tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post7827411783270443553..comments2023-10-17T10:42:21.279-05:00Comments on DADaPalooza: Passover has passed me overDADAPALOOZAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133417490948081985noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post-17978416964946297102017-05-05T16:31:59.075-05:002017-05-05T16:31:59.075-05:00I'm a Catholic in name only, a Jew by proxy (I...I'm a Catholic in name only, a Jew by proxy (I grew up with a lot of Chosen friends) and I'm even more perplexed than you. Peace.Kevin McKeeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10673014424525900380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post-26473948974553281352017-04-14T06:51:38.081-05:002017-04-14T06:51:38.081-05:00Sarah: Thanks for the encouragement as well, and ...Sarah: Thanks for the encouragement as well, and I'm glad you have found a "right" place for religion in your family's life. We are still working on it (obviously) and haven't found the right place/balance. I am probably being too hard on myself. But I'm just not there yet. I'm hoping that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not a train! (I jest)DADAPALOOZAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18133417490948081985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post-25426957061498032182017-04-14T06:45:21.056-05:002017-04-14T06:45:21.056-05:00Paula: Thanks for the comments! I will definitel...Paula: Thanks for the comments! I will definitely check out Mark and Eric's books. I haven't done so much CLEAR thinking about this-- as is evidenced by my post- mostly depressed down on myself thinking. <br /><br />The video is from a series/podcast called BimBam, and they make lots of Jewish themed videos.https://www.bimbam.com/<br /><br />Mark: thanks for the cheering!DADAPALOOZAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18133417490948081985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post-26556471046609354632017-04-13T23:34:13.924-05:002017-04-13T23:34:13.924-05:00I think your feelings are quite common among our g...I think your feelings are quite common among our generation. We grew up BEING Jewish. We didn't 'practice' we just were. Then we grew up and did what we thought was right, join a synagogue and get involved. Only we saw the inner workings and thought getting involved would make the incompetence and politics go away so we could get back to BEING Jewish. But it didn't go away. And we became parents and realized we don't want our kid having to learn how to navigate this weird environment while we smiled politely at synagogue and mumble under our breath on every ride to and from. <br /><br />But here's the cool part. There are options that will accept us as we are and we don't get involved in the politics and nonsense. We just get to BE Jewish and our children get to see that being Jewish isn't about reading from a book once a year or checking your watch every five minutes hoping the Seder is over soon. <br /><br />I found a place where my family and I can BE Jewish and weave it into our lives without the guilt. Where when we go to shul we are welcomed. If we don't go we're called on Sunday to make sure we're ok. <br /><br />Start small. My grandpa always told me that one of the greatest things about being Jewish is that any house can be a house of worship. Light candles, wrap tefillin, say motzi, and on Shabbat find time to talk and play games and sing and just BE Jewish. <br /><br />Don't be so hard on yourself. You'll find a path that works for you and your family. Saving For Somedayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058422662074083084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post-84108856562963709412017-04-13T17:17:33.964-05:002017-04-13T17:17:33.964-05:00That video! What a treasure! Okay, so many thought...That video! What a treasure! Okay, so many thoughts. I hope they adhere together somehow. For background, I am Episcopalian so I am not coming at this from the Judaism perspective exactly. I read a book once about a woman who was having doubts about whether to follow through on her confirmation. Her priest said something like "AH - go through the motions - you'll figure it out eventually." I always felt that priest missed an opportunity to help her work through her doubts or at least vent them. // Two writers come to mind and I wonder if you've read either one of them: Eric Weiner and Mark Klempner. Both of them, in very different ways, found themselves far apart from Judaism, especially the more religious/less cultural aspects as they became adults. It was as they wrote about their experiences (Eric of his travels around the world, Mark of rescuers during the Holocaust) that they found a different peace and closeness with Judaism. I can't remember which Weiner book, The Geography of Bliss or Man Seeks God, really talked about that at length ..... and Mark's book is http://www.hearthasreasons.com/index.php ..... I can't remember if it's really IN Mark's book or just because I have kept in touch on social media but he definitely made a journey as an adult. Sorry there are so many "um.....don't remember exactly where" mentions here in this comment but just look at them as turns on the journey LOL. Thank you for sharing something so personal.Paula Kigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13627600101739835713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431775138695038050.post-69942330605091852262017-04-13T16:01:18.733-05:002017-04-13T16:01:18.733-05:00Friends throughout my life have told me that they ...Friends throughout my life have told me that they were Jewish, and that was always true whether they practiced or did not practice the rituals or religious actions. That is, their identity is Jewish, and nothing could remove them from that--even if they were atheists. One man told me that if he had a good job, supported his family, and was a good father, he was a good Jew. The hatred for Jews came long before the race hating Constatine. The book Constatine's Sword proves that his taking over what was Christianity meant that Jews would be condemned. I almost converted to Judaism years ago. I think that this mean that there is a wide range of being Jewish, and learning the rituals whether one believes all of it, does not matter. Theater people love to see our children learn Shakespeare--we want for them to have him in their psyche. Why can't your approach to Judaism be the same? There are liberal Jewish Synagogues. On the other hand, you and your young bride have the creativity to pass your Judaism on to you son wiuth your own magical and brilliant twist with all honesty about your doubts and love all of the time for your past. Love you, and good luck. Lionspenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05435349681528768310noreply@blogger.com