The Evolving Jew

Yes, I'm in Israel right now. Yes, I'm a religious Jew. And yes, I'll be spending most of my time while here in Jerusalem. But no, I won't be going to the Kotel. And though on previous trips I've always made my obligatory visit, this time, with a tight schedule, I won't be weeping on an archaeological wall and stuffing prayers into cracks. Why? 1) Its religious importance has been overstated. It's the retaining wall of the temple mount, not the wall of the temple itself. Th e history of the wall as a place of religious devotion over the centuries lends it significance as a medieval synagogue, but the centrality of the site is a more recent phenomenon. 2) I'm a bit of a contrarian, so when I'm told I'm supposed to feel something, I tend not to 3) Don't get me wrong. Israel is very inspiring. But the idea that the Shechina rests in one place is distasteful to me. Treating a wall as if it somehow enables a direct connection

Does anyone remember "gedolim albums"? It was a huge trend in the 80's & 90's among Orthodox kids. It was actually started by my 4th grade rebbe, Rabbi Ausfresser, and spread in the Orthodox world in the 80's. He's also the one who took us to meet HIS rebbe, Rav Moshe Feinstein. The funny thing was, my yeshiva day school wasn't one of the frummer ones in terms of the student body. Most of the kids were Modern Orthodox. But in those days, there wasn't much of a divide between ModOx and Yeshivish. So it was perfectly natural for ModOx kids to revere the "gedolm" and fill albums with pictures of them. Of course, for me, "gedolim" meant some men whose identities I was only vaguely aware of. But they appeared in The Jewish Press and in Olomeinu with long beards, black hats, and captions that read "shilita", so they got clipped and stuck in my gedolim album. It was a simpler Orthodox world back then. No one really used the

There's a trend among many Modern Orthodox folks. They don't like the direction of the Charedi world and what their leaders are saying. But these Modern Orthodox folks are still hesitant to be too harshly critical of the leaders of that world. Instead they say that they've been manipulated by askanim, and don't really know what's going on. But why are these men being absolved of responsibility? This attitude persists despite the fact that those leaders are taking their followers into a demographic disaster. Despite the fact that they compare the state of Israel, and secular and even many religious Israelis to the worst things possible. Despite the fact that they encourage public burning of the Israeli flag in disgusting displays of ingratitude. Despite the fact that every month they come up with a way to demean and repress women ever further. Despite the fact that they refuse to cooperate with any effort to root out evil in their communities. And these

Sigh. Because of a new video , many are inundating FB and email with the silly "purim codes", which claims a mysterious connection between the names of Haman's son's in the Megillah and the 10 Nazi war criminals executed in Neuremberg in 1946. In general, I deeply dislike "torah codes". People like it because it provides comfort in faith. But faith that has proof (very dubious proof, but many don't see that) is not faith at all, and cheapens true faith and certainly cheapens the idea of free will. Emunah should be based on a deep feeling, an emotion that engenders a certainty of the soul, not on party tricks.

Many people are unaware of the midrash that says that Mordechai was Batman and that Esther was actually a superheroine as well - she was known as the Bat Dodo, combining the stealth of a bat with the, um, well, whatever powers the Dodo had. Here is an artist's rendering of Esther. This is all quite clear, as the verse reads: היא אסתר בת-דדו "Hi Esther Bat-Dodo"

And now for a different take on Achachveirosh. Megillat Esther is fictional, or at least a heavily fictionalized version of true events. So I can treat the Megilla like any other piece of fiction, (albeit a sacred one in this case), when it comes to analyzing the characters and their motivations. What follows is simply my own personal interpretation of what might have been the motivation of one of the main characters of the Megilla. This has nothing to do with history. Achashveirosh is most often seen as a bit of a bumbling fool. He is easily manipulated by his advisors, as is seen in his impetuous decision to banish Vashti, and in Haman's easily won decree to kill all the Jews. He seems entirely oblivious when Haman comes to the royal chambers late at night. He already KNOWS that Haman plans to kill the Jews. He KNOWS Mordechai is a Jew. and yet, before Haman has a chance to speak, he cluelessly tells Haman to lead Mordechai around on a horse in honor! Is it any wonder that

According to "A New Universal History of the Religious Rites, Ceremonies and Customs, of the Whole World, Or, A Complete and Impartial View of All the Religions in the Various Nations of the Universe, Both Ancient and Modern, from the Creation Down to the Present Time" (wordy title...), by William Hurd, 5th edition, published 1814: "The feast of Purim, which signifies lots, continues two days; and it was first instituted in memory their deliverance from destruction, when Haman instigated Ahasuerus to put them all to death. In the morning they give bread to the poor, and in the evening they repair to the synagogue, where the whole book of Esther is read over, and explained to the people at large. "During the reading of this lesson, the reader kneels, whereas he is obliged to stand when he reads the law, and he repeats three prayers, wherein he blesses God for having delivered them from the plot formed against them by Haman Prayers being over they indulge