Where are they hiding?
I just did a quick check of my blogroll, and it appears that I have about twice as many Orthodox as non-Orthodox blogs there. Where are all the non-Ortho bloggers hiding? Can anyone recommend a non-Orthodox blog that's not already on my blogroll? It would probably help my own blogging if I read more posts by non-Orthodox Jews, so that I wouldn't hear complaints about focusing so much on the Orthodox community instead of my own Conservative one, or griping too much about my synagogue.
posted by Shira Salamone at 12:59 PM
13 Comments:
Well . . .
There's mine. I don't update frequently, but some of those blogs on your roll have gone longer without updates than mine.
The only thing you find in the middle of the road is a moderate, and road kill.
People that are passionate enough about Judaism to blog about it gravitate to the extremes... that's why you can't find LWMO blogs, LWMO are Orthodox, but, generally, their passions are elsewhere.
You are likewise an extremist. However, as a woman, you are in the Conservative camp because it makes these things available to you, not because it fits with what you are doing.
The 165 hours/week that you are NOT in Shul for Shabbat, you life is much more in line with Orthodox Jews than Conservative Jews.
So nu, Reform BT, post more often! :) I'll add your blog.
Miami Al, such enthusiasm (quoth she sarcastically). :)
"The 165 hours/week that you are NOT in Shul for Shabbat, you life is much more in line with Orthodox Jews than Conservative Jews." Well, not exactly. When the time comes for me to say kaddish for my father, I'm still going to need a shul where I can wear a tallit and tefillin and, preferably, be counted in a minyan. And I haven't completely sworn off eating in non-kosher restaurants, especially in places where kosher ones are hard to find.
"When the time comes for me to say kaddish for my father, I'm still going to need a shul where I can wear a tallit and tefillin and, preferably, be counted in a minyan."
For Tallit, Tefillin, it would certainly be unusual, but nobody is going over to the women's section to stop you... Nor would affiliating Orthodox prevent you from going to weekday Minyan at a Conservative Minyan.
"And I haven't completely sworn off eating in non-kosher restaurants, especially in places where kosher ones are hard to find."
Neither have several of the families that sit on the boards of various Yeshivot or Shuls, what's your point?
Regarding counting, who cares? How often do you participate in a minyan where you are #10?
Seriously, if there are 10 men, whether you are counting the women is all in your head.
"How often do you participate in a minyan where you are #10?"
Nu, Al, how long have you been reading my blog? You understand the demographics of my congregation of ancients, right? We have such a collection of widows and such dearth of men that I count for a minyan almost every Shabbos! If we didn't count women for a minyan, we'd almost never be able to do chazarat ha-ShaTz (communal repetition of the Amidah prayer, forbidden without a minyan), and we're lucky if we have eight men at the beginning of the Torah reading.
As for your other points, that's good news, from my perspective if not necessarily from yours.
Shira,
I honestly don't really care what other people do. It really has little to no impact on my life, which is hectic enough without worrying about my neighbors.
It would be unusual, but I can't imagine people crossing the Mechitza to stop you. OTOH, I learned from a new neighbor that she brought her stroller into the Shul to go to the social hall, and got accosted by a member who yelled at her about it. Apparently it is a rule, my wife was informed this when she broke it by a much more polite congregant. If this woman hadn't actually grown up in this neighborhood, she might, falsely, assume that it is filled with jerks.
So I can't say nobody will go over there, because it's likely that someone will at some point, just probably not someone that matters. I'd ask the Rav of the Shul, and if he says, "come davin anyway," go nuts, otherwise, don't show up there during the week.
Regarding counting in the minyan, again, it's all in your head. An Orthodox Minyan, by definition, has 10 men. If the Minyan can't routinely get 10 men together, it disbands, because it's not a minyan. If it does routinely get 10, than your not counting is academic, because there is a minyan there.
That's why it's all "in your head." What you WANT is to be acknowledged as part of a minyan by an Orthodox Rabbi, can't/won't happen. What you NEED is a minyan so you can say prayers that require a minyan.
If there are 10 men + Shira, it's all in your head if you count. If their are 9 men + Shira, well, now your not counting is a problem. But you need the minyan to be a minyan, not that you are one of the 10.
Prayer is between you and divine, the rules governing the service are between the Gabbai and the Rav. :)
I understand that I won't be counted in a minyan in an Orthodox synagogue.
"I'd ask the Rav of the Shul, and if he says, "come davin anyway," go nuts, otherwise, don't show up there during the week."
Not wearing a tallit and tefillin is not an option for me--as far as I'm concerned, I accepted the obligation to do so several years ago. I'll just have to ask the rabbi of whichever synagogue I have in mind whether he objects to a woman wearing them. If he does, I'll have to davven (pray) elsewhere on weekday mornings, meaning either at home, or, should I happen to be saying kaddish for my father when we move, at a more left-wing Ortho synagogue or a Conservative one.
I'm a conservative Jew, but I don't post that much because I'm looking for a job. Maybe when I find a job I will post more especially about Judaism/Torah/etc. and then you could add me to your blogroll.
I was inspired by your post and decided to add a blogroll to my blog; I added your blog of course since I try to read it often and the posts are interesting!
Colleen, thanks for including me on your new blogroll, and good luck with the job hunt.
Hi Shira!
I just discovered your blog and happen to have an answer for you!
I write for and manage Jewesses with Attitude, the blog of the Jewish Women's Archive (jwa.org). The blog is written by a group of Jewish women of various religious backgrounds, but I think most (or all?) of us are not Orthodox. You should check it out! We'd be happy to add you to our blogroll as well!
Best,
Leah
Leah, that's an interesting blog. I'll add it to my blogroll as soon as I have an opportunity.
You could add my blog...
Post a Comment
<< Home