Jewish Community Watch

      http://youtu.be/wffN3mYWCCw.  I think this video speaks for itself. I am so sad that any child would have to endure sexual abuse in the frum community. What a brave young woman. I applaud the work of JCW.

All Who Go Do not Return

      I just finished reading Shulem Deen's memoir All Who Go Do not Return .It is the first  of the recent batch of off the derech memoirs that I have not found offensive. Perhaps it is because Deen was a little older when he left frumkeit that his story is a little more palatable. Perhaps it is because his book tells his story and lets the reader form his or her own opinion of his situation. I am not convinced that he feels so civil about the aftermath of his leaving his community but I appreciate his attempt nonetheless. After reading Deborah Feldman's juvenile first book and Leah Vincent's attempt at the National Enquirer Deen's book is a welcome change. If his children ever read his book they will not feel ashamed even if they do not agree with the path he has chosen.
     Shulem Deen is the son of former non observant Jews who became frum  and Hasidic as young adults . Deen grew up non denominational Hasidic in Borough Park, Brooklyn and at 13 chose to be a Skverer Hasid and eventually moved to New Square , married and had 5 kids. Somewhere along the line after realizing he had not been given the skills to support a family and slowly becoming more aware of the outside world via books and computer he realizes there are other ways of life . He lost his belief in G-d and in yiddishkeit.  He tries to stay within the fold because of his children but eventually he feels he must be true to his convictions and leave. At first he and his ex wife have an amicable child custody agreement but eventually that crumbles. He felt that he chose the life he had to but naively did not anticipate what the fallout might be.
       At the end of the book he briefly mentioned that his mother and siblings have not abandoned him  despite his lack of religious affiliation. I wish he would have includ more about his grandparents and other non frum relatives and if and what kind of relationship he had with them as a child.
        I hope that my review of this book does not seem as too much of a spoiler. That was not my intention . I actually had heard of Shulem Deen's story through the grapevine and had read parts of his blog hasidic rebel and unpious periodically before reading his memoir. It does not spoil anything .What makes the book interesting is reading his point of view and the way he tells his story. It is important to note in the afterward that he states that his book is not meant to convince anyone that his path of belief is the only way merely that it's the path he has chosen for himself. Whether or not this is what he truly believes I do not know but I would say that this is what the tone of his book portrayed. It truly is the story of why he left not the story of why everyone should leave. I hope he finds peace.

Pesach

      Every Pesach makes me introspective. I recall seders past.i recall who was there and who was not. It can be overwhelming if I let it. The good part is this Pesach we get to make new memories to add to those we had over the years. We must be present enough to enjoy the moments while they are here before they too become distant memories.
     Chag sameach!

20 Things To Do With Matzah

     I still love this song after all of these years so I am posting it again. 

Moishe's Kosher Bakery

     One of my favorite places in Manhattan is Moishe's Kosher Bakery. It is located in what used to be the Lower East Side and is now the East Village. East Village Explosion Takes Toll On Moishe’s Bakery, Brick Lane Curry « CBS New York 

       Last week there was an explosion on Second Avenue  last week which was a few doors down from Moishe's Kosher Bake Shop. I was hoping they were not ruined by the fire . Thanks to 1010 WINS  I know the lowdown . They are doing okay but business is very slow for obvious reasons.
       I think that they are fortunate that this happened not long before Pesach . Hopefully the after effects of the nearby fire will be cleared up enough so after Pesach things will be back to normal.
     If you look at the first photo at the fire, two buildings to the left of the fire is Moishe's .
      I send condolences to those who lost lives , homes and businesses due to the fire/explosion on Second Avenue last week. I am also quite grateful that Moishe's Kosher Bakery has survived.

Shabbat Shalom

     After a really tough week full of bad news I am wishing everyone a good Shabbos and a better week next week. I am praying for the speedy recovery of Mrs Sassoon and her daughter and for the healing of the entire Sassoon family. I send my condolences to the Sassoon family. I cannot even imagine what kind of pain they are experiencing. To lose one family member is devastating, To lose seven all at once .... Words cannot define...
     Because of this horrific tragedy so many more people know about the laws of not cooking on Shabbos than had before . I realize some people may feel it was more of a chillul hashem than a kiddush hashem, but I think its more of a kiddush hashem. It has opened dialogue that had not been there before. It makes my mad dash home to prepare for the arrival of shabbos more understood by my co-workers. I was fortunate enough to have only been met with good will while discussing this tragedy this week. People of all faiths were so sad to hear of the loss of seven children, especially those who have small children. So sad how sadness often unites people more than joy does.
      Have a good Shabbos full of Shalom and Bracha.

Lashon Harah

     A high profile celebrity who happens to be Jewish recently wrote an article disparaging Jewish men. Perhaps she even thought is was cutesy and tongue in cheek. Who knows. I won't dignify her words by linking to the article. The article is not the point. The spirit and essence of such an article is important to note. I do not find any of the cutesy insulting stereotypes of Jewish men or Jewish women that I hear in the media cutesy. They do not even remind me of any Jewish person that I know. I don't appreciate how it seems the only way these "cultural Jews" connect to Judaism is by heckling their distorted view of what Jewish people are like. I do not think its ok for Jews to disparage Jews so publicly just because they too are Jewish. Their anti Jewish sentiment is not less anti Jewish just because they are. It would be worse if their words were uttered by goyim but not really . Any way you slice it its lashon harah pure and simple. Why on earth does there need to be more negativity about Jews put out there , especially by "Jews"?