currency over the centuries and have determined sexual attitudes within elements of the Orthodox community. The claim of this workshop is that the Kitzur Shulhan Arukh, a popular 19th century halakhic work read broadly by Yeshiva High School students, is largely responsible for the dissemination of these ideas. Among the issues to be discussed will be masturbation, tzniut in dress and modesty in sexual intercourse. We will read the texts, explore the origins of these teachings, look at alternative sources, and discuss the psychological impact of these prohibitions and inhibitions.

Doreen: "In the course of working with her, I had brought her to the point where she was comfortably able to insert a dildo, which she acquired from me, dildos of various sizes, as a bridge to working with her partner. I told her to ask her husband to look at what you are doing so that he can orient himself."

"She came back to me the next week and she said to me, ‘He can not look there. It is not allowed. If he looks there, my children will be blind and disabled.’"

"I was shocked by that. I don’t like to give people prescriptions they can’t follow. I don’t want to injure them. I don’t want to be insensitive. That’s the basis for this study session because I was at a loss to understand what she was talking about."

Rabbi Seidler-Feller: "When I was at yeshiva high school, the only source of information we had on sex was the kitzur Shulchan Aruch… Once in a while we’d have a rabbi who’d say things like, ‘Keep your hands out of your pockets.’

"There was a whole mode of transmission that was allusive and suggestive but nobody talked directly to us so the boys looked in the book. Over the years, I thought, how damaging."

"I went on the YU tour of 1964 and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin was our tour guide and all these guides, me too, had these private sessions with Rabbi Riskin. You could talk openly with Rabbi Riskin."

"Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (author of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch) was Hungarian… That reinforces those who of us who have particular prejudices [about Hungarian Jews]."

Widespread laughter.

"I lived in Borough Park. I was surrounded by Hungarian Jews."

A man in the audience tells Doreen that men are dogs and fixated on sex.

Doreen: "Why? Because sex serves a wide range of functions for you, not only those connected to being a dog, but to being intimate with another human being, succulence, nurturing… You’re being reductionist to the point of absurdity. We have to think more broadly about male sexual desire… [The Talmudic sex ethic] depends on a mechanical construction of the model of a man."

Rabbi Chaim: "How can we as religious people deal with lust? Shouldn’t the holy person be clear of all lust?"

"I see young students who are becoming more religious. They don’t read the Rambam. The Rambam is the loser in the battle for the Jewish world. They learn the manuals, which quote all the most stringest opinions."

"This [extreme attitude towards sex] comes from the mystical tradition."

"The Zohar says that masturbation is the worst sin. It’s the only sin for which there is no forgiveness… It caused the flood."

Doreen returns to the troubled couple she mentioned at the start of the class: "I taught him how to insert the dildo without looking."

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Jewlicious Fest In Long Beach

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

From the OC Weekly:

Ladies and gents, believers and gentiles: Once again, it’s time for the Jewlicious Fest in Long Beach, so mark Feb. 29 through March 2 on your calendars. If you haven’t heard of Jewlicious, it’s basically the Woodstock of Judaism, with three days of music, food and Kiddush Wine. A festival for the artist and the curious college student.
One highlight of the fest will be Brooklyn rapper Matisyahu, famous for his hit song "King without a crown," who will be speaking about spirituality. The event will spotlight other newer Jewish acts, including Moshav, an Israeli folk-rocker born in the hills between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and Y-Love, who converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2000. Also in attendance will be Love, a New York rapper breaking new ground in hip-hop by not just rapping in Yiddish and English but Aramaic, as well. Yes, Aramaic can be used in more than just Mel Gibson movies.
Festival news and updates here.

Rabbi Yonah blogs:

In describing what makes Jewlicious Festival unique, I said to some at LimmudLA this weekend, the participants come as they are and leave inspired and with new friends. I’ll say more about that weekend at LA’s first Limmud – which blew away the expectations of the folks there, the presenters from around the world, and the kids. yes the kids. They had a great kids program- and my kids are really picky on these kids programs. They hate glorified baby sitting. They want interesting things to do and see, and games to play, and ways to help. Limmud Delivered.

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Judge Shuts Down Web Site Specializing in Leaks

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

From the New York Times:

In a move that legal experts said could present a major test of First Amendment rights in the Internet era, a federal judge in San Francisco on Friday ordered the disabling of a Web site devoted to disclosing confidential information.

The site, Wikileaks.org, invites people to post leaked materials with the goal of discouraging “unethical behavior” by corporations and governments. It has posted documents said to show the rules of engagement for American troops in Iraq, a military manual for the operation of the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and other evidence of what it has called corporate waste and wrongdoing.

The case in San Francisco was brought by a Cayman Islands bank, Julius Baer Bank and Trust. In court papers, the bank said that “a disgruntled ex-employee who has engaged in a harassment and terror campaign” provided stolen documents to Wikileaks in violation of a confidentiality agreement and banking laws. According to Wikileaks, “the documents allegedly reveal secret Julius Baer trust structures used for asset hiding, money laundering and tax evasion.”

…The site itself could still be accessed at its Internet Protocol address (http://88.80.13.160/) — the unique number that specifies a Web site’s location on the Internet. Wikileaks also maintained “mirror sites,” or copies usually produced to ensure against failures and this kind of legal action. Some sites were registered in Belgium (http://wikileaks.be/), Germany (http://wikileaks.de) and the Christmas Islands (http://wikileaks.cx) through domain registrars other than Dynadot, and so were not affected by the injunction.

Fans of the site and its mission rushed to publicize those alternate addresses this week. They have also distributed copies of the bank information on their own sites and via peer-to-peer file sharing networks.

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‘Sexpert’s’ Secrets Can Spice Up Your Love Life

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

From NBC10:

Guys, you walk into a crowded bar and spot that hot woman across the room. Do you have a chance?
Dr. Victoria Zdrok says absolutely, any ordinary guy can "Score."Zdrok wrote a book by that title on helping any regular guy pick up a beautiful woman. But do this sexpert’s tips really work?NBC 10 brought the modern-day Dr. Ruth into its studios to give her tips for picking up and hooking up.Then, NBC 10’s Dawn Timmeney took two station staffers out on the town to see if the tips work.
"You know some hot women like them tall. Some like them short," Zdrok said. "… There’s some hot woman out there that likes your looks, so don’t focus on looks. Instead, maximize your positive qualities."
Zdrok, also known as Dr. Z, has a PhD in clinical psychology, a JD in law and her own experience as a Playboy centerfold and Penthouse pet.This hottie covered all the bases for us.
The author’s first suggestion: "Act like you own the place, alpha male, think this is my bar, you think those kind of thoughts you’re going to project confidence."Zdrok said your gait and your posture are crucial."What women notice first is the gait, you know. It’s the swagger," she said.And once you’ve swaggered her way and caught her eye, dazzle her with your smile and make your move."
One study showed the first thing women notice on the guy’s face is teeth. So I say, if there’s only one thing you can improve, improve your teeth," she said.Of course what comes out of your mouth can make or break your chances.
Stay away from cheesy pick up lines, and don’t hang out too long."It’s always a good idea to appear busy. Women like guys who have a life. We don’t like a guy who has no life," the sexpert advised.Dr. Z has 333 pages of suggestions on scoring. To see if they worked, two NBC 10 employees were recruited and put to the test.
After introductions, there were a couple crucial questions first, like one from employee Dan Stamm: "Should you buy a girl a drink at a bar or not?"
"I would actually prefer you don’t buy her a drink because then you’re not buying her attention," Zdrok said.

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I Am Dennis Prager’s Legacy

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

Everything I am today is because of him.

Katoanga writes on YouTube in reaction to one of my videos:

I once let it slip during an argument wit my dad that i didn’t get my goodness from him, I got it from Dennis. his face went cold, and thought that maybe my happy countenance is that I’m privately gay and seeing an older man: Dennis.
He is a father to me too. And cause of that, I am a father to others. History will hold him as 1 of the greatest Men of our time, as Dennis would say: The insignificant are rarely famous and the famous are rarely significant. Luckily for him, we are his legacy…

Plus: He appeals to the artistic types… why? I don’t know. I think it’s because he’s not a Conservative Conservative… he’s not Standards in both the Micro and Macro, where because he’s against gay marriage, he treats people in his personal life who are gay in any way different from others who are not… he is so awesome… sorry. It’s just to so refreshing to here this account, I’ll continue to look up other Prager fans on Youtube… I feel it is a moral obligation on some level lol.takecare

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I Have Lunch With Filmmaker Todd Daniel Schechter

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

We drive past an accident in Westwood. Video

I needed to capture this video because I have a problem with being premature.

I try to explain it away as I don’t have a problem, I’m just a busy man.

From now on when feeling the onrushing of this very personal problem, I’ll just pull up this video and meditate on it and on other car wrecks and the faces of men I daven with and my mother’s pure love for me.

While I drive, I interview Todd about his pluralism thing. Video

Frankly, it sounds not so Torahdic to me, and more like a great set-up to get funded to go to events filled with hot Jewish chicks "looking to connect Jewishly," as Rabbi David Wolpe would put it.

You might look at Todd and think he’s a Torah Jew because he has a nice smile, clean teeth, a beard and a hat. But those are all filmmaker traits for him, and not so much in the service of Heaven.

It’s a wonder I can even relate to this pagan.

We hit Pizza Station with a comely British lass. Then I walk them down Pico Blvd to the Museum of Tolerance and muse about which Holocaust museums are the best for a first date.

It salves our pain over the ending of LimmudLA.

I say that Orthodox Judaism is the sexiest thing, that I love the mehitza (separation) because it increases longing. I love long skirts.

Friend: "You know what they say about long skirts? The longer the skirt, the quicker it comes off."

It’s good to have an honest conversation with a stranger because they are often less reticent about telling you your zipper is down.

This one asked me to desist from making jokes about AIDS, and referring to non-Jewish women as "shiksas." She wondered why I was so obnoxious and did this have anything to do with my never marrying. She wondered why the floor of my van was lined with copies of my books. Who was I trying to impress?

By the time I dropped her off, I felt three feet tall.

Todd’s MySpace.

The last I see of Todd, he’s trudging down Beverly Drive for an appointment at Coffee Bean with David Suissa.

Seven different people told Todd to connect with Suissa.

Anybody who wants to do anything in L.A. about bringing Jews together makes an appointment to see David Suissa.

Since selling his marketing firm (200 employees) three years ago, David has been devoted himself to fatherhood, writing and things Jewish.

He’s that rare person who can bring Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis together to study Torah.

Suissa writes a weekly column for the Jewish Journal. Here’s an excerpt:

You haven’t lived until you’ve waited three hours in a cramped living room waiting to see a Chasidic rebbe so that you can ask him, at 1 a.m., for a bracha to meet the man of your dreams; or for your wife to recover from cervical cancer; or to do well in your med school entrance exams; or, simply, to ask him whether you should start a low-end schmatta line that you’ll produce in China, and, if he says yes, to get a bracha that you’ll succeed.
This is the midnight underworld of Jewish life — far removed from our everyday Jewish experiences, and set in the mystic realm of blind faith and the power of holy men.

The Jewish Journal gave David this glowing profile in its Feb. 11, 2000 issue: "David Suissa’s campaign for unity has one inspiration: He is madly in love with the Jewish people."

Suissa was all over LimmudLA. I hope it didn’t hurt his reputation that he was seen chatting with me.

I heard David say on a panel that he spends most of his time in Jewish life talking to people with whom he disagrees.

That’s a rare quality. Most people get so upset by important differences that they shut out most of the world.

From Aish.com:

David Suissa, a top advertising executive, wants to sell you something: unconditional love for every Jew.
David Suissa (pronounced Swee-ssa) is the founder and CEO of Suissa Miller Advertising, a $300 million marketing firm named "Agency of the Year" by USA Today that attracts clients like Heinz, Dole, McDonalds, Princess Cruises, Charles Schwab and Acura. Suissa’s writings on advertising have been published in several publications including the Los Angeles Times and Advertising Age.
Suissa is also a dynamic and innovative Jewish leader who doesn’t know how to think small. He is the founder, publisher and editor of "Olam," a magazine of Jewish unity and spirituality. He is the force behind olam4israel.com, an activist movement rallying worldwide support for Israel, and freethe400million.com, a movement to promote democracy in the Middle East.
Recently, Suissa launched a billboard and newspaper campaign promoting Israel and its democratic values; and co-founded the ITF (Israel Task Force), a high-powered group of business and community leaders rallying Israeli PR activities under one umbrella. He also lectures regularly around the country and on college campuses on the subjects of spirituality and Israel.
His charitable work extends beyond the Jewish world to include projects for AIDS, abandoned children, and drug abuse, for which he won a presidential award.
Suissa also has an artistic flair. His song of Jewish unity, "Ani Ohev," was launched at the Israeli Knesset in May 2002, and was played on Israeli radio stations and in Jewish communities worldwide.

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Sam Zell Fires KTLA-TV GM Vinnie Malcolm

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

ERSNews reports:

Sam Zell is at it again! Vinnie Malcolm, the General Manager of KTLA, was tossed out today (Tuesday) one day before Ed Wilson, the new head of Tribune Broadcasting was to pay a visit to KTLA in Los Angeles.

Vinnie Malcolm presided over one of the most spectacular freefalls of a television station in the history of broadcasting. KTLA, at one time, was one of the highest rated television stations in LA. They were also one of the top stations in sales and billing. They had an anchorman (Hal Fishman) who holds the Guinness record for most time in the anchor chair.

Vinnie Malcolm and Hal Fishman

They invented the morning news format for a local television station. They were the first to use a helicopter with a television camera, able to beam back live pictures before anyone even considered such a thing. They were the first station to broadcast an Atomic bomb test in Nevada. They covered the OJ Simpson trial "gavel-to-gavel" and ran everyone else off the air because Channel 5’s rating were so high. Stan Chambers, an LA broadcast institution, has been on the air since the late forties. This is the station that brought you Tom Snyder, Joe Benti and a long list of other journalists over the years. An then…along came Tribune.

Last year Malcolm missed his sales projections by $34-million. Their Morning News is nearly dead last in the ratings. Their "Prime News" struggles to be number three. Only one station bills less in this market: KCOP-TV. They have struggled with scandals (an anchor taking furniture given to her on the Morning show in trade for a story on the showroom) They present a segment on their 10pm news that is paid for by vegas.com and pawn it off as a real news segment. The whole management team got "freebies" to stay at an Indian Resort and Casino and the Morning News then went live from there.

Another LA television executive looking at the ratings at KTLA said today, "The whole thing is sad!"

Malcom’s permanent replacement has yet to be named.

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Schwartzie Fallout

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Luke Ford

Here’s the original article.

Ben Plonie writes on the Jewish Journal forum:

He was definitely inappropriate and the clue may be in his statement ""I want you to understand, just for a moment, I have never had another job". It’s not just a job, it’s his own candy store, and like many professionals who have nobody to give them proper feedback; lawyers, judges, surgeons etc. he has aged in an idiosyncratic way. The best analogy I could give you would be Imus.
Understanding what we are seeing is a beginning but not a justification. Times, society and the Jewish world have changed in the 37 years of the Rabbi’s work, and he has not changed with it. While the rules he goes by cannot be changed, his perception and his approach should have. There are dozens and hundreds in the new generation with a heightened sensitivity for the current realities.
At the unquoted end of your article, the woman had gotten in touch with another Orthodox rabbi and was considering an Orthodox conversion. Rabbi Schwartz should either have been that rabbi or (if that is not his thing) have been the one to refer her to him.

Marlene Fineberg writes:

When Schwartzie wrote me this insane, bizarre, scathing emails, I initially wrote to many Orthodox rabbis in the LA area, because I had lived in LA briefly a long time ago…and they all chose to either not reply to my letter, or to say they didn’t want to get involved. I was disgusted with their unified cowardice and still am. I had really respected these rabbis immensely.
So then I wrote to the Jewish Journal, and due to the fact that they needed to do research, (and whatever other reasons), it took all this time for them to finally write this article. Thank you for writing it, Julie Fax.
I had already forgotten about the whole incident by this time. At the time, I was very, very angry, because I had spent a considerable sum of money coming to LA for Passover…flight, hotel, renting a car, etc.
Instead of him being appreciative and welcoming that I had traveled and spent a good deal of my money to be there…that was the response I received.
Also, I met several, nice, single women that night, and I emailed them and told them about the incident. They said they were going to say something about it, but most likely didn’t.
People generally say they’re going to do something about a situation but most of the time don’t follow through. (Sorry to be so cynical).
Thank you to Julie Fax, again, for FOLLOWING THROUGH, (even though it is her job, of course, but thank you anyway).
The most disturbing aspect of that bizarre experience to me was that a man would NEVER have been treated that way no matter what.
I did just write a book of poetry and you can find it on Amazon.com or on Outskirtspress.com, under "Elephants, Alligators, Umbrellas: A BOOK OF POEMS FOR A FAST-PACED WORLD."
You are right, Ben Plonie. He didn’t change with the times, which is mandatory for everyone, even if you are fortunate enough to be a prima donna like "Schwartzie." The name ‘Schwartzie’ even sounds like he never grew up, if you ask me.
I’m not one generally to talk about others disparagingly. I generally enjoy (like most people) talking about myself most of all, so it’s not like I’m vicious or vindictive, but I was tired of men getting away with so so so very much more in our society than women ever get away with, so I wrote to everyone about this incident. Like I said, however, the rabbis "didn’t want to get involved," to their discredit, as far I’m concerned.
I have to say, before I retire for the evening and move on from this unfortunate, unhappy experience…which was three years ago already!…
Rabbi Schwartz and I, ironically, are really on the same team. I’m often dismayed and distraught not only by the grotesque events of the Holocaust, but also at the way Jewish women are continually overlooked for marriage in favor of non-Jewish women.
However, Rabbi Schwartz is targeting the wrong people in this scenario: the women. I would have liked nothing more in this world than to have married a nice, Jewish man. Since I was lucky enough to have been born not bad looking and not stupid, and from a nice family and with a cultured background and a love of learning, etc., etc…I thought that having a nice, Jewish family would not only be possible but probable.
Unfortunately, since the Jewish men, (who many times weren’t even as intelligent as I), passed on me and often did prefer a non-Jew, I did marry a non-Jew, (not the one I brought to the Seder), but a brief marriage years before.
Rabbi Schwartz should be holding classes to re-educate the slightly "warped" minds of the Jewish men, whereby they don’t appreciate a woman for her mind and her soul, and often just want a "hot" woman on their arm, and forsake deeper goals and values.
I feel sorry for the young, Jewish women in LA, and hope they fare better than I. I moved out of LA a long, long time ago since it was not condusive to me feeling appreciated for who I am.
The Orthodox want someone Orthodox; the secular want someone "hot" and successful; the Israelis…I dated them, and I think they just want a mirror so they can fall in love with themselves, from what I could see…
Meanwhile, the wonderful, unique, sacred essence of so many women like myself, was utterly passed over. It is a very sad state that I still don’t have the family I always wanted. I have three dogs and two cats, and they are beautiful and sweet beyond repair. Anyone who knows me and sees them at the dog park everyday with me, here in Tucson, knows what an amazing mother I would have made if the Jewish men in LA had noticed I have a spark of the Divine within me.

Posted in Jewish Journal, Shlomo Schwartz | Comments Off