Points of Jew

Bringing a guide dog to shul

Floida's Sun Sentinel has an interesting Jewish related question in its online edition under the headline:

Synagogue should let guide dog lead follower

A great question and indeed great answer on something that the Jewish community needs to address better - how we treat and respect those who are blind and indeed how we treat those with any form of disability.

Here's the full Q & A.

Q. I converted to Judaism, feeling strongly that this was the right path for me, but I'm disturbed by my synagogue's views on allowing my guide dog, Emmy, to accompany me up to the bima (the raised area) while I recite the Torah blessing or give a sermon. It's apparently not kosher in our synagogue to allow animals on the bima because "they are not holy," or because, "other folks might be upset" if my dog accompanied me.

These seem like flimsy excuses to me. Perhaps I'm all wrong, but I believe G-d created my dog, so she cannot be unacceptable! I, personally, think she's just as "holy" as I am. Or is it really true that I can't have my dog lead me to the bima ever? Is this situation true in all Jewish houses of worship? -- P., via e-mail

A. The God Squad is not only on your side, but God is also on your side. We read God's word regarding your situation and urge you to read these words to the morons who run your synagogue (of course, we mean "morons" in the most loving sense of the word).

The Book of Leviticus, Chapter 19, verse 14 states: "You shall not curse the deaf nor place a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God -- I am your Lord." By preventing Emmy from accompanying you to the bima, the leaders at your synagogue are literally placing a stumbling block in front of you, in direct violation of the word of God.

We often encounter churches and synagogues that pervert and distort the word of God, and it's always painful to hear some new example of discrimination in a religious institution. Fortunately, the vast majority of houses of worship in our country offer a safe and welcoming shelter in the storm of life.

Moses was a shepherd, and that's why he was chosen to lead; the people in your synagogue are sheep, and that's why they were not.

Something to wear and think about

I don't always wear a yarmulke in public as I feel it is not something that actually defines me as being Jewish. In fact, the only time I ever wear a formal Jewish head covering is when I go to shul or attend something of a religious nature.

I could if I wanted to wear it all the time.  I could if I wanted to, wear it never.  But I do respect those who want to wear it as a way for them to express their Judaism and connection with the community.

Of course, what you feel inside can be much more powerful than just putting on a head covering for the sake of it and because it is part of the tradition.

For me wearing something on my head doesn't make me feel more Jewish. My soul is Jewish, my outlook in life is Jewish and I keep to as much as I can while living in the modern world and wrestling the dilemma of being modern and at the same time understanding what being Jewish means in society.

So for me, it is a choice to not cover my head outside of shul or other religious environments.

But when a Jew wishes to embrace wearing something on their head as part of their religious practice, then of course I have the deepest respect for their decision to do so.

If you have ever wanted to read the feelings of why a Jew wears a yarmulke (and by Jew we actually really only mean men as women are frowned upon by certain sections of the community if they want to wear one) then Zion Report blogger Tovya has an excellent piece about it.

The day that I began to wear a kippah changed everything. It all got easier. Hashem provided me just the help that I needed.

It became easier because upon my head rested a reminder, not only to me but to those around me, that first and foremost I am a Jew. Everything else comes second.

Immediately, all of my non-Jewish friends ceased cursing in my presence, they stopped talking about women in an indecent manner, and best of all they stopped asking me to do things that are forbidden for me to do.

More about this in To Kippah, Or Not To Kippah, That is the Question.

Yom Kippur

As Yom Kippur starts from tonight and ends on Thursday night, may I wish everyone well over the fast.

Blog updates will start again on Friday.

Happy New Year

Well the first day of Rosh Hashanah has now come and gone.

We are offically into 5766, so wishing everyone a great new year.

While we are in the holiday season, postings will be somewhat light but everything back to normal from Thursday.

Time to reach out

It never ceases to amaze me how exclusive our community can be. People are forever deploring the decline of the provinces but nobody ever seems willing to do anything about it.

Out here in the sticks, we are facing 60% assimilation. I am forever being approached by people who have a non-Jewish spouse or people whose spouse has married out, and the constant litany of exclusion and shunning is enough to make one despair of the Jewish community.

All too often people who marry out are not running away from Judaism but are desperate to be attracted back in. Their spouses are often the ones who encourage them to engage with their Jewishness.

On Rosh Hashanna we shall doubtless see many who have gone outside the community and married out. Their children may well be in shul.

Why do we leave it to groups like Lubavitch to pick up the pieces and gather these people in? We should reach out to married-outs; whilst not condoning their action we must accept that it has happened, move on and encourage them back into the fold.

At the worst we are being welcoming. At the best we may have a whole new Jewish family engaged in our community activities.