There are no plastic shamans here

Indigenous activist and Zionist, Ryan Bellerose, sees the similarities between Indians (he seldom uses the term Native Americans) and the Jewish people. He sometimes fails to see the differences.

Jews have no difficulty understanding why cultural appropriation is offensive to Native Americans. Jews living in the United States are offended by cultural appropriation almost daily. ("Let me teach you what your Bible really means.") However, there is a difference. Native American culture is under threat, while our culture and traditions have survived and thrived in the face of massive cultural appropriation: namely, Christianity.

Ryan posted this article and declared that this Orthodox rabbi is the Jewish equivalent of a "plastic shaman."

Ryan is wrong. Rabbi Potek is not twisting Jewish practices to prey on gullible gentiles for profit. He is trying to bring Jews back to Judaism. However bizarre the headline, the article makes clear that he is not serving beer on Yom Kippur.

Maybe he saw Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer too many times?

Ryan seems to think that ultra-Orthodox Jews are the only "real" Jews. He isn't aware of how innovative and radical Judaism has always been (or how old Reform Judaism is) but he does think he's qualified to tell Jews what Judaism is.

Hmm, come to think of it, maybe there is a plastic shaman here. It may be you, Ryan.

Tarot Blog Hop - Mabon 2017

PREVIOUS BLOG | MASTER LIST | NEXT BLOG

I'll be traveling from September 19 until October 3, so I've post-dated this entry and it will (hopefully) appear at the same time as everyone else's. Unfortunately I may not be available to comment on other posts in this thread immediately.

________

We have been given the following instructions for our Autumn Equinox posts:

Think of a character from your favorite Tarot deck, tune on them and ask them what dishes they would prepare for Mabon – in a sacred way so that these dishes could be really healing and energizing for all of us. I wonder what the Empress, the High Priestess or the Hermit would cook? And how? Where? It can also be part of your writing. Or our more than charming Emperor, or the guys in 5 of Wands? Feel free to invent your own recipes, as well... If you are not really into cooking, what about creating your own beauty product(s) consisting of natural Mabon-components?

________

I asked, "What beauty secret can you share with me at this time?" The tarot provided this unexpected response:

from the Gaian Tarot

Five of Fire - Set your voice free, be yourself without hesitation or constraint. Don't be afraid of yourself. Don't avoid competition or struggle or any other part of life. 

This card is often interpreted as a card of conflict, internal or external. The RWS image also shows the potential for cooperation and harmony. (Those five wands could almost form a pentacle if the boys would work together.)

Harmony and beauty are not immediately apparent in the fiery image in the Gaian Tarot. However, two phrases come to mind, "speaking your truth" and "speaking truth to power." Throughout my life, whenever I need to speak up for myself, an invisible hand closes my throat. One of my aspirations has been to gain the ability to speak up for myself, to take care of myself. This card seems to address that aspiration. It encourages all of us to be ourselves, to acknowledge our own worth, and to embrace our unique voices.

Draw on your fiery energy to set your voice free as the Five of Fire suggests. Let people see who you are. First of all, you must let yourself see who you really are! You may find that you are beautiful. The Five of Fire encourages us to harness our inner fire, to liberate our voices, and to be unapologetically ourselves. It challenges us not to shy away from life's conflicts or competitions, but to embrace them as opportunities for growth and self-expression.

PREVIOUS BLOG | MASTER LIST | NEXT BLOG

Wishing all a good and sweet year

Arrived in Lake Oswego around noon the day before erev Rosh HaShannah.

Last year, it was a crazy idea to travel to Oregon for the High Holy Days, but I was so glad that I did. This year, it was five times crazier to do it. And again, now that I'm here, I'm so glad that I did.

There is no reason that Lake Oswego should feel like home, but my memories of the High Holy Days here last year are quite vivid and meaningful. There is no reason that Beit Haverim should make me feel like I did at Beth El, during "my ten good years," but it does. Alan and Bonnie would be mystified if they knew how important they are to me. Anticipation of being at their shul tomorrow has precipitated still more self reflection and, finally, some useful insights.

The views from the plane when we flew into Portland were beautiful. After living for two months in the hot desert of Israel, the greenness of Oregon and the clouds in the sky were a balm, and, as expected, the moderate temperature seemed quite cold to me. My Irish ancestors, who left Ireland in 1799, must have thought when they arrived in Oregon that it looked just like the home they had left. Could that be why I, too, felt as if I were coming home?

My cab driver was pleased to hear that I live in Israel. He is Kurdish and told me that Israel is the only nation supporting Kurdish independence. We talked a bit about mid-East politics. He moved to Portland from Iraq twenty years ago. I knew there is a Kurdish community in Jerusalem; he told me something I didn't know: that particular Kurdish community is Jewish.

After eating lunch, enjoying a view of the lake, and settling in, I slept for seven hours. 

At midnight, I wrapped myself in a comforter and sat near an open window listening to a light rain fall on the lake and the sound of a train whistle in the distance. In the dark, all I could see were the shapes of trees and a few lights reflected on the water. It was just one of those moments that feeds your soul... 

(Tomorrow, I will take my computer to a repair shop before I meet Jon for lunch, so I won't post again for a while. My memories will have to be preserved with pen and ink.)

What a great day!

The full moon of Elul hung low in the sky as I walked across town to meet Arlan during his daily walk. We went up into the hills above Eilat as the sun rose.

When I returned home, I found a message inviting me to meet the girls for coffee this evening. This is how life's supposed to be! 

(Except for the part about income.)