culture/multiculturalism · homosexuality · jews of color · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · prayer · Yom Kippur

Whoa.

About Vidui, the National Jewish Outreach Program website writes: “One aspect of the teshuvah/repentance process is to verbalize one’s sins. This takes place during the confession. The confession must be with a true heart – one must truly repent the action (s)he is confessing. Vidui is recited during every Yom Kippur service, including the afternoon… Continue reading Whoa.

homosexuality · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism

Haredi and Out of the Closet…Now Deal with It.

Chani Getter came out of the closet but didn’t leave Orthodox Judaism. (You can do that?!) Read more in “Haredi and Out of the Closet”. Also check out her website on Inspirational Living.

dreams · homosexuality · Israel · news · rabbi

Waking up to Hate in the Morning

The ways people hurt each other never cease to amaze me. I got up early this morning because I lost a lot of sleep over an email from a young woman, the offspring of a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father, who has had too many hurtful encounters with Jews. In spite of it, she… Continue reading Waking up to Hate in the Morning

homosexuality · religion

Gay Marriage PSA Spoof

http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch Warning, some of you will be offended. Some of you will laugh.

Holocaust · homosexuality · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · news · rabbi · religion

Dead on Arrival

The Reform and the Conservative movements are dying. The Pope is not a demon. The Orthodox aren’t ready for female rabbis. Homosexuals aren’t welcome? Um, did I embellish the points I took away from this profile of Yeshiva University chancellor Rabbi Norman Lamm, “Non-Orthodox Judaism disappearing”? I don’t think so. What do you think? And… Continue reading Dead on Arrival

books and reading · culture/multiculturalism · homosexuality · Israel · poetry · women/feminism

Attention Kmart Shoppers!

I discovered a new blog, “Mixed Race America” and because of it three spoken word poets to rival Vanessa Hidary, the Hebrew Mamita (previously featured on this blog). First, check out Alix Olsen doing “America’s On Sale” below. If you’re curious for more, log onto to this recent post from the Mixed Race America blog,… Continue reading Attention Kmart Shoppers!

homosexuality · Jesus · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · marriage · rabbi

Not a Rabbi, Not a Celebrity

Here is a comment I made in response to questions about my last piece. I thought I would upgrade it to a blog post: I am not a posek, not any kind of rabbinical authority, and anything I discuss with my rabbi is between him and me (and not just because he tells me not… Continue reading Not a Rabbi, Not a Celebrity

homosexuality · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · rabbi

Gay and Orthodox

My first boyfriend was gay and when he came out, it caused me permanent damage. He had used me in his attempt to live out a lie, to survive in our cruel high school world. My world went upside down suddenly when I realized my best friend, my boyfriend, was not really either of these… Continue reading Gay and Orthodox

babies and pregnancy · birthday · chronic pain/fibromyalgia · education · homosexuality · Israel · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · Los Angeles · marriage · movies · television

25 Random Things About Me

I hate forwarded emails with a passion. I’m already crippling myself by being on the computer and it just pisses me off when I have to look at stupid stuff unexpectedly. So it’s really surprising how taken I have been with a “forward” of sorts that’s been going around Facebook. Many of my friends have… Continue reading 25 Random Things About Me

art · chronic pain/fibromyalgia · gym · Hispanics/Latinos · homosexuality · Jews/Jewish/Judaism/Orthodox Judaism · medications · money · prayer · rabbi · writing

Withdrawl Weekend=Boring Blog

Friday morning, I went into withdrawal. I take nine medications daily. Funny enough, if you can find humor in having a pill case at 27 which of course I do, none of the medications are for fibromyalgia. After years of trying combinations of different medications (from mood stabilizers, anti-seizure meds, anti-inflammatories), including all the ones… Continue reading Withdrawl Weekend=Boring Blog