Top of the evening all...
It is July 2nd. It is that tiny period between Canada Day and July 4th. For obvious reasons, both of these holidays are important to me.
Apparently, someone asked a rabbi whether or not to fly the flag on July 4th. Please allow me to answer the question.
Yes!!!
I am not entirely certain as to why this is a rabbinic question. Nonetheless, please allow me to respond in a more in-depth manner. The Torah tells us in Leviticus Chaper 18 that we are not to follow the laws of the non-Jews around us. This would clearly refer to their holidays. A cursory glance at this law gives us more than enough reason to observe the holidays in question. The Torah does not know from holidays of national celebration. It only understands idolatry. That is a problem. Most of the national holidays are not of such a nature.
Moreover, when we, as Jews, take part in these holidays, we make a communal statement that we share in the joys and sorrows of the countries where we make our homes. We remember that while there has been discrimination, most of the places we live have legal policies in place to end that discrimination, and not to perpetuate it.
We should keep in mind further that the Jews of most nations have taken part in the process of building nations. We have served in the military. We have taught in the schools. We have served in the government. We have gotten up in the morning and gone to work. We have given to the charities. We have done this as individuals, and we have done this as communities. When we celebrate national birth, when we shed a tear on Memorial Day/Remembrance Day, when we remember the herculean efforts necessary to ensure basic workers' rights that we take for granted, it is both an internal and external reminder that we have endeavoured to create these national homes as much as anyone else.
I suppose that there is a tiny caveat. Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day are national holidays here in Canada. On Good Friday, you should be in the throes of preparing for Pesach. On Easter Sunday, it is Pesach. Do not observe those holidays.
On Christmas Day, I encourage all to go out for Chinese food and then to a movie.
Have a good evening all. If you are in the US or in Canada, happy birthday to your respective country.
Good night to all.
R/SCG
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Hanging Out with Gavi...
Top of the evening all...
Jesse is at camp. Keren went to Montreal with a friend. Gavi has both of his parents to himself. On Thursday, we went to evening minyan, and then rode bicycles up to the kosher sushi restaurant a couple of kilometres from here.
On Shabbat, we played some ping pong. Gavi also played scrabble with Jennifer. He also had a long chat with Jennifer about Law, law, and custom. He might actually wear a kippah from time to time.
Tomorrow is Tuesday. I hope that we can go down to the City Island and ride bicycles. We can pack a lunch. There is a two-story spider web, the modern replacement to the monkey bars. If the weather is not so cooperative, we will head either to the ROM or up to the Promenade for $5 Tuesdays at the movies.
We have also worked some on his Torah reading skills.
Gavi, as always, seems unfettered by gravity. As well, watching his video game skills, I think he would make a superb Jedi.
Good night all.
R/SCG
Jesse is at camp. Keren went to Montreal with a friend. Gavi has both of his parents to himself. On Thursday, we went to evening minyan, and then rode bicycles up to the kosher sushi restaurant a couple of kilometres from here.
On Shabbat, we played some ping pong. Gavi also played scrabble with Jennifer. He also had a long chat with Jennifer about Law, law, and custom. He might actually wear a kippah from time to time.
Tomorrow is Tuesday. I hope that we can go down to the City Island and ride bicycles. We can pack a lunch. There is a two-story spider web, the modern replacement to the monkey bars. If the weather is not so cooperative, we will head either to the ROM or up to the Promenade for $5 Tuesdays at the movies.
We have also worked some on his Torah reading skills.
Gavi, as always, seems unfettered by gravity. As well, watching his video game skills, I think he would make a superb Jedi.
Good night all.
R/SCG
A Matter of Faith...
Top of the day to all...
It is possible I may have been insulted a couple of weeks ago. We had a discussion on a piece of text that I was not comfortable interpreting literally (gasp!). It was a good discussion. Afterwards, one of the women who frequents the shul walked up to me. She grasped my arm. This alone was odd, as her understanding of Jewish practice is that men and women should not touch. She then something like 'may your faith be as pure as mine.'
I did not realize that my faith was lacking.
To the immediate point, whether or not the Torah is literal, literal at all times, poetic, or both simultaneously is a question above my pay grade. It is, however, simply incorrect to state that taking one position or the other smacks of a lack of faith. I would even add that holding to a documentary hypothesis as opposed to divine writ is also not a lack of faith, though that is beyond the scope of this blog entry. As well, it is the ultimate in human arrogance to assume your own understanding is the correct understanding.
Now that I am thinking about it further, it is also heresy to say that the Torah is never poetic. Why is it that God who creates or inspires poets cannot create or inspire poetry?
With that prelude, a note about faith is in order. For some people, faith is unquestionable, perhaps pure and innocent. On the one hand, those people can go through their lives with comfort and ease, secure in the knowledge that creation, the Torah, and their lives, are happily constant. I suppose that it yields a serenity that lowers blood pressure. It also leads to people blowing up buses and airplanes in the name of such faith.
On the other hand, others of us ask questions. Why do I believe what I believe? What happens if a variable is introduced into the equation? Does it still stand the test of logic? Less serenity is present, for certain. At the same time, it is, at least in my mind, a way to make sure that our brains are actively engaged on a constant basis. The struggle is also much more consistent with the flow of Jewish history.
To the woman who shook my hand, I return with the same wish for her. May your faith be as pure as mine.
Enjoy the afternoon.
R/SCG
It is possible I may have been insulted a couple of weeks ago. We had a discussion on a piece of text that I was not comfortable interpreting literally (gasp!). It was a good discussion. Afterwards, one of the women who frequents the shul walked up to me. She grasped my arm. This alone was odd, as her understanding of Jewish practice is that men and women should not touch. She then something like 'may your faith be as pure as mine.'
I did not realize that my faith was lacking.
To the immediate point, whether or not the Torah is literal, literal at all times, poetic, or both simultaneously is a question above my pay grade. It is, however, simply incorrect to state that taking one position or the other smacks of a lack of faith. I would even add that holding to a documentary hypothesis as opposed to divine writ is also not a lack of faith, though that is beyond the scope of this blog entry. As well, it is the ultimate in human arrogance to assume your own understanding is the correct understanding.
Now that I am thinking about it further, it is also heresy to say that the Torah is never poetic. Why is it that God who creates or inspires poets cannot create or inspire poetry?
With that prelude, a note about faith is in order. For some people, faith is unquestionable, perhaps pure and innocent. On the one hand, those people can go through their lives with comfort and ease, secure in the knowledge that creation, the Torah, and their lives, are happily constant. I suppose that it yields a serenity that lowers blood pressure. It also leads to people blowing up buses and airplanes in the name of such faith.
On the other hand, others of us ask questions. Why do I believe what I believe? What happens if a variable is introduced into the equation? Does it still stand the test of logic? Less serenity is present, for certain. At the same time, it is, at least in my mind, a way to make sure that our brains are actively engaged on a constant basis. The struggle is also much more consistent with the flow of Jewish history.
To the woman who shook my hand, I return with the same wish for her. May your faith be as pure as mine.
Enjoy the afternoon.
R/SCG
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Girl School
Hi all...
I learned early in Keren's life that girls are different from boys. With two older brothers, you might have thought that she would have liked blue sweatpants. Nothing doing. Keren liked pink and purple dresses. She had one dress that had we let her, she would have never taken off. She wanted to sleep in her purple dress.
I remember committing an egregious sin. Keren slept over at a friend's home. There was a birthday party they were both to attend the next day. It was to be a rather shmutzy birthday party. I gambled. I sent her with 'get shmutzy' clothing, and no dress. She did not even say hello to me when she got home. She admonished me for my choice in her clothing. The friend's mother had to do laundry, as the dress she was wearing when she left was too messy to wear the next day.
Anyway, little girls become little women. At least now, she wears pants from time to time, and colours can be something other than pink or purple.
There are things I do not understand.
I do not understand how it is I can braid a bread, but cannot braid her hair. She can do it without being able to see.
I do not understand the appeal of nail polish. The boys do not wear it. She loves it. To get a manicure with her mother or with her grandmother is simply the cat's meow.
I do not understand the love of jewelry. I wear a watch. My wedding band is on my watchband. The boys do not wear any jewelry. Keren has necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. She once said: "You know Eema, jewelry is very important in a girl's life."
There is only one unifying theory that explains this - Girl School! It is a secret school that girls attend. There, they learn these things.
Every time she does something that boys in general decidedly do not do, I say 'Girl School.' Keren then insists that there is no such thing as Girl School. I do not believe her. I think that all of the students swear an oath to keep it absolutely secret.
I do not know where Girl School is. I will find it though.
Good night.
R/SCG
I learned early in Keren's life that girls are different from boys. With two older brothers, you might have thought that she would have liked blue sweatpants. Nothing doing. Keren liked pink and purple dresses. She had one dress that had we let her, she would have never taken off. She wanted to sleep in her purple dress.
I remember committing an egregious sin. Keren slept over at a friend's home. There was a birthday party they were both to attend the next day. It was to be a rather shmutzy birthday party. I gambled. I sent her with 'get shmutzy' clothing, and no dress. She did not even say hello to me when she got home. She admonished me for my choice in her clothing. The friend's mother had to do laundry, as the dress she was wearing when she left was too messy to wear the next day.
Anyway, little girls become little women. At least now, she wears pants from time to time, and colours can be something other than pink or purple.
There are things I do not understand.
I do not understand how it is I can braid a bread, but cannot braid her hair. She can do it without being able to see.
I do not understand the appeal of nail polish. The boys do not wear it. She loves it. To get a manicure with her mother or with her grandmother is simply the cat's meow.
I do not understand the love of jewelry. I wear a watch. My wedding band is on my watchband. The boys do not wear any jewelry. Keren has necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. She once said: "You know Eema, jewelry is very important in a girl's life."
There is only one unifying theory that explains this - Girl School! It is a secret school that girls attend. There, they learn these things.
Every time she does something that boys in general decidedly do not do, I say 'Girl School.' Keren then insists that there is no such thing as Girl School. I do not believe her. I think that all of the students swear an oath to keep it absolutely secret.
I do not know where Girl School is. I will find it though.
Good night.
R/SCG
Monday, June 17, 2013
Another 20 Snippets
Top of the morning all...
Jennifer wrote 20 snippets for 20 years of marriage. We get to that point in July. The challenge for me is that I have to think of something similar. The good news is that she gave me a month's notice.
1. 10:30 pumpkin time...yes, it is true. I am a typical male. Head on pillow = instant sleep. I remember talking with Jennifer about this. I said to her that if you turn off the engine on the car, but it keeps knocking around, it means that something is very wrong with the engine. Jennifer's response to me was that women tend to be more like computers. Computers do not just turn off. They have to shut down each and every program, one at a time, before finally calling it a night.
2. I remember the first barbecue we bought. We had just gotten to Hawaii. Jennifer said that I should have purchased a larger grill. As much as I have drilled into the kids' heads that real men cook with fire, the truth is that Jennifer is every bit as comfortable as I am on the barbecue. Don't worry. Keren also hears from me that real women cook with fire.
3. We are talking about going to Prince Edward Island (PEI) on frequent flyer miles this year. I do not think it is going to happen, but we have not been able to talk about a 'go-somewhere' vacation just for the two of us since two of us became three. It will hopefully happen in a couple of years. To talk about it is a huge step.
4. I want to go to PEI because it is relatively flat, and thus Jennifer will be willing to ride bicycles. I think her priority is seeing the sites connected with "Anne of Green Gables."
5. Over the 20 years, we have had four cats.
6. Whenever Jennifer is making something that requires hard-boiled eggs, she always makes an extra for me.
7. (Nothing to read here. Certain things should remain between spouses.)
8. The kids are not allowed to play us against each other. Still, they know we are different. They know we will respond to certain things differently. They ask me when it involves staying up later on a non-school night. They ask Jennifer when they want to have a take-out picnic on the den floor while watching a movie.
9. We used to hire a babysitter so that we could go to the supermarket together. Once, the babysitter had to come a little later than we otherwise might have liked. She was teaching her brother to shoot a BB gun.
10. We bear each other's grudges, lest our own grudges get us in trouble with those who can cause us significant concerns.
11. Jennifer really likes action movies. She mentioned "The Dirty Dozen." She also likes "Demolition Man." I like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Shall We Dance."
12. We both trust each other's driving. I usually do the distance driving. Jennifer usually does the city driving. We only have one car.
13. I have never understood the need for 17 pillows on the bed. I do, however, understand that Jennifer might think an extra blanket is necessary.
14.We support each other professionally. Both of us play the dutiful rabbinic spouse at each other's professional obligations. As Jennifer said, as a rabbinic team, we are a formidable pair. We function well as an extension of each other. This lends a fair amount of depth to the work that we are both able to do.
15. As much as Jennifer thinks that Jesse is a miniature version of me, it is not entirely true. For starters, he is almost the same height. We can do away with 'miniature.' That being said, I see a fair amount of her in all of them, particularly in their artistic expressions.
16. Jennifer has directed a play on Broadway and in the Greater Los Angeles theatre scene.
17. Jennifer prefers craps. I prefer blackjack. We have not been to a casino in years, and I do not think we have ever been to one together.
18. Jennifer insisted that I purchase my tuxedo for our wedding. I had to take it out a little bit, but it otherwise still fits. It was a good investment.
19. Jennifer prefers opals and sapphires to diamonds. I prefer chocolate.
20. Every once in a while, Jennifer stops everything to work on the kids' scrapbooks.
Yup...it has been an amazing 20 years. Jennifer - I love you, and let's get to work on the next 20.
R/SCG
Jennifer wrote 20 snippets for 20 years of marriage. We get to that point in July. The challenge for me is that I have to think of something similar. The good news is that she gave me a month's notice.
1. 10:30 pumpkin time...yes, it is true. I am a typical male. Head on pillow = instant sleep. I remember talking with Jennifer about this. I said to her that if you turn off the engine on the car, but it keeps knocking around, it means that something is very wrong with the engine. Jennifer's response to me was that women tend to be more like computers. Computers do not just turn off. They have to shut down each and every program, one at a time, before finally calling it a night.
2. I remember the first barbecue we bought. We had just gotten to Hawaii. Jennifer said that I should have purchased a larger grill. As much as I have drilled into the kids' heads that real men cook with fire, the truth is that Jennifer is every bit as comfortable as I am on the barbecue. Don't worry. Keren also hears from me that real women cook with fire.
3. We are talking about going to Prince Edward Island (PEI) on frequent flyer miles this year. I do not think it is going to happen, but we have not been able to talk about a 'go-somewhere' vacation just for the two of us since two of us became three. It will hopefully happen in a couple of years. To talk about it is a huge step.
4. I want to go to PEI because it is relatively flat, and thus Jennifer will be willing to ride bicycles. I think her priority is seeing the sites connected with "Anne of Green Gables."
5. Over the 20 years, we have had four cats.
6. Whenever Jennifer is making something that requires hard-boiled eggs, she always makes an extra for me.
7. (Nothing to read here. Certain things should remain between spouses.)
8. The kids are not allowed to play us against each other. Still, they know we are different. They know we will respond to certain things differently. They ask me when it involves staying up later on a non-school night. They ask Jennifer when they want to have a take-out picnic on the den floor while watching a movie.
9. We used to hire a babysitter so that we could go to the supermarket together. Once, the babysitter had to come a little later than we otherwise might have liked. She was teaching her brother to shoot a BB gun.
10. We bear each other's grudges, lest our own grudges get us in trouble with those who can cause us significant concerns.
11. Jennifer really likes action movies. She mentioned "The Dirty Dozen." She also likes "Demolition Man." I like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Shall We Dance."
12. We both trust each other's driving. I usually do the distance driving. Jennifer usually does the city driving. We only have one car.
13. I have never understood the need for 17 pillows on the bed. I do, however, understand that Jennifer might think an extra blanket is necessary.
14.We support each other professionally. Both of us play the dutiful rabbinic spouse at each other's professional obligations. As Jennifer said, as a rabbinic team, we are a formidable pair. We function well as an extension of each other. This lends a fair amount of depth to the work that we are both able to do.
15. As much as Jennifer thinks that Jesse is a miniature version of me, it is not entirely true. For starters, he is almost the same height. We can do away with 'miniature.' That being said, I see a fair amount of her in all of them, particularly in their artistic expressions.
16. Jennifer has directed a play on Broadway and in the Greater Los Angeles theatre scene.
17. Jennifer prefers craps. I prefer blackjack. We have not been to a casino in years, and I do not think we have ever been to one together.
18. Jennifer insisted that I purchase my tuxedo for our wedding. I had to take it out a little bit, but it otherwise still fits. It was a good investment.
19. Jennifer prefers opals and sapphires to diamonds. I prefer chocolate.
20. Every once in a while, Jennifer stops everything to work on the kids' scrapbooks.
Yup...it has been an amazing 20 years. Jennifer - I love you, and let's get to work on the next 20.
R/SCG
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Naivete and Lies
Good evening all...
For as long as I can remember, I have heard the adage that World War III would begin in the Middle East. With that notion came the obvious implication that Israel would somehow be involved. It never dawned on me that it would be otherwise. There is the naivete.
The man who self-immolated in Tunisia more than two years ago did not care about Israel.
The woman whom Egyptian police forced to undergo a physical examination for proof of her virginity did not care about Israel.
The teenager with a can of spray paint in Syria did not care about Israel.
All of the other people, of Iran, of Iraq, of Jordan, of Saudi, of Dubai, where similar rumblings have been heard loud and clear, do not care about Israel.
Could it be that the people in all of these countries do not actually think that Israel is responsible for their problems? Could it be that the lies that the governments of these nations have perpetuated for decades have never been believed in the first place? Could it be that nations with prisons such as the type that exist in Syria or in Iran coerce such "beliefs," knowing that the population will find it safer to believe comparatively benign lies than to risk torture?
It could be.
And today, news reports say that Iran has deployed 4000 soldiers to Syria with the goal of helping to keep the butcher of Damascus in power. The reports say that there is a desire to harass the Israelis on the Golan. On Friday, the US announced that it would start arming Syrian rebels.
So yes, the adage about the beginning of World War III is most certainly coming true.
Albert Einstein once said that "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
I hope that adage does not come true.
Good night.
R/SCG
For as long as I can remember, I have heard the adage that World War III would begin in the Middle East. With that notion came the obvious implication that Israel would somehow be involved. It never dawned on me that it would be otherwise. There is the naivete.
The man who self-immolated in Tunisia more than two years ago did not care about Israel.
The woman whom Egyptian police forced to undergo a physical examination for proof of her virginity did not care about Israel.
The teenager with a can of spray paint in Syria did not care about Israel.
All of the other people, of Iran, of Iraq, of Jordan, of Saudi, of Dubai, where similar rumblings have been heard loud and clear, do not care about Israel.
Could it be that the people in all of these countries do not actually think that Israel is responsible for their problems? Could it be that the lies that the governments of these nations have perpetuated for decades have never been believed in the first place? Could it be that nations with prisons such as the type that exist in Syria or in Iran coerce such "beliefs," knowing that the population will find it safer to believe comparatively benign lies than to risk torture?
It could be.
And today, news reports say that Iran has deployed 4000 soldiers to Syria with the goal of helping to keep the butcher of Damascus in power. The reports say that there is a desire to harass the Israelis on the Golan. On Friday, the US announced that it would start arming Syrian rebels.
So yes, the adage about the beginning of World War III is most certainly coming true.
Albert Einstein once said that "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
I hope that adage does not come true.
Good night.
R/SCG
The Right to Vote
Hi all...
Over the last week, the Toronto City Council voted to allow landed immigrants to vote in municipal elections. The vote was by a margin of one. The decision still must go to the Provincial Parliament for approval.
We have landed immigrant status. When this clears the necessary hurdles, Jennifer and I will be able to vote.
I have mixed feelings. I am, as you know, a citizen of the United States. One of the issues motivating the birth of the nation was 'taxation without representation.' The British taxed the colonies without allowing any representation in Parliament.
Jennifer and I pay taxes. In theory, we should have some say in how those taxes are spent. This might hold even more so here in Toronto. We pay property taxes. To prevent us from contributing to municipal decisions is hardly democratic.
On the other hand, voting is a perk of citizenship. There is more than just a financial question. Citizenship also states that a person has made a decision and taken the steps to affirm a stand and a stake in the long-term destiny and vision of a country. We have not affirmed that stand and that stake.
At the end of the day, I believe that the right of the vote is a right of citizenship. It is not a right of permanent residence. There is no citizenship of only a city.
If the Provincial Parliament chooses to approve Toronto's decision, I will likely vote. It still seems to me though that this is not a decision that should have been made.
Good night.
R/SCG
Over the last week, the Toronto City Council voted to allow landed immigrants to vote in municipal elections. The vote was by a margin of one. The decision still must go to the Provincial Parliament for approval.
We have landed immigrant status. When this clears the necessary hurdles, Jennifer and I will be able to vote.
I have mixed feelings. I am, as you know, a citizen of the United States. One of the issues motivating the birth of the nation was 'taxation without representation.' The British taxed the colonies without allowing any representation in Parliament.
Jennifer and I pay taxes. In theory, we should have some say in how those taxes are spent. This might hold even more so here in Toronto. We pay property taxes. To prevent us from contributing to municipal decisions is hardly democratic.
On the other hand, voting is a perk of citizenship. There is more than just a financial question. Citizenship also states that a person has made a decision and taken the steps to affirm a stand and a stake in the long-term destiny and vision of a country. We have not affirmed that stand and that stake.
At the end of the day, I believe that the right of the vote is a right of citizenship. It is not a right of permanent residence. There is no citizenship of only a city.
If the Provincial Parliament chooses to approve Toronto's decision, I will likely vote. It still seems to me though that this is not a decision that should have been made.
Good night.
R/SCG
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