What Happened To Shira Danan?: Recent Comments

Comment on Let's Just Start Our Own Mainstream

2009-08-08T14:02:48Z

Its good to hear word of this.

Extremism and isolation on either side can only be bad.

Here in the UK we often don't get to see the more reasonable voices within Israel.

The sooner both sides can view the other as a diverse group of people, instead of some one dimensional enemy, the better.

In reality its only a small minority of violence hungry people on either side that is really driving this.

B'Tselem (http://www.btselem.org/), is another Israeli organization doing sterling work in human rights and humanitarianism.

Comment on About-face

2009-02-04T17:31:57Z

Hi Shira, I really appreciate what you have written here. As a Jewish American who has been intensely involved with Israeli Palestinian dialog , I can relate to allot of your sentiment.

I have followed the Jewcy debates, occasionally contributing a comment, hoping to convince people, not that that they are wrong, but to question their frameworks of understanding, but I am neither a skilled enough writer, nor is the medium of the internet a good forum for interpersonal dialog, and introspective thought. The internet will never provide the type of personal connection you had with the Palestinians while in Mostar.

I can relate to your feelings over the past weeks and observing Gaza. I wish I could share your optimism about the Jewish American community and its disappointment with Israel. Maybe I am just in the wrong circles of Jews. As in past situations of violence, once again I feel the overall Jewish American response has been one of blind and uncritical support of the Israeli government. I find it harder and harder to identify with the Jewish community here in the states, when mainstream organizations like the UJA and JDL hold rallies and proclaim that they are speaking in the name of all diaspora Jews. They certainly don't speak for me.

I know of most of the peace oriented Jewish American organizations, and maybe I am just a cynic, but cant help but feel they are in a losing battle for support... Would love to hear your hopeful thoughts on this.

Thanks for your writing!

Comment on Let's Just Start Our Own Mainstream

2009-01-20T15:47:21Z

this website you might find interesting too. Spread the word ...
http://telaviv-berlin.com/um-himmels-willen-israel-ii/

Comment on Prayin' and Davening

2008-10-19T16:14:19Z

Our rabbi spoke about the challenges of U'Netanah Tokeh for the d'var torah at our temple board meeting. He agreed it is a troubling and difficult prayer--not be taken literally but challenging nonetheless. I can also relate to your feeling that many prayers in the traditional prayer book seem uninspiring in their literal translaton. Sometimes I prefer just to chant the Hebrew because that gives me a sense of connection to history and tradition. So, to resolve the entire matter, I plan to make pumpkin soup today!

Comment on Prayin' and Davening

2008-10-16T03:42:32Z

Well yes I admit that my essay was a bit of a stretch (OK a very large stretch)but it was either "I believe in pumpkin soup" or "I believe we should not have homework" so...

Also i had the same exact feelings about that prayer when we were discussing it in our confirmation class, i prefer just to not take it very literally and more metaphorically

Ps. We are now learning about rebutting arguments in English class and I'm considering showing him the beginning of this

Your writing subject, Arielle

Comment on Prayin' and Davening

2008-10-13T17:51:29Z

P.S. If all that doesn't help, remember that it's an Ashkenazic prayer and wasn't even included in Moroccan liturgy (until they moved to Israel and started to pick up some Ashkenazic prayers), so you can skip it! Sometimes I'm not up for it, but it's a very "true" prayer in the broader, emotional sense (it repeats the word "truth," emet, again and again).

And it's another dimension of truth that those comfort foods do something for us. Even my sister Melissa starting making some pumpkin soup! And I just ate mashed potatoes from Luby's.

Comment on Prayin' and Davening

2008-10-13T17:45:40Z

After my father died in an accident, I spoke to Rabbi Scheinberg about this prayer (Unetaneh Tokef). Even he, an Orthodox rabbi, said not to take it literally. God is not literally writing our names in a giant scroll and decreeing our fates, but the story of our lives is being written. The older I get, the more truth I see in it. It is very powerful. I think that the prayer is not about deserving our fates at all, but that much of life is simply beyond our control, and yet we should not be passive, but continue in efforts of teshuvah, tefilla and tzedakah in order to ameliorate the severity of the "decrees" of life. As Reb Zalman says, life is usually not Lake Placid, where we can row where we wish; neither is it usually like going over Niagra falls in a barrel. It's more like shooting the rapids; we can't control the currents but we can generally paddle around the rocks. Then the prayer continues with the transitory nature of life, using many powerful and zen-like metaphors. But (and here we become Jewish/Western again) there is something permanent underlying that,which we call God. Something of which we arise and to which we return.

Comment on Prayin' and Davening

2008-10-12T21:02:00Z

I don't have any answers, but I think this is beautifully written. And I think you're brave because I am not able to be that honest, or to try hard enough to reconcile my upbringing with these new thoughts and contradictions. I've given up, in a way, and just usually sit in churches bitter and flustered, and have to run out at the end to read Sartre.

Comment on Lively DevotionFriday evening:

2008-08-01T22:54:25Z

Haha; I'm glad that we have spoiled all other synagogue services for you forever. (Just another reason to move here and join my shul.) But I don't mind going to a lot of different Jewish settings and appreciating them on their own terms, I hope non-judgementally. It is that very diversity that makes them authentically Jewish. Maybe what you seek is not the essence of Judaism,but the right Jewish spiritual approach and setting that works for you now.

Comment on That's Funny, You Don't Look Like A Bigot

2008-07-09T17:51:48Z

Presumably, now that you've seen Obama pandering to AIPAC and the like, and the response from Muslims like Keith Ellison, you can see why I think this is an important Jewish issue, if not an exclusively Jewish one. Also, I hate the argument that "they get to do something bad" so we should, too. That's the excuse people use for the Israeli military as well, for not joining peace movements (I'm sure you've heard people say, "I bet the Palestinians aren't so conflicted"), and for ignoring injustice everywhere. "Well, no one else is doing anything about it. Why is it my job?"

I agree that it sucks to ask more of ourselves than of others, but MOM, isn't that what you taught me being the chosen people means? Hmm??