A tallit-and-tefillin-wearing woman in a traditional Conservative synagogue?! An unorthodox—and non-orthodox—perspective on Jews and Judaism from a perpetual misfit. This blog, welcoming the entire Jewish community, is dedicated to those who take Judaism seriously, but not necessarily literally.
Let me post a goody that I found in my email, quickly, before the painters kick me off of my computer to paint our apartment around it.
posted by Shira Salamone at 12:46 PM
0 comments
If you haven't yet taken a close look at Megillat Esther/the Scroll of Esther, here's a good place to check it out.
I have a few things to say about this book, much of it inspired by the commentary of folks who are more learned than I (such as those writing essays on TheTorah.com--see their Purim page here).
My question: Why on earth would the king have wanted it known throughout his kingdom that his own queen had disobeyed him? Why did his dumb advisors suggest that Achashverosh make an example of Vashti, rather than trying to cover up the story?
Here's another noteworthy point: Some soul politely pointed out that there was never an actual beauty contest to chose a successor to Vashti--beautiful young virgins were simply rounded up en masse and brought to the harem to be prepared to be raped, one by one, by the king. Assuming that this story ever actually took place, it would have been pretty gruesome for the women involved. I guess we cleaned that up for the kids.
Then there's the interesting fact that the decree giving the Jews of the Persian Empire permission to fight for their lives also contained a provision allowing them to take the spoils of war, but the Jews refrained, nevertheless. This is the reverse of the story of King Saul's downfall, in which G-d, through the prophet Samuel, tells Saul not to take the booty, but the people defy him and take it anyway and he doesn't stop them (see here).
As for Mordechai and Haman, let's just say that politics wasn't invented yesterday.
I had a few other thoughts about this absurd story, but I guess I spent too much time Purim-partying to remember them. :)
Esther, of course, is still stuck in the palace with a drunken fool for the rest of her life. Where's her reward? :(
posted by Shira Salamone at 5:48 PM
1 comments
Check out this new single now on all streaming platforms. 
posted by Shira Salamone at 10:44 PM
0 comments
Courtesy of Facebook.
posted by Shira Salamone at 10:35 PM
0 comments
posted by Shira Salamone at 1:26 PM
0 comments
posted by Shira Salamone at 1:24 PM
0 comments
Once upon a time, I belonged to a left-wing egalitarian Conservative synagogue, where I was one of a number of women who wore a tallit—and one of the few members who used an Orthodox prayer book (adding the Mothers, of course). Having moved since then, I now belong to a right-wing traditional Conservative synagogue, where I’m almost always the only woman wearing a tallit—and one of the few members who adds the Mothers. I seem destined to be forever . . . on the fringe.
