Today was a great day.  Two family-related events that have symbolic power filled our day.  We started with Adin Ner David’s bar mitzvah at Robinson’s Arch, the section of the kotel extension that has been reserved for pluralistic Jewish celebrations.  The other is our race back to the Arava so that Zamir could participate in his induction to first grade ceremony. 

Truth be told, I was not so in favor of the Robinson’s Arch compromise and penned a series, “Who’s Wall Is It?” many years ago that opened the ideological door for the kotel to be subdivided into three area:  men, pluralistic and women.  But today Adin and his pioneering family brought us all together for an authentic Jewish and Ner David simcha away from the choas at the Kotel compound and we were able to celebrate along the same wall in our way.  What is remarkable is that we–meaning well over 100 people–were not alone.  Indeed, like the old bar mitzvah joke about the family that wanted to do something so unique they went to Kenya and then had to hold up their safari delegation because there was another bar mitzvah ahead of them…What won me over to the Robinson’s Arch was not only the power of celebrating Adin’s bar mitzvah there, but that two other groups–one egalitarian and one Modern Orthodox creating their own low mechitza–shared the space.  Out of the spotlight of the religous politics of Israel and Jerusalem, groups were coming and celebrating pluralistically and really owning the physical and religious space. It was very inspirational.  Below, I hope, is a picture of Adin blowing the shofar and in the distance you can see the other two groups celebrating rosh hodesh there.

Mazel tov.

On Zamir’s day:  It was glorious. And I had to hold back tears when the 12 Sudanese kids who are joining Kita Aleph walked in as a group.  In the shadow of the footsteps of Moses, who implored us to remember the stranger because we were strangers in the land of Egypt–this Israeli school was living Jewish values, with love and enthusiasm.  Missing, however, was any trace of anything Jewish in the ceremony. No shehechiyanu. No midrash. No blessing of the kids.  Hmmmm. Living some Jewish values but ignoring their source.  Food for thought.

Click here for the classic parenting column on rosh hashanah.

The dream team of JBooks.com and JVibe.com head for Union Street for a live event that promises thoughfulness plus coolness.

click here for more info.

In googling for tisha báv and susan and my name to see if we wrote together on the topic–we did–was pleased to find this website that has large chunks of our book, Jewish Family & Life, digitized. Click here to enjoy.

In Haaretz, Marco, who sends his kids to JCDS in the Boston area, sells it like it is.

I want to give a shout-out to the good folks of the Conservative Movement who have moved forward with the dream of an ethical kosher certification.  Click here to read jta’s write up. Peoplehooders will note that WorldManna.org–which will rise again after my solar escapades–was one such attempt, as was the Upgrading Kashrut Moment column on Kashrut.  That the Jewish people should stand for positive values that are both particular and universal through its food certification is a positive affirmation of Jewish values and the notion of Peoplehood.  Writing in 1998, I said: 

“The failure of the current system of kashrut to stand for a higher standard of morality undermines Judaism, our relationship to God, and the image of our religious system in the eyes of less affiliated and usually younger Jews. Since it is doubtful that any of the certifications in the United States would modify the requirement for a hechsher to include that a portion of profits be donated to charity, it is time for a new hechsher that reflects a broader concern for Jewish values.

Imagine cruising your local supermarket, kids in tow, and seeing an icon–perhaps three sheaves of wheat–on thousands of food products. You know what the graphic means: There are no meat products inside; ethical business practices are followed by the company; and at least two percent of the profits from the food are donated to combat hunger so that in the words of the Birkat Hamazon (the blessing after meals), people “may never be in want of sustenance for the sake of God’s great name.’”