Comments on: We Are All Jews…. Sort Of – Rabbi Barry Gelman

By: Apikorus

Apikorus — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:22:25 +0000

Equating non- observance with extreme behavior? I gave 4 real life examples of potential reasons why R. Gelman might not really want non-observant Jews in his shul and only one out of 4 (teenage son) could even remotely be classified as “extreme”. Israel- read my post again before commenting. I do not believe in an us verses them mentality. Rather, I think Orthodox Judaism as practiced in most shuls today actively encourages the us verus them mentality by its unbending and extreme religious practices.

By: Israel

Israel — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:50:04 +0000

I agree with Rabbi Gelman’s point. The Rabbi is inviting non observant Jews to the Orthodox Shul in order to PARTICIPATE and learn, not to disrupt. Why else would they come? Interesting that the first respondent equates non observance with all sorts of extreme behavior. The respondent seems to illustrate the “us vs. them” mentality. It has been my experience that when my beliefs have been challenged, the challenge forces me to examine my beliefs so as to determine the basis of them and to refine my explanation of them. Sometimes I find that my beliefs need changing to some extent. As Jews, we are wrestling with God, not passive spectators. The Shul is the ring as well as the concert hall.

By: Michael Lewyn

Michael Lewyn — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:29:43 +0000

FYI, not every place is as “sorted” as the communities you are talking about. From visiting several Orthodox synagogues in Toronto, my sense is that some are less “sorted” than others.

By: OTD for a reason

OTD for a reason — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:46:27 +0000

I take exception to the phrase “non-observant.” I may not keep shabbos like you do and we may have different standards of kashrus, but I practice Judaism in a way that is meaningful to me. In fact, I find more meaning in my Jewish practice now than I ever did when I was Orthodox.

By: Miriam

Miriam — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:32:27 +0000

This article is so timely for me! Even as a newly-observant person, I feel alienated and excluded by the Modern Orthodox community as a whole. For someone like me, Chabad is unappealing ideologically, though they are very welcoming. Places like Aish are great, but only if you are comfortable remaining on the fringe of Orthodox Judaism, as most active participants there are not actually observant. I went so far as to move from Brooklyn to the Upper West Side of Manhattan to find a more open community, only to be met with stares and cold shoulders when I attended MO shuls. I can’t tell you how disheartening it is to feel unwelcome or out-of-place everywhere I go after making the commitment to become a BT.
I hope someone out there takes your words to heart! Thank you.

By: Apikorus

Apikorus — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:53:26 +0000

Well Rabbi Gelman – exactly how many non- Orthodox do you want in shul? Is 10 % too much? What if we flood your shul and start influencing your rigid non- bending Halachic system that discriminates against us? What if one of us wants to daven Musaf or Shacharit on Shabbat? Is that ok? What if my non- Jewish husband wants an Aliyah? If i come to your Houston shul i may bring my cell phone on Shabbos to answer important calls. OK? oh yes- I’ll be bringing my wild teenage son to shul who will be talking to and influencing your easily influenced teenager. Do you really want u or do you just want to be a PC Open orthodoxer who is seen as excepting all Jews in your midst? And by the way your open support of Rabbi Weiss in the recent RCA/ Rabbah crisis was touching to many of us.