Shana Tova
Sep. 11th, 2018 05:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
drwexHappy New Year. For the first time in a while I took off from work on the first day of Rosh Hashona. I still don't do shul, but I was hoping to get some walking and thinking time.
The walking, not so much. Between the weather (yuk) and Pygment's foot problems (double yuk) the walking didn't happen. Thinking has been ongoing for weeks now. I feel fortunate that I've been able to connect (via Twitter) with people who are both Jewish - and so steeped in the cultural traditions and religious teachings I value - and politically aligned.
A long time ago I walked out of two synagogues two years in a row and haven't gone back since (once it was over politics and once it was over money; if you want the stories, ask). I've felt a deep alienation between the beliefs that I think are core to the ethics I hold and the way the religion is practiced. The acceleration of modern Zionism toward fascist racism has only made this worse. Pygment pointed out (correctly I think) that in this Twitter community I've found people I can look up to and learn from. One of the things that made MIT so special for me was that I was literally surrounded by such people; since leaving there it's been hard to connect with those kinds of people. Now, again, I have found a couple people who share values I hold - sanctity of life, duty to the stranger, the deep sense that we are obliged not to turn our backs on people in need (for we were once refugees in Egypt comma dammit) and who can talk to those values from a Jewish perspective.
Every time I try to write about how I feel about this time of year, what I feel obliged to do, and how I might undertake that work in the present climate of the US I end up with incoherent babble. I'm not doing it well here, either, so forgive me if I revert to standard formulas.
If I have harmed you in the past, I hope you will feel OK telling me about it and pointing out how I might make up for that harm. I will try hard to do the work, and not to make the same mistakes again.
The walking, not so much. Between the weather (yuk) and Pygment's foot problems (double yuk) the walking didn't happen. Thinking has been ongoing for weeks now. I feel fortunate that I've been able to connect (via Twitter) with people who are both Jewish - and so steeped in the cultural traditions and religious teachings I value - and politically aligned.
A long time ago I walked out of two synagogues two years in a row and haven't gone back since (once it was over politics and once it was over money; if you want the stories, ask). I've felt a deep alienation between the beliefs that I think are core to the ethics I hold and the way the religion is practiced. The acceleration of modern Zionism toward fascist racism has only made this worse. Pygment pointed out (correctly I think) that in this Twitter community I've found people I can look up to and learn from. One of the things that made MIT so special for me was that I was literally surrounded by such people; since leaving there it's been hard to connect with those kinds of people. Now, again, I have found a couple people who share values I hold - sanctity of life, duty to the stranger, the deep sense that we are obliged not to turn our backs on people in need (for we were once refugees in Egypt comma dammit) and who can talk to those values from a Jewish perspective.
Every time I try to write about how I feel about this time of year, what I feel obliged to do, and how I might undertake that work in the present climate of the US I end up with incoherent babble. I'm not doing it well here, either, so forgive me if I revert to standard formulas.
If I have harmed you in the past, I hope you will feel OK telling me about it and pointing out how I might make up for that harm. I will try hard to do the work, and not to make the same mistakes again.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-11 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-11 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-11 11:59 pm (UTC)There's a saying -- "From your lips to God's ears." I don't actually believe in any gods, but if there WERE a god, I'd hope She were listening!
no subject
Date: 2018-09-12 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-12 12:02 pm (UTC)Happy New year!
Date: 2018-09-12 05:02 pm (UTC)There was a minion at Ft Campbell, but they recently dissolved.
I am again left with no place to attend services. Considering making the drive to Nashville (1 hr) when I have a car again!
May you be written in the book of life for a prosperous new year!
Re: Happy New year!
Date: 2018-09-12 05:38 pm (UTC)Re: Happy New year!
Date: 2018-09-12 06:43 pm (UTC)No... there are NONE in Clarksville TN.
According to 2000 census there were 60 people who identifies as Jewish in Montgomery county. I have met 3 or 4 of them. Of the few I have met, they are either non-practicing, or make the Trek into Nashville.
Met some nice folks at Pride last year. Yes, they are in Nashville, and a little more reform than I might prefer... but I Kept their card. Might have to make the drive.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-13 03:08 pm (UTC)