Pre-Pesach

My buddy VideoJew Jay Firestone is back for more with The Matzah Challenge.

OSRUI

So, Leah , who blogs Accidentally Jewish and who is helping Pilcrow Lit Fest lately more than I can fully make any of you understand, is working with OSRUI, a midwestern URJ camp, to help them publicize an upcoming event on the night of May 2, and I couldn't resist helping her hock a bit. About this event, she says:

The Jewish Discovery Shabbat is a one night retreat for people who are 25-40 and Jewish, curious about becoming a Jew, or interfaith couples who want to know more about Judaism. We have two great rabbis coming to lead the weekend and our regional outreach coordinator. The cost of the retreat is $75 per person and includes lodging, food and all of the workshops. We also have a Facebook group for people interested in attending the retreat... It will be a great chance to talk through some big and little questions about Judaism. I can say from experience that a Shabbat at OSRUI is truly a restful Shabbat.

So, if you're Jewish, Jew-ish, wannabe-Jewish, or spouse/partner of, or just curious about what all of our funny words, candles and 26 holidays in a year and such are all about, give it a whirl, meet some people, do a little talking, a little listening. Or, click around the above links for more info.

Mezuzzah and Safety

I moved this weekend. It made for not much of a Shabbes break, surrounded by boxes and all, but I managed, thinking of the great apartment ahead.

I didn't affix my mezuzzot right away. I think the landlord is very friendly and I see this very pretty brass Calddagh ring on his door, which proclaims something about him and his family. But, something has been stopping me still, a couple of days later. Last night, I saw an old refrigerator in the basement of the building next to the washing machine and dryer that was covered with graffiti that included a large red, spray-painted swastika. While I can dismiss this easily as "oh, probably some kids broke in ages ago and did that and the landlord never cleaned it off", the fact remains that there is a swastika in my basement. I've been confronted by a member of a hate group in my lifetime, so I m not foolish enough to believe that it's out of the realm of possibility. It's possible, though not likely, that my landlord is fine with it. And, if he is fine with it, he is not fine with me. I have to entertain that possibility.

Our doors are symbols and serve as a passageway between our public and private selves. In ancient times, doors are depicted as portals, and often, the doorways into walled cities was often where business was conducted and were justice was brought about. Also, the door was the most vulnerable and penetrable point in the city's defense.

And, for ages and in many cultures, people have utilized a ton of things (amulets like horseshoes, Calddagh symbols, strings of garlic, strings of chiles, etc.) and persons to serve as gatekeeps of sorts, protecting their doorways from things perceived to be a threat. In other words, these things gave them peace of mind.

Though many consider the mezuzzah to be an amulet of sorts, there are many takes on the thing and, really, most of them are totally valid. I think of them as a little bit of an amulet, if for nothing else than warding off people peddling religious literature easily, har har, but more than anything, I think about it as an antenna.

Sure, the associated Texts translates like "guard our going out and our coming in" and I've always most strongly identified that with myself-- that I am to guard my going out and coming in and let this thing serve to remind me to behave well, live in a just manner, conduct myself respectfully and the like.

This article offered up a particular section I really liked:

Although affixing mezuzot to the doorposts of Jewish homes figures prominently in ritual practice, a deeper metaphoric meaning reminds Jews of the doors that throughout history were locked or unlocked to Jews, rendering them defenseless or protected.

Indeed, doors have been opened and closed to Jews throughout history. Nevertheless, Jews continued to place mezuzot on their doorposts as a reminder that although there is no easy route to freedom and redemption, deliverance begins by closing the one door to oppression and slavery and opening another door to redemption and liberation.

Which brings me to this: I'm about to put the mezuzzot up. I want them up, I need them up. It bothers me to see my doors without them. But, this has made me pause and think about the implications of the mezuzzah and safety.

If a Jew affixes a mezuzzah to his/her home, knowing it being there puts him/her in danger, is s/he (a) brave and committed or (b) foolish and being careless with a Jewish life? I'm putting them up, but I cannot yet answer this questions for myself.

I am leaning towards (a). And, I think I am leaning towards (a) because to do otherwise somewhat undermines the choices of Marranos, those forced to convert to save their own lives, and somehow seems chickenshit to the millions of Jews killed on that basis alone throughout history. By that I mean, who do I think I am, fidgeting about a mezuzzah when my people have seen far worse than any landlord could ever do... right?

Anyway, here goes.